Removing Staphylococcus Epidermidis Biofilms from Orthopedic Implants
Team Members
Cassidy Sheffield, Casey Wood, Stephen Marcyan, and Hugh Stanton, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Megan Frost, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Project Overview
This is a continuation project that seeks to develop a method for the removal of mature
S. Epidermidis biofilms from orthopedic implants due to acute prosthetic joint infections,
or PJI’s. PJI’s occur in around 1.5 to 2.5 percent of all primary hip or knee replacement
surgeries. This is significant, as these types of infections are very serious, costly
to treat, painful, and may result in loss of mobility. In order to solve this problem,
the team synthesized and verified a biofilm mimic in order to test various prototypes.
The final cleaning methods were then tested on an actual mature (21-day old) biofilm.
Dynamic Heart Model—Anatomical Valves
Team Members
Adam Francis, Chris Haferman, Becca Revett, and Derrick Diver, Biomedical Engineering
Advisors
Feng Zhao and Bruce Lee, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
Boston Scientific
Project Overview
Human anatomical heart models can be used to aid in the development and testing of
new medical devices. Current models of the heart are primarily static and are limited
in many physiological factors. Our objective is to develop a dynamic, anatomically
correct heart model where the heart valves open at true physiological values. The
model will also have a physiological pressure flow loop of fluid, and accurate ventricular
deformation. Ideally, this dynamic model will allow for physicians to train using
new surgical techniques and devices at no risk to patients or animals.
Transcatheter Single Ventricle Device for Treatment of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Team Members
Cal Riutta, Marie Wendling, Jennifer Hannon, and Grace Carey, Biomedical Engineering
Advisors
Smitha Rao and Jeremy Goldman, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
Spectrum Health Innovations—Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Project Overview
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a congenital heart defect where the left
side of the heart is critically underdeveloped, leading to fatality within weeks of
birth. One surgical treatment uses stenting and minimally invasive surgery to control
blood flow in the pulmonary system, preparing the infant for open heart surgery three
months later. The Transcatheter Single Ventricle Device (TSVD) aims to replace these
two procedures with a single catheterization approach. A modified stent with a polymer
coating is being developed. This project, now in its third year, is aimed at testing
the polymers for use with the stent. Challenges include the small size of the stent
(5 Fr), hemocompatibility, and the biocompatibility and mechanical strength of the
polymers.
Nerve Stimulation through Powered Surgical Instruments: Cerebral Ultrasonic Aspiration
First Place Design Expo Innovation Award
Team Members
Peter Beach, Sterling Korstad, Ana-Lisia Powdhar, Matthew Sampson, and Rachel Stites,
Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Orhan Soykan, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
Stryker Instruments
Project Overview
The objectives of our project are to conceptualize, design, prototype, and test a
modification of Stryker Instruments’ Sonopet ultrasonic handpiece. Currently, one
of the main uses for the handpiece is for the removal of malignant tissues in the
brain. During these operations, the surgeon must periodically switch from the handpiece
to a nerve monitoring probe that reports the proximity of the operation to the major
cranial nerves. Our modification combines the functionality of these two devices,
eliminating the need for surgeons to switch instruments mid-surgery, reducing the
probability of injury from repeated insertion and removal of the devices.
Development of a Novel Blubber-Only Satellite Telemetry Tag for Humpback Whale Conservation
Second Place Design Expo Innovation Award
Team Members
Ariana Tyo, Reis Jones, Monica Nelson, Elizabeth Bloch, and Alex Undlin, Biomedical
Engineering
Advisor
Rupak Rajachar, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsors
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
(WHOI)
Project Overview
Satellite telemetry tags are used by marine biologists and conservationists to track
the migration patterns of whales in an effort to improve conservation practices. Current
long-term tracking tags used in the field have a low retention rate, despite using
a variety of anchors (e.g. barbs, petals, and other mechanical retention techniques)
deployed in the blubber-muscle interface after penetration. Our team is working to
improve biocompatibility through a tag redesign, therefore increasing retention. This
will be done by creating a blubber-only tag with the capability of releasing an adhesive
hydrogel as well as utilizing novel retention techniques.
Enhanced Measurement and Analysis of Gait Disturbances
Team Members
Jennie Baker, Rebecca Bostwick, and Hannah Cunningham, Biomedical Engineering
Advisors
Bruce Lee and Orhan Soykan, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
Aspirus Keweenaw
Project Overview
Our project aims to reduce the amount of time it takes patients to recover from hip
and knee orthopedic surgeries. Physical therapy visits only happen once or twice a
week, so most of the recovery process relies on patients performing assigned exercises
without supervision at home. Our device would provide patients with corrective feedback
while they perform exercises in their homes. As the second team working on this project,
we chose to focus on three areas of improvement: determining the device’s ability
to detect gait abnormalities by comparing it to another gait analysis system, developing
a prototype to increase ease of use, and improving the therapist interface so the
data can be better interpreted.
Medtronic Multi-coil Passive Recharging Prototype Device
Team Members
Holly Eyrich, Ken Hubbard, and Zachary Vanderstelt, Biomedical Engineering
Jacob Carley, Electrical Engineering
Advisors
Keat Ghee Ong and Sean Kirkpatrick, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
Medtronic
Project Overview
In order to treat chronic pain, nerve-stimulating implants can be surgically implanted
into the upper-buttock to stimulate the patient’s spinal cord to relieve pain. These
implants require wireless inductive coupling in order to maintain their power. The
current charging system requires the user’s full attention throughout a charging session
to ensure that the charging coil is aligned with their implant. The goal of this project
is to create a working prototype capable of recharging implants at depths of 1-3 cm
below the surface of the patient’s skin that requires minimal readjustments on the
patient’s part. To reduce readjustments, a coil array is used for charging instead
of a single coil.
Diagnostic Instrumentation for Manual Medical Devices—Phase II
Team Members
Bruce Brunson Jr., Ryan Root, and Tanner Viegut, Biomedical Engineering; Jordan Horan,
Electrical Engineering
Advisors
Jeremy Goldman and Keat Ghee Ong, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
Boston Scientific
Project Overview
Coronary heart disease causes plaque buildup around the heart and is one of the leading
medical problems in the United States. The use of a guidewire and catheter allows
physicians access to the affected sites, thus allowing treatment wherever the plaque
may build up. Despite the importance of the practice, there are not enough tools that
give feedback to the physician as they navigate the guidewire through the vessels.
Our team is building upon the work done by last year’s team by updating the model
to be more user friendly, fleshing out the feedback program, and fitting the device
with sensors to measure torque.
Rapid Prototyping of Ultrasound Elastography Phantom for Breast Cancer Detection
Third Place Design Expo Innovation Award
Team Members
Collin Gauthier, David Ross, Shallen Gurtler, and Alex Prucha, Biomedical Engineering
Advisor
Jingfeng Jiang, Biomedical Engineering
Sponsor
Materialise
Project Overview
Ultrasound elastography is a technique used in tandem with classical diagnostics in
order to increase the likelihood of breast cancer detection, especially in dense tissue
which can mask the tumors against palpation and mammography identification. Phantoms,
specially designed objects, are used to calibrate ultrasound elastography devices
and train technicians; however current phantoms are costly, and can be high-maintenance.
Additionally, as a result of manufacturing difficulties, these phantoms often lack
the complexity to properly represent the native tissue structures and challenge ultrasound
elastography machines. This project aims to further the progress made by previous
teams by using a PVC material, compatible with additive manufacturing, to create a
high fidelity, molded, ultrasound elastography phantom.