A Biomechanical-Physiological Model for Preclinical Investigation of Blast Wave TBI

Recent statistics from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) show that 61% of soldiers injured in explosion blast events endure Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The current understanding of TBI mechanisms is incomplete and is limiting the development of protection and therapeutic measures. Animal testing, in vitro study, and analysis of clinical data are useful and necessary but these are slow, expensive, and often inconclusive. Anatomy and physiology based mathematical modeling tools of blast brain injury to small animals will provide complementary capabilities for a better understanding of blast wave brain injury mechanisms, assessing and improving protective armor, and faster development of better treatment protocols. The overall objective of this project is to develop and validate high-fidelity and reduced order multiscale modeling tools for the analysis of blast wave primary TBI mechanisms in animal models. In Phase I we will develop a “virtual rat” model of blast wave TBI and adapt the multiscale computational tools for parametric simulations of three-way coupled shock wave – whole body biomechanics – vascular response to shock waves. The model will be validated against available data from shock tube experimental tests. In Phase II we will develop virtual mouse and pig models. The modeling tools and the experimental data will be used to develop brain injury criteria and methodology for animal-to-human scaling.