APPLICATION OF COMPUTER GRAPHICS IN BIOMECHANICS

Antoanela Náaji *

Abstract
Complex parts of human skeleton are difficult to model using traditional mechanical
techniques. Computational modeling techniques applied to the human body provide a possibility to
analyze without interference in the human body.
The paper presents the advantages of using 3D models in biomechanics and medicine, a
survey of the most important modelling techniques applied in the solid object representation and
the specific modeling software.
The objective of the paper is to design the 3D models of the upper limb skeleton using CAD
software.

Keywords: 3D model, CAD/CAM, biomechanics, computer modeling.

1. Introduction

The growth and the development of computer simulation has been rapid and its uses have
extended from the entertainment media to the airline and automotive industries, military, different
branches of science like medicine, engineering, physics and certainly to education.
To illustrate the potential that a combination of the knowledge from biology, engineering
and computer graphics can have on the understanding of the development, maintenance and repair
of the skeleton and on the clinical management of bone disease is the essence in the biomechanical
research.
Biomechanics is the theory of how tissues, cells, muscles, bones, organs and the motion of
them and their form and functions are regulated by basic mechanical proprieties.
A comparison with engineering may help us to understand the principles that presumably
guide the evolution of bone strength. As in many sciences, the integration of experimental and
analytical model is critical to gain and understanding of the skeletal response to mechanical factors.
Experiments provide insights and data, which can then be interpreted within the context of
analytical frameworks. These investigations are greatly impacted by recent technological advances
in imaging, computational mechanics, genetics and molecular biology. The integration of these
techniques will provide important insight into skeletal development and disease.

*
Universitatea de Vest “Vasile Goldiş” Arad, anaaji@uvvg.ro
 In medical application, attention of researchers has now turned toward using combined 3D
reconstruction and virtual environment technologies to train clinicians and to help surgeons plan
patient-specific, complex procedures like plastic surgery, surgery for trauma from accidents and
reconstruction surgery. The 3D models are very useful in simulation of bone fractures and internal
fixations with implants. These models are also important to understand how human musculoskeletal
structures adapt to external forces disturbances. Because of the complexity of these structures and
because not all the biological and anatomical data about them are known, there are many
possibilities for how the system might work. Computational modeling techniques applied to the
human body and skeleton provide a possibility to analyze without interference in the human body
[7], [8], [9].

2. Computational modeling techniques

Because computer graphics has spawned a large number of different methods, the
applications have grown and diversified. Even if there are many methods of modeling, like Petri
nets, VRML in solid modeling, the most adequate technique is geometric modeling.
The factors that the representation trends to determine are:
- the data structure, the form of the processing algorithms;
- the final appearance of an object;
- the ease of editing the shape of the object;
- the compatibility of the model with different programs.
Depending of the data structure and the information about the model, the 3D systems are
classified in:
- oriented on edges (wireframe);
- oriented on surfaces (surface model);
- oriented on volumes (solid model).
From these, the solid models present the most complicated design. There are some
techniques of representation of the solid models:
Boundary representation (B-rep). This is a classic representation form in 3D graphics.
Polygonal object are approximated by a net of planer polygonal facets. In the general case, an object
possesses curves surfaces and the facets are an approximation to such a surface. Modeling or
creating polygonal objects is straightforward; however there are certain practical difficulties. The
accuracy of the model, or the difference between the faceted representation and the curved surface
of the object, is usually arbitrary. As far as final image quality is concerned, the size of individual
polygons should ideally depend on local spatial curvature. Where the curvature change rapidly,
more polygons are required per unit area of the surface.
Bicubic parametric patches. Objects are represented exactly by nets of elements called
patches. For most applications, object modeling or building a data structure representation of a
three-dimensional object is more difficult when bicubic patches are used. To maintain the integrity
of the representation, continuity constraints need to be maintained across all boundaries. A patch
cannot be set up without regard to its neighbors. Because of this, patch descriptions tent to be
generated semi-automatically using, for example, a sweeping strategy for modeling. The advantages
of this technique are: the representation is “fluid” and by using software to adjust the position of the
control points, a shape of an object can be adjusted and because it is an exact analytic form, mass
proprieties, such as volume, surface area and moments of inertia can be extracted from the
description.
Constructed solid geometry (CSG) is used in solid modeling – an object is represented
exactly by a collection of elementary objects called geometric primitives, such as spheres, cylinders
and boxes. They are combined using boolean set operators and linear transformation. The idea is
that objects are usually parts that will eventually be manufactured by casting, machining or
extruding. The method imposes limitation on the operations available to create and modify a model
because boolean operations are global, they affect the whole solid.
Space subdivision technique is a method that takes into consideration the entire space that
object is occupied, dividing it in “atomic” volume elements (units) named voxels (volume
elements). This technique is very costly in terms of memory consumption, and a number of schemes
are available that impose a structural organization on the basic voxel labeling scheme. In three-
dimensional computer graphics such data representation are used most often as secondary or
auxiliary data structure.
Analytical solid modeling (ASM) is a technique similar with three-dimensional
izoparametric forms from finite elements analyze (FEA). This method is adequate in modeling
complex objects and for calculates the volume proprieties of solid objects [3], [5], [10].

