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

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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.