Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Automated Quantification And Evaluation Of Motion Artifact On Coronary Ct Angiography Images, Hongfeng Ma, Eric Gros, Scott G. Baginski, Zachary R. Laste, Naveen M. Kulkarni, Darin Okerlund, Taly Gilat Schmidt

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Abstract

Purpose

This study developed and validated a Motion Artifact Quantification algorithm to automatically quantify the severity of motion artifacts on coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) images. The algorithm was then used to develop a Motion IQ Decision method to automatically identify whether a CCTA dataset is of sufficient diagnostic image quality or requires further correction.

Method

The developed Motion Artifact Quantification algorithm includes steps to identify the right coronary artery (RCA) regions of interest (ROIs), segment vessel and shading artifacts, and to calculate the motion artifact score (MAS) metric. The segmentation algorithms were verified against ground‐truth manual segmentations. The …

Assessment Of A Markerless Motion Analysis System For Manual Wheelchair Application, Jacob Rammer, Brooke A. Slavens, Joseph Krzak, Jack M. Winters, Susan A. Riedel, Gerald F. Harris

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Wheelchair biomechanics research advances accessibility and clinical care for manual wheelchair users. Standardized outcome assessments are vital tools for tracking progress, but there is a strong need for more quantitative methods. A system offering kinematic, quantitative detection, with the ease of use of a standardized outcome assessment, would be optimal for repeated, longitudinal assessment of manual wheelchair users’ therapeutic progress, but has yet to be offered.

Results

This work evaluates a markerless motion analysis system for manual wheelchair mobility in clinical, community, and home settings. This system includes Microsoft® Kinect® 2.0 sensors, OpenSim musculoskeletal modeling, and an automated detection, …

Papaverine And Its Derivatives Radiosensitize Solid Tumors By Inhibiting Mitochondrial Metabolism, Martin Benej, Xiangqian Hong, Sandip Vibhute, Sabina Scott, Jinghai Wu, Edward Graves, Quynh-Thu Le, Albert C. Koong, Amato J. Giaccia, Bing Yu, Ching-Shih Chen, Ioanna Papandreou, Nicholas C. Denko

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Tumor hypoxia reduces the effectiveness of radiation therapy by limiting the biologically effective dose. An acute increase in tumor oxygenation before radiation treatment should therefore significantly improve the tumor cell kill after radiation. Efforts to increase oxygen delivery to the tumor have not shown positive clinical results. Here we show that targeting mitochondrial respiration results in a significant reduction of the tumor cells’ demand for oxygen, leading to increased tumor oxygenation and radiation response. We identified an activity of the FDA-approved drug papaverine as an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I. We also provide genetic evidence that papaverine’s complex I inhibition …

Detection Of Hydrogen Peroxide Production In The Isolated Rat Lung Using Amplex Red, Said H. Audi, Nina Friedly, Ranjan K. Dash, Andreas M. Beyer, Anne V. Clough, Elizabeth R. Jacobs

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The objectives of this study were to develop a robust protocol to measure the rate of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production in isolated perfused rat lungs, as an index of oxidative stress, and to determine the cellular sources of the measured H₂O₂ using the extracellular probe Amplex red (AR). AR was added to the recirculating perfusate in an isolated perfused rat lung. AR’s highly fluorescent oxidation product resorufin was measured in the perfusate. Experiments were carried out without and with rotenone (complex I inhibitor), thenoyltrifluoroacetone (complex II inhibitor), antimycin A (complex III inhibitor), potassium …

Early Term Effects Of Rhbmp-2 On Pedicle Screw Fixation In A Sheep Model: Histomorphometric And Biomechanical Analyses, Jeffrey M. Toth, Mei Wang, Chetan Patel, Akshi Arora

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background: The effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on pedicle screw pullout force and its potential to improve spinal fixation have not previously been investigated. rhBMP-2 on an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) carrier was delivered in and around cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screws in a sheep lumbar spine instability model. Two control groups (empty screw and ACS with buffer) were also evaluated. We hypothesized that rhBMP-2 could stimulate bone growth in and around the cannulated and fenestrated pedicle screws to improve early bone purchase.

Methods: Eight skeletally mature sheep underwent destabilizing laminectomies at L2–L3 and L4–L5 followed by …

Technical Note: Enhancing Soft Tissue Contrast And Radiation‐Induced Image Changes With Dual‐Energy Ct For Radiation Therapy, George Noid, An Tai, Diane Schott, Nilesh Mistry, Yu Liu, Taly Gilat Schmidt, Jared R. Robbins, X. Allen Li

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

The purpose of this work is to investigate the use of low‐energy monoenergetic decompositions obtained from dual‐energy CT (DECT) to enhance image contrast and the detection of radiation‐induced changes of CT textures in pancreatic cancer.

