A novel computer modeling and simulation technique for bronchi motion tracking in human lungs under respiration

AbstractIn this work, we proposed a novel computer modeling and simulation technique for motion tracking of lung bronchi (or tumors) under respiration using 9 cases of computed tomography (CT)-based patient-specific finite element (FE) models and Ogden ’s hyperelastic model. In the fabrication of patient-specific FE models for the respiratory system, various organs such as the mediastinum, diaphragm, and thorax that could affect the lung motions during breathing were considered. To describe the nonlinear material behavior of lung parenchyma, the comparative simulation for biaxial tension-compression of lung parenchyma was carried out using several hyperelastic models in ABAQUS, and then, Ogden’s model was adopted as an optimal model. Based on the aforementioned FE models and Ogden’s material model, the 9 cases of respiration simulation were carried out from exhalation to inhalation, and the motion of lung bronchi (or tumors) was tracked. In addition, the changes in lung volume, lung cross-sectional area on the axial plane during breathing were calculated. Finally, the simulation results were quantitatively compared to the inhalat ion/exhalation CT images of 9 subjects to validate the proposed technique. Through the simulation, it was confirmed that the average relative errors of simulation to clinical data regarding to the displacement of 258 landmarks in the lung bronchi branches of total subjects were 1.10%~2.67%. In addit ion, the average relative errors of those wit...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research