Department of Biomedical Engineering Links/Abstracts

Jordan Robinson, Audrey Schreiner, Anmol Singh, Arjun Sree Manoj
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: https://tuabclosure1.wixsite.com/teamdesign
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRgkaxf7T0g&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin

Ab Closure, was developed around the need that many open abdominal surgeries require more effective delayed closure methods of the abdominal wall post abdominal damage control surgery. In a study conducted at Dalhousie University, there was a 24% mortality rate in open abdomen procedures demonstrating that the current solutions do not provide a safe and effective way to prevent additional damage to the tissue. They are also very subjective based on the surgeon's discretion and require multiple surgeries every 3-5 days until closure. Our method aims to quantify the abdominal pressure to automate the closure of the abdominal wall to reduce trips to the operation room. This will be attained through intra-abdominal pressure monitoring, informing a motor that turns to tighten both sides of the abdomen.
Mentors: Dr. James Bennett, Dr. Chrissy Guidry, Dr. John Lindsey, Dr. Kristin Miller, Dr. Timothy Schuler, Dr. Cedric Walker

Amey Deshpande, Peyton Gibler, Hannah Glazier, Jackson Levine
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: https://aweardiabetics.wixsite.com/website
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjVENMkGhyE&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin&index=5

AWEAR Diabetic Solutions has been working for the past academic year on a device that aims to collect data on the distribution of foot pressure for people who suffer from diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Our motivation is to reduce the incidence of foot ulceration by actively monitoring forces on the bottom of the foot to alert patients and medical providers of unsafe conditions that may lead to ulceration. The Sensational Sock consists of six force sensors that record the pressure distribution on the bottom of the foot. With the use of an app, this data will be summarized and transferred to the healthcare team. It is our goal that with this data collection, the user and their healthcare team will have the information necessary to optimize patient-specific methods to reduce the risk of ulceration.
Mentors: Dr. Timothy Schuler (academic), Dr. Monroe Laborde (industry)

Will Bralower, Mohammed Elaasar, Kyle Graesser, Max Wendell, Stephanie Zhao
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: https://wbralower.wixsite.com/bluevitals
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LofcWzlM8I&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin&index=1

Emergency medical services need a better way to administer 12-lead ECG's in order to increase the accuracy of ECG interpretation and diagnosis, increase prehospital cardiac monitoring, and improve the efficiency of applying ECG lead wires. Our team is designing an all-contained, retractable ECG lead wire placement device that improves ECG wire organization, lead placement accuracy, and electrode attachment stability.
Mentors: Dr. Joseph Bull, Jonathan Frattaroli, Sidney Haase, Robert Niskanen

Colette McGarvey, Emma Rogers, Natalie Schwartz, Ashley Stuart
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: http://bmenstrual.com/
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNjajVSSLDg&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin

Women in low-resource communities need an accessible, effective, and sustainable method of caring for their menstrual cycles in order to better support their quality of life. We have decided to design a size-inclusive, manufacturable and reusable menstrual disc that can serve the dual purpose of collecting blood and protecting against unwanted pregnancy.
Mentors: Benjamin Cappiello (Bioceptive), Dr. Kristin Miller

Shae Jolly, Tia Monjure, Asha Prakash, Erin Shanely
Zoom link:  inactive
Project link: https://breastlyteam.wixsite.com/breastly
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoHuSdjrXdw&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin

Breastfeeding is a common aspect of the maternal experience; however, every mother has their own unique experience with lactation. Over time, more and more mothers joined the workforce and became “working mothers,” which has established a need for lactation to occur in the absence of the child. The first breast pump was modeled after lactation devices used on cattle, but Team Breastly would like to redesign the breast pump with the human mother in mind. Lactating mothers in the workplace need a convenient, discreet, and safe breastmilk collection and storage method that will reduce the disruption to their day. To accomplish this goal, Team Breastly has hosted multiple focus groups with mothers of different occupations and intends to create a more comfortable and efficient interface for the mother to interact with.
Mentors: Dr. Katherine Johnson, Carole Lucia

Mason Caplin, Chinwe Orie, Lindsay Pristou, AP Srivastav
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: https://rxredesign.com/
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhyDeMu20YM&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin

Of the Americans prescribed prescription opioids, 1 in 5 will misuse the drug, and 1 in 10 will develop an opioid use disorder. In the last year, 10.3 million Americans misused, and 2.1 million abused, prescription opioids. Many Americans of all ages report problems with remembering to take their prescription medicine and understanding the instructions of their physicians, and such problems can lead to prescription medicine misuse, which then in turn can lead to medicine abuse. We present a prescription bottle cap which can fit on a standard prescription medicine bottle. The cap acts as a single-pill dispenser, and aims to provides the user information about their prescription medicine status -- including the number of pills taken, the number of pills in the cap, and days remaining until the next refill.
Mentors: Dr. Michael J. Dancisak, Dr. Amy Feehan, Dr. Michael Moore

