ELMA

ELMA classifies brain tissues from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and assigns electrical conductivities to support Finite Element Method (FEM) electric field simulations in Comsol Multiphysics for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) modeling.

Key Features:

• MRI-based tissue classification: Classifies MRI into grey matter, white matter, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid.
• Electrical conductivity assignment: Assigns electrical conductivities to each tissue type based on empirical data.
• Brain tissue composition maps: Generates detailed maps of brain tissue composition from MRI for physiologically realistic models.
• FEM simulation support: Provides processed tissue maps and conductivity assignments for FEM simulations in Comsol Multiphysics.
• Integration with DBSim: Outputs processed data for use by DBSim to enable patient-specific electric field simulations.
• DBS lead models supported: Enables simulations around commonly used leads including Medtronic 3387, 3389 and Abbott 6180, 6181.
• Electric field estimation: Enables estimation of electric field distribution around DBS electrodes for stimulation modeling.

Scientific Applications:

• FEM-based DBS modeling: Setting up FEM simulations in Comsol Multiphysics to model electric fields around DBS electrodes.
• Patient-specific electric field simulation: Enabling patient-specific electric field simulations using DBSim with tissue maps and conductivities from ELMA.
• Electrode placement and targeting: Informing optimization of DBS electrode placement and identification of target areas via simulated electric fields.

Methodology:

Uses MRI data to classify voxels into grey matter, white matter, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid, assigns empirical electrical conductivities to each tissue type, and provides processed tissue maps and conductivity assignments for FEM simulations in Comsol Multiphysics and for use by DBSim.