CAREER: An Efficient 3D Representation for Modeling Microstructure of Trabecular Bone and Development of An Integrated Program in Computational Biomechanics

目标是结合哥伦比亚大学生物医学工程系的骨小梁力学研究，开发计算生物力学的综合教育计划。该项目的研究部分旨在开发一种新的骨小梁力学成像分析和建模技术。骨小梁是一种由微小的棒和板组成的海绵状、多孔型的骨组织，主要受骨质疏松症等许多骨骼疾病的影响，仅在美国就花费了数十亿美元的医疗费用。高分辨率成像技术可以非常详细地捕捉到骨小梁复杂的三维微结构。基于这些高分辨率骨小梁图像的力学模型在确定正常和病变骨小梁的力学性质方面非常有用。建模中的一个技术挑战是克服模型的巨大尺寸。在这个项目中，将开发一种全新的方法来处理松质骨的微观结构建模。我们将在骨小梁的高分辨率图像上开发成像分析程序，以创建显着缩小尺寸(200-100倍)的微观结构模型，以便甚至可以分析整个骨骼！在这项研究活动的同时，还将为高年级本科生和研究生开设一门新的计算生物力学课程。在这门新课程中，我们将使用多媒体教学设备，配备大量的计算机工作站和视听辅助工具，向学生传授生物学基础知识、计算技术和力学基本原理。此外，利用互联网作为快速传播信息的渠道，所有教材都将以高度图形化和多媒体的形式编写，并放在万维网上，方便学生查阅。此外，基本计算技术的编程模块将用一种新的Java语言编写，这使得学生可以独立于计算机平台访问互联网。本课程将介绍和实施研究部分的新研究进展。总而言之，该项目将开发一种创新的松质骨建模技术，整合本科生/研究生教育的新研究进展，并提供一个互动(FUN)教学论坛，以加强科学、数学、工程和技术教育。

9875633GuoThe goal is to develop an integrated education program in computational biomechanics in conjunction with research in trabecular bone mechanics in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University. The research component of the project aims to develop a novel imaging analysis and modeling technique for trabecular bone mechanics. Trabecular bone, a spongy, porous type of bone tissue made of tiny rods and plates, is mostly affected by many bone diseases such as osteoporosis, which costs billions of dollars in health care in the United States alone. The complex three-dimensional microstructure of trabecular bone can be captured in great details by high resolution imaging techniques. Mechanical models based on these high-resolution images of trabecular bone are very useful in determining mechanical properties of normal and diseased trabecular bone. One technical challenge in modeling is to overcome the enormously large size of the models. In this project, a distinctly new approach will be developed to handle microstructural modeling of trabecular bone. We will develop imaging analysis procedures on high-resolution images of trabecular bone to create microstructural models with significantly reduced size (200-100 fold) such that even a whole bone can be analyzed! In parallel with this research activity, a new course in computational biomechanics for senior undergraduate and first year graduate students will be introduced. In this new course, we will use a multimedia teaching facility equipped with numerous computer workstations and video-audio aids to teach students the fundamentals in biology, computational techniques as well as basic principles of mechanics. In addition, using the Internet as a fast channel for information dissemination, all teaching materials will be written in a highly graphical and multimedia format and placed on the World-Wide-Web for student's easy access. Furthermore, programming modules of basic computational techniques will be written in a new Java language, which allow a computer-platform-independent Internet access by students. New research advances in the research component will be introduced and implemented in the course. In summary, this project will develop an innovative modeling technique for trabecular bone, integrate new research advances in undergraduate/graduate education, and provide an interactive (fun) teaching forum for enhancing education in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.