2025 Scientific Poster Session (Wednesday)

The mono-leaflet mechanical heart valves are one of the most widely used mechanical heart valves (MHVs). There are limited literatures available on the hemodynamics and thrombogenic vulnerability of the mono-leaflet MHVs. Therefore, to study the hemodynamics of a mono-leaflet MHV, a two-dimensional fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulation has been presented in this research. Also, along with the FSI simulation, a Lagrangian particle tracking method has been used to calculate the platelet activation state (PAS). The non-Newtonian viscosity of blood was simulated using the generalized cross model of viscosity. The impact of several platelet activation model parameters on the PAS has been examined in relation to instantaneous shear stress, shear stress history, and shear stress rate. The results show aggregation and transport of platelets with high PAS in vortices shedding from the leaflet. A high flow velocity has been observed in the gap between the leaflet and the aorta at the first rebound during the closing of the valve, which increases PAS significantly. The platelets with high PAS were found to accumulate in the wake regions.

Keywords: Hemodynamics, FSI, PAS, non-Newtonian viscosity, Aggregation, Transport.

Authors: Meraj Ahmed, Nirmal Gupta and Kamal Kar

The prosthetic mechanical heart valve (MHV) implants cause reduction in the Effective Orifice Area (EOA) leading to increased resistance to the flow of blood. Therefore, the altered hemodynamics causes activation of platelets which leads to thrombosis and thromboembolism. Hence, in the present research, the design of a three-dimensional model of mono-leaflet MHV has been optimized to improve its hemodynamic performance. The non-Newtonian viscosity of blood has been simulated using the generalized cross model. A mathematical model for platelet activation state (PAS) has been used to estimate the activation of platelets in the flow. A response surface optimization method using a multi- objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) has been used to optimize the design of the mono-leaflet MHV. The performance of the MHV was accessed using three parameters: Total Platelet Activation (TA), Maximum Shear Stress on the Leaflet (τmax), and EOA. The optimized design significantly reduced TA and τmax and increased the EOA in comparison to the initial design of the mono-leaflet MHV. The performance parameters of the optimized design of the MHV results in better hemodynamics. The proposed method can be utilized to improve the hemodynamics of mechanical heart valves. 

Keywords: Design optimization, effective orifice area, non-Newtonian viscosity, platelet activation, thrombosis

Authors: Meraj Ahmed, Nirmal Gupta and Kamal Kar

This study introduces a HIPAA-compliant remote healthcare monitoring system designed to support parent-child interactions in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), with the goal of facilitating bonding practices like Kangaroo Care in hospitals. A proof-of-concept experiment was conducted in a controlled environment to evaluate the system's design and performance. The results demonstrated satisfactory system responsiveness and functionality, with participants expressing overall satisfaction and providing valuable feedback for further design improvements. We anticipate that this system-based approach will inspire more research on patient-caregiver dyadic interactions and contribute to the development of innovative strategies for promoting caregiver and caregiver-patient dyad behaviors that support health in hospital environments.

Authors: Harika Yarlagadda, Jomara Sandbulte, Abigail Clarke-Sather and Sonya Wang

Cancer metastasis leads to the transport and widespread of malignant cells from the primary tumor to other parts of the body by exploiting body fluids (lymphatic fluid, bloodstream, and interstitial fluid). While the transport of a single cancer cell in fluid flow has been studied in the past, it is unclear how a group of cancer cells (tumor) migrate under the impact of hydrodynamic force in vasculature. In this work, we address this knowledge gap by investigating the migration process of a cancer spheroid tumor in a micro-channel with a co striction using both experimental and computational methods. The Dissipative Particle Dynamics method was employed to simulate the mechanical components of the spheroid tumor and immersed boundary method is used for interaction of spheroid with the surrounding fluid. Our results suggest that the mechanical response of the spheroid tumor differs from a single cell. Our computational framework provides new capabilities for designing bioengineering devices for cell manipulation. 

Keywords: metastasis, transport, cancer cells, micro-channel, Dissipative Particle Dynamics, immersed boundary method.

Authors: Meraj Ahmed, Tam Nguyen, Lahcen Akerkouch, Margherita Tavasso, Ankur Bordoloi, Pouyan Boukany and Trung Le

