Mimic Facial MusclesSIMOVI-IRMNCT02002572
Quantification, Analysis and Simulation of Facial Mimics Movements
A study testing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Surface scan, Motion capture, Digital Image Correlation in people with Mimic Facial Muscles, run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
The SIMOVI project is a collaboration between our Department of Maxillofacial Surgery (CHU Amiens) and the Biomechanical bioengineer Research Department and Roberval Labs (Technological University of Compiègne). The question raised is the extent to which a facial mimic can be evaluated objectively. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mimic Facial Muscles
- What is being tested?
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Surface scan, Motion capture, Digital Image Correlation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 8 Aug 2011to Feb 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Caucasian subject
- Ability to provide informed consent
Who cannot join
- Facial pathology
- Facial trauma
- Pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Contraindications to MRI
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
The SIMOVI project is a collaboration between our Department of Maxillofacial Surgery (CHU Amiens) and the Biomechanical bioengineer Research Department and Roberval Labs (Technological University of Compiègne). The question raised is the extent to which a facial mimic can be evaluated objectively. In today's clinical practice, the investigators use grading systems based on muscular scale or testing, in order to evaluate a facial muscular disorder. This assessment remains subjective because the investigators are deducing from surfacing cutaneous deformations the movement quality of the solicited muscle.
This qualitative approach is therefore an approximate approach and deserves to be better thought to plan a surgical treatment which involves mimic facial muscle (as rehabilitation of facial palsy, cleft palate for example), to monitor the results, and to follow the recovery and progress in physiotherapy care.
The aim of this study is to correlate external soft tissue movement (essentially cutaneous) during facial mimic with internal movement (essentially facial mimic muscle) using qualitative and QUANTITATIVE indicators, and to perform a biomechanical model of selected mimic face's movement using the precedent data.
- Conditions
- Mimic Facial Muscles
- Being tested
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Surface scan, Motion capture, Digital Image Correlation
- Keywords
- Facial Mimic Muscle, MRI, Segmentation, Three dimensional assessment, Motion capture, Movement analysis, Digital Image Correlation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Surface scan, Motion capture, Digital Image CorrelationOther
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Mimic facial muscle from 3T MRI data | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Surface scan, Motion capture, Digital Image Correlation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Morphometric assessment of mimic facial muscle from 3T MRI data
The aim is to valid a method to identify, describe and measure the mimic facial muscles in 3 Tesla MRI. Through particular MRI acquisition developed especially for mimic facial muscle from routine acquisition, Morphometrics properties are calculated as length, volume, thickness and cross physiological section area.
Measured: 30 min
Secondary outcomes (3)
Three dimensional quantitative analysis of mimics through motion capture
A VICON motion capture system with the Nexus 1.7.1 software will be used to capture expressive facial movements at a 120 Hz sample rate with 7 T160 cameras and 2 MX30 cameras. Markers of a diameter of 1.5 mm will be placed on the face. The localization of the markers is related to the muscles involved in the movements we want to study.
After data capture, we build and reconstruct our model. We chose a neutral pose as reference. The best parameters for the reconstruction will be determined. Kinematic parameters will be the markers displacement.
Measured: 01 hour
Three dimensional quantitative mimic facial analysis with surface scan.
Three-dimensional image captured with a MH WHALE 3D Scanner.
Measured: 01 hour
Three dimensional analysis with Digital Image Correlation
Recording three-dimensional images of the deformations of the face by two pairs of Pike CCD cameras from Allied Vision Technologies, with Schneider Xenoplan 2.0/28mm Lens, positioned on both sides of the face.
The calibration and the image processing will be made with the software suite VIC-SNAP, VIC-3D and 3D Fusion (Correlated Solutions)
Measured: 01 hour
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Dec 2013 (estimated)
- Study start8 Aug 2011
- Primary completionFeb 2022
- Study completionFeb 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (48)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Mimic Facial MusclesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, AmiensThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Regional Council Picardie, France
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Bernard DEVAUCHELLE, MD, phD, Study director, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Amiens University HospitalStéphanie DAKPE, MD, Principal investigator, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Amiens University Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02002572
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PI11-DR-DAKPE
- Other IDs
- 2011-A00532-39
- Acronym
- SIMOVI-IRM
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 2 Dec 2013
- Last updated
- 19 Nov 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Autuori B, Bruyere-Garnier K, Morestin F, Brunet M, Verriest JP. Finite element modeling of the head skeleton with a new local quantitative assessment approach. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2006 Jul;53(7):1225-32. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2006.872812.
