Realistic model of spine geometry in the human skeleton in the VICON system

The human spine is definitively one of the most important parts of a living body. From biomechanical point of view, this organ is the most complicated structure, and a dynamic analysis of its motion still requires more detailed models be created. The aim of this study is to build an accurate computer model of the geometry of the spine and insert it into available skeleton models, used in Vicon. Up to now such models were simplified and that is why they were not sufficient for research of detailed motion of the spine. The paper describes the process of creating models of the vertebrae. During research, authors simultaneously used two techniques: 3D scanning of the vertebrae and computed modeling in 3D graphics software. A universal data format: .obj used to keep the information about surface shape of an object, its colour, texture etc. is presented in detail. In a discussion on Vicon data formats and relations between them, several file types are taken under consideration: marker files: .mkr, global model parameters files: .mp, files of the model structure: .mod. But first of all, step-by-step instructions of how to connect the files with geometrical objects for the visualization purposes, are presented.