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Technical note: Creating a four‐dimensional model of the liver using finite element analysis
Author(s) -
Brock K. K.,
Hollister S. J.,
Dawson L. A.,
Balter J. M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.1485055
Subject(s) - finite element method , breathing , deformation (meteorology) , nuclear medicine , position (finance) , mathematics , medicine , physics , anatomy , thermodynamics , finance , meteorology , economics
Finite element analysis and two liver CT scans were used to construct a four‐dimensional (4D) model of the liver during breathing. A linear elastic, small deformation mechanical model was applied to one patient to obtain intermediate organ position and shape between exhale and inhale. Known transformations between anatomically defined subsections of the exhale and inhale liver surfaces were applied as constraints to the exhale CT liver model. Intermediate states were then calculated and time weighted to determine a 4D model of the liver as it deforms during the breathing cycle. This model can be used to calculate a more accurate dose distribution during radiotherapy.