Biomedical Engineering
Professors involved: Kenneth Solen
My research interests are in the area of biomedical engineering, with emphasis on improving the compatibility of blood with biomaterials. Among the most serious of the blood-material reactions are the formation of blood cell aggregates (thrombi) on biomaterial surfaces and the release of portions of such aggregates into the blood stream (microemboli). The thrombi can interfere with artificial organ function, and the microemboli can block blood capillaries and cause serious damage to the patient's organ systems.
Platelet aggregrates (thrombi) on a biomaterial surface
We have developed computer-controlled filtration and laser-light scattering techniqes to detect the microemboli, and we are conducting studies to determine how thrombi and emboli form in response to biomaterial surfaces. We have been working collaboratively with the Artificial Heart Research Laboratory of the University of Utah to assess thrombi and microemboli formation in artificial hearts and in other model systems with various structural and material features. Several experimental models have been developed in our laboratory using bovine and human blood to examine the effects of hemodynamics and certain anti-platelet drugs on these blood reactions.
A computer model of the blood-biomaterial
phenomenon is also being developed to determine how hemodynamics affect hemodynamics affect the processes affect the processes of thrombosis (accumulating thrombi on the surface) and thromboembolization (releasing the thrombi from the surface). For example, hemodialysis catheters withdraw blood from hemodialysis patients so that it can flow through the hemodialyzers and then insert the blood back into the patients. Thrombosis and thromboembolization occur in these catheters, and we are preparing computer models to predict the effect of catheter design features on those reactions..
Computer drawing of the Mahurkar hemodialysis catheter
Computer simulation of flow (shown as flow streamlines) into the inlet ports of the Mahurkar catheter inside a blood vessel
Another common application blood-material interactions is in coronary stents (wire cages placed inside narrowed coronary arteries to hold them open). Our efforts to simulate thrombosis and thromboembolization using the computer are also being extended to stents.
Computer model of a cypher style of coronary stent
Last modified on 13 February 2009 by