Methods

The DECT data acquired for 10 consecutive pancreatic cancer patients during routine nongated CT‐guided radiation therapy (RT) using an in‐room CT (Definition AS Open, Siemens Healthcare, Malvern, PA) were analyzed. With a sequential DE protocol, the scanner rapidly performs two helical acquisitions, the first at a tube voltage of 80 kVp and the second at a tube voltage of 140 kVp. Virtual monoenergetic …

Application Of Fractal Dimension For Quantifying Noise Texture In Computed Tomography Images, P. Khobragade, Jiahua Fan, Franco Rupcich, Dominic J. Crotty, Taly Gilat Schmidt

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

Evaluation of noise texture information in CT images is important for assessing image quality. Noise texture is often quantified by the noise power spectrum (NPS), which requires numerous image realizations to estimate. This study evaluated fractal dimension for quantifying noise texture as a scalar metric that can potentially be estimated using one image realization.

Methods

The American College of Radiology CT accreditation phantom (ACR) was scanned on a clinical scanner (Discovery CT750, GE Healthcare) at 120 kV and 25 and 90 mAs. Images were reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP/ASIR 0%) with varying reconstruction kernels: Soft, Standard, Detail, Chest, …

Control Design And Implementation Of An Active Transtibial Prosthesis, Joseph Klein

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Prior work at Marquette University developed the Marquette Prosthesis, an active transtibial prosthesis that utilized a torsional spring and a four-bar mechanism. The controls for the Marquette Prosthesis implemented a finite state control algorithm to determine the state of gait of the amputee along with two lower level controllers, a PI moment controller to control the moment during stance and a PID position controller to control the position during stance. The Marquette Prosthesis was successful in mimicking the gait profile presented by Winter. However, after completing human subject testing, the Marquette Prosthesis was insufficient in trying to match the gait …

A Biomechanical Simulation Of Musculoskeletal Kinematics During Ambulation, Alex Thomas

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The purpose of this study was to validate a 3D musculoskeletal model in OpenSim and assess OpenSim’s ability to determine muscle-length variation during ambulation. An 18 camera motion capture system was used to analyze 20 healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 35. Following data collection, the data was processed through OpenSim and Visual3D. The kinematic output processed through the OpenSim model was then compared to the kinematic output of the validated Visual3D model to validate the OpenSim model. Muscle fiber length data obtained from the same experimental data was compared to control data to assess OpenSim’s muscle analysis …

Effects Of Spinal Fusion For Idiopathic Scoliosis On Lower Body Kinematics During Gait, Karen M. Kruger, Christina R. Garman, Joseph J. Krzak, Adam Graf, Sahar Hassani, Sergey Tarima, Peter F. Sturm, Kim W. Hammerberg, Purnendu Gupta, Gerald F. Harris

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare gait among patients with scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSFI) to typically developing subjects and determine if the location of the lowest instrumented vertebra impacted results.

Summary of Background Data

PSFI is the standard of care for correcting spine deformities, allowing the preservation of body equilibrium while maintaining as many mobile spinal segments as possible. The effect of surgery on joint motion distal to the spine must also be considered. Very few studies have addressed the effect of PSFI on activities such as walking and even fewer address …

Will The Real Designer Please Stand Up? [Senior Design], Jay R. Goldberg

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a popular television show called To Tell the Truth, on which three contestants claimed to be a person with an unusual occupation or distinction. Two of them were impostors, and the other was telling the truth. Four panelists asked the contestants questions to determine who was being truthful. After each panelist chose the contestant he or she thought was telling the truth, the host would ask "Will the real _____ please stand up?" To create drama, each contestant would rise at different times and then sit, leaving the contestant with the unusual occupation …

Diffusion Tensor Imaging In A Large Longitudinal Series Of Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Correlated With Long-Term Functional Outcome, Avinash Rao, Hesham Soliman, Mayank Kaushal, Olesya Motovylyak, Aditya Vedantam, Matthew D. Budde, Brian D. Schmit, Marjorie C. Wang, Shekar N. Kurpad

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

BACKGROUND

Fractional anisotropy (FA) of the high cervical cord correlates with upper limb function in acute cervical cord injury. We investigated the correlation between preoperative FA at the level of maximal compression and functional recovery in a group of patients after decompressive surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

OBJECTIVE

To determine the usefulness of FA as a biomarker for severity of CSM and as a prognostic biomarker for improvement after surgery.