3. Graphic software for representation of 3D models

Three-dimensional computer graphics now embraces a large number of application areas,

from the world of television to more practical area such as CAD of mechanical engineering parts. In
this sense, three-dimensional graphics is possibly the most important aspect of computer graphics.
While certain aspects are locked into particular area, parametric surface techniques are used almost
exclusively in engineering.
Computer graphics include all computer system with pictural and textual output, as opposed
to nongraphic programming whose output is alphanumeric text alone.
Graphics software, as in all other computer software, consists of a series of coded statements
that instruct the device to perform in the describe fashion. The most important graphics software
consists of a set of subroutines used to produce pictures on the screen. It consists of a series of
graphics primitives, such as algorithms for creating lines, ellipses, rectangles, circles, arcs, polygons
and text. In addition, these tools must include facilities for widowing and viewporting: functions
that permit making images larger or smaller, as well as placing them selectively in different parts of
the screen, rotate them, change the colors, illuminate them with different intensities and add
animation effects.
Aside from CAD/CAM programs, there are two types of software available for generating
graphics on most computers. The first group consists of a “paint” programs in which graphic screen
can be created from a icon based menu using input devices including keyboard, mouse or digitizer.
The second software type is the “graphic application package” which provides the previously noted
graphics primitives interfaced with a computer language.
No discussion of graphic hardware and software could be complete without reference to
devices designed to photograph images and to convert them to digital data. Computer tomography
(CT) is used to quantify the bone geometry. The data in its digital form is then used in conjunction
with CAD programs.
Also, finite element modeling (FEM) techniques advanced rapidly since they were
introduced to bone mechanics. The reasons for rapid development include: the accuracy of bone
geometries; the method allows parametric variation of design parameters; FE-models can be
combined with bone remodeling algorithms and allow other types of analysis.
Computer-aided analysis of three-dimensional reconstruction of radiographs and computed
tomographic images has clinical application in the analysis, simulation and design of a wide variety
of orthopedic reconstructive procedures. For presentation and analysis, the computer can
reconstruct the three-dimensional anatomy of bone and soft tissue. These computer reconstructions
may be applied clinically to osteotomy, total joint replacement and allgraft reconstructive surgery.
Custom-design orthopedic implants and anatomically designed implants are becoming more
common and necessary in orthopedic practice. Custom prostheses are often necessary in limb
salvage procedure for cancer surgery and in total joint replacement for cases of juvenile rheumatoid
arthritis.
The musculoskeletal models of the human skeleton incorporate techniques of computer-
aided-geometric-design (CAGD), computer-aided-design (CAD) and computer-aided-
manufacturing (CAM). Each designer has his own method of designing, customizing and producing
models.
Researcher and students created new software packages for biomechanics laboratories. For
example, SIMM (Software for Interactive Musculoskeletal Modeling) is used in 70 biomechanics
laboratories around the world and it provides a common framework for the development of a wide
range of models to study human and animal movement [4], [6], [11], [12].

4. The 3D models of the upper limb skeleton

For obtaining the 3D models I used the Solid Works software. Modeling free forms needs
some techniques for creating the features like bosses, cuts and holes. The most important features
used in modeling the bones of the upper limb were: Extruded, Extruded Cut, Revolve, Lighting and
some of the capabilities for rounding objects.
The 3D models are presented in Fig.1 and Fig 2. These models can be imported in different
analysis programs like Pro Engineer (Fig.3.) from where we can extract data like: mass, volume,
centroid, moments of inertia, products of inertia and principal moments and X-Y-Z directions about
centroid [1], [2].

Fig.1. The 3D models

a) Humerus b) Radius c) Ulna
 Fig.2. The 3D arm models

Fig.3. Models of the arm bones imported in Pro Engineer

5. Conclusions

The potential for computer graphics to contribute to biomechanics and medicine progress is
promising. It is important that not only knowledge of the natural tissue is focuses on. Also
controlling and modeling mechanical stimuli will be essential to develop appropriately engineered
organs and how to integrate the function with the host.
Future research work would focus more on getting the computer models more realistic with
tendons, ligaments and muscles attaching the bones. A better model to analyze these complex joint-
mechanisms could lead towards predicting and healing damage on the tendons, ligaments and the
interfacing bone in the joints. These models might answer plenty of questions.

6. Bibliography

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