1.  Tissue Culture Bioreactors with Matrix Enabled Capillary Scaffold (MECS):  The development of bioreactors that contain externally perfused capillary beds represents the holy grail of tissue engineering.  The project will involve developing an environment in which microvascular endothelial cells can differentiate and form tubular structures.  The challenge is to devise a method by which these cells can be coaxed to form a complete network that supports a flow of perfusate.  We will continue work begun last year to develop the microfluidic systems, the support hardware, sensor and control systems, and the experimental techniques required to create a layered coculture system, inspired by the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), that would bring perfused microenvironments to a new level of sophistication and realism.  As a logical extension of our ongoing work on microfabricated planar bioreactors, we will start with two thick layers of collagen that support a population of fibroblasts and the appropriate growth factors, and insert between them an intermediate microfluidic layer filled with endothelial cells supported by a microfabricated substrate.  Perfusion above and below the collagen layers would maintain the fibroblasts during the early stages of the culture.  We have devised a replica casting method that can produce a self-supporting channel structure, wherein the scaffold is a collection of open rectangular chamber walls, the spaces between which form the perfusion system.  This project will involve perfecting the replica-casting method, then using it to construct capillary-perfused bioreactors for basic research in cell biology and for tissue engineering, and then implementing the sensing and control techniques to support long-term stable cell culture.  Students will gain experience in clean room microfabrication, tissue culture, and computer control of tissue microenvironments. 

Bryan Gorman (BME), William Wong (BME), and Jon Felbinger (EE)

2.  Image Processing for Interferometric Determination of Protein Binding:  Goal.  Develop a software package for near real-time monitoring of the positional changes of fringes in the backscattered interference pattern of a device used to measure protein binding with ultra-high sensitivity.  Project includes design and development of the GUI interfaced with the linear ccd array, where the output of the array is captured, displayed on the screen, and processed using Fourier transform-based algorithm.  The computations must be done at a rate of 100 Hz or better.  The appropriate device drivers and .dlls are provided by the manufacturer. Properly documented code and well written manual are required.  Students will be mentored by individuals experienced in all hardware and software aspects of the problem.

Students: CS, EE, or BME with programming experience in windows environment.  Preferred language: MS Visual C++.  Over languages are also possible.  Knowledge of computer hardware is required. 

Bioengineering Proposal: My laboratory is engaged in research aimed at developing new drugs to treat cognitive disturbance in schizophrenia and the basic mechanisms of memory. In parallel with human studies,  we have a neuroscience lab which is engaged in studying the effects of known and experimental drugs for schizophrenia and cognition, receptor specific agents, and genetically altered mice to achieve our goals.  We combine two well-established methods in order to relate changes in neurotransmission to cognitive performance in laboratory rats and mice.  The first method is microdialysis, which consists of using a surgically implanted a dialysis probe in a particular brain region (i.e. prefrontal cortex) in order to sample extracellular neurotransmitter release, as determined by application upon high pressure liquid chromotography (HPLC).  The second method consists of using common maze models for rodent memory -  an 8-armradial arm maze and a T-maze.  These mazes can be used to evaluate long-term and short-term memory, respectively.  Because neurotransmitter levels can be altered simply by repeated handling of the animal during the experiment, providing a confound, it is important to  use automated mazes.  This can be achieved with motorized gates, motorized food pellet delivery and a video tracking system.  The full system would consist of a automated maze system that facilitates the movement of a lab rat though the maze while implanted with a microdialysis probe, with tubing from this probe running up to an HPLC.  The research to be conducted using this system will allow us to evaluate, and improve upon, the cognitive effects of experimental treatments for schizophrenia.  We would like help from an engineering student with the skills necessary to automate the behavioral studies, link it to video tracking, and computerized data analysis.  CompE, BME, EE, ME 

Samar Shah (BME), Tanvir Haque (BME), Siddartha Sanathanamurthy (EE)  We are still looking for a Mechanical Engineer (ME)
 

A proposal for Bioengineering Student Project:  Sample acceptance and management systems in the DNA Databank

Background:  Vanderbilt University Medical Center is beginning to build an anonymous database of genetic and clinical information to help researchers discover the connections between genes and disease.   Instead of throwing away leftover blood, researchers can look at the genes in blood combined with anonymous medical information to learn why some groups of people get sick while others don’t.  (Anonymous means there is nothing that could be used to identify a person, like names and social security numbers, phone numbers, physicians’ names, visit dates, or anything else like that).  In fact, the program substantially exceeds federal requirements for securing privacy.  Genes might also play a role in people’s response to medications.  For example, if a doctor knew beforehand that his patient was more likely to have a bad reaction to a drug, he or she might be able to choose a different drug to treat that patient. 

Any VUMC patient over 18 years of age who has blood drawn is eligible for the program.  It is a way for almost every patient to participate in medical research and to contribute to healthcare, with no privacy or safety risk – or even any inconvenience.  However, Vanderbilt recognizes that some patients will not wish to have their discarded blood used for research, even anonymously. These patients have the option of not being included. The computer algorithms will also randomly exclude samples from the database, making it impossible to know whether any individual patient has been included.  But apart from the filters described above, all blood samples will be accepted.  This will result in a repository that could go by 50,000 samples per year, or even greater. 

