Simplified Geometries for Intracranial Acoustic Modeling

Abstract

The geometric complexity of the contents of the head confounds mechanical analysis of intracranial structures. Conventional models for computational analysis are typically created through a laborious segmentation and reconstruction process highly dependent on expert labor and anatomical insight. This study explores a deterministic process for construction of a simplified, anatomically-relevant head model appropriate for acoustical modeling. Various key anatomical features with acoustical significance are reviewed. Models of increasing complexity are generated, spanning a range from coupled concentric spheres to more advanced geometries incorporating ventricles, brain structures, and other anatomical landmarks. Geometric relevance of the models is assessed by comparison to a high-fidelity computational geometry derived from medical imagery. These techniques and models are useful for a variety of studies investigating phenomena such as traumatic brain injury mechanics and industrial safety.