In vivo person specific human body simulation for development and optimisation of surgical methods and materials

Simulation technology in mechanical engineering during product development is used routinely to reduce development time, prototypes and development cost. Nevertheless modelling and simulation technology of the human body has been mainly applied to component analysis or crash/accident simulation. The objective of this research is to explore the possibility of reducing human and animal trials for the development and optimisation of surgical methods and materials. To achieve these objectives, an in vivo and person specific simulation model is required. Leaning upon the research involving human being in the mechanical engineering, it was decided to experiment in vivo using a 50th percentile Adult Male. After obtaining ethics approval, a volunteer was selected. Three MRI scans of this volunteer were performed, each covering from the C4 vertebral level to the pubic symphysis; in two composed 3D volumes and each performed under different chest loading conditions. The 3 D MRI dataset was segmented and a Catia CAD-model created. One can manipulate and use this CAD-model derived from a human volunteer like any CAD-model in mechanical engineering. A simulation model is created from the CAD-model and non-linear analysis is carried out. The comparison of simulation results with that of test is good.