 Overall Steps of the Proposed Process 

 Potential for Bioengineering Advancements:  Given the expected scale, the need for automating key parts of the sample management pipeline is considerable.  There is considerable human personnel costs associated with the manual steps as described above.  If any of the above steps could be automated through the integrated use of robotics, information technology, devices, and software, then the costs savings associated with the automation would be substantial.  We are open to exploring whether the timeline would permit any of these types of project.  The student team would work closely with the DNA Capture team (the group overseeing the implementation of this project for the institution).   CompE, BME

1.  FitSki Ergonomic Adjustable Water Ski Seating System

Adaptive water-skiing has grown into a popular recreational activity through ski clinic programs across the country. While the sport has grown and evolved, the equipment has remained fundamentally unchanged. Standup water-skiers actively use their legs as shock absorbers when skiing over the boat wake, or through rough water. Adaptive water-skiers do not have this ability and as a result experience significant shock loading during skiing. Other problems with existing equipment include inadequacies of fit and movement in the seat during skiing, and the need for numerous seat sizes to accommodate a range of skier sizes due to a fixed seat size.

The proposed FitSki seating system will reduce the skier's exposure to shock during skiing, improve seat-fitting ergonomics, and allow adjustability to accommodate skiers of a wide range of sizes. The innovative design will potentially reduce the incidence of adaptive water-ski related injuries. Novice and competitive adaptive water-skiers will benefit from the improved fit and ride comfort provided by the FitSki.   ME + BME Taken by Cory Gerken      ME, Nick Pilkington  ME, Lauren Mitchell  CompE, Lorielle Alter      BME

2.  Transfer-Friendly Wheelchair

Active manual wheelchair users routinely transfer into and out of their wheelchairs for a number of activities, including getting into and out of their cars/trucks, using the toilet, taking a shower and sitting in a restaurant booth. Since the majority of these users do not have use of their lower extremities, they must perform transfers using only their arms. Transfers can place tremendous loading on the arms and is thought to be a significant contributor to the high incidence of upper extremity repetitive stress injuries in the manual wheelchair user population. Current technology to aid in transfers is a transfer board. A transfer board is a board that is bridged from the wheelchair seat to the transfer location. The user “scoots” him/her self across the board in small increments to minimize stress on the arms. One of the primary disadvantages of the current technology is that it is not very portable, so it is commonly left in a specific location around the house, or in the car, where transferring is most difficult. This leaves the user susceptible to injury for transfers outside that specific location. A wheelchair that is designed to aid the user in transferring would ensure that regardless of where the user is, transfers are accomplished with minimal upper extremity stress. The proposed project would design, fabricate and evaluate a new wheelchair design that makes transfers more ergonomic for the user.  ME + BME

3.  Propulsiometer Instrumented Wheelchair Wheel

There is a high incidence of upper extremity repetitive stress injuries among manual wheelchair users. Propulsion biomechanical studies have been used to assess what attributes of propulsion might be contributing to the development of injuries and what strategies wheelchair users can adopt to reduce the likelihood of developing injuries. In order to assess the loads on the upper extremity during propulsion, the forces and moments applied on the wheel by the hand must be measured. In gait biomechanics studies, a load cell is used for this purpose. For wheelchair propulsion, the propulsive forces are applied to the handrim, a tubular hoop mounted just to the side of the wheel. There have been several solutions developed by biomechanics labs to measure these loads but all the solutions have been very expensive and thereby limiting adoption by doctors and wheelchair prescribers. Armed with an inexpensive tool for measuring handrim kinetics, clinicians would be able to assess their client’s propulsion technique, as well as the appropriateness of their wheelchair setup. The user could try out different wheelchairs, wheels, seating configurations and pushing styles until the most ergonomic combination is found. In addition, users could “check-out” the wheels for extended training periods. This project will continue the electronics and instrumentation development of an innovative propulsiometer design that promises to provide this technology at an affordable cost.   BME + ME + EE + CompE

 1.  System Engineering Challenge: Use systems engineering principles to improve on various plant functions: cycle time, plant layout, quality control, space usage. Will require several trips to plant approximately 45 minutes from Vanderbilt’s campus   ME + BME

 2.  3D Imaging Software   Currently, a clinic will send in a foam cast of a patient’s foot, an orthotic is made from the cast and it is returned to the clinic.  This entire process can take up to 2 weeks to complete in the US and can be considerably more for other countries.  One way to reduce this is to cut down time on incoming packages.  A solution that is currently being used by some companies is to have the clinic take a 3D laser scan of the foot and send it in via the web where the company can reconstruct the 3D image of the foot.  This is a very costly solution and one that is not feasible for all clinics.  However, all clinics could use a low-cost digital camera. 
Using LabView, design a VI that will construct a 3D mesh using grayscale intensities from a 2D digital image of a foam cast.  Package the VI into a stand-alone application.  Extra: Create a standard case to house the digital camera and foam cast in order to achieve correct lighting and distances.  BME + CompE + ME  Taken by BMEs Mackenzie Thomas, Aubrey McKelvey, Brad Boldizar

