Equipment and Supplies Commons^™

Improving Medical Diagnostics With Vision-Language Models: Convex Hull-Based Uncertainty Analysis, Ferhat Ozgur Catak, Murat Kuzlu, Taylor Patrick, Michel Audette

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

In recent years, vision-language models (VLMs) have been applied to various fields, including healthcare, education, finance, and manufacturing, with remarkable performance. However, concerns remain regarding VLMs' consistency and uncertainty, particularly in critical applications such as healthcare, which demand a high level of trust and reliability. This paper proposes a novel approach to evaluate uncertainty in VLMs' responses using a convex hull approach on a healthcare application for visual question answering (VQA). For any VLM, temperature refers to a sampling parameter used in probabilistic generation, which controls the randomness of the model's output. The LLM-CXR model is selected as the medical …

Innovative Endovascular Stapling Technique Using The Aortoseal Device In Challenging Infrarenal Aortic Neck, Emidio Germano, Animesh Rathore, David J. Dexter

Department Surgery Faculty Publications

We report the use of the Aortoseal Endostapling system by Endoron in a 63-year-old man with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with high-risk neck features. Endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair was performed using a Medtronic Endurant IIs endograft with an adjunctive Aortoseal system as part of an international feasibility trial. The procedure was technically successful, with no endoleaks on completion angiography. Follow-up computed tomography angiography at 1 month confirmed a well-deployed AortoSeal system and complete aneurysm exclusion. This case highlights this innovative device and the technical considerations to enhance endograft proximal fixation with the potential to improve long-term outcomes in endovascular aneurysm …

Recent Insight And Perspective Of Marine-Inspired Biopolymers For Wound Healing Applications - A Review, Muhammad Umar Aslam Khan, Saiqa Yousaf, Abdalla Abdal-Hay, Mohd Faizal Bin Abdullah, Sahar Madani, Muhammad Shahzad Zafar, Goran M. Stojanović, Lobat Tayebi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

There is an increasing necessity for advanced, sustainable, and biocompatible materials for wound healing as therapeutic and diagnostic products. Marine environments, characterized by high biodiversity, offer an underutilized source of natural resources with enormous potential for creating novel materials for dressings. This review highlights the revolutionary nature of polymeric biomaterials of marine origin, with a focus on polysaccharides, like alginate, chitosan, and carrageenan; proteins, such as collagen and gelatin. These biopolymers are outstanding in their physicochemical properties, such as biodegradability, bioactivity, and modifiable mechanical strength, which enable their use in wound-healing systems. Besides, these biomaterials may be easily chemically and …

Pin-Plane Electrical Discharge Driven By A Mosfet Dc Current Source, Myles Perry, Sidmar Holoman, Daniel Wozniak, Shirshak Kumar Dhali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The generation of atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasma using electrical discharges is an active area of research due to its significance in a wide spectrum of applications including medicine, combustion, and manufacturing. In our attempt to create a helium plasma jet in a pin-plane discharge with a constant current source, we observed self-pulsating behavior. We present the results of the electrical, optical, and spectroscopic measurements carried out to characterize the discharge. The duration of the discharge is a few tens of nanoseconds, and the repetition rate is in the few tens of kHz. The effect of the gap distance and gas …

Recent Advances In Bioceramics, Fundamental Properties And Future Perspective In Biomedical Applications ‒ A Review, Ayesha Younas, Muhammad Umar Aslam Khan, Mohd Faizal Binte Abdullah, Lobat Tayebi, Shuanghu Wang, Abdalla Abdal-Hay, Yichi Xu

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Bioceramics are important biomaterials in biomedical engineering because of their biocompatibility, bioactivity, osteoconductivity, and structural resemblance to actual bone tissue. In recent years, materials science and nanotechnology have enabled the use of bioceramics in bone regeneration, dental restoration, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, and implantable medical devices. This comprehensive review covers advances in bioceramics, including calcium phosphates, hydroxyapatite (HAp), tricalcium phosphate, bioactive glasses, zirconia, alumina, and multifunctional ceramic nanocomposites. Priority is given to techniques such as additive manufacturing, 3D printing, sol-gel processing, electrospinning, and nanostructuring to improve mechanical strength, porosity, bioactivity, and cell interactions. Recent advances include ion doping, surface …

