Digital elderly human body modeling

Abstract

An anatomically detailed elderly human body model is under development. Using the anthropometric database of domestic nation-wide size survey, SizeKorea, a standard size and shape of 50th %tile elderly was constructed. Through the local recruitment process, a male volunteer with 71 years of age, 163cm of height and 63kg of weight has been selected. The exterior (skin) geometries were acquired from whole body 3D laser scan. And the geometries of interior (skeleton and organ) were reconstructed using CT scanning in a supine posture, and then adjusted in an occupant posture based on X-ray, and Ultrasonic data. A particular attention has been paid into the combining process of exterior and interior geometries especially for joint articulation positions since they were measured at different postures (sitting vs. supine). A whole ribcage of fresh PMHS which possessed similar anthropometry and age of standard 50th %tile elderly was harvested and dissected into pieces for the precise gauge of cortical rib bone thickness and trabecular bone mineral density distributions using micro CT machine. After completing the morphological construction of elderly human body, the finite element modeling will be processed by meshing elements and assigning mechanical properties to various biological tissues which reflect the aging effect. Copyright © 2009 SAE International.