Novel imaging metrics and finite element methods for understanding role of bone in osteoarthritis

非侵入性医学成像技术（如计算机断层扫描）和计算机建模可以帮助我们更好地了解骨关节炎的原因，骨关节炎是一种关节软骨和骨骼上痛苦的“磨损”疾病，影响了300多万加拿大人。目前尚不清楚引起骨关节炎的原因，但软骨下骨的几何和力学特性的变化可能会影响软骨的破坏。本研究的目的是开发和验证可用于评估软骨下骨的几何和力学特性的工具。这将使用计算机断层扫描结合(1)新的成像方法和(2)计算机建模-特别是有限元（FE）建模来完成。我们将验证使用计算机断层扫描获得的软骨下骨的新几何测量值与使用微型计算机断层扫描获得的测量值，这是一种专门用于小样本成像的高分辨率成像系统。我们将使用同时合并成像和材料测试的独特方法验证软骨下骨力学性能的有限元建模估计。这项研究将支持学生在涉及机械和生物医学工程、运动机能学和医学的多学科领域的培训。这项研究将提供新的成像工具，能够可靠地表征改变的软骨下骨，以及计算机模型，将用于更好地了解关节疾病。通过拟议的研究获得的知识将有助于我们对骨关节炎的理解，并有助于开发评估关节健康的新诊断工具。

Non-invasive medical imaging techniques (such Computed Tomography) and computer modeling can help us to better understand the cause of osteoarthritis, a painful ‘wear and tear’ disease on the cartilage and bone of joints which affects over 3 million Canadians. It is not known what causes osteoarthritis but changes in the geometrical and mechanical properties of bone underlying cartilage, known as subchondral bone, may influence cartilage breakdown. The goal of this research is to develop and validate tools that can be used to assess geometrical and mechanical properties of subchondral bone. This will be accomplished using Computed Tomography combined with (1) new imaging methods, and (2) computer modeling--specifically finite element (FE) modeling. We will validate new geometrical measures of subchondral bone obtained using Compted Tomography against those obtained using micro Computed Tomography, a high resolution imaging system dedicated for small sample imaging. We will validate FE modeling estimates of subchondral bone mechanical properties using unique methods which simultaneously merge imaging and material-testing. This research will support the training of students in a multidisciplinary area involving mechanical and biomedical engineering, kinesiology, and medicine. This research will provide new imaging tools capable of reliably characterizing altered subchondral bone, and computer models that will be used to better understand joint disease. Knowledge gained through the proposed research will help our understanding of osteoarthritis and assist with development of new diagnostic tools for assessing joint health.