Search results for "Biomedical Engineering"
showing 10 items of 2020 documents
Automated detection of protein unfolding events in atomic force microscopy force curves
2016
Atomic force microscopy is not only a high-resolution imaging device but also a mechanical machine, which can be used either to indent or stretch (soft) biomaterials. Due to the statistical nature of such materials (i.e., hydrogels or polymers) hundreds of force-distance curves are required to describe their mechanical properties. In this manuscript, we present an automated system for polymer unfolding detection based on continuous wavelet analysis. We have tested the automated program on elastin, which is an important protein that provides elasticity to tissues and organs. Our results show that elastin changes its mechanical behavior in the presence of electrolytes. In particular, we show …
Wireless ECG and cardiac monitoring systems: State of the art, available commercial devices and useful electronic components
2021
Abstract Wireless ElectroCardioGram (ECG) systems are employed in manifold application fields: tele-monitoring, sport applications, support to ageing people at home, fetal ECG, wearable devices and ambulatory monitoring. The presence of cables often hinders user’s free movements, alongside clinicians’ routine operations. Therefore, wireless ECG systems are desirable. This paper aims at reviewing the solutions described in the literature, besides commercially available devices and electronic components useful to setup laboratory prototypes. Several systems have been developed, different in terms of the adopted technology; when approaching the development of a wireless ECG system, some import…
Uncertainty quantification on a spatial Markov-chain model for the progression of skin cancer
2019
AbstractA spatial Markov-chain model is formulated for the progression of skin cancer. The model is based on the division of the computational domain into nodal points, that can be in a binary state: either in ‘cancer state’ or in ‘non-cancer state’. The model assigns probabilities for the non-reversible transition from ‘non-cancer’ state to the ‘cancer state’ that depend on the states of the neighbouring nodes. The likelihood of transition further depends on the life burden intensity of the UV-rays that the skin is exposed to. The probabilistic nature of the process and the uncertainty in the input data is assessed by the use of Monte Carlo simulations. A good fit between experiments on mi…
Silica as a morphogenetically active inorganic polymer.
2013
At present the scaffolds used for bioprinting of cells do not elicit morphogenetic responses in the cells. In the present study we approached a solution by studying the effect of an inorganic silica supplement added to an Na-alginate matrix. Bone- and osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells were embedded into this organic polymeric matrix which was additionally enriched with 400 μM prehydrolyzed TEOS [tetra-ethoxy-silane], a source of ortho-silicate. In this silica-based matrix the cells synthesized hydroxyapatite crystallites after exposure to a mineralization activation cocktail composed of β-glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid and dexamethasone. The degree of hydroxyapatite synthesis, determined by sta…
Engineering in-plane mechanics of electrospun polyurethane scaffolds for cardiovascular tissue applications
2021
Effective cardiovascular tissue surrogates require high control of scaffold structural and mechanical features to match native tissue properties, which are dependent on tissue-specific mechanics, function heterogenicity, and morphology. Bridging scaffold processing variables with native tissue properties is recognized as a priority for advancing biomechanical performance of biomedical materials and, when translated to the clinical practice, their efficacy. Accordingly, this study selected electrospinning on a rotating cylindrical target as an apparatus of broad application and mapped the relationship between key processing variables and scaffold mechanics and structure. This information was…
Physiological Micromechanics of the Anterior Mitral Valve Leaflet
2011
An improved understanding of mitral valve (MV) function remains an important goal for determining mechanisms underlying valve disease and for developing novel therapies. Critical to heart valve tissue homeostasis is the valvular interstitial cells (VICs), which reside in the interstitium and maintain the extracellular matrix (ECM) through both protein synthesis and enzymatic degradation [1]. There is scant experimental data on the alterations of the MV fiber network reorganization as a function of load, which is critical for implementation of computational strategies that attempt to link this meso-micro scale phenomenon. The observed large scale deformations experienced by VICs could be imp…
Der HEPFIEx-Simulator, eine Apparatur zur Bestimmung der Reibzahlen zwischen Hüftkopf-Prothesen und Knorpel / The HEPFlEx Simulator, a Device for Mea…
2002
We describe a device designed to investigate friction between various femoral head prostheses and human acetabula. It enables not only the determination of friction and the relevance of the play between the femoral head and acetabulum, but also the evaluation of the kinematic behaviour of bipolar prostheses. In the simulator, the various femoral head prostheses are placed on a special cone and tested against a human cadaveric acetabulum. The swiveling range of the device is uniaxial, and the swiveling angle is +/- 35 degrees. The maximum force produced pneumatically is 5kN. Testing of the simulator with a TEP was successful and friction-coefficients of < 0.1 were measured, as are reported i…
Novel technologies to detect atelectotrauma in the injured lung
2010
ABSTRACTCyclical recruitment and derecruitment of lung parenchyma (R/D) remains a serious problem in ALI/ARDS patients, defined as atelectotrauma. Detection of cyclical R/D to titrate the optimal respiratory settings is of high clinical importance. Image-based technologies that are capable of detecting changes of lung ventilation within a respiratory cycle include dynamic computed tomography (dCT), synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SRCT), and electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Time-dependent intra-arterial oxygen tension monitoring represents an alternative approach to detect cyclical R/D, as cyclical R/D can result in oscillations of PaO2 within a respiratory cycle. Continuous…
Fiber Micro-Architecture in the Longitudinal-Radial and Circumferential-Radial Planes of Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Media.
2013
It was recently demonstrated by our group that the delamination strength of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (ATAA) was lower than that of control (CTRL, non-aneurysmal) ascending thoracic aorta (ATA), and the reduced strength was more pronounced among bicuspid (BAV) vs. tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) patients, suggesting a different risk of aortic dissection for BAV patients. We hypothesized that aortic valve morphologic phenotype predicts fiber micro-architectural anomalies in ATA. To test the hypothesis, we characterized the micro-architecture in the longitudinal-radial (Z-RAD) and circumferential-radial (Θ-RAD) planes of human ATA tissue that was artificially dissected medially. The ou…
On the biomechanical function of scaffolds for engineering load-bearing soft tissues
2009
Replacement or regeneration of load-bearing soft tissues has long been the impetus for the development of bioactive materials. While maturing, current efforts continue to be confounded by our lack of understanding of the intricate multi-scale hierarchical arrangements and interactions typically found in native tissues. The current state of the art in biomaterial processing enables a degree of controllable microstructure that can be used for the development of model systems to deduce fundamental biological implications of matrix morphologies on cell function. Furthermore, the development of computational frameworks which allow for the simulation of experimentally derived observations represe…