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 …

Numerical Simulation And Optimization Of Blalock-Taussig Shunt, Thomas Hess, Ramesh K. Agarwal

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The goal of this study is to create an optimized Blalock-Taussig shunt used to temporarily repair pulmonary vascular blockages allowing a child time to grow so a more permanent surgical repair of the heart and vasculature can be performed. Blalock-Taussig or BT shunts are a surgical procedure performed on infants suffering from cyanosis or “Blue Baby Syndrome.” A BT shunt is an artificial vessel placed between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery to increase blood flow in the lung and blood oxygen saturation levels. In a study of 96 patients with currently in use modified BT shunts, 32 patients …

Production And Biocompatibility Of Spider Silk Proteins In Goat Milk, Richard E. Decker Jr

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to its strength, flexibility, and biocompatibility, spider silk is a highly appealing material for applications in the medical field. Unfortunately, natural spider silk is difficult to obtain in large quantities because spiders are territorial and cannibalistic, making them impractical to farm. Synthetic spider silk proteins produced by transgenic hosts such as bacteria and goats have made it possible to obtain the quantities of spider silk needed to study it more fully and to investigate its potential uses. The spider silk proteins produced in our laboratory do not have an optimal purification method to remove all of the non-biocompatible contaminants …

Wireless Ekg, James Kerman, Chin Chao, Galen Wu, Eric Burstedt

Mechanical Engineering

In 2016, Dr. Ahmad Nooristani identified a need for a personal EKG that is cheaper and simpler than hospital grade systems, but more accurate than personal devices currently on the market. Two previous teams did significant background research, prototyping, focusing on ease of use, portability, and physical specifications. However, neither team was able to produce a device with electrodes that could successfully collect an EKG signal and transmit it to a phone or tablet, one of the main requirements from the Dr. Nooristani. This team focused on designing a six lead, five electrode EKG device to transmit EKG data from …

Modeling And Simulation Methodologies For Spinal Cord Stimulation., Saliya Kumara Kirigeeganage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The use of neural prostheses to improve health of paraplegics has been a prime interest of neuroscientists over the last few decades. Scientists have performed experiments with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to enable voluntary motor function of paralyzed patients. However, the experimentation on the human spinal cord is not a trivial task. Therefore, modeling and simulation techniques play a significant role in understanding the underlying concepts and mechanics of the spinal cord stimulation. In this work, simulation and modeling techniques related to spinal cord stimulation were investigated. The initial work was intended to visualize the electric field distribution patterns in …

Morphological Features Of Dysplastic Progression In Epithelium: Quantification Of Cytological, Microendoscopic, And Second Harmonic Generation Images, Sandra Patricia Gordon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Advances in imaging technology have led to a variety of available clinical and investigational systems. In this collection of studies, we tested the relevance of morphological image feature quantification on several imaging systems and epithelial tissues. Quantification carries the benefit of creating numerical baselines and thresholds of healthy and abnormal tissues, to potentially aid clinicians in determining a diagnosis, as well as providing researchers with standardized, unbiased results for future dissemination and comparison.

Morphological image features in proflavine stained oral cells were compared qualitatively to traditional Giemsa stained cells, and then we quantified the nuclear to cytoplasm ratio. We determined …

Finite Element Analysis Of Humerus With Impact At Distal End And The Mechanical Effect Of Bone Rehydration, Amy Gutierrez

Theses and Dissertations

Numerical modeling accuracy is dependent upon correct material property determination and input. This thesis demonstrates the importance in both numerical modeling and material characterization, two aspects of biomedical research that are intimately linked. The first study investigates the shear forces experienced on the humerus from a humeral impact on the distal end using 3D CAD model of a humerus and ANSYS for a finite element analysis. The humeral bone was analyzed with an impact on the distal end to signify falling on the elbow. A humeral model and a humeral model with a plate were both statically and dynamically simulated …

Increased Excitability Induced In The Primary Motor Cortex By Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation, Benjamin C. Gibson, Joseph L. Sanguinetti, Bashar W. Badran, Alfred B. Yu, Evan P. Klein, Christopher C. Abbott, Jeffrey T. Hansberger, Vincent P. Clark

Publications and Research

Background: Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation (tUS) is an emerging technique that uses ultrasonic waves to noninvasively modulate brain activity. As with other forms of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), tUS may be useful for altering cortical excitability and neuroplasticity for a variety of research and clinical applications. The effects of tUS on cortical excitability are still unclear, and further complications arise from the wide parameter space offered by various types of devices, transducer arrangements, and stimulation protocols. Diagnostic ultrasound imaging devices are safe, commonly available systems that may be useful for tUS. However, the feasibility of modifying brain activity with diagnostic tUS …

