Primary Blast Injury Criteria for Animal/Human TBI Models Using Field Validated Shock Tubes

Abstract

In the four specific aims and the 13 tasks, we advanced the knowledge of how blast causes neurotrauma using animal and human cadaveric models by combining experimental and computational methods. In Specific Aim 1, we developed dose-response (pressure-injury) curves for rodent models in the range of 10-350 kPa blast overpressure range and identified the pressure ranges for mild, moderate, and severe TBI. In Specific Aim 2, we identified that increase in oxidative stress, breakage of blood-brain barrier and neuroinflammation are the main biological mechanisms of injury. We identified that neuroinflammation is initiated by both innate microgliaas well as infiltrating monocytes; other injury mechanisms persist over time inducing not only acute but chronic effects. In Specific Aim 3, we demonstrated that both blast overpressure and impulse (independently and together) determine the injury severity and symptom progression. Through direct measurements of both blast overpressure and impulse in live animals, we showed that impulse plays a key role in determining both injury initiation and progression. It is not the current practice to report impulse in the blast data and our research shows that both overpressure and impulse should be reported for proper characterization of blast. In the last SpecificAim 4, we tested five human cadaveric heads under comparable shock loadings and measured pressure/impulse at various points in the simulated brain regions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2020
Accession Number
AD1198636

Entities

People

  • K. V. Rama Rao
  • Maciej Skotak
  • Namas Chandra

Organizations

  • New Jersey Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Brain
  • Brain Injuries
  • Cells
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Combustion Dynamics and Shock Wave Physics.
  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.