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Bioengineering Devices Lab (BDL)
An NAU Mechanical Engineering Lab
The Bioengineering Devices Lab (BDL) is affiliated with the Bioengineering Program and the Mechanical Engineering Department (ME) at Northern Arizona University.
The BDL provides opportunities to Ph.D., Masters, and undergraduate students interested in neurovascular devices such as new microcatheter designs, ischemic stroke systems, and innovative embolic agents for aneurysms (improving on coils, flow diverters, liquid embolics, etc). The lab conducts extensive in vitro cerebrovascular flow model development and simulates patient anatomies with innovative 3D-printed tissue-like biomaterials.
The lab is affiliated with Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI – Phoenix, AZ) and Northern Arizona Healthcare to collaborate on translational medical device research. Undergraduate and graduate researchers from the BDL actively collaborate with small start-ups and large-industry leaders in medical device development, published in internationally renowned journals, and attend annual conferences to present their work. Conferences regularly attended include BMES – Biomedical Engineering Society, Surfaces – Surfaces in Biomaterials Foundation, and SNIS – Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery.
BDL research Accordion Closed
The BDL focuses on industry-driven research programs as well as government-funded basic research. Among the lab’s extensive research efforts, it provides engineering students an opportunity to assist with research and year-long capstone projects where student groups design prototype systems for industrial clients. Our goal is to create a new generation of biomedical engineering students with the research expertise to become bioengineering and biomedical engineering industry leaders.
Current research includes:
BDL facility Accordion Closed
The BDL is one of several labs affiliated with the Bioengineering Program that share lab equipment and space in the Wettaw building.
The lab facility:
- The lab has 600 sq. ft. of space with 4 sinks (DI and Milli-Q water), 2 fume hoods, 5 large lab benches/bays, working space, and computer access for up to 12 researchers
- A bench dedicated to the HR2 hybrid rheometer for temperature-controlled rheology and DMA testing:
- Shear and elastic modulus testing
- Tension testing (up to 500º C)
- Tribo-rheometry for wear resistance
- Optics plate – camera for real-time imaging during mechanical testing
- Pull friction testing for vascular devices
- Magneto-rheology for smart materials and nanoparticle testing
- A bench dedicated to formulating biomaterials (polymer constructs, hydrogels, and shape memory polymers – SMPs)
- A bench houses the in vitro vessel model for vascular modeling and endovascular surgical procedure simulations
- ViVitro Superpump: cardiovascular and neurovascular flow modeling
- Superpump heat exchanger and flow reservoir: body temperature flow
- Real-time blood pressure and flow measurement (in-line pressure transducers)
- 16+ channels of pressure, flow, and temperature monitoring (Ni-DAQ and LabView data acquisition)
- Real-time particle detection (Laser Diode, Controller, and CCD camera system)
- A bench that houses surgical supplies and medical devices
- Benches include computer stations (Microsoft Suite, MATLAB, LabVIEW, SolidWorks, Photoshop, DICOM, etc.)
- Sterrad NX plasma sterilizer for low temperature, hydrogen peroxide sterilization for heat-sensitive microcatheter-based systems, sensitive equipment and electronics, and in vitro model supplies
- Stratasys ObJet260 Connex3 3D-printer
- Multi-material and multi-layering 3D-printer (compatible with over 1000 materials)
- PolyJet technology (hot-swappable multiple material layering, UV-cured) to create research prototypes, human tissue-like models, and research components
- Variety of material properties: soft to flexible, transparent to multi-color, and standard use or biocompatible (implantable) applications
- Layer multiple materials on the same build and time (3 nozzles for 3 different materials at one time)
- 16-micron layers to create highly-specific finalized research-grade prototypes, realistic vessel models, implants, and precise components
- Portable manufacturing cleanroom
- ISO Class 7 sterilizable manufacturing cleanroom (6’ x 8’)
- ISO Class 5 sterilizable product protection cabinet (PPC – 2’ x 4’)
BDL published Accordion Closed
BDL related publications:
Recently-published journal articles (2020-21):
- Merritt WC, Berns HF, Ducruet AF, Becker TA. Definitions of intracranial aneurysm size and morphology: a call for Surgical Neurology International. 12:506, 2021. DOI: 10.25259/SNI_576_2021
- Norris NG, Merritt WC, Becker TA. Application of nondestructive mechanical characterization testing for creating in vitro vessel models with material properties similar to human neurovasculature. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 1-11, 2021. DOI:1002/jbm.a.37314