Distinct White Matter Changes Associated With Cerebrospinal Fluid Amyloid-Β1-42 And Hypertension, Omar M. Al-Janabi, Christopher A. Brown, Ahmed A. Bahrani, Erin L. Abner, Justin M. Barber, Brian T. Gold, Larry B. Goldstein, Richard R. Murphy, Peter T. Nelson, Nathan F. Johnson, Leslie M. Shaw, Charles D. Smith, John Q. Trojanowski, Donna M. Wilcock, Gregory A. Jicha

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and hypertension (HTN) are risk factors for development of white matter (WM) alterations and might be independently associated with these alterations in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the independent and synergistic effects of HTN and AD pathology on WM alterations.

METHODS: Clinical measures of cerebrovascular disease risk were collected from 62 participants in University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Center studies who also had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling and MRI brain scans. CSF Aβ_1-42 levels were measured as a marker of AD, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging and diffusion tensor imaging were obtained to assess …

Cherenkov Excited Short-Wavelength Infrared Fluorescence Imaging In Vivo With External Beam Radiation, Xu Cao, Shudong Jiang, Mengyu Jeremy Jia, Jason R. Gunn, Tianshun Miao, Scott C. Davis, Petr Bruza, Brian W. Pogue

Dartmouth Scholarship

Cherenkov emission induced by external beam radiation therapy from a clinical linear accelerator (LINAC) can be used to excite phosphors deep in biological tissues. As with all luminescence imaging, there is a desire to minimize the spectral overlap between the excitation light and emission wavelengths, here between the Cherenkov and the phosphor. Cherenkov excited short-wavelength infrared (SWIR, 1000 to 1700 nm) fluorescence imaging has been demonstrated for the first time, using long Stokes-shift fluorophore PdSe quantum dots (QD) with nanosecond lifetime and an optimized SWIR detection. The 1  /  λ2 intensity spectrum characteristic of Cherenkov emission leads to low overlap …

Silica Nanoparticle-Endothelial Interaction: Uptake And Effect On Platelet Adhesion Under Flow Conditions, Jiban Saikia, Raziye Mohammadpour, Mostafa Yazdimamaghani, Hannah Northrup, Vladimir Hlady, Hamidreza Ghandehari

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Silica nanoparticles are extensively used in biomedical applications and consumer products. Little is known about the interaction of these NPs with the endothelium and effect on platelet adhesion under flow conditions in circulation. In this study, we investigated the effect of silica nanoparticles on the endothelium and its inflammation, and subsequent adhesion of flowing platelets in vitro. Platelet counts adhered onto the surface of endothelial cells in the presence of nanoparticles increased at both low and high concentrations of nanoparticles. Preincubation of endothelial cells with nanoparticles also increased platelet adhesion. Interestingly, platelet adhesion onto TNF-α-treated endothelial cells decreased in the …

Engineering Success On The Field: A Reflection On The Epics Ironman Pediatric Prosthetic Project, Glynn Gallaway

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Glynn Gallaway is a student in the Purdue Mechanical Engineering Class of 2020 with interests in the health care, assistive technology, and medical device industries. Glynn is from Dallas, Texas, and was inspired to pursue this career path through her interactions with youth with special needs. She joined the EPICS Ironman team in the fall of 2016 during her first year at Purdue as a part of the learning community. In this article, she discusses her experiences on the Ironman team creating a pediatric prosthetic for a young local athlete. The goal of the Ironman team is to create a …

The Development Of Hybrid Lipid-Polymer Nanoparticle Architectures For The Sustained-Release Of Small Hydrophilic Molecules, Keegan Curry, Jill M. Steinbach-Rankins Dr.

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Introduction: Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) have been utilized as drug delivery vehicles for a variety of applications. However, achieving sustained-release of small hydrophilic agents is a primary challenge for their use in prolonged delivery applications.

