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

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发解剖学上逼真的人类和大鼠大脑幻影，用于神经调节训练和研究，如经颅磁刺激（TMS）。 目前，正在开发新的TMS线圈和设备，用于治疗诸如创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）、自闭症、中风康复、创伤性脑损伤、帕金森病和癫痫的疾病。定位需要刺激的大脑的确切区域或确定大脑的不同区域中的刺激强度可以通过解剖学上精确的大脑幻影来实现。然而，目前，没有精确的脑幻影，可用于神经调制的训练和研究。 所提出的技术可以通过提高TMS线圈的精确靶向来实现更高的神经调节治疗功效，并提供一种培训磁神经调节研究人员的方法。 此外，所提出的体模也可以被修改用于聚焦超声刺激和脑震荡研究。这个I-Corps项目是基于开发一个逼真的人体和大鼠解剖模型或体模，用于神经调节训练和研究。这项技术模拟了大脑不同区域的电导率。所提出的幻影可以使神经调节领域的临床医生和研究人员能够进行安全测试并验证大脑的关键部分是否已经在脑刺激治疗程序中接收到所需的刺激场强。此外，所提出的技术还可以实现大脑中磁场和电场分布的更好可视化。幻影是使用大脑每个组织层的3D打印外壳制作的。脑组织主要分为脑脊液（CSF）、白色物质（WM）、灰质（GM）、脑室和小脑。这些层被制成外壳，在3D打印之后，它们被填充有使用软聚合物制备的导电材料，该软聚合物与不同浓度的导电多壁碳纳米管混合。 纳米管赋予大脑模型的不同区域导电性。然后在不同的经颅磁刺激（TMS）参数下检查模型，并与大脑中感应电场和磁场的有限元分析（FEM）建模进行比较。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力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.