Post-Doctoral Fellow in Biomedical Engineering
University of Delaware
claesamy@udel.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, 2015
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
B.S.E. Biomedical Engineering, 2010
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Quantification of Internal Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Strains
Internal disc strain is an important metric in defining the mechanical properties of both healthy and aging discs, because areas of high lamellar strain can indicate where discs are most susceptible to degeneration or damage. Additionally, understanding changes in the internal mechanical state in a disc with degeneration or after a surgical procedure (i.e. discectomy) benefits future treatments and strategies for patient recovery. Currently, we use MR imaging and image registration methods to non-invasively identify internal lumbar disc strain during axial compression. By these methods, we can, for the first time, quantify the internal mechanical changes within the cadaveric disc after compression, and the changes after a partial nucleotomy. My work will expand the current method to investigate intradiscal strain patterns in other motions, including flexion/extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending.
Axial MR image of a cadaveric lumbar disc. An incision was created on the left side of the disc to remove part of the nucleus pulposus (partial-nucleotomy). Image registration methods give intradiscal strains during axial compression, radial strains pictured.
Publications
1. Claeson AA, Showalter BL, Vresilovic, EJ, Wright AC, Gee JC, Malhotra NR, Elliott DM, “Nucleotomy Alters Internal Strain Distribution of the Human Lumbar Intervertebral Disc,” in preparation.
2. Quindlen JC, Bloom ET, Claeson AA, Barocas VH, “Steady-state characterization of the mechanical properties of the Pacinian corpuscle,” in preparation.
3. Zarei V, Liu CJ, Claeson AA, Akking T, Barocas VH, “Image-based Multiscale Mechanical Modeling Shows the Importance of Structural Heterogeneity in the Human Lumbar Facet Capsular Ligament”, submitted.
4. Claeson AA, Barocas VH, “Computer simulation of lumbar flexion shows in-plane and through-plane shear of the facet capsular ligament”, Spine J, 17:109-119, 2017.
5. Claeson AA, Barocas VH, “Planar biaxial extension of the lumbar facet capsular ligament reveals significant in-plane shear forces,” J Mech Behav Biomed Mat, 65:127-136, 2017.
6. Claeson AA, Yeh Y-J, Black AJ, Akkin T, Barocas VH, “Marker-free tracking of facet capsule motion using polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography,” Ann Biomed Eng, 43:2953-2966, 2015.
7. Nagel TM, Hadi MF, Claeson AA, Nuckley DJ, Barocas VH, “Combining displacement field and grip force information to determine mechanical properties of planar tissue with complicated geometry,” J Biomech Eng, 136(11):114501, 2014.
8. Bouzigues C, Nguyên,T-L, Ramodihalirafy R, Claeson A, Tharaux P-L, Alexandrou A, “Regulation of the ROS response dynamics and organization to PDGF motile stimuli revealed by single nanoparticle imaging,” Chem Biol, 21(5):647-656, 2014.
9. Wang L, Park P, Zhang H, Marca FL, Claeson A, Than K, Rahman S, Lin CY, “BMP-2 inhibits tumor growth of human renal cell carcinoma and induces bone formation,” Int J Cancer, 131(8):1941-1950, 2012.
10. Wang L, Park P, Zhang H, Marca FL, Claeson A, Valdivia J, Lin CY, “BMP-2 inhibits the tumorigenicity of cancer stem cells in human osteosarcoma OS99-1 cell line,” Cancer Biol Ther, 11(5):457-463, 2011.