IBNE

Chondral Lesions Patient-specific Database

The RESTORE consortium aims to develop an effective approach to managing the specific unmet clinical needs to treat knee chondral lesions. 

Chondral lesions constitute one of the major extrinsic risk factors for Osteoarthritis (OA), leading to important societal and economic burden. OA is a highly prevalent condition that can result in disabling pain and loss of physical function. IBNE is collaborating with other nine partners from six countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland) with the final goal of develop and validate nanoenabled solutions for personalised cartilage regeneration. RESTORE shall have long-range benefits, holding high commercial promise for industries, creating new reliable and reproducible data for regulatory bodies, yearning to meet the need of orthopaedic surgeons in order to assure patients wellbeing and active ageing.

In the frame of this project, the specific goal of IBNE is to build a Chondral Lesion Database (clDB) of patient-specific anatomical models. The clDB is based on CT and MRI images, taken at Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik, using standardized acquisition protocols and patient positioning.

The cartilage from the tibia, the femur, and the patella are processed from the MRI datasets, and the tibial, femoral, and patellar bones are identified from the CT scans. Then, MRI and CT are registered to combine both datasets into a single one.

From the database, it is possible to download STL file of all geometries, HU distribution for bones and cartilage components, histogram plots, thickness measurements, and videos of the 3D models. All this information will serve as a guide for patient-specific cartilage bio-printing design and study the interplay of geometry and HU distributions in degenerative cartilages.

This database is submitted to discipline-specific, free of charge community-recognised repository for other projects and physicians to use.

• Here you can find the RESTORE official website.
• Here, you can find the Chondral Lesion Database.

Total Hip Arthroplasty Study

The employment of biomechanics and engineering methodologies in clinical processes aim of improving our healthcare, reducing future costs and developing more thorough clinical guidelines to aid decision making. IBNE activity cooperate with orthopedic surgeons participating in several scientific projects and clinic trial. One example of the ongoing project is the followng:_ " Three dimensional bone mineral density changes in the femur over 1 year in primary total hip arthroplasty patients ".

Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is the gold standard for hip replacement surgery. It can be performed with two different kinds of prostheses: cemented and uncemented. This study, in collaboration with Landspitali, consist in monitor bone density and other parameters in 36 voluntary patients undergoing THA for the first time. The subjects are scanned with a CT-Scan before, immediately after and 1 and 5 years after the surgery. 

These same patients have a GaitAnalysis assessment. Different and important results are obtained from these data using Artificial Intelligence, Finite Element Analysis and Medical Imaging Processing which help orthopedics in planning the surgeries and in choosing the proper type of prostheses. 

Cartilage assessment and digitalization patient profiling

Aiming to develop novel siRNA advanced therapy, the project will create models from biopsies of patients that allow a deep insight into knee osteoarthritis and will generate advanced siRNA-based products that help alleviate pain and slow down disease progression. The efficacy and safety of these nanotherapeutics will be validated in ex vivo and in vivo models that will be employed to elucidate biological mechanisms of the condition's progression. Profiles of the patients will then allow machine-learning tools to deliver personalised therapies according to the individual disease stage.

The goal of institute is to develop a numeric and graphic patient-specific cartilage profile which will be used to support decision making and to customize tissue engineered solutions.

Our specific objectives are: 

• (i) assess and establish the most predictive parameters and image features for bone and cartilage in the knee and 
• (ii) develop a patient-specific and highly sensitive profile of cartilage and bone conditions

^{Segmentation Process to develop cartridge 3d model from CT and MRI image}

The current clinical cartilage evaluation is generally based on one of three medical imaging modalities: X-ray, CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. Each of these provides a different set of information which identify cartilage- and bone-related anomalies in femur, tibia, and within the different compartments of the knee joint. The accomplishment of this work will improve the current clinical evaluation for cartilage degeneration and support a clinical decision for intervention.

