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- All Subjects: engineering
- All Subjects: Biomechanics
- Creators: Harrington Bioengineering Program
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Description
Pelvic Circumferential Compression Devices (PCCDs), an important medical device when caring for patients with pelvic fractures, play a crucial role in the stabilization and reduction of the fracture. During pelvic fracture cases, control of internal bleeding through access to the femoral artery is of utmost importance. Current designs of PCCDs do not allow vital access to this artery and in attempts to gain access, medical professionals and emergency care providers choose to cut into the PCCDs or place them in suboptimal positions with unknown downstream effects. We researched the effects on surface pressure and the overall pressure distribution created by the PCCDs when they are modified or placed incorrectly on the patient. In addition, we investigated the effects of those misuses on pelvic fracture reduction, a key parameter in stabilizing the patient during critical care. We hypothesized that incorrectly placing or modifying the PCCD will result in increased surface pressure and decreased fracture reduction. Our mannequin studies show that for SAM Sling and T-POD, surface pressure increases if a PCCD is incorrectly placed or modified, in support of our hypothesis. However, opposite results occurred for the Pelvic Binder, where the correctly placed PCCD had higher surface pressure when compared to the incorrectly placed or modified PCCD. Additionally, pressure distribution was significantly affected by the modification of the PCCDs. The cadaver lab measurements show that modifying or incorrectly placing the PCCDs significantly limits their ability to reduce the pelvic fracture. These results suggest that while modifying or incorrectly placing PCCDs allows access to the femoral artery, there are potentially dangerous effects to the patient including increased surface pressures and limited fracture reduction.
ContributorsConley, Ian Patrick (Co-author) / Ryder, Madison (Co-author) / Vernon, Brent (Thesis director) / Bogert, James (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
To supplement lectures, various resources are available to students; however, little research has been done to look systematically at which resources studies find most useful and the frequency at which they are used. We have conducted a preliminary study looking at various resources available in an introductory material science course over four semesters using a custom survey called the Student Resource Value Survey (SRVS). More specifically, the SRVS was administered before each test to determine which resources students use to do well on exams. Additionally, over the course of the semester, which resources students used changed. For instance, study resources for exams including the use of homework problems decreased from 81% to 50%, the utilization of teaching assistant for exam studying increased from 25% to 80%, the use of in class Muddiest Points for exam study increased form 28% to 70%, old exams and quizzes only slightly increased for exam study ranging from 78% to 87%, and the use of drop-in tutoring services provided to students at no charge decreased from 25% to 17%. The data suggest that students thought highly of peer interactions by using those resources more than tutoring centers. To date, no research has been completed looking at courses at the department level or a different discipline. To this end, we adapted the SRVS administered in material science to investigate resource use in thirteen biomedical engineering (BME) courses. Here, we assess the following research question: "From a variety of resources, which do biomedical engineering students feel addresses difficult concept areas, prepares them for examinations, and helps in computer-aided design (CAD) and programming the most and with what frequency?" The resources considered include teaching assistants, classroom notes, prior exams, homework problems, Muddiest Points, office hours, tutoring centers, group study, and the course textbook. Results varied across the four topical areas: exam study, difficult concept areas, CAD software, and math-based programming. When preparing for exams and struggling with a learning concept, the most used and useful resources were: 1) homework problems, 2) class notes and 3) group studying. When working on math-based programming (Matlab and Mathcad) as well as computer-aided design, the most used and useful resources were: 1) group studying, 2) engineering tutoring center, and 3) undergraduate teaching assistants. Concerning learning concepts and exams in the BME department, homework problems and class notes were considered some of the highest-ranking resources for both frequency and usefulness. When comparing to the pilot study in MSE, both BME and MSE students tend to highly favor peer mentors and old exams as a means of studying for exams at the end of the semester1. Because the MSE course only considered exams, we cannot make any comparisons to BME data concerning programming and CAD. This analysis has highlighted potential resources that are universally beneficial, such as the use of peer work, i.e. group studying, engineering tutoring center, and teaching assistants; however, we see differences by both discipline and topical area thereby highlighting the need to determine important resources on a class-by-class basis as well.
ContributorsMalkoc, Aldin (Author) / Ankeny, Casey (Thesis director) / Krause, Stephen (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
The effect of conflicting sensorimotor memories on optimal force strategies was explored. Subjects operated a virtual object controlled by a physical handle to complete a simple straight-line task. Perturbations applied to the handle induced a period of increased error in subject accuracy. After two blocks of 33 trials, perturbations switched direction, inducing increased error from the previous trials. Subjects returned after a 24-hour period to complete a similar protocol, but beginning with the second context and ending with the first. Interference from the first context on each day caused an increase in initial error for the second (P < 0.05). Following the rest period, subjects showed retention of the sensorimotor memory from the previous day through significantly decreased initial error (P = 3x10-6). However, subjects showed an increase in forces for each new context resulting from a sub-optimal motor strategy. Higher levels of total effort (P < 0.05) and a lack of separation between force values for opposing and non-opposing digits (P > 0.05) indicated a strategy that used more energy to complete the task, even when rates of learning appeared identical or improved. Two possible mechanisms for this lack of energy conservation have been proposed.
