scholarly journals A nonlinear rotation-free shell formulation with prestressing for vascular biomechanics

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitesh Nama ◽  
Miquel Aguirre ◽  
Jay D. Humphrey ◽  
C. Alberto Figueroa

Abstract We implement a nonlinear rotation-free shell formulation capable of handling large deformations for applications in vascular biomechanics. The formulation employs a previously reported shell element that calculates both the membrane and bending behavior via displacement degrees of freedom for a triangular element. The thickness stretch is statically condensed to enforce vessel wall incompressibility via a plane stress condition. Consequently, the formulation allows incorporation of appropriate 3D constitutive material models. We also incorporate external tissue support conditions to model the effect of surrounding tissue. We present theoretical and variational details of the formulation and verify our implementation against axisymmetric results and literature data. We also adapt a previously reported prestress methodology to identify the unloaded configuration corresponding to the medically imaged in vivo vessel geometry. We verify the prestress methodology in an idealized bifurcation model and demonstrate the significance of including prestress. Lastly, we demonstrate the robustness of our formulation via its application to mouse-specific models of arterial mechanics using an experimentally informed four-fiber constitutive model.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debayan Dasgupta ◽  
Dharma Pally ◽  
Deepak K. Saini ◽  
Ramray Bhat ◽  
Ambarish Ghosh

The dissemination of cancer is brought about by continuous interaction of malignant cells with their surrounding tissue microenvironment. Understanding and quantifying the remodeling of local extracellular matrix (ECM) by invading cells can therefore provide fundamental insights into the dynamics of cancer dissemination. In this paper, we use an active and untethered nanomechanical tool, realized as magnetically driven nanorobots, to locally probe a 3D tissue culture microenvironment consisting of cancerous and non-cancerous epithelia, embedded within reconstituted basement membrane (rBM) matrix. Our assay is designed to mimic the in vivo histopathological milieu of a malignant breast tumor. We find that nanorobots preferentially adhere to the ECM near cancer cells: this is due to the distinct charge conditions of the cancer-remodeled ECM. Surprisingly, quantitative measurements estimate that the adhesive force increases with the metastatic ability of cancer cell lines, while the spatial extent of the remodeled ECM was measured to be approximately 40 μm for all cancer cell lines studied here. We hypothesized and experimentally confirmed that specific sialic acid linkages specific to cancer-secreted ECM may be a major contributing factor in determining this adhesive behavior. The findings reported here can lead to promising applications in cancer diagnosis, quantification of cancer aggression, in vivo drug delivery applications, and establishes the tremendous potential of magnetic nanorobots for fundamental studies of cancer biomechanics.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene Kim ◽  
Davide Di Censo ◽  
Mattia Baraldo ◽  
Camilla Simmons ◽  
Ilaria Rosa ◽  
...  

AbstractAmyloid plaques are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that develop in its earliest stages. Thus, non-invasive detection of these plaques would be invaluable for diagnosis and the development and monitoring of treatments, but this remains a challenge due to their small size. Here, we investigated the utility of manganese-enhanced MRI (MEMRI) for visualizing plaques in transgenic rodent models of AD across two species: 5xFAD mice and TgF344-AD rats. Animals were given subcutaneous injections of MnCl2 and imaged in vivo using a 9.4 T Bruker scanner. MnCl2 improved signal-to-noise ratio but was not necessary to detect plaques in high-resolution images. Plaques were visible in all transgenic animals and no wild-types, and quantitative susceptibility mapping showed that they were more paramagnetic than the surrounding tissue. This, combined with beta-amyloid and iron staining, indicate that plaque MR visibility in both animal models was driven by plaque size and iron load. Longitudinal relaxation rate mapping revealed increased manganese uptake in brain regions of high plaque burden in transgenic animals compared to their wild-type littermates. This was limited to the rhinencephalon in the TgF344-AD rats, while it was most significantly increased in the cortex of the 5xFAD mice. Alizarin Red staining suggests that manganese bound to plaques in 5xFAD mice but not in TgF344-AD rats. Multi-parametric MEMRI is a simple, viable method for detecting amyloid plaques in rodent models of AD. Manganese-induced signal enhancement can enable higher-resolution imaging, which is key to visualizing these small amyloid deposits. We also present the first in vivo evidence of manganese as a potential targeted contrast agent for imaging plaques in the 5xFAD model of AD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erfan Dashtimoghadam ◽  
Farahnaz Fahimipour ◽  
Andrew N. Keith ◽  
Foad Vashahi ◽  
Pavel Popryadukhin ◽  
...  

