Personal Research ServiceCV

Completed Major Qualifying Projects (MQPs)
 
“The combined effects of substrate stiffness and stretch on the phenotype of fibroblasts”, Cathryn Bedard, Mike Drnek, Leslie Sierad, A, B, C and D terms, 2006-07, KLB-0601
     A manuscript based on this project is in preparation.
 
“Design of a reproducible murine femoral fracture device”, Melissa Byrne, Benjamin Cleveland, Joseph Marturano A, B, C and D terms, 2006-07, KLB-0602, Co-Advisor: J. Wixted, MD
     Honorable Mention in BME
     A manuscript based on this project is in preparation.
 
“A device for quantifying the severity of peripheral edema”, Stephanie LeGare, Charles Gammal (ME/ECE), Erika Hall, Rachelle Horowitz, A, B, C and D terms, 2006-07, KLB-0603, Co-Advisors Y. Mendelson, J. McNeil, R. Dunn, MD
     2007 Provost’s MQP Award for Biomedical Engineering and 2nd place in Mechanical Engineering
 
“Tibiotalocalcaneal Fusion Nail”, Rob Lavado, Mike Coutts, Justin Parker (ME), A, B, C and D terms, 2006-07, KLB-0604
 
 
2005-2006  Project Title: Design of a novel device for mechano-biological studies.  
Coadvisor: George Pins, Ph.D., WPI BME
pix coming soon Project Description:  
The cells within connective tissues (skin, blood vessels, heart valves, tendons, etc.) respond to changes in their local mechanical environment by altering their contractile behavior and rates of matrix synthesis and degradation.  These cellular activities are critical for proper tissue homeostasis, and dysregulation can lead to various disease states. The goal of this project is to design and validate a system for independently studying the effects of substrate stiffness and stretch on cell activity.  Student will have the chance to learn mechanical characterization methods, biochemical assays, and cell culture techniques.  This project has application in the tissue engineering of skin substitutes, vascular patches, as well as other tissue constructs and will provide experience valued by biotech companies and medical device manufacturers. Team: 3  BMEs

Honorable Mention in BME

 

2005-2006 Project Title: Design of a sternal fixation testing apparatus
Coadvisor: Ray Dunn, M.D., Dept of Surgery, UMMS
Project Description:  
For open heart surgery, the sternum is split down the center and retracted.  The current practice is to use wire loops to close the fracture. Virtually all other bone fractures are now affixed using plates and screws because of improved mechanical stability. The goal of this project is to design an in vitro testing apparatus that applies physiologically realistic forces to isolated sterna so that fixation systems (including plates and wires) can be optimized before clinical implantation. Students will analyze the forces acting on the sternum during breathing and coughing using finite element analysis, design and build a multiaxial mechanical testing device, and perform preliminary tests on model sterna to compare the stability of various fixation methods. Team: 4  BMEs		 pix coming soon pix coming soon

 

2005-2006  Project Title: Biological tissue properties at the cell level
Coadvisor: Nancy Burnham, Ph.D., WPI Physics Dep
pix coming soon     Project Description:  
The activity of cells within connective tissues (skin, blood vessels, heart valves, tendons, etc.) is regulated, in part, by the mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in which they reside.  For example, changes in the stiffness of the matrix alter the cells’ contractile behavior and rates of matrix synthesis and degradation.  These cellular activities in turn alter the mechanical properties of the matrix.  This “mechanical reciprocity” is critical for proper tissue homeostasis and improper regulation is implicated in many fibrocontractive diseases. The goal of this project is to measure the mechanical properties in the low stress region (<50kPa) of a series of healthy and diseased soft connective tissues using an array of methods including AFM.  This project will contribute to our understanding of tissue properties in health and disease, has application in the tissue engineering of tissue substitutes, and will provide experience valued by biotech companies and medical device manufacturers. Team: 3 BMEs, 1 Physics

 

2004-2005 Project Title: Design of a biaxial test device for connective tissue engineering
Project Description:  
The goal of this project was to design and build an electro-mechanical testing system for stretching very compliant connective tissues to determine their biomechanical material properties. The students designed tissue clamping and actuating mechanisms and built a custom test chamber. This project has application in the tissue engineering of skin substitutes, vascular patches, as well as other tissue constructs and provided experience valued by biotech companies and medical device manufacturers. Team : 2 BMEs and 2 Mechanical Engineers

