N101-079 TITLE: fMRI compatible hypo-hyperbaric system for diving research and hyperbaric medicine

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Biomedical

OBJECTIVE: Create an fMRI compatible hypo-hyperbaric system to study diving and hyperbaric medicine.

DESCRIPTION: The physiological mechanisms underlying health threats associated with manned undersea operations such as decompression illness (DCI; decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism) and oxygen toxicity are currently not well understood. In addition, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic benefit of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) and its applications (e.g., DCI, traumatic brain injury, stroke) need to be validated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now commonly used to generate detailed images of the soft tissue anatomy of the human body. Functional MRI (fMRI) is increasingly employed in the study of the functioning brain. Presently, we are unable to utilize these advanced imaging technologies to study the physiological effects of pressure and gas in situ.

PHASE I: Determine feasibility of constructing an MRI compatible hyper-hypobaric system for use in decompression studies and hyperbaric research. Develop a detailed design of the system for an 80 kg subject in a 3-Tesla imager, with the necessary optical/electronic pass-through for the instrumentation of the research subject, and identify experimental methods that will leverage this technology.

PHASE II: Construct a prototype MRI compatible hyper-hypobaric system. Test the system for operational safety at pressures equal to or exceeding a 0.2-3.0 ATA range inside an MRI chamber. Certify the system for animal and/or human testing.

PHASE III: Develop imaging techniques and experimental methodologies to address research questions identified in Phase I. Introduce the system for use at Navy Research Laboratories (e.g., Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory, Naval Medical Research Center, Navy Experimental Diving Unit).

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Universities, research institutions, and medical treatment facilities that employ hyperbaric chambers would clearly benefit from this technology. Current use of imaging techniques such as MRI in HBOT research/clinical trials is limited, and both technologies cannot be employed simultaneously.

REFERENCES:
1. Bennett, P. and D. Elliott (1993). The physiology and medicine of diving, London, W.B. Saunders Company

2. Huettel, S. A., A. W. Song, et al. (2004). Functional magnetic resonance imaging, Sinauer Associates.

3. Neuman, T. S. and S. R. Thom (2008). Physiology & medicine of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Saunders.

4. Workman, W. T. (1999). Hyperbaric Facility Safety: a practical guide, Flagstaff, Best Publishing.

KEYWORDS: diving; hyperbaric medicine; MRI; fMRI, decompression sickness; hyperbaric oxygen therapy

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