A Novel Hybrid Imaging System To Aid In Surgical Decision Making, Lawrence Yip, Madeleine Van De Kleut, Ivan Kosik, Astrid Chamson-Reig, Jeffrey Jl Carson

Western Research Forum

Background:

Breast cancer accounts for 25% of all cancer cases among women. In breast-conserving surgery, a common treatment, the tumour is excised with a healthy tissue margin. However, detection of the margin can be difficult. Current techniques to guide excision are often insufficient, and re-excision can occur up to 25% of the time.

Methods:

Photoacoustic imaging is a hybrid imaging modality that combines the advantages of optical imaging and ultrasound while using safe non-ionizing light. This project involves the development of a novel imaging system with a new scanner design to overcome common limitations and provide images to aid in …

A Novel Tantalum-Containing Bioglass. Part I. Structure And Solubility, Adel Mf Alhalawani, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Bio glasses are employed for surgical augmentation in a range of hard tissue applications. Tantalum is a bioactive and biocompatible transition metal that has been used as an orthopedic medical device. It has a range of biological and physical properties that make its incorporation into ionic form into bioactive glass systems promising for various clinical applications. The work herein reports the characterization and properties of novel tantalum-containing glasses. A series of glasses based on the system 48SiO₂-(36-X)ZnO-6CaO-8SrO-2P₂O₅-XTa₂O₅ with X varying from 0 mol% (TA0) to 0.5 mol% (TA2) were synthesized. The …

Characterization And Fracture Property Of Different Strontium-Containing Borate-Based Glass Coatings For Ti6al4v Substrates, Yiming Li, Ali Matinmanesh, Declan J. Curran, Emil H. Schemitsch, Paul Zalzal, Marcello Papini, Anthony W. Wren, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This work considered the effect of increasing Strontium ion (Sr²⁺) content on the structure of a series of glasses based on the B₂O₃-P₂O₅-CaCO₃-Na₂CO₃-TiO₂-SrCO₃ series and their resultant fracture toughness when coated onto a surgical metal substrate. Six glasses with increasing Sr²⁺ content (0 to 25 mol%) were synthesized and subsequently characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and both Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (MAS-NMR) and Raman Spectroscopy. These techniques confirmed that increased Sr²⁺ content induced …

Redesign Of Computer Keyboards For Hospital And Consumer Use, Kent Williams, Brian Jensen, Anton Bowden

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

Application of carbon nanotube coatings to computer keyboards in order to reduce the spread of bacteria in hospitals and homes.

Keywords: carbon nanotube, bacteria, antimicrobial, keyboard, design, MRSA, biofilm

A Nanocomposite Sensor Neck Sleeve For Tracking In Vivo Spine Kinematics In The Alpaca, Colton Porter Graham, Anton Bowden

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

Chronic low back pain in the US is often attributed to intervertebral disc degeneration. Camelids, particularly alpacas, pose a potential model for spinal treatment due to similarity of the spinal structure and vertical loading. Alpacas also exhibit a high rate of natural disc degeneration. To gain more understanding about how disc degeneration is caused in alpacas it is necessary to understand the loading and motion of the alpaca cervical spine. The goal of the present work was to incorporate nanocomposite sensors into a custom-designed neck sleeve to track the daily in-vivo neck motion of an alpaca in its natural environment.

Structural Mrsa Resistance Through Carbon-Infiltrated Carbon Nanotube Coating Of External Fixator Pins, Jaclyn Larsen, Stephanie Morco, Brian Jensen, Anton Bowden

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

No abstract provided.

Resorption Rate Of Bioresorbable Materials For Possible Use In Self-Expanding Stents, Jared R. Park, Jason Porter, Anton Bowden

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

This study investigates the mechanical behavior of various polymers after a period of degradation from exposure to a Saline Solution. The study found that PLA and PDLLA do not have significant degradation over a period of 2 months, while PLA has a sharp decrease in strength after 7 days.

