Hello to all! For my master’s thesis, I am developing a biomechanical simulation of an elbow affected by post-traumatic stiffness using iMSTK and starting from segmented images with 3D Slicer. My challenge is to accurately represent the anatomical and pathological components of the joint, including bones, ligaments, tendons and the stiffness phenomena that limit movement.
I am looking for specific tips to model this complex structure and to correctly simulate joint stiffness. Here are the points on which I would need some indication:
1. Elbow and tendon attachment:
• * How can I set up the elbow joint model correctly in iMSTK?
- What is the best method to “attach” tendons to bones and simulate ligaments so that they
respond realistically to tension and compression? I read that iMSTK supports specific
constraints to simulate anatomical connections, but I don’t know which configurations are
the most suitable for an articulation like the elbow.
2. Simulation of post-traumatic stiffness:
- How can I represent the phenomenon of post-traumatic stiffness? Should I change
parameters such as stiffness or elasticity, or use a dedicated model? - Are there examples of simulations in iMSTK that represent limitations of movement due to
stiffness or injury that I could consult or adapt?
3.Transition from segmented images to anatomical simulation:
-
Starting with segmented images in 3D Slicer, what is the most efficient workflow to
import and convert bone structures and soft tissues into iMSTK-compatible models? -
Should I use intermediate tools or export to specific formats to maintain the anatomical detail?
4. Documentation and resources for the joint biomechanics in iMSTK:
- Can you recommend resources or tutorials, even advanced ones, for the modeling of joints with pathologies? Any resource on joint biomechanics in iMSTK would be extremely useful to better understand how to represent tendons, ligaments and bones.
5. Integration of customized clinical parameters:
- I would like to integrate specific clinical parameters (e.g., clinical stiffness measurements and motion limitations) to make the simulation more realistic. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to adapt the physical models of iMSTK to incorporate this data?
Thank you so much for any suggestions or resources! It would be a great help to understand how to structure this work in order to obtain an accurate and realistic simulation of the elbow.