METHODS

Patients received diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scans preoperatively. FA values of the whole cord cross-section at the level of maximal compression and upper cervical cord (C1-2) were calculated. …

Posterior Cervical Spine Crisscross Fixation: Biomechanical Evaluation, Joseph F. Cusick, Frank A. Pintar, Joseph S. Cheng, Jason I. Lifshutz, Narayan Yoganandan

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Biomechanical/anatomic limitations may limit the successful implantation, maintenance, and risk acceptance of posterior cervical plate/rod fixation for one stage decompression-fusion. A method of posterior fixation (crisscross) that resolves biomechanical deficiencies of previous facet wiring techniques and not reliant upon screw implantation has been devised. The biomechanical performance of the new method of facet fixation was compared to the traditional lateral mass plate/screw fixation method.

Methods

Thirteen human cadaver spine segments (C2-T1) were tested under flexion-compression loading and four were evaluated additionally under pure-moment load. Preparations were evaluated in a sequence of surgical alterations with intact, laminectomy, lateral mass plate/screw …

Promoting Global Clinical Care And Research For Children With Orthopaedic Disabilities Through Motion Analysis Technology, Jacob R. Rammer, Joycie Eulah Abiera, Monica Arroyo, Luis Fernando Caicedo, Karl Canseco, Christopher Constantino, Filipe Haces Garcia, Jorge Gomez, Nikhil T. Kurapati, Mariano Gonzalez Lugo, Terence Miller, Wilfredo Agredo Rodriguez, Carlo Emmanuel Sumpaico, Gerald F. Harris

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Human motion analysis is a tool used to understand orthopaedic disabilities in children and to plan and monitor treatment strategies. It enables clinicians to quantitatively describe rehabilitative progress, plan surgeries, and conduct research. While this technology is prevalent in major academic medical centers, access is lacking in many regions throughout the world. This paper presents a novel approach to offer more accessible technology at greatly reduced cost. Current applications are underway in the Philippines, Mexico, and Colombia. Through international partnerships, improvements in clinical care, medical education, and research have been observed.

Stepping Responses To Treadmill Perturbations Vary With Severity Of Motor Deficits In Human Sci, Virginia W. T. Chu, T. George Hornby, Brian Schmit

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In this study, we investigated the responses to tread perturbations during human stepping on a treadmill. Our approach was to test the effects of perturbations to a single leg using a split-belt treadmill in healthy participants and in participants with varying severity of spinal cord injury (SCI). We recruited 11 people with incomplete SCI and 5 noninjured participants. As participants walked on an instrumented treadmill, the belt on one side was stopped or accelerated briefly during mid to late stance. A majority of participants initiated an unnecessary swing when the treadmill was stopped in mid stance, although the likelihood of …

Tactile-Star: A Novel Tactile Stimulator And Recorder System For Evaluating And Improving Tactile Perception, Giulia Ballardini, Giorgio Carlini, Robert A. Scheidt, Ilana Nisky, Maura Casadio

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Many neurological diseases impair the motor and somatosensory systems. While several different technologies are used in clinical practice to assess and improve motor functions, somatosensation is evaluated subjectively with qualitative clinical scales. Treatment of somatosensory deficits has received limited attention. To bridge the gap between the assessment and training of motor vs. somatosensory abilities, we designed, developed, and tested a novel, low-cost, two-component (bimanual) mechatronic system targeting tactile somatosensation: the Tactile-STAR—a tactile stimulator and recorder. The stimulator is an actuated pantograph structure driven by two servomotors, with an end-effector covered by a rubber material that can apply two different …

Pharmacokinetic Modeling Of 99mtc-Hmpao Images Of Isolated Perfused Rat Lungs, Katherine C. Barry

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) imaging biomarker technetium-labeled hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (99mTc-HMPAO) exists in two forms, the oxidized, cell-permeable form and the reduced, cell-impermeable form. Recent studies revealed that the lung uptake of 99mTc-HMPAO increases early in rat models of human acute lung injury. Lung uptake of 99mTc-HMPAO is the net result of multiple cellular and vascular processes, many of which can vary with acute illness. Thus, when a change in the lung uptake of 99mTc-HMPAO is detected, it is unclear how much of this change is due to alteration in the activity of the targeted cellular process versus alteration of …

Immersive Visualization In Biomedical Computational Fluid Dynamics And Didactic Teaching And Learning, John Thomas Venn