- Huckleberry A, Merritt W, Cotter T, Settanni C, Ducruet AF, Becker TA. Application of a rabbit elastase aneurysm model for preliminary histology assessment of the PPODA-QT liquid embolic. Surgical Neurology International, 12:330, 2021. DOI:25259/SNI_163_2021
Pending publications:
- Vigil J, Lewis K, Norris N, Becker TA. Design, fabrication, and characterization of 3D-printed multi-phase scaffolds based on triply periodic minimal surfaces. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B. In review, 10/21
- Merritt W, Norris N, Ducruet AF, Becker TA. Large, wide-neck aneurysm canine model treated with NeuroCURE® liquid embolic: 12-month survival study. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, pending
- Settanni CE, Merritt WC, Becker TA. Flow properties of liquid PPODA-QT polymer injected through medical microcatheters for aneurysm embolization. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. pending
Recently-published conference proceedings (2020-21):
- Lewis K, Vigil J, Norris N, Becker TA. P-060 Application of non-destructive mechanical characterization testing for creating in vitro vessel models with material properties similar to human neurovasculature. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 13 (Suppl 1), A61-A62, 2021
- Fennell B, Schwartz S, Becker TA. Long-term radiopacity of a polymer aneurysm treatment device: Neurocure® liquid embolic. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 13 (Suppl 1), A57-A58, 2021
- Merritt W, Ducruet AF, Becker TA. Investigation of a novel poly(propylene glycol) material for use as a protein-resistant, bio-inert coating. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 13 (Suppl 1), A44-A45, 2021
- Schwartz S, Fennell B, Settanni C, Norris N, Becker TA. Voxel-based calculations of intrasaccular aneurysm and device volume fill. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 13 (Suppl 1), A42-A42, 2021
- Becker TA, Merritt W, Norris N, Ducruet AF. Large, wide-neck aneurysm canine model treated with NeuroCURE® liquid embolic – 12-month Survival. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 13 (Suppl 1), A58-A58, 2021
- Sodawalla H, Merritt W, Becker TA. A novel ex-vivo model to simulate delayed aneurysm rupture after flow-diverter treatment. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 13 (Suppl 1), A55-A55, 2021
- Asgari O, Berns H, Arzani A, Becker TA. Prototyping a balloon stent for minimally invasive temporary aneurysm occlusion and embolization. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 13 (Suppl 1), A3-A4, 2021
- Lewis K, Norris N, Settanni C, Ducruet AF, Becker TA. Comprehensive in-vitro neurovascular model assessment for implant simulation. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 13 (Suppl 1), A141-A141, 2021
- Asgari O, Sodawalla H, Becker TA. E-228 A novel stent-balloon device for treatment of sidewall intracranial aneurysms. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 12 (Suppl 1), A153-A154, 2020
- Sodawalla H, Merritt W, Becker TA. E-204 Novel blood analogue for in-vitro neurovascular modeling. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 12 (Suppl 1), A139-A140, 2020
- Merritt W, Koppisch A, Kellar R, Ducruet A, Becker TA. E-010 Investigation of a novel poly (propylene glycol) material for use as a protein-resistant, bio-inert implant. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 12 (Suppl 1), A30-A31, 2020
- Norris N, Smith I, Settanni C, Merritt W, Becker TA. E-006 Tuning of innovative in-vitro model materials to mimic tissue properties. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 12 (Suppl 1), A28-A29, 2020
- Settanni C, Becker TA, Merritt W. E-217 Voxel based calculation of aneurysm volume and morphological characteristics, Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 12 (Suppl 1), A147-A147, 2020
- Becker TA, Merritt W, Settanni C, N Norris, Ducruet AF, Preul MC, E-202 Creation of a large animal aneurysm model for NeuroCURE® liquid embolic assessment. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 12 (Suppl 1), A138-A139, 2020
Additional BDL lab resources Accordion Closed
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- High-performance computing cluster (HPC) Monsoon and multiple computer labs with specialty software – can be networked to the lab (NAU)
- C-Arm Fluoroscope – digital image transfer (DICOM) to the BDL (Biological Sciences Annex)
- MakerLab (Cline Library) and RAPIDLab (Mechanical Engineering) 3D-printing facilities
- SEM, TEM, confocal, atomic force, light microscope imaging and histology facilities (Imaging and Histology Core Facility)
- Machine shop and CNC lab (Mechanical Engineering)
- Sterile laminar flow hood and cGMP cleanroom facilities (NAU and Moonshot AZ incubator facilities)
- Neurosurgery research facilities (surgical, fluoro, CT, MRI – Barrow Neurological Institute)
- Surgical supplies and device sterilization (Northern Arizona Healthcare)
- Refrigerators, freezers (up to -80 ºC), scales, centrifuge, incubator, tissue culture hood, spectrophotometer, holography, etc.