Design And Evaluation Of 3d Printed Features To Improve Stability Of Plasma-Cell Pack Interface In Bacteria Separating Hollow Spinning Disk, Colin G. Bledsoe, Ryan L. Wood, Daneil S. Mcclellan, Dr. William G. Pitt

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

PDF submission of abstract.

Towards A Bioselective Surface For Treatment Of Sepsis In A Hemoperfusion Device, Karl F. Schilke, Ramya Raman, Bonan Yu, Erik Hahn, Jonathan Su

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

Sepsis is a dysregulated immune response to circulating bacteria/endotoxin. Hemoperfusion is a promising treatment, but is not universally effective and can unacceptable blood damage. We are developing protein-repellent hydrogel nanofilms that can be grown on a variety of surfaces, and functionalized with “click-ready” pathogen-binding proteins expressed by Genetic Code Expansion (GCE). The extremely rapid, bioorthogonal “click” immobilization chemistry eliminates prior purification, maximizes surface loading, and guarantees spatial orientation of the immobilized proteins. We have demonstrated pathogen binding and blood protein repulsion by these layers, suggesting that they may be part of effective treatments for sepsis and other applications.

The Recovery Glove System- A Sensor Driven Glove With Interactive Games For Fine Motor Skill Disabilities, Brian Lee, Oscar Ledezma, Jonathan Rey, Nicholas Alvarado, Deborah Won

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

Hand mobility is commonly impaired in stroke victims. Treatment for hand impairment range from therapist-guided physical exercises to robotically controlled exoskeletons. However, A more effective treatment which actually restores hand mobility is by encouraging patients to carry out hand movements themselves.We have designed an Arduino based hand therapy device in which the user interacts with a computer graphic interface (CGI) game controlled by a glove was embedded with a force sensing resistor (FSR) at each of the fingertips except for the thumb. The interactive therapy guides the user through exercises and provides live, quantitative information by which the stroke patient …

3d Printed Microfluidics, Hua Gong, Clayton Ramstedt, Adam T. Woolley, Gregory P. Nordin

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

3D printing for microfluidic (lab-on-a-chip) devices

Ultrasonic Power Transfer For Medical Implants, Kee S. Moon, Yusuf Ozturk, Sung Q. Lee, Woosub Youm, Guun Hwang, H. W. Park

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

Wireless power transmission is an attractive alternative to low-power biomedical implants to overcome the power limitation of the primary battery. In this paper, we are presenting an efficient ultrasonic wireless power transmission system for implantable medical devices. It is known that the ultrasonic wireless power transmission has a longer power transmission distance as well as free from electromagnetic interference and absorption in the human body. In this research, an ultrasonic resonance will be applied to improve the power transmission efficiency as well as the distance.

Heart Pump Modelling: Design Of Pulsatile Flow Phantoms, Olivia Coiado, Kevin Jones, Parker Schibel, Nicolas De Almeida

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

The purpose of this project is to build a model, which mimics physiological conditions of the human cardiovascular system in order to simulate the parameters of the human heart in vivo. For this project, it was developed a flow phantom with vessel mimicking material, as well as blood-mimicking and tissue-mimicking fluid. Phantoms in general are specifically designed objects involving dedicated biomaterials to simulate special realistic circuits of human beings. To develop the flow phantom, low-priced biomaterials for blood mimicking fluid, tissue mimicking, and vessel mimicking material was researched.

Keywords: Cardiovascular system, heart pump, modelling, pulsatile.

