A comprehensive tool for image-based generation of fetus and pregnant women mesh models for numerical dosimetry studies
Abstract
Fetal dosimetry studies require the development of accurate numerical 3D
models of the pregnant woman and the fetus. This paper proposes a 3D articulated
fetal growth model covering the main phases of pregnancy and a pregnant
woman model combining the utero-fetal structures and a deformable non-pregnant
woman body envelope. The structures of interest were automatically or semi-
automatically (depending on the stage of pregnancy) segmented from a database
of images and surface meshes were generated. By interpolating linearly between
fetal structures, each one can be generated at any age and in any position.
A method is also described to insert the utero-fetal structures in the maternal
body. A validation of the fetal models is proposed comparing a set of biometric
measurements to medical reference charts. The usability of the pregnant woman
model in dosimetry studies is also investigated, with respect to the in
uence of
the abdominal fat layer.