This project seeks to develop a mechanically flexible cooling pad that can be used by medical providers to provide targeted pain or inflammation relief to injured or surgical areas. We are seeking to develop a device that is fully temperature controlled and can be used for long intervals of time up to several hours. We are currently pursuing two distinct cooling methods and engineering a complete system for both approaches. These systems are being designed to maximize cooling power and control while retaining geometric flexibility and user convenience. In this poster, we will compare the two systems, describe some of the key geometric and experimental variables under study, and highlight areas for further innovation.
Amorphous silicon and silicon oxides (SiOₓ, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1) are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical energy capacity. However, their practical implementation is hindered by substantial volume changes during cycling. A detailed atomic-level understanding is essential to improve their stability and performance. This project focuses on developing accurate and transferable machine learning force fields (MLFFs) for amorphous SiOₓ. Initial amorphous structures were generated using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations with the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP) via a melt-and-quench approach. Different quench rates were investigated to minimize training errors and improve MLFF reliability. The resulting MLFFs significantly reduce the computational cost compared to AIMD simulations, enabling simulations at larger length scales and longer timescales. This approach allows efficient investigation of structural evolution and lithiation mechanisms in Si-based anodes, supporting the design of more durable, high-capacity lithium-ion anode materials.
Vascular surgeons often use stent grafts to treat patients with peripheral vascular disease to restore adequate blood flow to affected regions of the body, preventing tissue death and loss of limb. Current stent grafts and deployment systems do not have a flexible enough design to meet needs for all patients, especially in the situation where there is a collateral blood vessel that must remain open. A deployment system is being developed using modified catheters to align and confirm position of the stent graft relative to a collateral vessel. The deployment system catheter comprises a central line for a guidewire, a 90-degree output channel for wire and radiopaque dye for flow verification, and a lumen for attachment of the stent graft. Prototypes were fabricated through resin casting and injection molding that can be attached to existing multilumen catheter tubing. This project will improve patient results by providing a cost effective, efficient, and safe way for vascular surgeons to position modified stent grafts in challenging anatomies in the peripheral vasculature.
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts are commonly used in vascular bypass surgeries and peripheral arterial reconstructions to repair and reconstruct blood vessels. However, current ePTFE grafts often cause scar tissue formation due to their dense structure, contributing to compliance mismatch and limiting their long-term effectiveness and integration with the host. The goal of this research project was to utilize multiple characterization techniques to determine the melting point, crystallinity, and microstructure of raw PTFE resin, heat-treated resin, and extruded and expanded PTFE tubing. Characterization techniques included the determination of the melting point and crystallinity percentages using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and analysis of the surface morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. A PTFE pelletizer and extruder was designed to be compatible with a mechanical tensile tester and optimized to remove air and compress the resin and lubricant mixture to create PTFE extruded tubing . This will allow for student-led ePTFE production to reduce overall purchasing costs and increase tunability of tubing production factors to optimize tubing thickness, mechanical properties, and compliance. These techniques aim to guide the fabrication of ePTFE grafts created by student researchers to enhance biological integration with vasculature and long-term clinical performance.
Currently, no tailored surgical models exist for minimally invasive cardiac procedures leaving surgeons to learn primarily on patients. These procedures, such as catheter ablation and the WATCHMAN left atrial appendage closure, are performed by placing a catheter through the femoral vein to access the heart. To address this gap, we have developed an anatomically accurate and patient-specific training model. Using CT and MRI scans from the Mayo Clinic, we created a 3D-printed model with Materialise Mimics, Materialise 3-Matic, and SolidWorks software. The system includes a torso, leg, interchangeable hearts, and a femoral vein pathway. Cameras are in place to mimic the fluoroscopy that would be used in an actual procedure. A visual and audio feedback system identifies key ablation points in the heart. Together, these features allow for the creation of an educational model. Surgical outcomes utilizing the educational model will be compared with previous outcomes for surgeons of various education and experience levels. This project will reveal if customizable practice models are significantly beneficial to surgical practice by observing patient outcomes.
