Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Physical Head and Neck Surrogate Model to Investigate Blast-Induced Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

  • Research Article - Mechanical Engineering
  • Published:
Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) resulting from the exposure to a blast shock wave is a challenging problem due to the broad long-term neurological deficits on the victims. The blast-related injury is not only due to the prevalence of military conflicts, but also due to increase terrorist attacks and domestic/industrial accidents. Mechanisms of blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury (BImTBI) have been controversial for a long time and nowadays are one of the most attentive topics among the neurotrauma researches. A physical head and neck model (PHNM) equipped with a surrogate gel brain was developed, and its dynamic responses to a blast wave were evaluated using a predesigned compressed air-driven shock tube. The neck model was constructed and tuned to simulate the actual human neck stiffness. The history of intracranial pressure (ICP) at different locations within the brain was monitored with four miniature pressure transducers. The acceleration of the head as well as the brain model was recorded using two accelerometers mounted internally and outside the PHNM. The shockwave effects on the PHNM were examined at different distance orientations from shock tube exit. The PHNM was exposed to free-field blast tests with controlled reliable positive peak pressure (PPP). The ICP amplitudes/profiles and the acceleration results vary according to the PHNM locations and orientations with respect to shock tube exit. The most vital parameters of ICP wave profiles including PPP, positive phase duration, and positive impulse values were greatly affected by the PHNM locations/orientations from the shock tube exit.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Effgen G.B., Hue C.D., Vogel E. III et al.: A multiscale approach to blast neurotrauma modeling: part II: methodology for inducing blast injury to in vitro models. Front. Neurol. 3, 23–23 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Malojcic B., Mubrin Z., Coric B. et al.: Consequences of mild traumatic brain injury on information processing assessed with attention and short-term memory tasks. J. Neurotrauma 25(1), 30–37 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Trudeau D.L., Anderson J., Hansen L.M. et al.: Findings of mild traumatic brain injury in combat veterans with PTSD and a history of blast concussion. J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 10(3), 308–313 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Thompson J.M., Scott K.C., Dubinsky L.: Battlefield brain Unexplained symptoms and blast-related mild traumatic brain injury. Can. Fam. Phys. 54(11), 1549–1551 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Sundaramurthy A., Alai A., Ganpule S. et al.: Blast-induced biomechanical loading of the rat: an experimental and anatomically accurate computational blast injury model. J. Neurotrauma 29(13), 2352 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Cernak I., Savic V.J., Lazarov A. et al.: Neuroendocrine responses following graded traumatic brain injury in male adults. Brain Injury 13(12), 1005–1015 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chafi M.S., Karami G., Ziejewski M.: Biomechanical assessment of brain dynamic responses due to blast pressure waves. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 38(2), 490–504 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Garman R.H., Jenkins L.W., Switzer R.C. III et al.: Blast exposure in rats with body shielding is characterized primarily by diffuse axonal injury. J. Neurotrauma 28(6), 947–959 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gieron M.A., Korthals J.K., Riggs C.D.: Diffuse axonal injury without direct head trauma and with delayed onset of coma. Pediatr. Neurol. 19(5), 382–384 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Courtney A.C., Courtney M.W.: A thoracic mechanism of mild traumatic brain injury due to blast pressure waves. Med. Hypotheses 72(1), 76–83 (2009)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  11. Cernak I., Savic J., Malicevic Z. et al.: Involvement of the central nervous system in the general response to pulmonary blast injury. J. Trauma-Injury Infect. Crit. Care 40(3), S100–S104 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Chavko M., Watanabe T., Adeeb S. et al.: Relationship between orientation to a blast and pressure wave propagation inside the rat brain. J. Neurosci. Methods 195(1), 61–66 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Moss W.C., King M.J., Blackman E.G.: Skull flexure from blast waves: a mechanism for brain injury with implications for helmet design. Phys. Rev. Lett. 103(10), 4 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Kocsis J.D., Tessler A.: Pathology of blast-related brain injury. J. Rehabil. Res. Dev. 46(6), 667–671 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Chen Y., Huang W., Constantini S.: Concepts and strategies for clinical management of blast-induced traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder. J. Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 25(2), 103–110 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Unterberg A.W., Stover J., Kress B. et al.: Edema and brain trauma. Neuroscience 129(4), 1021–1029 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Nimmo A.J., Cernak I., Heath D.L. et al.: Neurogenic inflammation is associated with development of edema and functional deficits following traumatic brain injury in rats. Neuropeptides 38(1), 40–47 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Strbian D., Durukan A., Pitkonen M. et al.: The blood-brain barrier is continuously open for several weeks following transient focal cerebral ischemia. Neuroscience 153(1), 175–181 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ganpule S., Alai A., Plougonven E. et al.: Mechanics of blast loading on the head models in the study of traumatic brain injury using experimental and computational approaches. Biomech. Model. Mechanobiol. 12(3), 511–531 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. McGill S.M., Jones K., Bennett G. et al.: Passive stiffness of the human neck in flexion, extension, and lateral bending. Clin. Biomech. 9(3), 193–198 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sogbesan E.: Design and Analysis of Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injury Mechanism Using a Surrogate Headform: Instrumentation and Outcomes. Mechanical & Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Saljo A., Arrhen F., Bolouri H. et al.: Neuropathology and pressure in the pig brain resulting from low-impulse noise exposure. J. Neurotrauma 25(12), 1397–1406 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Shim, J.B.V.; Josten, C.; Anderson, I.: Use of polyurethane foam in orthopaedic biomechanical experimentation and simulation. In: Creative Commons Attribution License, vol. 9, pp. 171–200 (2012)

