Investigation on human lumbar spine MRI image using finite element method and soft computing techniques

Abstract

In an overall human population, maximum number of adults suffers from back pain. Low back pain in any individual will greatly affect their daily routine. Recent Developments of Bio Science and the superior availability of Computer Technology enabled abundant active researches combining digital technologies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with finite element analysis (FEA) offer better diagnosis and treatment options. Clinically, lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDDD) is of the main reason for low back pain. Degenerative disc disease in the lumbar region of the lower back is due to a compromised disc leading to low back pain. Aging and overloading factors are also some of the causes for low back pain. Once the chronic disc problem has been diagnosed, the conservative treatments like: specific rest, friction force medical aid or physiotherapy and exercise are followed. When correctly diagnosed, an excessive amount of medical/surgical treatments can be avoided. The aim of the study is to generate a mesh model and numerically simulate the biomechanical characteristics of the human spine, namely two vertebrae (L4 and L5) and inter vertebrae disc using finite element analysis (FEA) technique. In this process the bony areas of every MRI scanned image is segmented and the boundary lines are stacked into a smooth surface. Additionally, the technique generates the quantity mesh exploitation linear unit that is used to process the mesh for agreement. Moreover, L4 and L5 with disc were considered as linear materials with the exception of the ligaments. The contact behaviour of the two bones, simulation of disc and obtained displacements and stress describe about the pre-operation of human lumbar spine. The results depict that the potential fracture of the considered patient with respect to displacements. In this paper the implementation of various filtering techniques like median filter technique, Wiener filter technique and bilateral filter technique have been discussed. Using various edge detection algorithms namely, Canny edge detection, Sobel edge detection, Prewitt edge detection and Roberts edge detection, the results were compared. Among them, spine Canny edge detection algorithm produced effective output using MATLAB estimating the following parameters like total deformation, equivalent elastic strain, maximum and minimum principal elastic strain, normal elastic strain, shear elastic strain, equivalent stress, maximum and minimum principal stress, normal stress and shear stress. With the help of these parameters, the human spine model was analyzed and computed under different conditions at various degree of angles like 30°, 60° and 90° using the simulation software ANSYS and CATIA. The implementation has done with MATLAB, whereas the stress and strain have been found at the plate bone of aspect joint of L4 and L5.