3D-Printed Brain Phantom with Embedded Sensors for Intracranial Force Measurement
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack anatomically accurate brain phantoms that can measure impact forces and shear stresses within the brain, limiting the understanding and assessment of low-grade traumatic brain injuries and concussions, particularly in sports and vehicular accidents.
Innovation Solution
The development of 3D-printed brain phantoms using high-impact polystyrene molds and hydrogel calcium chloride mixtures, with embedded sensors, to mimic the mechanical properties of brain tissue and record intracranial forces, allowing for personalized and customized models based on individual MRI data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If helmet sensors are used to measure impacts, then external forces can be recorded, but intracranial forces and shear stresses cannot be directly measured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical copy of the human brain using 3D printing technology to produce an anatomically accurate phantom. This copy replicates the brain's structure and material properties, allowing researchers to measure intracranial forces directly within the phantom using embedded sensors, thereby solving the limitation of external-only measurements while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The brain phantom serves as an intermediary between the impactor and the actual human brain. By placing the phantom in the impactor and embedding sensors within it, the system indirectly measures intracranial forces that would occur in a real brain impact, bridging the gap between external helmet sensors and internal brain mechanics.
2Manufacturing precision
If anatomically accurate brain phantoms are created, then intracranial forces can be measured, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes 3D printing technology to transform digital anatomical data into physical phantom structures with precise anatomical accuracy. By changing the manufacturing parameter from traditional molding to additive manufacturing, the system achieves high anatomical fidelity while simplifying the production process through digital file storage and on-demand printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom is created as a precise copy of individual patient brains using their MRI or CT scan data. This copying approach allows for anatomically accurate representations to be manufactured without complex manual sculpting, as the 3D printer automatically translates digital models into physical forms with high precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If personalized brain phantoms are created from individual MRI data, then patient-specific injury assessment is possible, but production time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares personalized brain phantoms in advance before actual impact testing or treatment planning is needed. By creating patient-specific phantoms from their MRI data beforehand, the system allows sufficient time for fabrication while ensuring that the phantom is ready for immediate use when clinical decisions need to be made, thus managing the time loss through advance preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The 3D printing process enables rapid production of personalized phantoms by changing the manufacturing approach from traditional slow methods to additive manufacturing. This parameter change in production technology reduces fabrication time while maintaining the ability to customize each phantom to individual patient anatomy, thus balancing adaptability with time efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise identification of injury regions and forces within the brain, providing biofidelic data for improved research and treatment plans, and real-time feedback on traumatic brain injuries, enhancing the understanding and management of TBIs and concussions.
Implementation Method 1
The molds are filled with a hydrogel calcium chloride mixture layer by layer for placement of sensors
Implementation Method 2
The molds are then allowed to set before being submerged in the solvent, leaving a formed hydrogel phantom after the molds are fully dissolved or sufficiently dissolved
Data Source
AI summary
Anatomically accurate brain phantoms are physical models of brains which mimic the viscoelastic properties of brain tissues. The material used to represent different layers of the brain may be a composition of a hydrogel solution and a cross-linking agent, with ratios calculated and determined to accurately reflect the brain's mechanical properties, most notably, the viscoelasticity. Embedded sensors (e.g., accelerometers) measure impact forces and shear stresses/strains caused by a concussion-related experimental impact to the phantom. Uses of the hydrogel brain phantom include biomedical research and as a planning tool for medical treatments. A specific subject's brain may be replicated for designing personalized treatment.