A biomechanical modeling of human pharyngeal muscular dysfunction by using FEM(Finite Element Method)

Pharynx is a system transporting foods by peristaltic motion(contraction and expansion movement) into the esophagus and functioning as airway passages, In this study, structural changes of pharyngeal dysfunction is analyzed by biomechanical model using CT and FEM(finite element method). Loading condition assumed that equal pressure loaded sequentially to inside of pharyngeal tissue. In order to analyze the pharyngeal muscular dysfunction by biomechanical model, the pharyngeal dysfunctions classified into 3 cases. Taking into account the clinical complication by neuromuscular symptoms such as pharyngeal dysfunction after stroke, which is a change of material property is caused by muscular tissue stiffness, deformation of cross sectional area of the pharynx is analyzed increasing the stiffness 25%, 50%, 75% in each case on the basis of stress-strain relationship. Based on three - dimensional reconstruction of pharyngeal structure using limited - factor - techniques and the optimization procedure by means of inverse dynamic approach, the biomechanical model of the human pharynx is implemented. The results may be used as clinical index illustrating the degree of pharyngeal muscular dysfunction. This study may be used as useful diagnostic model in discovering early deglutitory impediment caused by physiological or pathological pharyngeal dysfunction.ope