AbstractCurrent materials used in biomedical devices do not match tissue’s mechanical properties and leach various chemicals into the body. These deficiencies pose significant health risks that are further exacerbated by invasive implantation procedures. Herein, we leverage the brush-like polymer architecture to design and administer minimally invasive injectable elastomers that cure in vivo into leachable-free implants with mechanical properties matching the surrounding tissue. This strategy allows tuning curing time from minutes to hours, which empowers a broad range of biomedical applications from rapid wound sealing to time-intensive reconstructive surgery. These injectable elastomers support in vitro cell proliferation, while also demonstrating in vivo implant integrity with a mild inflammatory response and minimal fibrotic encapsulation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 200 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Scheibe ◽  
Mario M. Dorostkar ◽  
Christian Seebacher ◽  
Rainer Uhl ◽  
Frank Lison ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 625-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin S. Bleier ◽  
James N. Palmer ◽  
Michael A. Gratton ◽  
Noam A. Cohen

Background One of the challenges in the current expansion of endoscopic sinonasal surgery is the ability to adequately reconstruct the skull base. Laser tissue welding (LTW) uses laser energy coupled to a biological solder to produce tissue bonds with burst thresholds exceeding human intracranial pressure. This technology could be used to reduce the rate of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. We performed this study to determine whether LTW can create durable tissue bonds in sinonasal mucosa that support normal wound healing and produce minimal collateral thermal injury. Methods Bilateral maxillary sinus mucosal incisions were made in 20 New Zealand white rabbits and one side was repaired using LTW. Burst pressure thresholds were measured on postoperative days 0, 5, and 15 and were compared with control using a two- way ANOVA and a post hoc Tukey test. Welds were examined histologically for thermal injury, inflammation, and fibroplasia and graded on a 4-point scale by three blinded observers. Results The burst pressures of the LTW group were significantly higher than control on postoperative day 0 (120.85 mm Hg, N = 4, SD = 47.84 versus 7.85 mm Hg, N = 4, SD = 0.78), and day 5 (132.56 mm Hg, N = 8, SD = 24.02 versus 41.7 mm Hg, N = 8, SD = 7.2; p < 0.05). By postoperative day 15 there was no significant difference between LTW (169.64 mm Hg, N = 8, SD = 18.49) and control (160.84 mm Hg, N = 8, SD = 14.16) burst thresholds. There was no evidence of thermal injury to the surrounding tissue in any group as well as no difference between experimental group and control with respect to inflammation or fibroplasia. Conclusion This is the first in vivo study showing that LTW is capable of producing tissue bonds exceeding human intracranial pressure with negligible thermal injury in sinonasal tissue. Welding can be performed endoscopically using a fiberoptic cable and may be useful in CSF leak and skull base repair.


2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 970-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando G. Flores

An assumed strain approach for a linear triangular element able to handle finite deformation problems is presented in this paper. The element is based on a total Lagrangian formulation and its geometry is defined by three nodes with only translational degrees of freedom. The strains are computed from the metric tensor, which is interpolated linearly from the values obtained at the mid-side points of the element. The evaluation of the gradient at each side of the triangle is made resorting to the geometry of the adjacent elements, leading to a four element patch. The approach is then nonconforming, nevertheless the element passes the patch test. To deal with plasticity at finite deformations a logarithmic stress-strain pair is used where an additive decomposition of elastic and plastic strains is adopted. A hyper-elastic model for the elastic linear stress-strain relation and an isotropic quadratic yield function (Mises) for the plastic part are considered. The element has been implemented in two finite element codes: an implicit static/dynamic program for moderately non-linear problems and an explicit dynamic code for problems with strong nonlinearities. Several examples are shown to assess the behavior of the present element in linear plane stress states and non-linear plane strain states as well as in axi-symmetric problems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3158
Author(s):  
Néstor J. Jarque-Bou ◽  
Margarita Vergara ◽  
Joaquín L. Sancho-Bru

