Subject-Specific Head Model Generation by Mesh Morphing: A Personalization Framework and Its Applications

Abstract

Finite element (FE) head models have become powerful tools in many fields within neuroscience, especially for studying the biomechanics of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Subject-specific head models accounting for geometric variations among subjects are needed for more reliable predictions. However, the generation of such models suitable for studying TBIs remains a significant challenge and has been a bottleneck hindering personalized simulations. This study presents a personalization framework for generating subject-specific models across the lifespan and for pathological brains with significant anatomical changes by morphing a baseline model. The framework consists of hierarchical multiple feature and multimodality imaging registrations, mesh morphing, and mesh grouping, which is shown to be efficient with a heterogeneous dataset including a newborn, 1-year-old (1Y), 2Y, adult, 92Y, and a hydrocephalus brain. The generated models of the six subjects show competitive personalization accuracy, demonstrating the capacity of the framework for generating subject-specific models with significant anatomical differences. The family of the generated head models allows studying age-dependent and groupwise brain injury mechanisms. The framework for efficient generation of subject-specific FE head models helps to facilitate personalized simulations in many fields of neuroscience.