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A dynamic finite element model of human cervical spine with in vivo kinematic validation

  • Article
  • Bionic Engineering
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Most previous cervical spine finite element (FE) models were validated using in vitro cadaver measurement data from literatures. Although in vitro measurement can provide valuable data for model verification, the in vivo mechanical and physiological conditions of the cervical spine during its natural motions cannot be reproduced in vitro. In this study, a human FE model of skull (C0) and spinal vertebrae (C1–T1) was developed. The in vivo kinematic characteristics of head and neck were obtained from optoelectronic system, and used for the validation of the FE model. The simulation results showed good agreement with the measured data in left/right lateral bending and left/right axial rotation, while discrepancy existed during flexion. The predicted segmental cervical vertebral angles were compared against data from previous in vivo experiment, too. Furthermore, the skin shift data from previous study was used to compensate the experimental measurement during flexion and left/right lateral bending. The results showed the model was successfully validated with the in vivo experimental data.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the International Cooperation Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China (50920105504), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51105167, 51290290, 51290292), Postdoctoral Project (2013M530985), and the Scientific and Technological Development Planning Project of Jilin Province (20130522187JH).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun, 130022, China

    Jiajia Wang, Zhihui Qian, Lei Ren & Luquan Ren

  2. School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    Lei Ren

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  1. Jiajia Wang
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  2. Zhihui Qian
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  3. Lei Ren
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  4. Luquan Ren
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Correspondence to Zhihui Qian.

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Wang, J., Qian, Z., Ren, L. et al. A dynamic finite element model of human cervical spine with in vivo kinematic validation. Chin. Sci. Bull. 59, 4578–4588 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0452-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-014-0452-x

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