EAGER: Development of a Novel MRI Compatible Shock Tube and Method for the Study of Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injury

提案编号：1449717PI：Moreno，MichaelNSF这个项目致力于开发一种新的成像兼容冲击波技术和实验方法，以研究冲击波诱导的创伤性脑损伤(BTBI)的影响。脑外伤被称为最近中东战争中的标志性损伤，据估计，多达40%的归国老兵患有某种脑外伤。BTBI领域的研究有望在未来更好地预防、检测和治疗bTBI，通过更好地了解可能转化为非爆炸性TBI的TBI，使军队和受伤士兵本身甚至平民受益。此外，该项目还将为研究生和本科生以及德克萨斯农工大学提供独特的教育机会。技术说明这个NSF ENGER项目具有潜在的变革性，因为(1)它可以提供一种诊断方法来预测暴露在轻中度bTBI下的潜在长期影响，(2)它将允许前所未有地访问时间敏感型bTBI数据，使用一种与MRI兼容的新型实验设备来产生爆炸性压力波形。由于最近的中东战争中与爆炸相关的脑损伤的流行，bTBI的研究有所增加。本项目特别感兴趣的是暴露于轻度和中度bTBI的长期影响，因为很难诊断暴露后何时可能出现问题？这往往会导致反复接触。我们的初步数据显示，暴露在轻度冲击波中一次就会产生不良影响，并在暴露六个月后显现出来。为了研究这种影响，经常使用激波管和类似装置在动物模型上诱导bTBI。这种方法的一个重要局限性是，传统激波管设计产生的压力分布与军用弹药的压力分布不能很好地对应。在这个项目中，将使用计算建模来确定不同激波管设计参数的影响，以便优化设计以产生更能代表与爆炸装置相关的压力分布。这一点很重要，因为人们对冲击波暴露期间和/或紧接着发生的大脑结构/机械变化知之甚少。由于损伤的力学性质，假设冲击波暴露可能对脑组织的力学特性产生有害影响。然后可以使用弹性成像和扩散张量成像来量化冲击波暴露后大脑中立即发生的任何机械变化。机械性能的变化将与未来动物研究中观察到的长期影响相关联，并将开发冲击波与脑组织相互作用的影响模型。

Proposal Number: 1449717PI: Moreno, MichaelThis NSF EAGER project is focused on the development of a novel imaging compatible shock wave technology and experimental method to investigate the effects of blast induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI). TBI has been called the signature injury of the recent wars in the Middle East, with estimates of as many as 40% of returning veterans suffering from some kind of TBI. Research in the field of bTBI is poised to enable better prevention, detection, and treatment of bTBI in the future, benefiting the armed services as well as injured soldiers themselves and even the civilian population by a better understanding of TBI that may translate into non-blast TBI. Additionally, this project will support unique educational opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students and Texas A&M University. Technical descriptionThis NSF EAGER project is potentially transformative in that (1) it could provide a diagnostic method to predict potential long-term effects of exposure to mild to moderate bTBI, (2) it will allow unprecedented access to time sensitive bTBI data, using a novel MRI compatible experimental device to produce blast-like pressure waveforms. bTBI research has increased due to the prevalence of blast related brain injuries in the recent Middle Eastern wars. Of particular interest to this project are the long-term effects of exposure to mild and moderate bTBI, as it is difficult to diagnose when problems might develop following exposure ? which often leads to repeated exposure. Our preliminary data shows a single exposure to a mild blast can produce adverse effects that manifest six months after exposure. In order to study the effects, bTBI is often induced in animal models using shock tubes and similar devices. An important limitation of this approach is that the pressure profiles produced by conventional shock tube designs do not correspond well with the pressure profiles associated with military ordnance. In this project, computational modeling will be used to identify the effects of varying shock tube design parameters such that the design can be optimized to produce pressure profiles that are more representative of those associated with explosive devices. Furthermore, the shock tube design will incorporate materials that are MRI compatible. This is important as little is known about the immediate structural/mechanical changes in the brain during and/or immediately following blast wave exposure. Due to the mechanical nature of the injury, it is hypothesized that shock wave exposure may produce a deleterious effect on the mechanical properties of brain tissue. Elastography and diffusion tensor imaging can then be used to quantify any mechanical changes in the brain immediately following blast wave exposure. Changes in mechanical properties will then be correlated with the long term effects observed in future animal studies and a model of the effects of the interaction between the blast wave and the brain tissue will be developed.