FINITE ELEMENT MODELING FROM CT SCAN DATA
S. Diemente", B . S . , C.G. Lewis*, M.D. , M.D. Nowak*+, D.SC.,
and D.J. Leone+, PhD.
*Department of Orthopaedics
University of Connecticut Health Center
10 Talcott Notch
Farmington, CT 06032
+Department of Civil Engineering
University of Hartford
200 Bloomfield Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
Abstract
Work done over the past twenty years
establishes finite element modeling (FEM) as
a valuable tool for structural analysis in
orthopaedic biomechanics. However, most
groups build models by manual measurement
and data entry, or by hand-digitizing
radiographic images. This paper describes
an automated method for building finite
element models. The algorithm obtains
binary image data from CT scans taken on an
Elscint Exel 2400 Elite scanner, and
manipulates the data into a format accepted
by PATRAN. The data manipulation algorithm
runs on a 2 8 6 pc, and PATRAN is used on a
VaxStation 3100. It took an experienced
user less than one hour to import over 750
grid points into PATRAN.
Utroduction
Finite element modeling is a very
valuable tool for structural analysis in
orthopaedic biomechanics. Since 1972, many
researchers have built models to study
various physiological conditions [l].
However, three-dimensional models sometimes
require a prohibitive number of man hours to
build, because of the complex geometries
encountered in the human anatomy. This
paper describes a method of automating data
acquisition and entry, by using CT scan
data.
When a CT scan is produced on a computer
screen, every pixel of the image has an
associated gray level, correlating with the
density of the scanned object [ 2 ] . Because
finite element modeling software accepts
(x,y,z) coordinate data, the CT scan gray
level data has to be manipulated into the
correct format.
The set of data described in this paper
is a cylinder, with a smaller cylinder of a
different density inserted in one end. This
geometry is a very simplified approximation
of the femur/implant scenario.
Methods
Fauioment; CT scan data was generated on an
Exel 2400 Elite scanner (Elscint, Inc.,
Haifa, Israel). The program for data
manipulation runs on a 2 8 6 pc. The pc
program outputs the data onto a diskette,
which the user copies onto a Vaxstation 3100
IDigital Equipment Corp.) by running it in
the soft pc mode. PATRAN (PDA Engineering,
Palo Alto, CA) also runs on the Vaxstation
3100.
Authorized licensed use limited to: S.J.B. Institute of Technology. Downloaded on August 09,2010 at 05:35:30 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
Object Definition: When the data
manipulation software on the pc first
generates the image from the CT scan
data, each of the sixteen colors represents
a range of gray level values. This image
may be adjusted and redisplayed, until the
user produces a well-defined image of
background, bone, and prosthesis.
Edae Detection: Once the user defines the
objects, the algorithm sets all of the
pixels that are in the gray ievel ranges for
background to zero, and the pixels in the
bone and prosthesis ranges to fifty and two
hundred, respectively. By looking at the
differences between pixels on each line, the
algorithm may detect edges if it finds
non-zero gradients. The x and y coordinates
of an edge point are the corresponding
column and row of the image.
An edge is assumed to exist at a
non-zero gradient if differences of zero
exist for five pixels before, and five
pixels after the non-zero gradient. The
specific value of the gradient determines
the interface type.
Point Selection: In the next step, the
program displays the edges on the screen,
and prompts the user to enter the number of
points to be converted to the PATRAN
format. The algorithm then chooses the
specified number of evenly spaced points
from the edges by using the ratio of the
total number of edge points to the number of
points to be selected.
Data OutDut:Finally, the software obtains
the true x and y coordinates by multiplying
the x and y coordinates of the selected edge
points by the image scale. The scale, as
well as the z value for every CT scan slice,
are part of the header information that is
associated with the CT scan gray level
data. Once the user has extracted data for
all of the CT slices, the algorithm
concatenates all of the coordinate data and
outputs it to a file. This file is in the
neutral file format for "grids" (i.e.,
points) accepted by PATRAN.
Discussion
The main advantage of using this
automated technique to input points in
PATRAN is that it saves time. A n
experienced user created the first model
with this software by selecting twenty
points from the edges detected in fourteen
 CT scan slices, resulting in more than 750
points. Data extraction took approximately
one half hour, and it took only a few
seconds to import the file into PATliAN. In
addition, this technique eliminates most of
the potential for human error associated
with data measurement and entry.
The disadvantage of this system is that
the model is only as accurate as the user’s
ability to define the edges. If the
materials scanned are similar in density,
the user will rely on his or her eye to
determine the ranges for the edges.
However, this generally should not be a
problem for large objects.
Work still to be done on this project
includes creating a finite element model of
an epoxy model of the human femur with an
implant, using the automated method. This
model will be compared to a finite element
model of the same object, created by
digitizing images produced by the CT
scanner. In addition, models will be built
with increased numbers of CT slices,
resulting in an increased number of grid
points, in an effort to get the results of
the analyses to converge.

References
111 R. Huiskes and E . Y . S . Chao, “A Survey
of Finite Element Analysis in Orthopedic
Biomechanics: The First Decade,”
J.Biomechanics. vol. 16, pp.385-409, no.6,
1983.
[ 2 ] A . Macovski, Medical Imauina. Englewood
Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.,
1983, ch.7, pp.106-144.

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