Magnesium alloys have recently gained increasing attention for biomedical applications due to their unique biodegradation and biocompatibility profiles. However, investigations of the interactions between magnesium alloy degradation byproducts and host immune cells (particularly macrophages) are still relatively unexplored. Here, we study the interaction between degradation byproducts and macrophage response in vitro. An extract-based in vitro study was developed to examine macrophage response to different degradation byproducts formed at various time points of the corrosion process when a magnesium alloy is degraded in HBSS. Magnesium and non- degradable titanium alloy wires (current industry standard) were immersed in HBSS and incubated for 5 and 15 days to generate degradation byproducts. THP-1 human monocytic cells were treated with 10% extract-RPMI medium for 24 and 72 hours, followed by RNA extraction and qPCR analysis to investigate the effects of degradation byproduct formation. Macrophages that were exposed to the extract from magnesium wire and incubated for 5 days showed a transient pro - inflammatory response at early time-points, evidenced by increased expression of IL-1β at 24 hours and the switch towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype by 72 hours with elevated expression of CD206 and CD163, and decreased expression of NOS2. On the other hand, the 15- day magnesium extract generated a strong early pro-inflammatory (elevated IL-1β) response at 24 hours but induced a reparative process by 72 hours. Comparison of pro-inflammatory response associated with titanium extracts and at various degradation time points revealed consistent increases in IL-1β while anti-inflammatory IL-10 and IL-4 were minimally activated, indicating sustained pro-inflammatory activity surrounding titanium extracts. These findings highlights the transient nature of the macrophage responses to magnesium degradation byproducts, as magnesium alloy induced macrophages exhibit an initial pro-inflammatory phase with subsequent reparative activation. The distinct pro-inflammatory (M2) response from titanium contrasts with the results for magnesium which releases anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrosing agents for about 3 weeks. These results provide more evidence towards the potential benefits of using magnesium alloys as biodegradable implants.

Authors: Elizabeth Tenorio, Del Donehoo, Sanjeevani Sahu, Achu Byju, Shreya Raghavan and Balakrishna Haridas

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) has revolutionized the production of complex geometries; however, the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts, particularly their susceptibility to failure along the Z-axis, remain a critical limitation. This study presents a simple yet novel post-processing method, commonly used in other applications, to enhance the durability of 3D-printed components by reinforcing them with thread wrapped along the Z-axis. Tensile tests were conducted on a universal testing machine to evaluate the effectiveness of the reinforcement, comparing treated and untreated samples. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in mechanical performance. Reinforced parts demonstrated a 38% increase in ultimate tensile strength along the Z-axis and effectively prevented catastrophic failure or crack propagation along the X/Y-axis compared to untreated parts. Stress-strain analysis revealed that the thread-reinforced specimens had higher elongation at break and improved energy absorption capacity, indicating enhanced toughness. These findings highlight the potential of a simple reinforcement method to extend the lifespan and reliability of 3D-printed parts, particularly in load-bearing applications. This study provides a practical and scalable solution for improving the structural integrity of 3D-printed components, making it highly relevant to industries ranging from prototyping to advanced manufacturing.

Authors: Md Mahbubur Rahman, Md Munna Sheikh, Md Mahafuzur Rahaman Khan, Benjamin Church and Mohammad Rahman

This project introduces the design and implementation of a device that tracks the ambient conditions around the sink of a washroom, with potential of identifying ambient changes that may correlate with an event within the space. With the system in place, the privacy invasive and time-consuming task of manual bathroom event labeling can be solved. It aims to provide researchers and practitioners with a reliable method for automatically labeling wearable sensor data without direct observation, addressing the need for accurately labeled training data in machine learning models for healthcare, especially in elderly care and preventive health monitoring.

The system uses a non-invasive, multiple sensors—SHT40 (temperature and humidity), US-100 (ultrasonic distance), and LD2450 (radar movement tracking)—with an ESP32 microcontroller that processes data locally before secure transmission to an AWS cloud database. Strategic sensor placement optimizes activity recognition and improves geolocation within the bathroom.

Preliminary testing of the device’s ambient sensor measurements during handwash events around the sink shows a distinct identifiable pattern, indicating its potential in event detection. With a promising ability to enable automated labeling for wearable devices like the CarePredict Tempo device, the system can enhance labeled data quality and collection efficiency.

This innovation represents an advancement in ambient assisted living and healthcare technology, with potential applications in smart home hygiene systems, proactive elder care, and health monitoring platforms. It paves the way for sophisticated machine learning models in predictive and preventive healthcare, potentially transforming elderly care and health monitoring through wearable technology such as the CarePredict Tempo device.

Authors: Nethshan M. Narasinghe, Collins P. Obeng, Mohamed Mahmoud, Amitavo Ganguli, Ryan Striker, and Enrique Alvarez Vazquez

Today, using a No. 15 scalpel blade with an attempt to create a 45° inclination, two symmetric incisions are made in an attempt to excise the fibrous tissues on the edentulous alveolar crest.

In the excision of fibrous tissues on the alveolar crest, the incision must be made symmetrically on both sides of the crest at a 45° angle. This incision shape is crucial for wound healing because when the wound edges are cut symmetrically with such an incision, they can be sutured continuously without interruption. If these two incision angles and symmetry are not precisely executed, issues such as flap folding, flaps not meeting end-to-end, or overlapping during suturing can arise. The two incision lines made with the scalpel blades in my invention will be symmetric and V-shaped, allowing the tissue to be sutured perfectly end-to-end. This leads to a shorter operation time. With the symmetry of the incision lines and the V-shaped cut, primary wound healing occurs, accelerating the healing process.

Keywords: Fibrous tissue, preprosthetic surgery, primary wound healing, secondary wound healing, top of edentulous alveolar crest, V-shaped excision

Author: Ertürk Genç