The mesh-matching algorithm: an automatic 3D mesh generator for finite element structures

Several authors have employed finite element analysis for stress and strain analysis in orthopaedic biomechanics. Unfortunately, the definition of thr ee-dimensional models is time consuming (mainly because of the manual 3D me shing process) and consequently the number of analyses to be performed is l imited. The authors have investigated a new patient-specific method allowin g automatically 3D mesh generation for structures as complex as bone for ex ample. This method, called the mesh-matching (M-M) algorithm, generated aut omatically customized 3D meshes of anatomical structures from an already ex isting model. The M-M algorithm has been used to generate FE models of 10 p roximal human femora from an initial one which had been experimentally vali dated. The automatically generated meshes seemed to demonstrate satisfying results. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.