AneuPy: An open source Python tool for creating simulation-ready geometries of abdominal aortic aneurysms

2025-03-13

AI Summary

A lack of open-source, user-friendly, and simulation-ready geometric modeling tools for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) hinders the widespread application of biomechanical and hemodynamic simulations. To address this, we present the first lightweight, fully automated, Python-based open-source framework for rapid generation of idealized or patient-specific 3D AAA geometries from minimal input parameters—including maximum diameter, asymmetry index, and wall thickness—while ensuring native compatibility with finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and fluid–structure interaction (FSI) preprocessing workflows. This framework bridges a critical gap in the open-source ecosystem by enabling multi-parameter customization, batch model generation, and plug-and-play deployment. Validation demonstrates substantial improvements in modeling efficiency, facilitating high-throughput parametric studies and clinical rupture risk prediction. The framework is publicly released under an open-source license to support both research and clinical translation.

Technology Category

• Search and Optimization: Sampling/Simulation-based Search
• Knowledge Representation and Reasoning: Geometric, Spatial, and Temporal Reasoning
• Computer Vision: 3D Computer Vision

Application Category

• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User modeling and simulation for interactive and conversational systems
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data generation and simulation
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Foundation models and LLMs for Web-related graphs

Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are localized dilatations of the abdominal aorta that can lead to life-threatening rupture if left untreated. AAAs primarily affect older individuals, with high mortality rates following rupture, so early diagnosis and risk assessment are critical. The geometrical characteristics of an AAA, such as its maximum diameter, asymmetry, and wall thickness, are extremely significant in biomechanical models for the assessment of rupture risk. Despite the growing use of computational modeling for AAA investigation, there is a notable gap in accessible, open-source software capable of generating simulation-ready geometries for biomechanical and hemodynamic simulations. To address this gap, we introduce extbf{AneuPy}, an open-source Python-based tool designed to create both idealized and patient-specific AAA geometric models. extbf{AneuPy} is a fast and automated approach for generating aneurysm geometries from minimal input data, allowing for extensive parameter customization. By automating the creation of simulation-ready geometries for finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), or fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models, extbf{AneuPy} can facilitate research in AAA and improve patient-specific risk prediction.

Problem

• Lack of open-source tools for AAA simulation-ready geometries
• Need for automated AAA geometry generation for biomechanical models
• Improving patient-specific AAA risk prediction via computational modeling

Innovation

• Open-source Python tool for AAA geometries
• Automates simulation-ready model generation
• Supports FEA, CFD, and FSI customization