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Objective: The use of computer simulation to develop a high-fidelity model has been proposed as a novel and costeffective alternative to help guide therapeutic intervention in sleep apnea surgery. We describe a computer model based on patient-specific anatomy of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects wherein the percentage and sites of upper airway collapse are compared to findings on drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE).Study Design: Basic science computer model generation.Methods: Three-dimensional finite element techniques were undertaken for model development in a pilot study of four OSA patients. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to capture patient anatomy and software employed to outline critical anatomical structures. A finite-element mesh was applied to the volume enclosed by each structure. Linear and hyperelastic soft-tissue properties for various subsites (tonsils, uvula, soft palate, and tongue base) were derived using an inverse finiteelement technique from surgical specimens. Each model underwent computer simulation to determine the degree of displacement on various structures within the upper airway, and these findings were compared to DISE exams performed on the four study patients.Results: Computer simulation predictions for percentage of airway collapse and site of maximal collapse show agreement with observed results seen on endoscopic visualization.Conclusion: Modeling the upper airway in OSA patients is feasible and holds promise in aiding patient-specific surgical treatment.

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This novel prostate elastography technique relies on prostate TRUS or MRI images that can be routinely acquired without additional imaging hardware. The phantom studies provided evidence that the proposed technique has a good potential to reconstruct prostate stiffness maps noninvasively particularly when applied in conjunction with MRI. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the technique's merits for clinical use.

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