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

9875633国目标是在哥伦比亚大学生物医学工程系发展计算生物力学与小梁骨力学研究相结合的综合教育项目。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。小梁骨是一种海绵状多孔骨组织，由微小的棒和板组成，主要受骨质疏松症等许多骨病的影响，仅在美国，骨质疏松症的医疗费用就高达数十亿美元。通过高分辨率成像技术，可以非常详细地捕捉到骨小梁复杂的三维微观结构。基于这些高分辨率骨小梁图像的力学模型对于确定正常和患病骨小梁的力学特性非常有用。建模的一个技术挑战是克服模型的巨大尺寸。在这个项目中，将开发一种独特的新方法来处理小梁骨的微观结构建模。我们将开发高分辨率骨小梁图像的成像分析程序，以创建尺寸显着减小（200-100倍）的微结构模型，以便甚至可以分析整个骨骼！在此研究活动的同时，将为大四本科生和一年级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，配备许多计算机工作站和视频音频辅助工具，教授学生生物学基础，计算技术以及力学的基本原理。此外，利用互联网作为信息传播的快速渠道，所有教材将以高度图形化和多媒体格式编写，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。本课程将介绍并实施研究部分的新研究进展。综上所述，本项目将发展一种创新的骨小梁建模技术，整合本科/研究生教育的新研究进展，并提供一个互动（有趣）的教学论坛，以加强科学，数学，工程和技术的教育。

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.