[Three-dimensional finite element study on the change of glossopharyngeum in patient with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome during titrated mandible advancement].

Objective: To construct a three-dimensional finite element model of the upper airway and adjacent structure of an obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patient for biomechanical analysis. And to study the influence of glossopharyngeum of an OSAHS patient with three-dimensional finite element model during titrated mandible advancement.

Methods: DICOM format image information of an OSAHS patient's upper airway was obtained by thin-section CT scanning and digital image processing were utilized to construct a three-dimensional finite element model by Mimics 10.