Simplified Geometries for Intracranial Acoustic Modeling

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.