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Virtual reality (VR) can stimulate active learning, critical thinking, decision making and improved performance. It requires a medium to show virtual content, which is called a virtual environment (VE). The MARquette Visualization Lab (MARVL) is an example of a VE. Robust processes and workflows that allow for the creation of content for use within MARVL further increases the userbase for this valuable resource. A workflow was created to display biomedical computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and complementary data in a wide range of VE’s. This allows a researcher to study the simulation in its natural three-dimensional (3D) morphology. In addition, it …

Investigation Of Reactive Oxygen Species Production In The Rat Lung Using Optical Imaging, Nina Friedly

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Oxidative stress, the imbalance between production of oxidants or reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant activity, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic lung diseases. The objective of this thesis was to develop a robust protocol for measuring the rate of H2O2 production in isolated perfused rat lungs and to determine the cellular sources of that rate using Amplex Red (AR). For a given lung, AR (25 mM) along with horseradish peroxidase (5 U/ml) and ascorbate oxidase (1U/ml) were added to a perfusate reservoir that was recirculated through the lungs and sampled at 5 minute intervals …

Investigation Of The Effects Of Prosthetic Knee Condition On Novice Transfemoral Amputee Runners, Natalie Nelson

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Some unilateral transfemoral amputees (TFAs) run in a prosthesis with an articulating prosthetic knee, others choose to run without a knee (prosthetic socket and foot are linked via a straight, non-articulating pylon) to increase stability. Research regarding unilateral TFA running with an unlocked versus locked prosthetic knee (approximately equivalent to the no-knee condition) with respect to energy cost and temporal metrics is limited; no studies have investigated the impact of knee condition on kinematic metrics. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the prosthetic knee of a running-specific prosthesis (RSP) should be unlocked or locked for unilateral TFAs …

High-Intensity Variable Stepping Training In Patients With Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series, Carey L. Holleran, Patrick W. Hennessey, Abigail L. Leddy, Gordhan B. Mahtani, Gabrielle Brazg, Brian D. Schmit, T. George Hornby

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background and Purpose: Previous data suggest that large amounts of high-intensity stepping training in variable contexts (tasks and environments) may improve locomotor function, aerobic capacity, and treadmill gait kinematics in individuals poststroke. Whether similar training strategies are tolerated and efficacious for patients with other acute-onset neurological diagnoses, such as motor incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), is unknown. Individuals with iSCI potentially have greater bilateral impairments. This case series evaluated the feasibility and preliminary short- and long-term efficacy of highintensity variable stepping practice in ambulatory participants for more than 1 year post-iSCI.

Case Series Description: Four participants with iSCI (neurological levels …

Effect Of Sensory Attenuation On Cortical Movement-Related Oscillations, Joseph J. Lee, Brian Schmit

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

This study examined the impact of induced sensory deficits on cortical, movement-related oscillations measured using electroencephalography (EEG). We hypothesized that EEG patterns in healthy subjects with induced sensory reduction would be comparable to EEG found after chronic loss of sensory feedback. EEG signals from 64 scalp locations were measured from 10 healthy subjects. Participants dorsiflexed their ankle after prolonged vibration of the tibialis anterior (TA). Beta band time frequency decompositions were calculated using wavelets and compared across conditions. Changes in patterns of movement-related brain activity were observed following attenuation of sensory feedback. A significant decrease in beta power of event-related …

Motor Output Variability Impairs Driving Ability In Older Adults: Reply To Stinchcombe, Dickerson, Weaver, And Bedard, Evangelos A. Christou, Basma Yacoubi, Changki Kim, Hwasil Moon, Tanya Onushko, Neha Lodha

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Driving is a complex skill, as indicated by Stinchcombe and colleagues in their letter. It requires the integration of sensory inputs, cognitive processing, and motor execution. Although our title is broad, we clearly indicate that our findings only address a single component of driving, namely reactive driving. We also indicate that these findings are based on a simulated task and recommend that future studies should examine the contribution of motor output variability to on-road driving performance (see Considerations in the Discussion section). Thus, we share the consideration of Stinchcombe and colleagues that the current results only address a small portion …

Evaluation Of Motion Artifact Metrics For Coronary Ct Angiography, Hongfeng Ma, Eric Gros, Aniko Szabo, Scott G. Baginski, Zachary R. Laste, Naveen M. Kulkarni, Darin Okerlund, Tal Gilat Schmidt

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

This study quantified the performance of coronary artery motion artifact metrics relative to human observer ratings. Motion artifact metrics have been used as part of motion correction and best‐phase selection algorithms for Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CCTA). However, the lack of ground truth makes it difficult to validate how well the metrics quantify the level of motion artifact. This study investigated five motion artifact metrics, including two novel metrics, using a dynamic phantom, clinical CCTA images, and an observer study that provided ground‐truth motion artifact scores from a series of pairwise comparisons.

