Structural Dynamics – Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Often it can be observed in the human body that the fluid flows influence the structural behaviour of the surrounding tissue and vice versa. Consider an aortic valve being opened by a flow of blood or an upper airway collapsing during sleep apnea thereby obstructing the flow. These phenomena can be described as Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI).

Besides these Fluid-Structure Interactions, the human bone structure also experiences loading caused by other factors like implants, orthopedic or cranio-maxillofacial surgery, etc. Similar to the flow equations, mathematical equations also exist to describe the behaviour of a structure following a load. This load can be, as explained, blood pushing against the structure, but it can also be a load caused by muscular tension or gravity pulling. It can be for instance very valuable to know the stresses endured by joints, implants, etc. during everyday movements.

FluidDA also has the knowledge and facilties to analyse and simulate this structural behaviour. This assists in coming to the correct diagnosis and it can improve and optimise the treatment.

Examples of the biomedical structural dynamics are:

• Functionality analysis of stents and grafts
• Upper airway collapse during sleep apnea
• Valve dynamics in the respiratory or cardiac system
• Optimising design of highly stressed implants
• Stresses, strains and displacements in mandibula during osteotomie surgery
• Assessment of mandibular movements and airway expansion with Mandibular Advancement Device