  24. Orozco R.: Effects of Toughened Matrix Resins on Composite Materials for Wind Turbine Blades. Chemical Engineering, Montana State University-Bozeman, Bozeman (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Stadelmann V.A., Bretton E., Terrier A. et al.: Calcium phosphate cement augmentation of cancellous bone screws can compensate for the absence of cortical fixation. J. Biomech. 43(15), 2869–2874 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Motherway J.A., Verschueren P., Van der Perre G. et al.: The mechanical properties of cranial bone: The effect of loading rate and cranial sampling position. J. Biomech. 42(13), 2129–2135 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Hubbard R.P.: Flexure of layered cranial bone. J. Biomech. 4(4), 251–263 (1971)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  28. Hartmann P., Ramseier A., Gudat F. et al.: Normal-weight of the brain in adults, referred to age, sex, height and body-weight. Pathologe 15(3), 165–170 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Bogduk N., Mercer S.: Biomechanics of the cervical spine. I: normal kinematics. Clin. Biomech. 15(9), 633–648 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Schaap P.: Mathematical Modelling of Dummy Headneck Assemblies with MADYMQ. Computational and Experimental Mechanics Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Gallagher, A.N.A.A.J.; Bruyere, K.; Otténio, M.; Xie, H.; Gilchrist, M.D.: Dynamic tensile properties of human skin. In: IRCOBI Conference 2012, pp. 494–502 (2012)

  32. Unverzagt, R.H.: Cover for Ballistic Target Assembly, USA, to Linatex Coporation of America, Stafford Springs, CT (1988)

  33. SPSS.: SPSS for Windows. Chicago, SPSS Inc., 2004. Version 13.0

  34. Nakagawa A., Ohtani K., Yamamoto H. et al.: Biological and mechanical profile of bench top blast wave traumatic brain injury model in rat. J. Neurosurg. 113(2), A415–A415 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Bass C.R., Panzer M.B., Rafaels K.A. et al.: Brain injuries from blast. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 40(1), 185–202 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Chandra N., Ganpule S., Kleinschmit N.N. et al.: Evolution of blast wave profiles in simulated air blasts: experiment and computational modeling. Shock Waves 22(5), 403–415 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Albert, K.H.Y.; King, I.; Zhang, L.; Hardy, W.: Is Head Injury Caused by Linear or Angular Acceleration? Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Subcommittee, National Football League Bioengineering Center, Wayne State University 2003, pp. 1–12 (2003)

