Waveguide Elastography Used to Study Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to research from physicist Anthony J. Romano, PhD., with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, a process called “waveguide elastography” will allow medical providers to gain insight into how head injuries have physically affected their patients’ brains. Romano described the method during a presentation given at the 179th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and is reportedly using the process to study the brains of injured hockey players in order to uncover new data about brain health.
Waveguide Elastography
Waveguide elastography is a method of brain imaging that combines two previously used methods with anisotropic and isotropic inversion algorithms. By applying these algorithms to data from a combination of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), waveguide elastography is able to provide a more detailed picture of the brain, giving researchers and providers more information about the stiffness of fibrous pathways in the brain. The method also offers more details about the changes and pathologies of both gray and white matter.
Method Development
Romano initially applied Waveguide Elastography in order to study acoustic signatures relevant to anti-submarine tactics in warfare. However, he later pivoted and applied algorithms previously used for submarine detection to biomedical purposes. Romano describes the moment that he realized that he could “use these technologies … to explore both white and gray matter inside the brain” as an “aha! Moment.”
Tissue Stiffness
By using MRE, Romano’s team is able to produce small vibrations inside of the skull and then apply their algorithms to how the brain’s motions respond to the vibrations. By doing so, they are able to determine “dynamic elastic displacement.” While this isn’t exactly the same thing as stiffness, Romano pointed out, it is related to brain stiffness by motion equations devised by him and his team.
Continuing Research
Romano’s team has reportedly used waveguide elastography to study the brains of University of Delaware hockey players throughout a season, taking images of their brains as the season progressed. The team reports finding “significant increases in brain stiffness” among images taken later on in the season. Additionally, increased stiffness appeared to increase each time a player suffered a concussion.
Recovering from a Brain Injury
Recovering from brain injuries can be difficult and, even though there are many cutting-edge technologies to support brain injury survivors, many people are worried about how they’ll be able to afford quality medical care. For this reason, it’s important to reach out to a personal injury lawyer if you’ve sustained head trauma during an accident.
Often, attorneys are able to help brain injury survivors obtain payments to cover their treatment. Furthermore, many brain injury survivors are also able to claim payments for other damages related to their accident such as lost wages or loss of quality of life.
Other Blogs by Ed Smith, Yuba City Brain Injury Lawyer
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Yuba City Brain Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Yuba City brain injury lawyer. Accidents can cause major issues in people’s lives. If you or a person you know has sustained a brain injury, call us right away at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400 to receive free, friendly advice from our team.
We’ve worked with people in the Yuba City area for nearly 4 decades and have won many verdicts and case settlements on behalf of our valued clients. To get unbiased reviews of the work we’ve done, you can see our online profiles at the websites below:
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