I-Corps: Personalized Human Brain Phantom for Neuromodulation Procedure Research and Training

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发解剖学上真实的人类和大鼠脑模型，用于神经调节训练和研究，如经颅磁刺激（TMS）。目前，有新的经颅磁刺激线圈和设备正在开发中，用于治疗创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、自闭症、中风康复、创伤性脑损伤、帕金森病和癫痫等疾病。精确定位需要刺激的大脑区域或确定大脑不同区域的刺激强度，可以通过解剖学上精确的脑幻象来实现。然而，目前还没有准确的脑幻象可以用于神经调节的训练和研究。该技术可以提高经颅磁刺激线圈的精确定位，从而提高神经调节治疗的疗效，并为磁神经调节研究人员的培训提供了一种方法。此外，所提出的幻影也可能被修改用于聚焦超声刺激和脑震荡研究。这个I-Corps项目的基础是开发一个真实的解剖模型，或幻影，人类和老鼠的神经调节训练和研究。这项被提议的技术模拟了大脑不同区域的电导率。提出的幻象可以使神经调节领域的临床医生和研究人员进行安全测试，并验证大脑的关键部分是否在脑刺激治疗过程中接受了所需的刺激场强度。此外，所提出的技术还可以更好地可视化大脑中的磁场和电场分布。大脑的每个组织层都使用3d打印的外壳来制造这些幻影。脑组织主要分为脑脊液（CSF）、白质（WM）、灰质（GM）、脑室和小脑。这些层被制成外壳，在3d打印之后，它们被填充上一种导电材料，这种材料是用一种软聚合物制备的，这种聚合物与不同浓度的导电多壁碳纳米管混合在一起。纳米管将电导率传递给大脑幻像的不同区域。然后在不同的经颅磁刺激（TMS）参数下检查幻体，并与大脑感应电场和磁场的有限元分析（FEM）模型进行比较。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of anatomically realistic brain phantoms of humans and rats for neuromodulation training and research such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Currently, there are new TMS coils and devices in development for the treatment of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, stroke rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Locating the exact area of the brain that needs to be stimulated or determining the strength of the stimulation in different regions of the brain may be achieved through anatomically accurate brain phantoms. However, currently, there are no accurate brain phantoms that can be used for training and research in neuromodulation. The proposed technology may enable higher efficacy of neuromodulation treatments by improving the precise targeting of the TMS coil and provide a way to train researchers in magnetic neuromodulation. In addition, the proposed phantoms also may be modified to be used in focused ultrasound stimulation and concussion research.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a realistic anatomical model, or phantom, of humans and rats for neuromodulation training and research. The proposed technology mimics the electrical conductivity of different brain regions. The proposed phantoms may enable clinicians and researchers in the field of neuromodulation to conduct safety tests and verify whether a critical part of the brain has received the required stimulation field strength in a brain stimulation treatment procedure. In addition, the proposed technology also may enable better visualization of magnetic and electric field distribution in the brain. The phantoms are produced using 3-D printed shells for each tissue layer of the brain. Brain tissues are divided mainly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), white matter (WM), grey matter (GM), ventricles, and cerebellum. These layers are made into shells, and following 3-D printing, they are filled with a conductive material prepared using a soft polymer that is mixed with varying concentrations of electrically conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes impart electrical conductivity to different regions of the brain phantom. The phantom is then examined under different transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) parameters and compared with finite element analysis (FEM) modeling of induced electric and magnetic fields in the brain.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.