PubMed 16830926Barbarino GG, Jabareen M, Trzewik J, Nkengne A, Stamatas G, Mazza E. Development and validation of a three-dimensional finite element model of the face. J Biomech Eng. 2009 Apr;131(4):041006. doi: 10.1115/1.3049857.
PubMed 19275435Bensamoun SF, Ringleb SI, Littrell L, Chen Q, Brennan M, Ehman RL, An KN. Determination of thigh muscle stiffness using magnetic resonance elastography. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2006 Feb;23(2):242-7. doi: 10.1002/jmri.20487.
PubMed 16374878Bensamoun S, Stevens L, Fleury MJ, Bellon G, Goubel F, Ho Ba Tho MC. Macroscopic-microscopic characterization of the passive mechanical properties in rat soleus muscle. J Biomech. 2006;39(3):568-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.04.036.
PubMed 16389097Brix M, Raphael B. [Labial function]. Ann Chir Plast Esthet. 2002 Oct;47(5):357-69. doi: 10.1016/s0294-1260(02)00129-2. French.
PubMed 12449863Burres SA. Facial biomechanics: the standards of normal. Laryngoscope. 1985 Jun;95(6):708-14. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198506000-00013.
PubMed 3999905Burres SA. Objective grading of facial paralysis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1986 May-Jun;95(3 Pt 1):238-41. doi: 10.1177/000348948609500306.
PubMed 3717849Burres S, Fisch U. The comparison of facial grading systems. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1986 Jul;112(7):755-8. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1986.03780070067015.
PubMed 3707739Cacou C, Greenfield BE, Hunt NP, McGrouther DA. Patterns of coordinated lower facial muscle function and their importance in facial reanimation. Br J Plast Surg. 1996 Jul;49(5):274-80. doi: 10.1016/s0007-1226(96)90155-1.
PubMed 8774240Chabanas M, Payan Y, Marecaux C, Swider P, Boutault F Comparison of linear and non linear soft tissue models with post-operative CT scan in maxillofacial surgery Lecture notes in computer science 2004, vol 3078, 19-27
Chevallier AM.Rééducation des paralysies faciales centrales et périphériques Encyclopédie Médico-Chirurgicale, Paris Kinésithérapie 26463 B10 5-1990, 16 p
Coulson SE, Croxson GR, Gilleard WL. Three-dimensional quantification of
Croxson G, May M, Mester SJ. Grading facial nerve function: House-Brackmann versus Burres-Fisch methods. Am J Otol. 1990 Jul;11(4):240-6.
PubMed 2399941Duchenne de Boulogne.La mécanique des passions. Paris ,1855
Ekman P, Friesen W.V .Unmasking the face: A guide to recognizing emotions from facial clues Consulting psychologists press (Palo Alto, Californie 1984)
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Quantification, Analysis and Simulation of Facial Mimics Movements
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02002572
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SIMOVI-IRM / PI11-DR-DAKPE
- Conditions
- Mimic Facial Muscles
- Keywords
- Facial Mimic Muscle, MRI, Segmentation, Three dimensional assessment, Motion capture, Movement analysis, Digital Image Correlation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, AmiensUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Regional Council Picardie, France
- Study start
- 8 Aug 2011 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Feb 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- Feb 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Dec 2013 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The SIMOVI project is a collaboration between our Department of Maxillofacial Surgery (CHU Amiens) and the Biomechanical bioengineer Research Department and Roberval Labs (Technological University of Compiègne). The question raised is the extent to which a facial mimic can be evaluated objectively. In today's clinical practice, the investigators use grading systems based on muscular scale or testing, in order to evaluate a facial muscular disorder. This assessment remains subjective because the investigators are deducing from surfacing cutaneous deformations the movement quality of the solicited muscle.
This qualitative approach is therefore an approximate approach and deserves to be better thought to plan a surgical treatment which involves mimic facial muscle (as rehabilitation of facial palsy, cleft palate for example), to monitor the results, and to follow the recovery and progress in physiotherapy care.
