Pregnant female anthropometry from ct scans for finite element model development

In this study, anthropometry data is collected from a CT scan of a pregnant abdomen at 32 weeks gestation. Over 1500 fetal losses occur each year in the United States due to motor vehicles crashes. Pregnant occupants involved in motor vehicle crashes are at risk for pregnancy-specific injuries. Masks of the fetus, uterus, placenta, and each of the abdominal organs are created by segmentation of the CT slices and three-dimensional volume renderings are formed. The volume and Hounsfield unit ranges for the masks of each abdominal organ are calculated. The total volume of the uterus in the 3rd trimester is measured as 3378 cm3. By measuring the length of bones on the fetal skeleton from CT slices and the 3D rendering, the gestational age of the fetus is estimated to be 32 weeks by comparison with literature values. Measurements of each of the abdominal organs are also obtained from the 3D rendering to create a blueprint of the pregnant anatomy. The masks developed and the anthropometric measurements taken will be used to develop a more accurate FE model of the pregnant female for use in the research and development in academia, industry, and government.