Biomedical Device LaboratoryDr. Duncan MaitlandAssociate Professor – Department of Biomedical EngineeringTexas A&M University

Mary BiedigerJohn Marshall High SchoolNorthside Independent School District – San Antonio, Texas

Facts about Stroke750,000 cases per year

150,000 deaths per year(3rd leading cause of death)

30,000 hemorrhagic strokes (treatable)

Leading cause of disability

$40 billion spent on treatment and rehabilitation annually

Historical Treatment (since 1937)Surgical Clipping – via

craniotomy

Still usedtoday

If it’s working, why change it?Surgery on any one area may cause problems

with speech, memory, muscle weakness, balance, vision, coordination, and other functions.

Blood clot or bleeding in the brainSeizuresStrokeComaInfection in the brain, in the wound, or in the

skullBrain swellingSource: http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/surgery/brain-

surgery/overview.html

Timelines

Hospitalization – 5 to 7 days

Recovery time before returning to work – 6 to 12 weeks

Source: http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/brain_aneurysm.htm

Alternative Treatment (since 1991)

Detachable coil embolization-Can reach previously inoperable

aneurysms

RisksCatheter-related risks: Intra-arterial

catheterization involves a risk of bleeding, infection and arterial damage.

Surgical risks: As with any invasive procedure, there is a slight risk of death or illness.

Approximately 7% of cases require additional treatment or surgery.

Source: http://www.crrnc.com/dce.php#9

Additional ComplicationsSurgery time (varies with number

of coils being implanted)◦Doctors not happy◦Patients not happy

Customers not happy – product less likely to sell

Clots forming in the blood stream◦Problems downstream

Timelines

Hospitalization – 2 days

Recovery time before returning to work – about a week

Source: http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/brain_aneurysm.htm

Cutting Edge TreatmentSMP Foam – made to fill

aneurysm

Cutting Edge TreatmentCrimped to a cylindrical shape to

be fed through a micro-catheter and actuated at the site.

Why do it?Catheter and Anesthesia

Foam is more biocompatible

Healing time significantly reduced

*This is one aspect of the work going on in the lab. It is nearly ready for animal trials, not yet used in humans.

Another treatment (currently in use) - Metal Stent

Reinforce the weakartery wall Encourage normalblood flow

Reopen partially blocked passages

Angioplasty vs. Stent

 

Source: http://www.heartsite.com/html/stent.html

Stent use for aneurysm treatmentIn combination with coiling

◦For “wide-neck” aneurysm.

Source: http://www.muschealth.com/bin/h/a/stent%20bridging%20aneurysm%20neck%20to%20asisst%20coiling.jpg

In the labSMP plastic tube

Why do this?

Can you tell me

What I will doUse an MRI from a current patient

What I will doMake a model using 3D printer

What I will doMake a negative model

What I will doCreate a SMP plastic stent to

treat the aneurysm and test it in the model.

SummaryFocus of the lab:

◦Design devices to treat aneurysms, fistulas, and stroke

◦ Improve treatment options from what is currently used in practice

◦Use Shape Memory Polymers to create devices that will be more readily accepted by the human organism

Acknowledgements

TAMU E3 program

NSF, NPI, and TWC

Dr. Duncan Maitland, PhD.

Acknowledgements

John Horn – Graduate student who is graciously donating his time to teaching me about the work in the lab.

All of the graduate students in the biomedical lab who gleefully answer my queries about their various projects.

QUESTIONS?