A Versatile X-Ray System for Characterization and Assessment of Tissue Injury Under Loaded Conditions

患有肌肉骨骼损伤的人平均寿命为36年，这是任何疾病对健康影响最长的一次。这使得对加拿大人和所有工业化国家来说，确定伤害开始并最终预防这些伤害是一个至关重要的问题。肌肉骨骼疾病仍然是最主要的工作场所补偿，每年超过25万起索赔，平均持续14天-导致每年损失350万个工作日。我们研究团队的一个主要目标是评估组织损伤对长期负荷暴露的反应。这些生理性的体外暴露提供了对损伤如何开始的洞察。虽然现有的材料测试系统是世界领先的，但在记录损伤进展的能力方面存在重大障碍。目前的方法仅限于机械测试之前和之后的医学图像或曝光后的解剖。我们的目标是通过一种能够对暴露在生理力量和姿势下的组织进行成像的系统来扩展定量组织表征和评估。 所要求的数字牙科X射线系统将是一项中央支持技术，致力于：1)创建新的模型驱动算法，用于组织损伤进展的定量分析和评估；2)开发X射线图像处理，以提高分辨率、图像序列重建和对比度。尽管我们在组织损伤定性方面取得了成功，但大部分工作都是在不充分的方法或偏远的设施中完成的。我们的研究速度将大大加快，因为我们可以在现场接触到一个清晰的X射线系统。拟议中的设备对华盛顿大学至少八名调查人员的工作至关重要，他们需要在机械测试期间获得组织样本的快速成像。该系统将提供快速重新配置和试验成像曝光的能力，以完善组织损伤的基本成像。成功收购所需的X光系统将支持损伤预防策略的定量组织表征和评估，并使人们能够进一步了解膝骨性关节炎、上肢神经障碍和下腰椎间盘退变的组织生理学。这些应用构成了重要的进步，影响到个人、工作场所，并最终影响到卫生保健系统。 拟议的设备将为大约60名高素质人员提供培训机会，包括本科生和本科生。学生将接受生物力学设计方法、与临床和工业合作伙伴的多学科合作以及实验研究和验证方法方面的培训。工业、医疗保健和政府政策需要这些关键技能来设计和开发新的伤害预防和临床管理流程。

Individuals live an average of 36 years with a musculoskeletal injury, the longest lasting health impact of any disease. This makes identification of injury initiation and ultimately the prevention of these injuries a crucial issue for Canadians and all industrialized nations. Musculoskeletal disorders remain the leading workplace compensation with over 250,000 annual claims, lasting an average of 14 days - resulting in 3.5 million lost work days yearly. A major goal of our research team is to evaluate tissue injury response to prolonged load exposures. These physiological in vitro exposures provide insight into how injuries initiate. While the material test systems in place are world leading, a significant barrier exists in the ability to document injury progression. Current approaches are limited to either medical images before and after mechanical testing or dissection following exposures. We aim to expand the quantitative tissue characterization and assessment with a system that enables imaging of tissues exposed to physiologic forces and postures. The requested digital dental X-ray system will be a central supporting technology dedicated to: 1) the creation of new model-driven algorithms for quantitative analysis and assessment of tissue injury progression and 2) the development of X-ray image processing for improved resolution, image sequence reconstruction, and contrast. Though we have had success in tissue injury characterization, much of this work was done with insufficient approaches or at remote facilities. Our research pace would be greatly accelerated by on-site access to an articulating X-ray system. The proposed equipment is crucial to the work of at least eight investigators at UW requiring access to rapid imaging of tissue samples during mechanical testing. The system will provide the ability to rapidly reconfigure and experiment with imaging exposures to refine fundamental imaging of tissue injury. The successful acquisition of the requested X-ray system will support quantitative tissue characterization and assessment for injury prevention strategies as well as enabling further understanding of tissue physiology for knee osteoarthritis, neural disorders of the upper extremity, and low back disc degeneration. These applications constitute important advances impacting individuals, workplaces, and ultimately the health care system. The proposed equipment will enable training opportunities for approximately 60 highly qualified personnel, including both graduate and undergraduate students. Students will receive training in biomechanical design methods, multi-disciplinary collaborations with clinical and industrial partners, and experimental research and validation methods. Industry, health care and government policy require these critical skills for designing and developing new injury prevention and clinical management processes.