Patent ID: 7353151

Claim:
A computerized method for producing a human body model by simulating an object of a whole or a part of a human body on a computer including a processing unit and a storage, based on data entered by a user for a plurality of individual segments of the human body, and for storing data indicative of the produced human body model in the storage, wherein the object includes a complex of an Achilles tendon of the human body and a triceps surae extending from the Achilles tendon, the Achilles tendon being connected at one of its both ends with the triceps surae, the Achilles tendon is connected, at a first end of the Achilles tendon which is opposite to a second end of the Achilles tendon at which the Achilles tendon is connected with the triceps surae, with a calcaneus of the human body, the triceps surae is connected, at a first end of the triceps surae which is opposite to a second end of the triceps surae at which the triceps surae is connected with the Achilles tendon, with a femur of the human body, and the triceps surae is connected at its middle with a tibia of the human body, the computerized method comprising the steps of: (a) simulating the complex via elements including a bendable and stretchable bar element having a length but not having a thickness, such that the bar element has two end attaching points at which the bar element is attached at its both ends to models of the calcaneus and the femur, and such that the bar element has a middle attaching point at which the bar element is attached at its middle to a model of the tibia; (b) simulating a joining mechanism for joining the bar element at the middle attaching point with the model of the tibia, such that the joining mechanism is represented via a combination of a first sub-model representative of a pulley fixed to the model of the tibia with the pulley having a predetermined resistance to rotation, and a second sub-model representative of the bar element in a form of a rope which is wound around the pulley for changing a direction in which a force is transmitted, such that a path of the bar element extends along the model of the tibia, even when a joint located between the femur and the tibia is bent, and that transmission of a force between the bar element and the model of the tibia is achieved via the model of the pulley, so as to inhibit a separation of the bar element from the model of the tibia; (c) predicting a physical response of the human body to an application of an actual external force by analyzing a response of the human body model to an application of a simulated external force to the human body model; and (d) outputting a result from said predicting step (c).