 3.  Multi-Channel Analysis Tool: One of the main goals in manufacturing an orthotic is obtaining the correct flexibility.  It is also one the hardest things to achieve as each patient requires a specific flexibility based on a number of factors.  A device has been created to measure the flexibility of an orthotic in one area of the arch.  An improvement on this would be to measure multiple areas of the arch as it is being flexed.  Using LabView, design a VI that will capture pertinent data from a multi-channel device used for measuring the flexibility of an orthotic.  ME + BME + CompE

1.  Integration of a miniature Clark oxygen sensor into on chip cell culture volumes:  Oxygen consumption and extracellular pH would be indicative of the biological activity during cell culture experiments. Within the past two years the Baudenbacher laboratory established cell cultures in nanoliter volumes, miniaturized extracellular pH electrodes and incorporated differential pH electrode configurations to provide on chip sensing. The proposed project is to miniaturize a Clark-type oxygen electrode using soft lithography, a polydimethysiloxane membrane and thin film platinum electrodes to integrate an oxygen sensor into on chip cell culture volumes. Relevant literature: Fabrication of miniature Clark oxygen sensor integrated with Microstructure, Ching-Chou Wu, Tomoyuki Yasukawa, Hitoshi Shiku, Tomokazu Matsue, Sensors and Actuators B 110 (2005) 342–349 and Thin-film IrOx pH microelectrode for microfluidic-based microsystems, Igor A. Ges, Borislav L. Ivanov, David K. Schaffer, Eduardo A. Lima, Andreas A. Werdich, Franz J. Baudenbacher, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 21 (2005) 248–256  Prerequisite: BME 271 and at least two members of the design team took or are taking BME 274 – BioMEMS BME+ME+EE

Endoluminal Closure Device:

In recent years, there has been a growing enthusiasum for what is being referred to as "natural orifice tranluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES)."

This technique involves taking the currently utilized flexible endoscopes and performing common diseases which have been traditionally done via transabdominal operations (laparotomy or laparoscopy). The potential benefit of NOTES is the ability to perform a completely incisionless operation. There are currently indidivduals performing solid organ (appendix, gallbladder & spleen) surgery via a "transgastric approach." This entails making a gastrotomy (hole made in the stomach) to gain access to the peritoneal cavity.  Taken by BMEs Ali Hales, Laura Mattaliano,John Sticklen, Braham Dhillon

Wil Clouse (Peabody) may advise re entrepreneurship.   BME &/or ME,   MT or HD background...

1.  Lexmark, Inc., Lexington, KY - Manufacturers of laser printers. - Project may include improvements to printer manufacturing process or detail improvements to laser printers.  (Same as 29, above)
2. Proctor & Gamble, Inc., Jackson, TN - Snack food production and packaging. - Project will involve computer modeling and product testing of food containers.  Stress and deformation should be modeled and physically tested.
3.  Denso, Inc., Maryville, TN – Manufacturer of automobile components - Project will involve quality-assurance-related testing of automobile electro-mechanical components (alternators and starters).  Testing should lead to proposed product and/or process improvements.
4.  General Mills, Atlanta, GA. – Manufacturer of food products - Project will involve flow-sensing, monitoring, and control of food ingredients in the manufacturing process of food product.  Objective will be to design sensors and related components to prevent malfunctions in the delivery of solid (powder) components to the food preparation process.
5.  TVA-VU Diamond Lab, Nashville, TN – Diamond engineering research -  Project will involve design, production, and testing of a thermal simulation system which emulates the behavior of electrical transformers using nano-diamond-enhanced insulation oil.  This is to support and verify computer modeling of thermal behavior of the transformer system.
6.  Los Alamos National Laboratories – VU Welding Automation Lab, Nashville, TN - Project will involve computer simulation of the friction stir welding (FSW) process.  Also, testing and verification of simulations using actual FSW will be performed.
7.  Trane Corp., Clarksville, TN – Manufacturer of industrial HVAC systems - Project includes mathematical modeling of fluid flow in industrial-scale HVAC system.  Project may include physical scale modeling and empirical verification of modeling results.
8.  Sonoco, Inc., Nashville, TN – Producer of food and consumer goods packaging - Project involves identification of new and innovative uses for proprietary paper-based packaging material.  Project must include marketing and economic analysis of proposed product(s).
9.  NASA/JSFC – VU Intelligent Robotics Lab, Nashville, TN - Project involves design and construction of mechanical systems in support of VU Intelligent Robotics Lab autonomous robot project.
10.  Futaba – Formula SAE (EE)
the above projects are primarily ME or EE/CompE in nature

If you are interested in joining this project, or have any questions, please email Jen at jen.pryweller@vanderbilt.edu.