title: Automatic Model Generation Framework for Computational Simulation of Cochlear Implantation.
abstract: Recent developments in computational modeling of cochlear implantation are promising to study in silico the performance of the implant before surgery. However, creating a complete computational model of the patient's anatomy while including an external device geometry remains challenging. To address such a challenge, we propose an automatic framework for the generation of patient-specific meshes for finite element modeling of the implanted cochlea. First, a statistical shape model is constructed from high-resolution anatomical μCT images. Then, by fitting the statistical model to a patient's CT image, an accurate model of the patient-specific cochlea anatomy is obtained. An algorithm based on the parallel transport frame is employed to perform the virtual insertion of the cochlear implant. Our automatic framework also incorporates the surrounding bone and nerve fibers and assigns constitutive parameters to all components of the finite element model. This model can then be used to study in silico the effects of the electrical stimulation of the cochlear implant. Results are shown on a total of 25 models of patients. In all cases, a final mesh suitable for finite element simulations was obtained, in an average time of 94 s. The framework has proven to be fast and robust, and is promising for a detailed prognosis of the cochlear implantation surgery.
authors.affiliation: Simbiosys Research Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain. nerea.mangado@upf.edu.
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mangado
authors.affiliation: Simbiosys Research Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceresa
authors.affiliation: Asclepios Research Project, INRIA Sophia Antipolis, Valbonne, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duchateau
authors.affiliation: Denmark Technical University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hans Martin
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kjer
authors.affiliation: Alma Medical Imaging, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.affiliation: Simbiosys Research Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dejea Velardo
authors.affiliation: Med-EL, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mistrik
authors.affiliation: Denmark Technical University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Rasmus R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.affiliation: Denmark Technical University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fagertun
authors.affiliation: Simbiosys Research Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noailly
authors.affiliation: Simbiosys Research Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piella
authors.affiliation: Simbiosys Research Group, Department of Information and Communication Technologies, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.|ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: González Ballester
mesh_terms: D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
keywords: Automatic framework; Cochlear implants; Multi-object modeling; Statistical shape model; Three dimensional finite element mesh; Virtual surgical insertion