Medical imaging based in silico head model for ischaemic stroke simulation

Stroke is one of the most common causes of death and a leading factor of disability in adults worldwide. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is significantly reduced, potentially leading to the formation of brain oedema. Owing to the rigid nature of the skull, brain expansion results in the shifting of tissue structure, often captured by measurement of the midline shift (MLS). Clinically, MLS has been used in practice as an indication of stroke severity, potential tissue damage and as a way to assess whether decompressive surgery should be performed. However, a growing body of research points towards limitations in such predictive ability. Inspired by the recent progress made in traumatic brain injury simulations, in silico experiments appear as the ideal candidate to elucidate stroke consequences on brain tissues, e.g., morphological changes, in particular in the overarching context of computer model assisted clinical decision making support. To this end, two biologically-informed finite element head models, human and rat, were constructed to support such analysis. [...]

Medical imaging based in silico head model for ischaemic stroke simulation Articles