Pt/Zno-Decorated Laser-Induced Graphene For Nonenzymatic Glucose Monitoring Under Physiological Conditions, Reagan Aviha, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Diabetes continues to impose significant global health and economic burdens, driving the demand for robust, enzyme-free glucose sensors capable of reliable operation under physiological conditions. Here, we report the development of a high-performance nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on laser-induced graphene (LIG) modified with zinc oxide (ZnO) and platinum (Pt) nanostructures. ZnO was electrodeposited onto LIG with modulation potential and deposition duration systematically optimized. The ZnO/LIG electrodes were characterized electrochemically using potassium ferricyanide and evaluated for glucose oxidation in phosphate-buffered solution. Subsequent electrodeposition of Pt under analogous optimized conditions yielded a ternary Pt/ZnO/LIG architecture with enhanced electrocatalytic activity. Sensor performance was …

Linker-Free Gold-Sputtered Tapered Optical Fiber Plasmonic Sensors For High-Sensitivity Refractive Index Detection In Microfluidic Platforms, Erem Ujah, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Gold-sputtered tapered optical fiber (Au-TOF) sensors were developed for high-sensitivity refractive-index (RI) detection using aqueous glucose standards spanning 1.33–1.41 RIU (0–50% w/v). The sensors were fabricated using a reproducible workflow combining flame-brushing tapering, plasma surface preparation, and rotational magnetron sputtering, enabling azimuthally uniform gold coatings without the use of thiol or sulfur linker chemistries. Two sputtering durations (24 s and 30 s) were investigated to examine thickness-dependent plasmonic coupling and sensing performance. Optical measurements were conducted using a broadband supercontinuum source and compact spectrometer within a 20 µL microfluidic sensing chamber. Increasing glucose concentration produced a monotonic decrease in transmission …

Proof-Of-Concept Development And Preclinical Evaluation Of A Microarray Patch Platform For Codelivery Of Multiple Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies For Hiv Prevention, M. Melissa Peet, Vivek Agrahari, Parbeen Singh, Lam Luong Hoai Nguyen, Louise A. Ouattara, Eun Sung Yang, Carolina Herrera, Amarendra Pegu, Theodore C. Pierson, Thanh D. Nguyen, Gustavo F. Doncel

CONRAD Publications

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) are advancing as a preventative or treatment option for HIV infection, but currently must be administered parenterally, typically as a large injection or infusion, an invasive method of delivery, especially for the pediatric population. Here, we present proof-of-concept data on a minimally invasive microneedle (MN) patch platform codelivering three bnAbs, PGT121, VRC07-523LS, and PGDM1400LS, from separate MN patch units or pixels. Each 1 cm² patch pixel, fabricated via solvent casting, contained similar to 2 mg of one bnAb. In ex vivo porcine skin tests, the MNs effectively penetrated the skin. When tested in vitro in PBS …

Concomitant Transcatheter Edge-To-Edge Repair For Mitral And Tricuspid Regurgitation For Polyvalvular Disease, Omar Khan, Matthew Summers

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

This patient is a 77-year-old male with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, severe tricuspid regurgitation, and moderate mitral regurgitation who underwent simultaneous transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of both mitral and tricuspid valves. Post-procedure, the patient exhibited significant symptomatic improvement and reduced regurgitation severity, highlighting the feasibility of dual-valve TEER in high-risk patients.

Combined Snare And Buddy-Balloon Strategy For Failed Valve Crossing In Valve-In-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement, Hira Sarfraz, Muhammad U. Javed, Parth K. Parikh, Joshua A. Cohen, Raymond L. Benza, Matthew R. Summers, Deepak R. Talreja

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background Retrograde valve crossing during valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (ViV TAVR) may fail despite modern delivery systems. Case Summary A 67-year-old man with a degenerated 27-mm Magna Ease bioprosthesis and unfavorable aortic geometry (kinked ascending aorta at a prior surgical graft site) underwent ViV TAVR, where retrograde valve crossing failed despite multiple stiff guidewires and snare traction alone. Successful delivery of a 29-mm Evolut FX+ was ultimately achieved by combining gooseneck-snare traction for coaxial realignment with a partially inflated Tyshak buddy balloon acting as a mechanical ramp across the surgical valve frame. Discussion This case demonstrates a structured, stepwise …