Method

Five motion artifact metrics were calculated …

Hyperoxia Causes Mitochondrial Fragmentation In Pulmonary Endothelial Cells By Increasing Expression Of Pro-Fission Proteins, Cui Ma, Andreas M. Beyer, Matthew J. Durand, Anne V. Clough, Daling Zhu, Laura Norwood Toro, Maia Terashvili, Johnathan D. Ebben, R. Blake Hill, Said H. Audi, Meetha Medhora, Elizabeth R. Jacobs

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Objective—We explored mechanisms that alter mitochondrial structure and function in pulmonary endothelial cells (PEC) function after hyperoxia.

Approach and Results—Mitochondrial structures of PECs exposed to hyperoxia or normoxia were visualized and mitochondrial fragmentation quantified. Expression of pro-fission or fusion proteins or autophagy-related proteins were assessed by Western blot. Mitochondrial oxidative state was determined using mito-roGFP. Tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester estimated mitochondrial polarization in treatment groups. The role of mitochondrially derived reactive oxygen species in mt-fragmentation was investigated with mito-TEMPOL and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage studied by using ENDO III (mt-tat-endonuclease III), a protein that repairs mDNA damage. Drp-1 (dynamin-related …

Optimizing Within-Subject Experimental Designs For Jica Of Multi-Channel Erp And Fmri, Jain Mangalathu-Arumana, Einat Liebenthal, Scott A. Beardsley

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Opioids Delay Healing Of Spinal Fusion: A Rabbit Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion Model, Nikhil Jain, Khaled Himed, Jeffrey M. Toth, Karen C. Briley, Frank M. Phillips, Safdar N. Khan

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background Context

Opioid use is prevalent in the management of pre- and postoperative pain in patients undergoing spinal fusion. There is evidence that opioids downregulate osteoblasts in vitro, and a previous study found that morphine delays the maturation and remodeling of callus in a rat femur fracture model. However, the effect of opioids on healing of spinal fusion has not been investigated before. Isolating the effect of opioid exposure in humans would be limited by the numerous confounding factors that affect fusion healing. Therefore, we have used a well-established rabbit model to study the process of spinal fusion healing that …

A Student-Centered Learning Approach To Design For Manufacturability: Meeting The Needs Of An Often- Forgotten Customer, Jay R. Goldberg, David Rank

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

A hands-on learning module was implemented at Marquette University in 2012 to teach biomedical engineering students about basic manufacturing processes, lean manufacturing principles, and design for manufacturability. It incorporates active and student-centered learning as part of in-class assembly line simulations. Since then, it has evolved from three class periods to five. The module begins with two classroom presentations on manufacturing operations and electronics design, assembly, and testing. Students then participate in an in-class assembly line simulation exercise where they build and test an actual product per written work instructions. They reflect on this experience and suggest design and process changes …

Use Of A Dynamic Balance System To Quantify Postural Steadiness And Stability Of Individuals With Lower-Limb Amputation: A Pilot Study, M. Barbara Silver-Thorn Phd, Joel Kempfer, Alyssa J. Schnorenberg, Brooke Slavens

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction Despite rehabilitation and gait training, the gait of individuals with lower-limb amputation is often asymmetric and falls and/or fear of falling are common. Clinical assessments of balance and stability include the Berg BalanceScale and the Dynamic Gait Index. Biomechanical assessments, conducted largely in research laboratories, are more objective, quantitative, and may provide greater resolution. These biomechanical measures include postural sway during both unilateral and bilateral standing tasks and the dynamic postural response to applied or volitional perturbations. The objective of this study was to investigate the utility of a dynamic balance system, a relatively new clinical tool incorporating dual …

Inverse Kinematic Assessment Of Rehabilitative Therapy In Children Using Orthotics, Michael P. Murphy, Jacob R. Rammer, Kaleb L. Vinohout, Meghan R. Caballero, Christy M. Cornwell, Jessica M. Fritz, Gerald F. Harris

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Pathologic movement patterns are characterized by abnormal kinematics that alter how muscles support the body during walking. Individual muscles are often the target of interventions with physical therapy and surgery alike, yet the tools to assess individual muscles clinically remain limited. The aim of this study is to assess OpenSim as a clinical tool for individualized rehabilitative evaluation of children using orthotics. This anatomic and kinematic modeling study was focused on pre- and post-treatment assessment of gait characteristics in fourteen children using orthotic devices. A range of four to twelve acceptable gait capture trials was collected for each child before …