ContributorsSmith, Michael David (Author) / Santello, Marco (Thesis director) / Kleim, Jeffrey (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease whose severity has been associated with the peak adduction moment during walking (pKAM). Unfortunately, measuring patients' pKAM to track their therapy progress involves the use of a gait laboratory which is expensive and time intensive. This study aimed to develop and assess a regression method to predict the pKAM using only plantar pressure measurements. This approach could greatly reduce the burden of evaluating pKAM.
ContributorsThomas, Kevin Andrew (Author) / Hinrichs, Richard (Thesis director) / Harper, Erin (Committee member) / Favre, Julien (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor)
Created2014-05
Description
Pelvic Circumferential Compression Devices (PCCDs), an important medical device when caring for patients with pelvic fractures, play a crucial role in the stabilization and reduction of the fracture. During pelvic fracture cases, control of internal bleeding through access to the femoral artery is of utmost importance. Current designs of PCCDs do not allow vital access to this artery and in attempts to gain access, medical professionals and emergency care providers choose to cut into the PCCDs or place them in suboptimal positions with unknown downstream effects. We researched the effects on surface pressure and the overall pressure distribution created by the PCCDs when they are modified or placed incorrectly on the patient. In addition, we investigated the effects of those misuses on pelvic fracture reduction, a key parameter in stabilizing the patient during critical care. We hypothesized that incorrectly placing or modifying the PCCD will result in increased surface pressure and decreased fracture reduction. Our mannequin studies show that for SAM Sling and T-POD, surface pressure increases if a PCCD is incorrectly placed or modified, in support of our hypothesis. However, opposite results occurred for the Pelvic Binder, where the correctly placed PCCD had higher surface pressure when compared to the incorrectly placed or modified PCCD. Additionally, pressure distribution was significantly affected by the modification of the PCCDs. The cadaver lab measurements show that modifying or incorrectly placing the PCCDs significantly limits their ability to reduce the pelvic fracture. These results suggest that while modifying or incorrectly placing PCCDs allows access to the femoral artery, there are potentially dangerous effects to the patient including increased surface pressures and limited fracture reduction.
ContributorsRyder, Madison Taylor (Co-author) / Conley, Ian (Co-author) / Vernon, Brent (Thesis director) / Bogert, James (Committee member) / School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
Over the past 30 years the use of graphene has been increasing at a rapid rate. The reason why graphene has become more popular is because it is starting to be understood better, and researchers are starting to recognize graphene’s unique properties. Graphene is a single atomic layer of graphite, and graphite is a three-dimensional cube base structure of carbon. Graphite has a high conductivity rate, and graphene has an even higher conductivity, meaning that graphene makes for an excellent resistor in any hardware system. Graphene is flexible, has high durability, and can vary in resistance based on its shape (Sharon 2015). With graphene being able to change its resistivity, it can act as different types of sensors. These sensors include measuring pressure, resistance, force, strain, and angle. One problem across the globe is that patients have arthritis, decaying bone density, and injuries which can easily go mistreated or not treated at all. It can be hard to determine the severity of injuries in joints by observation of the patient. There are tools and equipment that will allow a doctor to track the force and degrees of motion of certain joints, but they are mostly limited to hospitals. With graphene acting as a sensor it can be embedded into casts, braces, and even clothing. With a mobile sensor that relays accurate and continuous data to a doctor they can more precisely determine a therapy or recovery time that will better suit the patients’ needs. In this project the graphene was used to measure the angle of a patient’s wrist while they were wearing a wrist brace. From the data collected, the graphene was able to track the user’s movement of their wrist as they moved it in a single direction. The data showed the angle of the wrist ranging from zero degrees to 90 degrees. This proves that graphene can shape the way biosensing is accomplished. Biodynamics is a growing field, and with more injuries everyday it is important to study graphene and how it can be used to diagnose and prevent injuries related to joints. Graphene can be used as a biosensor which can then be implemented into a brace to allow for accurate biodynamic tracking.
ContributorsSweeten, William (Author) / Lockhart, Thurmon (Thesis director) / Helms Tillery, Stephen (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
The Honors Creative Project evolved drastically from start to finish, despite its origin remaining the same. My core goal in this project was to connect two seemingly mutually exclusive aspects of my life, engineering and dance. After conducting an IRB study and using data from my own personal experiences, I was able to see how dance had in fact made me a better engineer. There were skills that I gained and learned in dance that were directly applicable to engineering, and I believe will be critical to my success as an engineer. As the focal point of the project angled towards myself, I had to look deeply into who I am and how I reached this point. I conducted self-reflections on various aspects of my current life and also on the struggles and hardships I overcame during my years at ASU. From these reflections, I learned a lot about myself and how my personal identity has evolved. This identity evolution became the backbone behind my thesis defense. I took my research and self-reflections and designed a series of artwork that I personally designed and painted myself. I my engineering side to conduct the research and collect the data, and then used my artistic side to present my findings to the public in a way that attracted and audience and caused others to reflect upon their own identities.