  38. Grip H.: Biomechanical Assessment of Head and Neck Movements in Neck Pain Using 3D Movement Analysis. Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Sweden (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Mahinda O.P.M.H.A.M.: Variability in thickness of human skull bones and sternum—an autopsy experience. J. Forensic Med. Toxicol. 26(2), 6 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Donovan V., Kim C., Anugerah A.K. et al.: Repeated mild traumatic brain injury results in long-term white-matter disruption. J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab. 34(4), 715–723 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Moochhala S.M., Md S., Lu J. et al.: Neuroprotective role of aminoguanidine in behavioral changes after blast injury. J. Trauma-Injury Infect. Crit. Care 56(2), 393–403 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Kato K., Fujimura M., Nakagawa A. et al.: Pressure-dependent effect of shock waves on rat brain: induction of neuronal apoptosis mediated by a caspase-dependent pathway. J. Neurosurg. 106(4), 667–676 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Piper C.H.A.I.: Monitoring of intracranial pressure in patients with traumatic brain injury. Front. Neurol. 5(121), 16 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Smith D.H., Meaney D.F., Shull W.H.: Diffuse axonal injury in head trauma. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 18(4), 307–316 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Nakagawa A., Manley G.T., Gean A.D. et al.: Mechanisms of primary blast-induced traumatic brain injury: insights from shock-wave research. J. Neurotrauma 28(6), 1101–1119 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Leonardi A.D., Bir C.A., Ritzel D.V. et al.: Intracranial pressure increases during exposure to a shock wave. J. Neurotrauma 28(1), 85–94 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Zhang, J.; Pintar, F.A.; Yoganandan, N.; et al.: Experimental study of blast-induced traumatic brain injury using a physical head model. In: King, A.I.; Melvin, J.W.; Schneider, L.W. (eds.) Stapp Car Crash Journal, vol. 53, Stapp Car Crash Journal, pp. 215–227 (2009)

  48. Chavko M., Koller W.A., Prusaczyk W.K. et al.: Measurement of blast wave by a miniature fiber optic pressure transducer in the rat brain. J. Neurosci. Methods 159(2), 277–281 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Kodama T., Hamblin M.R., Doukas A.G.: Cytoplasmic molecular delivery with shock waves: importance of impulse. Biophys. J. 79(4), 1821–1832 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Wang Y., Wei Y., Oguntayo S. et al.: Tightly coupled repetitive blast-induced traumatic brain injury: development and characterization in mice. J. Neurotrauma 28(10), 2171–2183 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Krave U., Al-Olama M., Hansson H.A.: Rotational acceleration closed head flexion trauma generates more extensive diffuse brain injury than extension trauma. J. Neurotrauma 28(1), 57–70 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Li X.Y., Li J., Feng D.F. et al.: Diffuse axonal injury induced by simultanous moderate linear and angular head accelerations in rats. Neuroscience 169(1), 357–369 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Zhang L.Y., Yang K.H., King A.I.: A proposed injury threshold for introduction mild traumatic brain injury. J. Biomech. Eng. Trans. ASME 126(2), 226–236 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Neveen Awad

  2. Martini, Mascarin and George Chair in Masonry Design, The Applied Dynamics Laboratory, Center for Effective Design of Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Wael W. El-Dakhakhni

  3. Department of Medicine/Neurology Section, McMaster University, Juravinski Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Ammar A. Gilani

Authors
  1. Neveen Awad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wael W. El-Dakhakhni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ammar A. Gilani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Neveen Awad.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Awad, N., El-Dakhakhni, W.W. & Gilani, A.A. A Physical Head and Neck Surrogate Model to Investigate Blast-Induced Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Arab J Sci Eng 40, 945–958 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1583-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1583-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation