Method of modeling muscular tissue with active finite elements

• US 7,096,166 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Tsui, Chi Pong, Tang, Chak Yin
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US10/051,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 703/2, 703/7, 703/9, 702/34
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/23 using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM]

Abstract

A method of modeling muscular tissue with active finite elements. The motion and stress-strain distribution of the muscular tissue can be predicted using interconnections of the active finite elements. Each active finite element includes a motor element and at least one passive element, such as a dashpot or spring.

Claims

1. A method of modeling muscular tissue with active finite elements, the method comprising:

constructing a plurality of active finite elements, each active finite element including a motor element and at least one passive element connected to and interacting with the motor element, the at least one passive element being selected from the group consisting of dashpot elements and spring elements;

constructing a model of muscular tissue comprising the plurality of the active finite elements, with the plurality of active finite elements interconnected; and

analyzing the model to predict movement and interaction of the muscular tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said active finite elements are one-dimensional.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said active finite elements are at least one of linear, triangular, rectangular, quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, decagonal, polygonal, tetrahedral, pentahedral, hexahedral, octahedral, decahedral, and polyhedral.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said active finite elements are two-dimensional.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said active finite elements are three-dimensional.