Thumb opposition is essential for grasping, and involves the flexion and abduction of the carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints of the thumb. The high number of degrees of freedom of the thumb in a fairly small space makes the in vivo recording of its kinematics a challenging task. For this reason, along with the very limited independence of the abduction movement of the metacarpophalangeal joint, many devices do not implement sensors to measure such movement, which may lead to important implications in terms of the accuracy of thumb models. The aims of this work are to examine the correlation between thumb joints and to obtain an equation that allows thumb metacarpophalangeal abduction/adduction movement to be estimated from the other joint motions of the thumb, during the commonest grasps used during activities of daily living and in free movement. The correlation analysis shows that metacarpophalangeal abduction/adduction movement can be expressed mainly from carpometacarpal joint movements. The model thus obtained presents a low estimation error (6.29°), with no significant differences between grasps. The results could benefit most fields that do not typically include this joint movement, such as virtual reality, teleoperation, 3D modeling, prostheses, and exoskeletons.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S191-S192
Author(s):  
Angela R Jockheck-Clark ◽  
Randolph Stone ◽  
Michelle Holik ◽  
Lucy Schaffer ◽  
Shanmugasundaram Natesan ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Thermal burns account for 5–10% of casualties sustained in present-day conflicts and are expected to be one of the most common wounds to occur in future conflicts. In prolonged field care (PFC) situations, medical evacuation could be delayed for days. During this time, burn wounds can become infected, detrimentally impact neighboring tissue, and cause systemic immune responses. Therefore, it is essential to test and evaluate non-surgical debridement agents that could be implemented prior to reaching a Role 3 military treatment facility. This work details how the proprietary proteolytic gel SN514 impacts burn debridement when applied within a PFC-like timeline. SN514 contains an enzyme formulation that is thermostable, easy to apply, and selectively degrades non-viable tissue in vitro and in vivo. Methods Deep-partial thickness contact burns were created using an established porcine model and covered with gauze or an antimicrobial incise drape. Four days later, the burns were treated with one of five treatments: 0.2% SN514, 0.8% SN514, a vehicle control, gauze, or an antimicrobial silver dressing. Treatments were re-applied every 24 hours for 72 to 96 hours. The effects of the treatment regiments were compared histologically. Biopsies were also taken to monitor bacterial contamination levels. Results Burns treated with SN514 were partially debrided and visually distinct from those treated with gauze, the silver dressing, or the vehicle control. Preliminary analyses suggest that SN514-treated burns that had been covered with “dry” gauze had a much lower debridement efficiency than those treated with the incise drape. This suggests that SN514 debridement efficiency may depend on the presence of a moist eschar. Preliminary analyses also suggest that there was little difference in burn wound bacterial counts among the five treatment groups. Conclusions SN514 is able to debride burns that experienced delayed treatment, without any evidence of harm to the surrounding tissue or evidence of exacerbating the original burn injury. SN514-treated wounds displayed little to no blood loss and did not increase burn wound infection levels compared to wounds treated with gauze or an antimicrobial silver dressing.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. H60-H65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene D. McGahren ◽  
James M. Beach ◽  
Brian R. Duling

It has been proposed that capillaries can detect changes in tissue metabolites and generate signals that are communicated upstream to resistance vessels. The mechanism for this communication may involve changes in capillary endothelial cell membrane potentials which are then conducted to upstream arterioles. We have tested the capacity of capillary endothelial cells in vivo to respond to pharmacological stimuli. In a hamster cheek pouch preparation, capillary endothelial cells were labeled with the voltage-sensitive dye di-8-ANEPPS. Fluorescence from capillary segments (75–150 μm long) was excited at 475 nm and recorded at 560 and 620 nm with a dual-wavelength photomultiplier system. KCl was applied using pressure injection, and acetylcholine (ACh) and phenylephrine (PE) were applied iontophoretically to these capillaries. Changes in the ratio of the fluorescence emission at two emission wavelengths were used to estimate changes in the capillary endothelial membrane potential. Application of KCl resulted in depolarization, whereas application of the vehicle did not. Application of ACh and PE resulted in hyperpolarization and depolarization, respectively. The capillary responses could be blocked by including a receptor antagonist (atropine or prazosin, respectively) in the superfusate. We conclude that the capillary membrane potential is capable of responding to pharmacological stimuli. We hypothesize that capillaries can respond to changes in the milieu of surrounding tissue via changes in endothelial membrane potential.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Kulikov ◽  
A. A. Mamontov ◽  
S. V. Plotnikova ◽  
S. A. Mamontov

AbstractA hybrid-mixed ANS four-node shell element by using the sampling surfaces (SaS) technique is developed. The SaS formulation is based on choosing inside the nth layer In not equally spaced SaS parallel to the middle surface of the shell in order to introduce the displacements of these surfaces as basic shell variables. Such choice of unknowns with the consequent use of Lagrange polynomials of degree In − 1 in the thickness direction for each layer permits the presentation of the layered shell formulation in a very compact form. The SaS are located inside each layer at Chebyshev polynomial nodes that allows one to minimize uniformly the error due to the Lagrange interpolation. To implement the efficient analytical integration throughout the element, the enhanced ANS method is employed. The proposed hybrid-mixed four-node shell element is based on the Hu-Washizu variational equation and exhibits a superior performance in the case of coarse meshes. It could be useful for the 3D stress analysis of thick and thin doubly-curved shells since the SaS formulation gives the possibility to obtain numerical solutions with a prescribed accuracy, which asymptotically approach the exact solutions of elasticity as the number of SaS tends to infinity.


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