Objective: This study investigates how novel lipid-polymer hybrid particle architectures can be used to improve the release profile of small hydrophilic encapsulants. Here, PLGA NPs were produced via electrospraying and emulsions. Particles with a core-shell architecture were produced via coaxial electrospraying and the ability of this architecture to sustain release was examined. In addition, we combined polymeric core-shell NPs with a lipid coating to improve biocompatibility, …

Acoustofluidics And Soft Materials Interfaces For Biomedical Applications, Frank A. Fencl

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

This dissertation describes fabrication of devices and other tools for biomedical applications through the integration of acoustofluidic systems with bio separation assays, instrumentation components, and soft materials interfaces. For example, we engineer a new class of transparent acoustic flow chambers ideal for optical interrogation. We demonstrate efficacy of these devices by enhancing the signal for high throughput acoustic flow cytometry, capable of robust particle focusing across multiple parallel flowing streams. We also investigate an automated sampling system to determine the parameters of transient particle stream focusing in between sample boluses and air bubbles to model a high throughput, multi-sampling acoustic …

Aqueous Humor Dynamics And The Constant-Pressure Perfusion Model Of Experimental Glaucoma In Brown-Norway Rats, Kayla R. Ficarrotta

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Glaucoma affects tens of millions of people and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Virtually all current glaucoma therapies target elevated intraocular pressure (IOP); however, the contribution of intracranial pressure (ICP) to glaucoma has recently garnered interest. Strain at the optic nerve head is now known to depend on the translaminar pressure difference (TLPD), which is the difference between IOP and ICP, rather than IOP alone. A better understanding of how IOP and ICP relate to glaucoma development and progression is essential for developing improved therapies and diagnostic tests. Glaucoma is commonly modeled in rats, yet aqueous humor …

The Application Of Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing (Ecis) Biosensors, Xudong Zhang, Sunghoon Jang

Publications and Research

Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) is a label-free and non-invasive technique for analyzing the activities and morphologies of cells. The ECIS sensors are able to measure the impedance spectroscopy of cells attaching on the sensor substrates. The cell activities and morphologies influence the measure impedance directly. Traditional toxicity analysis has complicated processes compared to biosensor-based analysis. In this study, the toxicity analysis was performed with biosensor based on ECIS technique. The experimental results show that the ECIS sensor is able to quickly distinguish the toxic and non-toxic substance.

Demonstration Of Monolithic-Silicon Carbide (Sic) Neural Devices, Evans K. Bernardin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Brain Machine Interfaces (BMI) provide a communication pathway between the electrical conducting units of the brain (neurons) and external devices. BMI technology may provide improved neurological and physiological functions to patients suffering from disabilities due to damaged nervous systems. Unfortunately, microelectrodes used in Intracortical Neural Interfaces (INI), a subset of the BMI device family, have yet to demonstrate long-term in vivo performance due to material, mechanical and electrical failures. Many state-of-the-art INI devices are constructed using stacks of multiple materials, such as silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), platinum (Pt), parylene C, and polyimide. Not only must each material tolerate the biological …

Investigative Study On Nitric Oxide Production In Human Dermal Fibroblast Cells Under Normal And High Glucose Conditions, Maria Paula Kwesiga, Emily Cook, Jennifer Hannon, Sarah Wayward, Caroline Gwaltney, Smitha Rao, Megan C. Frost

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a major health problem associated with diabetes mellitus. Impaired nitric oxide (NO) production has been shown to be a major contributor to the dysregulation of healing in DFU. The level of impairment is not known primarily due to challenges with measuring NO. Herein, we report the actual level of NO produced by human dermal fibroblasts cultured under normal and high glucose conditions. Fibroblasts produce the extracellular matrix, which facilitate the migration of keratinocytes to close wounds. The results show that NO production was significantly higher in normal glucose compared to high glucose conditions. The real-time …

Modeling In The Physiology Classroom, Sowmya Anjur

Faculty Publications & Research

Physiology and Disease is a Biology elective at IMSA that has been developed to be mostly student-centered. Some examples of student projects include modeling heart structure to reflect function and creating LED arduino monitors to measure heart rate. Students also measure their lung capacity and blood pressure to demonstrate correlation of these values with heart rate, and trace the correlation back to neuronal controls. Projects such as these integrate other disciplines such as engineering and conform to NGSS Science and Engineering standards and NGSS Cross cutting Concepts standards. Students take responsibility for their own learning and articulate better on tests.

Heart Rate Variability Analysis As A Means Of Real-Time Hypercapnia Detection, Joseph Dituri

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The motivation for this research is the high prevalence experienced by divers of carbon dioxide (CO₂) issues and concerns throughout their lives. Additionally, CO₂ is naturally occurring, the product of oxidative metabolism, and is undetectable to human senses. Current CO₂ sensor or detection technology is limited to high-cost machines such as arterial blood gas monitors and end tidal CO₂ monitors, or more modern technology relying upon bright lights which measure blood flow. The light technology is notoriously unreliable and does not produce a very effective heart beat allowing a user to detect minimal changes. Heart …