Percutaneous Closure Of Ventricular Septal Rupture After Myocardial Infarction:, Thomas A. Cook, Simone K. Schumaecker, Anjani Patibandla, Nicholas J. Valle, Matthew R. Summers

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) following acute myocardial infarction is a rare but deadly complication with mortality rates exceeding 90% when left untreated. Coronary ischaemia leads to myocardial necrosis and friability resulting in septal rupture, most commonly 3-5 days post-infarction. The sudden development of a left-to-right shunt causes volume overload in the right ventricle, pulmonary vasculature, and left atrium, precipitating biventricular failure, and cardiogenic shock. Management requires careful consideration of timing and modality of closure along with stabilization with mechanical circulatory support in severe cases.

CASE SUMMARY: A 65-year-old female presented with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated by VSR …

Comparison Of Fully Covered Self-Expandable Metal Biliary Stents With Or Without Anchoring Double-Pigtail Plastic Stents: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Samuel Tanner, Fadi Hawa, Alejandra Vargas, Priyata Dutta, Antonio Facciorusso, Jean M. Chalhoub, Jorge D. Machicado

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background and AIMS

Fully covered self-expandable metal stents (FcSEMSs) have become the mainstay of treatment for a variety of biliary pathologies. However, FcSEMSs have been associated with a greater rate of stent migration than other types of stents. A technique of anchoring double-pigtail plastic stents (DPPSs) has been proposed to minimize migration of biliary FcSEMSs. Herein, we evaluated the efficacy of anchoring DPPSs among patients treated with biliary FcSEMSs.

Methods

We performed a systematic review using PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science from database inception through August 2023. Full-text articles comparing FcSEMSs with or without anchoring DPPSs were included. We …

Partial Post-Exposure Protection By Topical Inserts Containing Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate/Elvitegravir In A Macaque Model Of Rectal Simian Hiv (Shiv) Infection, Natalia Makarova, Tyana Singletary, M. Melissa Peet, Kristen Kelley, Ryan Johnson, Vivek Agrahari, Maria Mendoza, Yi Pan, Walid Heneine, Meredith R. Clark, J. Gerardo García Lerma, Gustavo F. Doncel, James W. Smith

CONRAD Publications

On-demand topical inserts for HIV prevention may be a good option for people who have a low frequency of sexual activity. We recently demonstrated in a preclinical macaque model that rectal application of inserts containing tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) and elvitegravir (EVG) conferred protection against SHIV infection (93% efficacy) when applied as pre-exposure prophylaxis 4 hours before SHIV exposure. Here, we show that the same inserts provide significant postexposure protection (82.9% efficacy) when applied 4 hours after SHIV exposure. Our findings further support the ongoing clinical development of TAF/EVG inserts for on-demand HIV prevention.

Impact Of Contraceptive Initiation On The Cervicovaginal Mucosa: Results From The Umpala Multicentre Partially Randomized Patient-Preference Interventional Trial, Betty Njoroge, Nelly Mugo, Carolina Herrera, Karen Dominguez, Louise A. Ouattara, Nazita Yousefieh, Neelima Chandra, Agnieszka Kurczewska, Stephanie Nartey, Julie Lewis, Andrea R. Thurman, Matilda Saina, Raina N. Fichorova, Jacques Ravel, Reem Sharaf Alddin, Nicola Richardson-Harman, Kenneth Ngure, Gustavo F. Doncel

CONRAD Publications

Background: Long-acting contraceptives are widely used, providing superior efficacy and systemic safety; however, the impact of contraceptive initiation on female genital tract function and health has been understudied.

Methods: Non-pregnant, HIV-uninfected women aged 18–50 years were enrolled in a dual-centre partially randomized patient-preference interventional trial (NCT04814927) and allowed to choose one of four contraceptive options, etonogestrel contraceptive implant, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate subcutaneous injection, levonorgestrel intrauterine device, and copper IUD, with a minimum target of 12 participants per arm and site. Sampling took place at baseline, 1 and 3 months after contraceptive initiation, and 1 month post-contraceptive discontinuation. Primary outcomes focused …