Biomedical Image Analysis and 3D Modeling

3D printing is a well-known process and an established technology. Applications in health care are among the most intriguing and challenging. 3D-printed anatomical models for surgical planning have gained a solid position as a potential solution to numerous clinical problems. The process is based on the segmentation of a region of interest from an image modality such as MRI and CT and the use of 3d printing technology to construct a reliable model of the anatomical region. Finally, surgeons can use this model to prepare and train for the surgical procedure.  Advanced centre for additive manufacturing is used to create 3D prints of the anatomy. 

In most cases, improving surgical planning means enhancing clinical outcomes and reducing cost for the healthcare system. 3d printing for surgical planning is a process based mainly on three steps; first, acquisition of medical images (Computed Tomography or Magnetic Resonance), secondly, using software to extract a region of interest from the images to create a 3D model. Finally, this model is printed with a 3d printing machine. At this point a surgeon can use this anatomical model to prepare for surgery or for training. 

IBNE is a pioneer in the field, planning surgery using 3d printing models since 2005 and establishing probably the first 3d printing service for surgical planning in the world. This service is still ongoing and often used at University Hospital Landspitali, Iceland, while the 3D printer itself is at the Reykjavik University building. 

Development of a quantitative virtual profile based on X-ray CT-validated metabolomics numerical distribution for an advanced monitoring of 3D in vitro bone extracellular matrix mineralizatio

The qPROFILE project has the specific aim to release a quantitative virtual profile (qVP) based on X- ray CT-validated metabolomics numerical distribution for advanced monitoring of 3D in vitro bone extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization. 

This project aims at the assessment of: 

(i) a list of parameters extrapolated from images and element distribution obtained from X-ray CT and metabolomics respectively; 

(ii) a PCA-based mathematical model correlating these parameters in order to develop the qVP, and to compute an unambiguous dynamic Bone Extracellular Matrix Mineralization index. This dynamic index will be a fingerprint expected to work as “off/on sensors” of the occurred bone ECM mineralization, thus establishing unambiguously when a tissue engineering product has reached its state of maturity.

This project is granted by "The Icelandic Research Fund 2022 Postdoctoral Fellowship"

Motion and Sea Sickness Virtual Reality Moving Platform

The Motion Sickness Laboratory (MS Lab), a collaboration between IBNE at Reykjavik University and the University of Iceland, has as main focus to study motion and sea sickness. Motion Sickness is a common complaint among those who passively travel and it is highest in childhood and usually decreases in adulthood.

Due to modern technology humans have faced new difficulties as in space flights (space sickness),or when playing computer games and training in flight simulator (visual induced motion sickness) where the nominator is that the person is motionless. Closely related to seasickness is land sickness (mal de debarquement) felt of those who have stayed in motion rich environment as expected on board ship at sea, but when ashore they have to adapt to the dynamic stable land environment. 

The MSLab introduces a novel multimeric system based on virtual reality, a mechanical platform and several biomedical sensors (like EEG, EMG, heart rate sensor and more...) to study the physiology associated to motion sickness. The mobile platform, unique in the world, used in these experiments allows to simulate the waves and the rough sea through a virtual reality environment that shows a boat surrounded by waves whose frequency and amplitude are synchronized with platform movement.

The main objectives of the study are: 

• Establish a gold standard for the quantitative measurements of motion sickness using bio-signals
• Evaluate and improve the type and strength of the Virtual Reality moving platform simulator to evaluate training and treatments for those who suffer from motion sickness
• Classify the physiology associated to motion sickness disorders using machine learning algorithms to develop motion sickness risk assessment for individuals and to improve training tools for these disorders.

In the figure is shown the measurements setup of the Virtual Reality platform.

Arabic BBC news report and interview on the Motion Sickness Lab 

(Starts at MINUTE 16:40)

Electroencephalography (EEG) & Neuroscience

The Icelandic Centre for Neurophysiology is a point of reference in Iceland for the neuroscience as it is equipped by lots of different EEG caps with 32, 64, 128 and 256 electrodes. Several studies were and are actually done with the use of the 256-Channel EEG System, unique in Iceland. 

An example is a study in patients with schizophrenia, using the 256-Channel EEG cap, to asses the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic (TMS) stimulation treatment. 

The 64-Channel EEG System is used instead for the study of the Motion and Sea Sickness, combined with EMG and other physiological sensors.