Biophysical Tools To Study Cellular Mechanotransduction, Ismeel Muhamed, Farhan Chowdhury, Venkat Maruthamuthu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The cell membrane is the interface that volumetrically isolates cellular components from the cell's environment. Proteins embedded within and on the membrane have varied biological functions: reception of external biochemical signals, as membrane channels, amplification and regulation of chemical signals through secondary messenger molecules, controlled exocytosis, endocytosis, phagocytosis, organized recruitment and sequestration of cytosolic complex proteins, cell division processes, organization of the cytoskeleton and more. The membrane's bioelectrical role is enabled by the physiologically controlled release and accumulation of electrochemical potential modulating molecules across the membrane through specialized ion channels (e.g., Na^⁺, Ca²⁺, K^⁺ channels). …

A Novel Tantalum-Containing Bioglass. Part Ii. Development Of A Bioadhesive For Sternal Fixation And Repair, Adel Mf Alhalawani, Cina Mehrvar, Wendy Stone, Stephen D. Waldman, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

With over a million median sternotomy surgeries performed worldwide every year, sternal wound complications have posed a serious risk to the affected patients. A rigid therapeutic sternal fixation device has therefore become a necessity. In this work, the incorporation of up to 0.5 mol% of tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), in exchange for zinc oxide (ZnO), into the SiO₂-ZnO-CaO-SrO-P₂O₅ glass system is presented. The effect of Ta incorporation on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) prepared from them have been presented in this manuscript. The data obtained …

Computer-Aided Cancer Diagnosis And Grading Via Sparse Directional Image Representations, Hadi Rezaeilouyeh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer and breast cancer are the second cause of death among cancers in males and females, respectively. If not diagnosed, prostate and breast cancers can spread and metastasize to other organs and bones and make it impossible for treatment. Hence, early diagnosis of cancer is vital for patient survival. Histopathological evaluation of the tissue is used for cancer diagnosis. The tissue is taken during biopsies and stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Then a pathologist looks for abnormal changes in the tissue to diagnose and grade the cancer. This process can be time-consuming and subjective. A reliable and …

A Stationary Camera For Use With Other Implantable Medical Devices, Ariane Garrett

Holster Scholar Projects

I designed an optical system for analysis of implantable devices. The final system consists of a 3mm double convex lens that focuses a light spot onto a tissue or implantable medical device. This light spot can then provide feedback on the movement of flow through a device or the development of tissue on the device, although my project focused solely on the flow application. The light spot is generated by an LED and directed using a half mirror. It is then focused using a ball lens, fiber optic, and the double convex lens. With this system the generated light spot …

Design Development And Performance Study Of A Novel Assistive Device For Mobility Of Toddlers And Children With Visual Impairments, Joowon Jun

Dissertations and Theses

Being able to see allows mankind tremendous access to learn about the world, and because so much learning comes visually, children with visual impairments are delayed in developing range of skills: learning own languages, doing activities, socializing with peers, and etc. While children with vision can do virtually all the activities and tasks for granted, children with visual impairment require different types of tools or materials to do same tasks most of time. Amongst all the disadvantages that children with visual impairment have, one of the most critical disadvantageous area that visual impairment brings to toddler is learning to walk. …

Lighted Ear Curette, Kelsey Ashmore, Kaitlin Klotzle, Crysta Yamamoto, Katrina Elfrink, Cynthia Stoller

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The ear canal is a sensitive and small part of the human body that is prone to accumulate cerumen or lodge foreign bodies. In order to clean the ear canal or remove foreign bodies, three hands are required: one to brace the patient's head, one to maneuver the curette that is used to clean the ear, and one to hold a light source in order to make the small, dark area visible. Therefore, a design is needed that can allow a doctor to safely clean an ear with an instrument that only requires two hands. Furthermore, the design must have …

Altering A Runner’S Foot Strike Using A Modified Elliptical Trainer, Daniel Shull

Theses and Dissertations

One possible solution to common running related injuries is to transition runners from a rearfoot strike during initial contact to a midfoot strike. Natural rearfoot strike runners were studied to see if a modified elliptical trainer could be used to alter their running pattern to that of a midfoot strike runner. Their results were compared to subjects who ran on a non-modified elliptical trainer. After training on the modified elliptical trainer, subjects demonstrated a decrease in foot angle at initial contact when attempting to run with a midfoot strike. Training did not affect all kinetic metrics or stride frequency. However, …