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Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity AIDN: A Translational Neuroscience Approach
Published on: June 11, 2017
Modeling, experiment, and validation of a piglet head
Rui Li1, Dapeng Li2, Zhongqing Su1
1School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China.
Insights
This study developed a bio-fidelic finite element model of a piglet head to investigate traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children. The validated model accurately predicts head impact responses and intracranial pressure, aiding TBI research.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Computational Biology
- Pediatric Traumatology
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of death and disability in infants and toddlers.
- Ethical considerations limit direct experimentation on child heads, necessitating alternative models.
- Piglet head models serve as a viable substitute for studying pediatric TBI mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a high-fidelity finite element (FE) model of a 4-week-old piglet head.
- To assess the model's capability in predicting head impact responses and intracranial pressure (ICP).
- To provide a tool for investigating the mechanisms of TBI in children.
Main Methods:
- A detailed FE model of a piglet head was constructed, incorporating brain, skull, and soft tissues.
- Material properties of piglet head components were experimentally determined.
- The FE model was validated against quasi-static and dynamic impact tests (free-fall and drop-hammer).
Main Results:
- The FE model demonstrated high bio-fidelity, with simulation results closely matching experimental data.
- Average errors for contact force peaks and durations were approximately 12.9% and 6.8%, respectively.
- Average errors for intracranial pressure (ICP) peaks and durations were approximately 8.9% and 9.9%, respectively.
Conclusions:
- The validated piglet head FE model accurately predicts head global response and ICP.
- This model serves as an effective tool for evaluating modeling strategies for pediatric TBI.
- The model aids in understanding the mechanisms of TBI under various loading conditions.
Introduction:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a prevalent type of disabling and fatal injury in infants/toddlers, which is usually caused by falls or traffic accidents. Considering that it is difficult to collect realistic material properties and validation data of child heads due to ethical reasons, experiments on the piglet heads and the finite element (FE) models are generally used as a substitute for the investigations of child TBI.
Methods:
In this study, first, a high-quality FE model of a 4-week-old piglet head, including brain (cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem), skull, soft tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, dura matter, pia matter and mandible, is developed. Then, test for the material properties of the piglet head and that for the global validation data are conducted. For the former, the mechanical properties of the brain, overlying soft tissue and skull of the 4-week-old piglet head are tested, and the constitutive models and corresponding parameters are further defined. For the latter, the quasi-static compression test and dynamic impact test (free-fall drop impact test, drop-hammer impact test) are performed on the piglet head. Finally, the piglet head FE model was validated against tests in terms of the contact force and intracranial pressure (ICP) under eight conditions (one for the compression condition, four for the free-fall impact condition, and three for the drop-hammer impact condition).
Results:
The trends of simulated curves are consistent with the experimental results under all conditions. For the contact force, the average error of the peak values between simulations and tests is about 12.9 %, and the average error of time durations is about 6.8 %. For the ICP, the average errors of peak values and time durations between simulations and tests are about 8.9 % and 9.9 %.
Conclusions:
The results show that the piglet head model has high bio-fidelity, which can be used to predict the head global response and the ICP, and further to assist the investigation of child TBI. The model provides another effective way to evaluate the modeling strategies and material constitute models suitable for child head FE model, and can better to understand the inducement and mechanism of child TBI under different external loading conditions.
