Sensitivity study of the morphometric fitting on the pressure field inside ankle joints

Abstract

The increasing importance of human joints study as complex mechanical systems involves medical data processing, system fluid dynamic modelling and the establishing of reliable boundary conditions. Understanding the dynamical behaviour of joints is crucial to face prosthesis design and the associated research. This process is presented in a case study of the human ankle joint. From a proper medical image segmentation, bone surfaces are 2D-modelled as constant curvature surfaces (circles) under different criteria. The fluid dynamic problem is solved under different boundary conditions. Finally, the pressure field is obtained inside the joint and the sensitivity of the system with respect to the fitting methodology is consequently analyzed. Concluding remarks outline the findings for practical use in system study.