ContributorsArizmendi, Romann Fuentes (Author) / Olarte, David (Thesis director) / Welz, Matt (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Piloerection (known as goosebumps) is mediated by activation of alpha-adrenergic receptors within the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. The study of piloerection is important in multiple fields, from emotion studies to nervous system pathology. This makes piloerection particularly relevant to emotions research. Despite wide-ranging applications, current methods for measuring piloerection are laborious and qualitative. The goal of this study is to build a wearable piloerection sensor through the use of straight-line lasers and photoresistors. The study analyzed methods of detecting and measuring goosebumps, and applied the method of laser scattering as a detection method. This device was designed and tested against a population of seven Arizona State University students. Goosebumps were elicited through conditions of cold, and video clips meant to elicit emotions of awe and sadness. Piloerection was then quantified through two controls of self-identification and camera recording, as well as the new detection method. These were then compared together, and it was found that subjective methods of determining goosebumps did not correlate well with objective measurements, but that the two objective measurements correlated well with one another. This shows that the technique of laser scattering can be used to detect goosebumps and further developments on this new detection method will be made. Moreover, the presence of uncorrelated subjective measurements further shows the need for an objective measurement of piloerection, while also bringing into question other factors that may be confused with the feeling of piloerection, such as chills or shivers. This study further reaffirmed previous studies showing a positive correlation between intense emotions.
ContributorsHemesath, Angela (Author) / Muthuswamy, Jitendran (Thesis director) / Shiota, Michelle (Lani) (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
The global population over the age of 60 is estimated to rise to 23% by 2050 only increase the prevalence of functional neurological disorders and stroke. Increase in cases of functional neurological disorders and strokes will place a greater burden on the healthcare industry, specifically physical therapy. Physical therapy is vital for a patient’s recovery of motor function which is time demanding and taxing on the physical therapist. Wearable robotics have been proven to improve functional outcomes in gait rehabilitation by providing controlled high dosage and high-intensity training. Accurate control strategies for assistive robotic exoskeletons are vital for repetitive high precisions assistance for cerebral plasticity to occur.
This thesis presents a preliminary determination and design of a control algorithm for an assistive ankle device developed by the ASU RISE Laboratory. The assistive ankle device functions by compressing a spring upon heel strike during gait, remaining compressed during mid-stance and then releasing upon initiation of heel-off. The relationship between surface electromyography and ground reactions forces were used for identification of user-initiated heel-off. The muscle activation of the tibialis anterior combined with the ground reaction forces of the heel pressure sensor generated potential features that will be utilized in the revised control algorithm for the assistive ankle device. Work on this project must proceed in order to test and validate the revised control algorithm to determine its accuracy and precision.
This thesis presents a preliminary determination and design of a control algorithm for an assistive ankle device developed by the ASU RISE Laboratory. The assistive ankle device functions by compressing a spring upon heel strike during gait, remaining compressed during mid-stance and then releasing upon initiation of heel-off. The relationship between surface electromyography and ground reactions forces were used for identification of user-initiated heel-off. The muscle activation of the tibialis anterior combined with the ground reaction forces of the heel pressure sensor generated potential features that will be utilized in the revised control algorithm for the assistive ankle device. Work on this project must proceed in order to test and validate the revised control algorithm to determine its accuracy and precision.
ContributorsGaytan-Jenkins, Daniel Rinaldo (Author) / Zhang, Wenlong (Thesis director) / Tyler, Jamie (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor, Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05
Description
Curtiss-Wright Corporation is a global company that manufactures and provides services for the commercial, industrial, defense, and energy departments. The Curtiss-Wright facility that was the focus of this research is part of the Sensors and Controls Division and focuses on manufacturing and assembling aircraft components. Visual Factory, an electronic work instructions software, was implemented for a trial run for two products on the assembly floor. Data collected from several workstations and operators was analyzed to determine if there were impacts to product quality or changes in assembly completion times when using Visual Factory. After analyzing data from six operators and six workstations, it was found that operators could complete processes in less time than was previously believed. Timing data also helped to create standardized learning curves and improvement percentages for specific workstations and processes. This data allows management and supervisors to more adequately allocate time for training and extrapolate post-training completion times based on initial completion times. Part quality data was less abundant, but there were fewer major issues with part quality when using Visual Factory. Visual Factory also allowed for more in-depth collection of quality issues on specific units. It is recommended that Curtiss-Wright continues with implementation of Visual Factory across the entire assembly floor and all product lines.
ContributorsNelson, Jade Hunter (Author) / Coursen, Jerry (Thesis director) / Rossiter, John (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2019-05