Honorable Mention in BME

2nd place in Mechanical Engineering

 

2004-2005 Project Title: Biomechanical assessment of vascularized bone segments for novel tibia and femur repair treatments
Coadvisor: Janice Lalikos, Dept of Surgery, UMMS
Project Description:  
The goal of this project was to design and conduct custom mechanical tests to assess the mechanical properties of femur flaps, fibula flaps, double-fibula flaps, intact femurs and donor-site femurs as part of a larger study ongoing at the UMMS Department of Surgery. The "flaps" are portions of bone from the patient that remain attached to a blood supply. Currently, segmental defects of the tibia and femur are often repaired using a vascularized bone transfer. This leads to a significant period of immobilization while the graft is incorporated and also donor-site morbidity including hypersensitivity at the donor-site and sensory loss in the foot. Bone segments (flaps) with a blood supply could remedy this situation. Team: 3  BMEs

 

2004-2005  Project Title: Device for biaxial mechanical stimulation of cultured tissues
     Project Description:  
The goal of this project was to design and validate a system capable of applying a range of biaxial strains to connective tissues for the study of the effects of mechanical stimulation on the growth and mechanics of cultured tissues. The students designed novel "platens" to be used with a commercial cell stretching device using FEM. The students also utilized tissue culture techniques and performed mechanical analysis of the cultured tissues. This project has application in the tissue engineering of skin substitutes, vascular patches, as well as wound healing. Team: 4 BMEs
2003-2004 Project Title: Design of a dynamic bioreactor for connective tissue engineering
Project Description:
The goal of this project was to develop a bioreactor system capable of applying cyclic mechanical loads to connective tissues while controlling the chemical and thermal environment. The students designed tissue clamping and actuating mechanisms. The students used tissue culture techniques and performed mechanical analysis of the cultured tissues. This project has application in the tissue engineering of skin substitutes, vascular patches, as well as other tissue constructs. Team: 2 BMEs

 

2003-2004 Project Title: Optimization of a sternum fixation device

1st Place Award, Undergraduate Oral Presentation Competition at the 30th Annual NE Bioengineering Conference, Springfield, MA, April 17-18, 2004.

Project Description:
For open heart surgery, the sternum is split down the center and retracted. Following surgery, the two halves of the sternum are brought back together and affixed using stainless steel surgical sutures so that the bone can heal. Although, rigid fixation has been demonstrated to be more effective in the repair of other fractured bones, this method has only recently been applied to the sternum on an experimental basis. The goal of this project was to optimize the design for a novel sternum fixation device. Students analyzed the forces in the sternum during breathing and coughing and measured the stability of various wire and plating designs using mechanical testing. Team: 1 Mechanical Engineer and 3 BMEs

2004 Provost’s MQP Award for Biomedical Engineering

Two manuscripts based on this project have been published

Co-Advisor(s): George Pins, Ph.D. (BME), Ray Dunn, M.D. (UMASS Med)

 

2003-2004 Project Title: Skin Tonometer for Assessing Edema
Project Description:
Poor venous circulation in the leg, a condition called "venous stasis disease (VSD)," often results in constant lower leg swelling (edema) and ultimately skin breakdown and chronic ulceration. Clinicians need a tool to measure the pressure in the leg that will objectively show efficacy of treatments for reducing edema (e.g., wrapping, elevation, and topical dehydrants). Students designed a device for measuring the viscoelastic response of leg tissue and reduced the design to practice by developing a working device to be used in the clinic. Team: 2 BMEs.
Co-Advisor(s): Ray Dunn M.D., (UMASS Med) 

Patent application submitted

 

2002-2003    Project Title: Rational Design of Basal Lamina Analogs for Applications in Tissue Engineering

Project Description:
The goal of this project was to design analogs of basal laminae or basement membranes that modulate cellular adhesion, migration, proliferation as well as extracellular matrix remodeling. Students used biomaterials processing techniques to fabricate and characterize these membranes. Students also used cell cultures techniques and digital image analysis to assess cellular responses to the materials. This project has application in the tissue engineering of skin substitutes as well as other tissue constructs.  Team: 2 BMEs

Faculty Co-advisor: George D. Pins, Ph.D. (BME)

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