Design and testing of a controlled electromagnetic spinal cord impactor for use in large animal models of acute traumatic spinal cord injury

Rory J. Petteys, Steven M. Spitz, Hasan Syed, R. Andrew Rice, Rachel Sarabia-Estrada, C. Rory Goodwin, Daniel M. Sciubba, Brett A. Freedman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes debilitating neurological dysfunction and has been observed in warfighters injured in IED blasts. Clinical benefit of SCI treatment remains elusive and better large animal models are needed to assess treatment options. Here, we describe a controlled electromagnetic spinal cord impactor for use in large animal models of SCI. Methods A custom spinal cord impactor and platform were fabricated for large animals (e.g., pig, sheep, dog, etc.). Impacts were generated by a voice coil actuator; force and displacement were measured with a load cell and potentiometer respectively. Labview (National Instruments, Austin, TX) software was used to control the impact cycle and import force and displacement data. Software finite impulse response (FIR) filtering was employed for all input data. Silicon tubing was used a surrogate for spinal cord in order to test the device; repeated impacts were performed at 15, 25, and 40 Newtons. Results Repeated impacts demonstrated predictable results at each target force. The average duration of impact was 71.2 ± 6.1 ms. At a target force of 40 N, the output force was 41.5 ± 0.7 N. With a target of 25 N, the output force was 23.5 ± 0.6 N; a target of 15 Newtons revealed an output force of 15.2 ± 1.4 N. The calculated acceleration range was 12.5–21.2 m/s2. Conclusions This custom spinal cord impactor reliably delivers precise impacts to the spinal cord and will be utilized in future research to study acute traumatic SCI in a large animal.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)229-234
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Clinical Neuroscience
Volume43
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2017

Keywords

  • Animal model
  • Large animal research
  • Spinal cord impactor
  • Spinal cord injury

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Physiology (medical)

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