title: A universal algorithm for an improved finite element mesh generation Mesh quality assessment in comparison to former automated mesh-generators and an analytic model.
abstract: The FE-modeling of complex anatomical structures is not solved satisfyingly so far. Voxel-based as opposed to contour-based algorithms allow an automated mesh generation based on the image data. Nonetheless their geometric precision is limited. We developed an automated mesh-generator that combines the advantages of voxel-based generation with improved representation of the geometry by displacement of nodes on the object-surface. Models of an artificial 3D-pipe-section and a skullbase were generated with different mesh-densities using the newly developed geometric, unsmoothed and smoothed voxel generators. Compared to the analytic calculation of the 3D-pipe-section model the normalized RMS error of the surface stress was 0.173-0.647 for the unsmoothed voxel models, 0.111-0.616 for the smoothed voxel models with small volume error and 0.126-0.273 for the geometric models. The highest element-energy error as a criterion for the mesh quality was 2.61x10(-2) N mm, 2.46x10(-2) N mm and 1.81x10(-2) N mm for unsmoothed, smoothed and geometric voxel models, respectively. The geometric model of the 3D-skullbase resulted in the lowest element-energy error and volume error. This algorithm also allowed the best representation of anatomical details. The presented geometric mesh-generator is universally applicable and allows an automated and accurate modeling by combining the advantages of the voxel-technique and of improved surface-modeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3 D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. jan.kaminsky@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaminsky
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rodt
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gharabaghi
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.forename: Madjid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Samii
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D012886:Skull / Q000473:pathology; D012984:Software; D012985:Software Design; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed