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MRI-Based Method for Characterizing Axonal Microstructure in Traumatic Brain Injury

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Summary
Researchers at the NICHD developed a method for non-invasively determining the distribution of pore lengths and radii within a matrix thereby characterizing cognitive defects observed in patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The NICHD seeks licensing and/or co-development research collaborations to bring this invention to the public.
NIH Reference Number
E-008-2015
Product Type
Keywords
  • Neurites, Traumatic Brain Injury, TBI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, MRI, Peripheral Nervous System, PNS
  • MRI diagnostic
Collaboration Opportunity
This invention is available for licensing and co-development.
Contact
Description of Technology

Neurites of the central nervous system can be conceptualized as cylindrical pores with finite lengths and radii. In response to physical trauma, axons may assume a “beaded” morphology which alters their ability to conduct electrical impulses, impairing brain function. These microstructural changes are thought to underlie some of the cognitive defects observed in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Current methods for characterizing traumatic brain injury (TBI) cannot provide microstructural detail on the 3-dimensional shape of axonal segments. Such detail is useful for the clinical management of patients with TBI. 

Researchers at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development developed a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based data acquisition pipeline and processing framework to non-invasively characterize axonal shape and structure. The invention provides a method for non-invasively determining the joint distribution of pore lengths and radii within white matter pathways. 

Potential Commercial Applications
  • Diagnosis and monitoring patients with insults or injuries to white matter in the brain or nerves in the PNS 
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
Competitive Advantages
  • Provides 3-dimensional data about axonal structure
  • Provides microstructural detail
Inventor(s)

Peter Basser (NICHD), Dan Benjamini (NICHD), Michal Komlosh (NICHD)

Development Stage
Publications

Benjamini D, et al. White matter microstructure from nonparametric axon diameter distribution mapping. [PMID 27126002]

Komlosh ME, et al. Submitted to Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. In press.

Patent Status
  • U.S. Provisional: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number PCT/US2015/062489, Filed 24 Nov 2015
  • U.S. Provisional: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 62/083,834, Filed 24 Nov 2014
  • U.S. Provisional: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 15/529,412, Filed 24 May 2017
Therapeutic Area
Updated
Tuesday, January 26, 2021