Gage Garrity, Kameron Kane, Brooke Santagato, Lauren White
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: http://safewomb.com
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er21yN11w_0&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin&index=3

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality globally, and inadequate access to emergency healthcare only furthers this problem. We, Team Safe Womb, have created a solution to address both of these issues in remote regions of the Amazon. Our device will be used as an intervention during the third stage of hemorrhage (continual bleeding). The goal of our product is to curb bleeding from the uterine arteries and prevent further uterine atony when en route to the nearest health clinic, usually >4 hours away. Our device relies on its mechanical strength to place necessary pressure on the uterine walls and induce contractions.
Mentors: Dr. Carolyn Bayer, Amy Ladley, Dr. Valerie Paz-Soldan

Sarah Chiariello, Avery Kravitz, Alex Kubosiak, Michael Milo
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: https://stableprosthetic.wixsite.com/website-1
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bip5KKGtqQE&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin

It is currently estimated that there are 2 million amputees living in the United States. Of these 2 million, approximately 65 percent are dealing with lower limb amputation. To regain some semblance of independence and increase quality of life, these patients must be fitted for and learn to walk in a prosthetic device. One specific population that deals with a high rate of lower limb amputation is our veterans. Through a collaborative relationship with prosthetists and physical therapists at the local Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) hospital, team Stable Pro identified the need for a system to acquire, record and manage prosthetic usage data to aid in patient interfacing and rehabilitation. After performing extensive research on the subject and considering prior art, the team decided to create an integrated sensing system that could be mounted within existing below the knee prosthetics. Key design elements include: 1) an in-socket force sensing pad array with a real-time force map output; 2) an accelerometer; 3) real-time data feedback and transmission to a computer; 4) storage of data in a secure VA cloud; and 5) a focus on keeping the device lightweight, comfortable and safe for the patient. Location-specific pressure pads will help professionals determine areas of high-force that may lead to discomfort, ulcers, and other complications. The prosthetic can then be refitted with exact knowledge of the problem area. Furthermore, the accelerometer provides utility as it can track at home usage and create a level of patient accountability. Our device then transmits the force pad and accelerometer data via Bluetooth to a computer where it can be accessed by professionals within the VA cloud. The system will provide essential patient data and in essence creates a much needed ‘smart’ prosthetic.
Mentors: Dr. Quincy Brown (Tulane BME), Dr. Elizabeth Chiariello, Dr. Julie Kardachi, Brian Layman (New Orleans VA)

Morgan Bohrer, Stephen Hahn, Michael L'Ecuyer, Alex Verne
Zoom link: inactive
Project link:  https://trachtech.wixsite.com/trachtech
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DUr-XZ84Uw&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin&index=6

When patients go under general anesthesia or are involved in a traumatic accident where their airway is compromised, they are orally intubated and placed on a ventilator. If the endotracheal tube (ETT) is left in for more than 2 days, bio-film will begin to build up on the inner lumen, restricting the diameter and leads to increased risk of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). The current alternative is to perform a tracheotomy.

To tackle this issue, we are designing a device to clean the inside of the ETT and remove the bio-film without extubating the patient. Our device features an Archimedes screw or auger style tip to remove the bio-film off the walls of the tube and lift it out. There will also be an inner lumen through the center of the device to allow for maintained airflow during the cleaning process.
Mentors: Erolle J Dennis-Garner, Terry Forrette, Dr. Chrissy Guidry, Dr. Mark Mondrinos

Diego Gatica, Dylan Lucia, Hudson Mckinley, Mostafa Meselhe
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: https://viscereal.tech/
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuJKfKawQgA&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin&index=8

Medical Professionals teaching and learning emergency surgery need an accurate simulation device with reusable and consumable components for penetrating trauma to the thoracic/cardiac regions. Our product is a beating heart simulator that fills this need by producing a beating motion with sufficient travel to train surgeons who attempt to suture the pre-molded wound.
Mentors: Dr. Michael Dancisak, Dr. Chrissy Guidry

Deepika Rajkumar, Kevin Au, Marcos Sanchez, Marco Mirnics
Zoom link: inactive
Project link: https://xposuretulane.wixsite.com/xposure
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZMhm63jQIU&list=PLQb3tdUlXBYuSjbotzKhE89JnABDEXgin&index=7

Doctors and nurses in low-resource settings need an affordable method of protecting themselves from x-rays in the operating room so that the number of expensive lead vests required is minimized. Our design solution is a mobile shield that can be placed in front of the doctor and next to the operating table, protecting all staff members behind the shield from scatter radiation from the patient. The shield is novel in that it features touch-to-open panels that the doctor can open to access the patient in different areas, along with lead-lined glass to allow them to view the patient. Because only one shield will be needed per operating room, the need to buy multiple costly lead vests is eliminated, allowing the hospital to save money.
Mentors: Dr. Quincy Brown, Dr. Dennis Kay and Dr. Sean Knapp (Ochsner)