Finite element modeling of anatomical structure

A system for generating a finite element model of an anatomical structure based on a fitted model of the anatomical structure and association data, the system comprising:

• an input interface configured for receiving:
• model data defining a segmentation model for segmenting the anatomical structure, the segmentation model representing a reference shape of the anatomical structure, and
• association data that includes an association between desired mesh properties and a segmentation model part of the segmentation model, the segmentation model part representing a pre-determined anatomical region of interest, wherein the desired mesh properties include a desired mesh resolution and a desired finite element type;
• a segmentation subsystem configured for applying the segmentation model to a medical image of a subject, so as to fit the segmentation model to the anatomical structure in the medical image, thereby obtaining a fitted model providing a segmentation of the anatomical structure, the fitted model comprising a fitted model part providing a segmentation of the pre-determined anatomical region of interest;
• a finite element model generating subsystem configured for generating the finite element model based on the fitted model and the association between the desired mesh properties and the segmentation model part, said generating comprising meshing a finite element model part of the finite element model in accordance with the desired mesh properties associated with the segmentation model part by the association data, the finite element model part corresponding with the pre-determined anatomical region of interest represented by the segmentation model part.