Careful study and simulation of mechanical properties of biological tissues and structures for surgical planning purposes is of great importance in order to limit the damage to healthy tissue during surgery and, moreover, to allow precise restoration of anatomical details destroyed or altered due to pathologies or surgical manoeuvres. In particular, accurate modelling of the mechanical behavior of the tissues is required. To achieve accurate representation of various organs and or anatomical districts, various techniques were proposed in order to reconstruct the morphological properties of such elements. Computer-aided surgical simulation progressed significantly in the last decade. Currently, many surgical procedures on human patients are not simulated yet can be relevant in minimally invasive surgeries to protect human health and to save human lives, particularly for surgeries with high accuracy requirements. An accurate 3D anatomical reconstruction necessarily starts from MRI or CT acquired details of the patients, through imaging segmentation and proper stacking and smoothing of adjacent slices. More particularly, to gain accurate models suitable for computer-aided surgical tools, many problems must be faced. In particular: a) free form surface modelling starting from MRI or CT scans; b) FEA pre-processing in terms of proper element selection and density (shell or solid according to the surgical district type and length characteristics) loads and boundary constraints definition; c) tissue constitutive material. In this research we aim to investigate these topics to enhance physical description of organs subjected to surgical operations. Therefore, this project has as goal provide a sensitivity analysis on three different geometric models, more in detail simulations will be performed using linear-elastic model and two hyperelastic models. The results will be valuated from multidisciplinary unit, bioengineering, engineering and surgeons involved in the research.
