Simulation-Based Morphing of Personalized Models of the Torso for Scoliosis Brace Design – Preliminary Results

Abstract

Computational and personalized design of braces for patients suffering from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a subject that has not been extensively studied and faces several unknowns. One of the most challenging tasks is the development of patient-specific biomechanical models of the torso. The first step required in order to build a personalized model is the acquisition of the patient’s specific geometry, i.e., the bones and joints of the skeleton. To this end, this study morphs a template torso model into patient-specific data in the following way: We start by acquiring x-rays, and we annotate personalized landmarks. Then, we use as template a biomechanical torso model consisted of a multibody dynamic system coupled with FEM and we proceed to the morphing in two steps. First, an initial tuning by adjusting the global scale of the model and finally a finer one, taking into account local deformations.