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

提案编号：1449717 PI：Moreno，Michael NSF EAGER项目的重点是开发一种新的成像兼容冲击波技术和实验方法，以研究爆炸引起的创伤性脑损伤（bTBI）的影响。 TBI被称为最近中东战争的标志性伤害，估计多达40%的退伍军人患有某种TBI。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，使武装部队以及受伤士兵本身甚至平民受益。此外，该项目将为研究生和本科生以及德克萨斯A M大学提供独特的教育机会。NSF EAGER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于轻度至中度bTBI的潜在长期影响，（2）它将允许前所未有地访问时间敏感的bTBI数据，使用新型MRI兼容实验设备产生爆炸样压力波形。由于在最近的中东战争中爆炸相关的脑损伤的流行，bTBI研究已经增加。 该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什么时候可能出现问题？这通常会导致反复暴露。我们的初步数据显示，一次轻微的爆炸会产生不良影响，在暴露后六个月表现出来。为了研究这些效应，通常使用冲击管和类似装置在动物模型中诱导bTBI。这种方法的一个重要限制是，由传统的激波管设计产生的压力分布与军用军械的压力分布不一致。在这个项目中，将使用计算模型来确定不同激波管设计参数的影响，以便优化设计，产生更能代表爆炸装置的压力分布。此外，激波管设计将采用与MRI兼容的材料。这一点很重要，因为人们对冲击波暴露期间和/或之后大脑中的直接结构/机械变化知之甚少。由于损伤的机械性质，假设冲击波暴露可能对脑组织的机械性质产生有害影响。弹性成像和扩散张量成像可以用来量化冲击波暴露后大脑中的任何机械变化。然后将机械性能的变化与在未来的动物研究中观察到的长期影响相关联，并将开发冲击波和脑组织之间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.