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Industry Intelligence: Building better bodies

Predicting the onset of osteoporosis among individuals may take a leap forward thanks to product development software from Ansys Inc.(Canonsburg, PA, USA; www.ansys.com). Its software is being used to simulate structural and fluid flow dynamics within the human anatomy based on a collection of anatomical, physiological and pathological data collected by the Osteoporotic Virtual Physiological Human Project (VPHOP; www.vphop.eu). Launched in 2008, VPHOP aims to develop a new generation of medical technologies to predict the patient-specific risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture. Current treatments for osteoporosis focus on fracture prevention by means of a risk assessment based on historical patient data from similar reference populations.

The project will develop patient-specific computer models based on conventional diagnostic imaging methods. The software from Ansys, which is typically used in product development applications from design concept to final-stage testing and validation, has been harnessed to perform simulations to predict the daily loading of the skeleton for normal and abnormal activities. The computer models will allow clinicians to predict the actual risk and location of fractures for each patient, currently and into the future.

“Current approaches to fracture risk assessment are only 60 to 70% accurate,” says VPHOP coordinator Marco Viceconti, PhD. Applying technologies such as the simulation software to new diagnostic procedures can substantially improve these results, he adds.

“The fact that [Ansys] can play an important role in VPHOP and help to improve and extend the lives of millions of people is both humbling and quite extraordinary,” says Jim Cashman, Ansys president and CEO. “This project also demonstrates how our software can be a real driver in the development of patient-specific healthcare. Once you have the geometry of part of an individual's anatomy—something that is easily available by means of a CT or MRI scan—you also have the technology to run simulations of structural, fluid and heat flows along with electric and magnetic fields. The potential growth for engineering simulation in the healthcare industry is immense,” adds Cashman.

VPHOP is a collaborative integrated project co-funded by the European Commission under the seventh Framework Programme. The project was initiated in September 2008 and will run for four years. It will enable clinicians to provide accurate prognoses and implement more-effective treatment strategies based both on drug treatments and forms of direct intervention treatment. A searchable database will be developed, which can later be used for patient-specific modeling applications ranging from osteoporosis to cardiovascular disease to cerebral aneurysm.

www.ansys.com