Delivery Of Medical Supplies To Remote Locations Via Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Approaches, Challenges, And Solutions, Meshari Aljohani, Ravi Mukkamala, Stephanie Olariu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming more important in improving healthcare logistics, in particular due to their cost effectiveness, minimized risk, and versatile operational capabilities. This study explores the deployment of autonomous UAVs to deliver medical supplies to remote areas. Advances in ledger technology, smart contracts, and machine learning have transformed tasks previously managed by human teams or manually controlled UAVs into fully autonomous missions. We present a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and initial solutions vital for the effective use of autonomous UAVs in the delivery of medical supplies. In addition, we propose a machine-learning model to optimize UAV …

Protocol For Development And Validation Of An Early Intervention Device And Its Influence Using Structured Early Physiotherapy (Preemiestep) Intervention On Neuromotor Development In Preterm Infants, Indira D. B. Naidu Boddapati, Sivakumar Gopalakrishnan, Sonia Khurana, Jayashree Purkayastha, Bhaskar Bhatt, Bhamini Krishna Rao

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Early physiotherapy interventions for Moderate to Late Preterm (MLP) infants often lack continuity of care from hospital to home settings. This research aims to develop an Early Intervention (EI) device for home program and determine its influence using STructured Early Physiotherapy (Preemie STEP) intervention in MLP infants. For phase I, qualitative interviews will be conducted with healthcare professionals and parents, to understand user needs on developed prototype. Based on identified needs, an EI device will be developed using a human-centered design approach and iterative design process. In phase II, usability and validity of EI device will be …

Formulation Development Of Dual-Compartment Topical Inserts Combining Tenofovir Alafenamide And Elvitegravir For Flexible On-Demand Hiv Prevention, Vivek Agrahari, M. Melissa Peet, Neelima Chandra, Prakash Ramalingam, Pardeep K. Gupta, Sriramakamal Jonnalagadda, Onkar N. Singh, Timothy J. Mccormick, Gustavo F. Doncel, Meredith R. Clark

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has emerged as a prominent approach for the prevention of HIV infections. While the latest advances have resulted in effective oral and injectable product options, there are still gaps in on-demand, event-driven, topical products for HIV prevention that are safe and effective. Here we describe the formulation development of a dual-compartment topical insert containing tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) and elvitegravir (EVG) that may be administered when needed, vaginally or rectally, pre- or post-coitus, for flexible HIV prophylaxis. Specifically, we describe the lab-scale formulation development, preclinical mucosal safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) testing in rabbits, long-term stability, and scale-up …

The Timing For Primary Prevention For Icd In The Current Era Of Pharmacotherapy, Anastasia Shchendrygina, Amin Yehya, Hadi Skouri

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Recent advances in the pharmacological therapy of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) have significantly impacted the overall survival, heart failure hospitalisations and rates of sudden cardiac death (SCD). In this context, the relevant timing of placing ICDs as primary prevention is a matter of on-going debate. This manuscript provides evidence for an updated view regarding the timing of implanting ICD in eligible patients with HFrEF receiving optimal guideline-directed medical therapy, accounting for the timing to reverse cardiac remodelling (RCR) occurrence and residual SCD risks over time. Clinically significant RCR occurs beyond 3 months of optimal guideline-directed medical therapy, …

Role Of Device Therapy In Complementing Contemporary Medical Management, Yoel Benarroch, Natalie Tapaskar, Amin Yehya

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms resulting from any structural or functional deficiency of ventricular filling or blood ejection. The mainstay of initial treatment remains lifestyle modifications, guideline-directed medical therapy, and addressing contributing factors. However, the past two decades have come with significant advances in device therapies to improve morbidity and mortality in HF despite evidence-based management as above. Given the rapidly evolving area of HF research and therapeutic development, it is important for clinicians to be familiar with novel therapies and how they can complement medical management. In this review we discuss the …

The Effect Of Inelastic Compression Wraps On The Quality Of Life Of People With Chronic Venous Insufficiency: A Single-Center, Single-Arm Prospective Study, Abby Hargis Smits, Marita Yaghi, Narges Maskan Bermudez, Hadar Lev-Tov

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: First line therapy for all manifestations of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is compression. However, patients frequently report dissatisfaction with compression stockings. Therefore, there is a need to find alternative therapeutic options that can promote compliance. Here, we investigate the impact of the novel, inelastic compression wrap device on quality of life (QoL) in patients with CVI who have failed therapy with compression stockings in the past. Methods: We conducted a six-week, open-label, single-center, non-blinded, prospective cohort study. The primary endpoint was the change in QoL over 6 weeks as measured by the Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire …

Positive Airway Pressure And Mask Factors Affective Adherence In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Rutvi Sheth, Michel Audette, Soham Sheth

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Purpose: Sleep apnea is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disorders. CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy is the main treatment for sleep apnea. However, adherence with CPAP remains a concern. Although there are various factors attributed to failure of CPAP therapy, mask related factors are not well studied.