The aim of this study is to correlate external soft tissue movement (essentially cutaneous) during facial mimic with internal movement (essentially facial mimic muscle) using qualitative and QUANTITATIVE indicators, and to perform a biomechanical model of selected mimic face's movement using the precedent data.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Diagnosis
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Mimic facial muscle from 3T MRI data | Experimental | Other: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Surface scan, Motion capture, Digital Image Correlation |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Caucasian subject
- Ability to provide informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Facial pathology
- Facial trauma
- Pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Contraindications to MRI
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Surface scan, Motion capture, Digital Image Correlation | Other | Mimic facial muscle from 3T MRI data |
Primary outcome
Morphometric assessment of mimic facial muscle from 3T MRI data
Time frame: 30 min
The aim is to valid a method to identify, describe and measure the mimic facial muscles in 3 Tesla MRI. Through particular MRI acquisition developed especially for mimic facial muscle from routine acquisition, Morphometrics properties are calculated as length, volume, thickness and cross physiological section area.
3 secondary outcomes
Three dimensional quantitative analysis of mimics through motion capture
Time frame: 01 hour
Three dimensional quantitative mimic facial analysis with surface scan.
Time frame: 01 hour
Three dimensional analysis with Digital Image Correlation
Time frame: 01 hour
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Nov 2025.
- Background: PubMed 16830926Autuori B, Bruyere-Garnier K, Morestin F, Brunet M, Verriest JP. Finite element modeling of the head skeleton with a new local quantitative assessment approach. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2006 Jul;53(7):1225-32. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2006.872812.
- Background: PubMed 19275435Barbarino GG, Jabareen M, Trzewik J, Nkengne A, Stamatas G, Mazza E. Development and validation of a three-dimensional finite element model of the face. J Biomech Eng. 2009 Apr;131(4):041006. doi: 10.1115/1.3049857.
- Background: PubMed 16374878Bensamoun SF, Ringleb SI, Littrell L, Chen Q, Brennan M, Ehman RL, An KN. Determination of thigh muscle stiffness using magnetic resonance elastography. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2006 Feb;23(2):242-7. doi: 10.1002/jmri.20487.
- Background: PubMed 16389097Bensamoun S, Stevens L, Fleury MJ, Bellon G, Goubel F, Ho Ba Tho MC. Macroscopic-microscopic characterization of the passive mechanical properties in rat soleus muscle. J Biomech. 2006;39(3):568-78. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2004.04.036.
- Background: PubMed 12449863Brix M, Raphael B. [Labial function]. Ann Chir Plast Esthet. 2002 Oct;47(5):357-69. doi: 10.1016/s0294-1260(02)00129-2. French.
- Background: PubMed 3999905Burres SA. Facial biomechanics: the standards of normal. Laryngoscope. 1985 Jun;95(6):708-14. doi: 10.1288/00005537-198506000-00013.
- Background: PubMed 3717849Burres SA. Objective grading of facial paralysis. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1986 May-Jun;95(3 Pt 1):238-41. doi: 10.1177/000348948609500306.
- Background: PubMed 3707739Burres S, Fisch U. The comparison of facial grading systems. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1986 Jul;112(7):755-8. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1986.03780070067015.
- Background: PubMed 8774240Cacou C, Greenfield BE, Hunt NP, McGrouther DA. Patterns of coordinated lower facial muscle function and their importance in facial reanimation. Br J Plast Surg. 1996 Jul;49(5):274-80. doi: 10.1016/s0007-1226(96)90155-1.
- BackgroundChabanas M, Payan Y, Marecaux C, Swider P, Boutault F Comparison of linear and non linear soft tissue models with post-operative CT scan in maxillofacial surgery Lecture notes in computer science 2004, vol 3078, 19-27
- BackgroundChevallier AM.Rééducation des paralysies faciales centrales et périphériques Encyclopédie Médico-Chirurgicale, Paris Kinésithérapie 26463 B10 5-1990, 16 p
- BackgroundCoulson SE, Croxson GR, Gilleard WL. Three-dimensional quantification of
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Bernard DEVAUCHELLE, MD, phD study director
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Amiens University Hospital
Stéphanie DAKPE, MD principal investigator
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Amiens University Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Surface scan, Motion capture, Digital Image Correlation in people with Mimic Facial Muscles, run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Morphometric assessment of mimic facial muscle from 3T MRI data (time frame: 30 min). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02002572, which also lists 48 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Nov 2025.