Processing computer tomography bone data for prosthetic finite element modeling: a technical note

J Rehabil Res Dev. 2002 Sep-Oct;39(5):609-14.

Abstract

A software scheme is presented to extract the shapes of tibiae and fibulae from amputee computer tomography (CT) data for use in prosthetic finite element modeling. A snake algorithm is implemented to overcome challenges of bone-soft tissue edge detection common in this application. Means to enhance initial guess contours, ensure contour continuity, overcome point-clustering problems, and handle high-curvature regions are also described. Effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated on image data from a unilateral transtibial amputee subject.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Amputation, Surgical*
  • Artificial Limbs*
  • Fibula / diagnostic imaging*
  • Finite Element Analysis*
  • Tibia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*