Methods: The study recruited patients with obstructive sleep apnea using CPAP from neurology outpatient clinic at Progressive Neurology and Sleep Center. An IRB (Institutional Review Board) approved questionnaire was administered to evaluate factors affecting CPAP compliance.

Results: The study recruited 24 patients. It showed that almost 50% of the patients did …

Effects Of Ultrasonic Use On Hearing Loss In Dental Hygienists: A Matched Pairs Design Study, Jessica Suedbeck, Emily A. Ludwig, James Blando, Nathan Michalak

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Dental professionals are exposed to hazardous noise levels on a daily basis in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare the hearing status of dental hygienists who utilize ultrasonic scalers in the workplace compared to age-matched control participants (non-dental hygienists) who were not exposed to ultrasonic noise.

Methods: A convenience sample of nineteen dental hygienists (experimental) and nineteen non-dental hygienists (control) was recruited for this study. A matched pairs design was utilized; participants in each group were matched based on age and gender to eliminate confounding variables. The testing procedure consisted of an audiologist performing a …

Successful Management Of Spontaneous Unilateral Twin Ectopic Pregnancy With Two-Step Dose Of Methotrexate, Lauren A. Forbes, Navya Nuthivana, Renee Morales

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

The incidence of unilateral tubal twin pregnancy is 1/20,000–1/250,000 with about 100 reported cases. Four of the six cases that were medically managed were successful. A 24-year-old female presented to the emergency department (ED) with vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping. She was hemodynamically stable without signs of an acute abdomen. Laboratory evaluation revealed she was pregnant with a serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hCG) of 798 mIU/mL. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) revealed a single left tubal pregnancy with a yolk sac. The patient elected medical management with body surface area (BSA)–based intramuscular (IM) methotrexate (MTX). On Day 4, the patient returned to …

Healthcare Robotics: Key Factors That Impact Robot Adoption In Healthcare, Sujatha Alla, Pilar Pazos

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

In the current dynamic business environment, healthcare organizations are focused on improving patient satisfaction, performance, and efficiency. The healthcare industry is considered a complex system that is highly reliant of new technologies to support clinical as well as business processes. Robotics is one of such technologies that is considered to have the potential to increase efficiency in a wide range of clinical services. Although the use of robotics in healthcare is at the early stages of adoption, some studies have shown the capacity of this technology to improve precision, accessibility through less invasive procedures, and reduction of human error during …

Orientation-Invariant Ecg-Based Virtual Pathology Stethoscope Tracking For Standardized Patient Heart Auscultation, Nahom B. Kidane

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Cardiac auscultation (CA), the act of listening to the heart sounds, is a critical physician's skill that provides substantial information for diagnosing many cardiovascular disorders; therefore, competent training can be a key for accurate and reliable diagnosis. The teaching of CA has been an area of recognized importance since the inception of the stethoscope. However, recent changes in health-care, such as limited student access to patients and higher reliance on competing technologies have made it challenging to teach bedside CA techniques.

Over the past few decades, standardized patients (SPs), individuals trained to portray real patients, have been widely used for …

Parameter Optimization For Image Denoising Based On Block Matching And 3d Collaborative Filtering, Ramu Pedada, Emin Kugu, Jiang Li, Zhanfeng Yue, Yuzhong Shen, Josien P.W. Pluim (Ed.), Benoit M. Dawant (Ed.)

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Clinical MRI images are generally corrupted by random noise during acquisition with blurred subtle structure features. Many denoising methods have been proposed to remove noise from corrupted images at the expense of distorted structure features. Therefore, there is always compromise between removing noise and preserving structure information for denoising methods. For a specific denoising method, it is crucial to tune it so that the best tradeoff can be obtained. In this paper, we define several cost functions to assess the quality of noise removal and that of structure information preserved in the denoised image. Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm 2 (SPEA2) …