Techniques on mesh generation for the brain shift simulation

TL;DR

This paper explores various mesh generation techniques to optimize real-time biomechanical modeling of brain deformations during neurosurgery, aiming to improve neuronavigation accuracy.

Contribution

It evaluates different mesh generation methods focusing on element quality, quantity, and constraints for intraoperative, patient-specific brain deformation simulation.

Findings

Identified optimal mesh generation strategies for real-time brain modeling.

Compared mesh quality and computational efficiency of different methods.

Provided guidelines for intraoperative mesh generation constraints.

Abstract

Neurosurgery interventions involve complex tracking systems because a tissue deformation takesplace. The neuronavigation system relies only on preoperative images. In order to overcome the soft tissue deformations and guarantee the accuracy of the navigation a biomechanical model can be used during surgery to simulate the deformation of the brain. Therefore, a mesh generation for an optimal real-time Finite Element Model (FEM) becomes crucial. In this work we present different alternatives from a meshgeneration point of view that were evaluated to optimize the process in terms of elements quantity and quality as well as constraints of a intraoperative application and patient specific data.