RESEARCH
Research in Biomedical Acoustics Dr. Damir Khismatullin, Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering is developing acoustic devices for diagnostics and therapy. The first project is an acoustic levitator. A sample of a biological material whose properties can change with time is levitated in space by acoustic radiation forces. The levitation allows noncontact and time-dependent measurements of the fluid’s rheological properties, e.g. the coagulation dynamics of whole blood. Existing methods for measuring whole blood coagulation involve stirring the blood sample inside a “pin in a cup” rheometer. A relatively large sample, in contact with the wall of the container, is needed. The new noncontact approach has the advantages of smaller sample size, more rapid and robust testing, and it may be less expensive. Work on the acoustic levitator started in July 2013 with a two-year $164,000 grant from the American Heart Association. Prototype calibration and validation were during the first year, and next year the new device will be characterized using blood samples from healthy volunteers and liver transplant patients. Prof. Khismatullin collaborates with Prof. Joseph Buell, a surgeon at Tulane Medical School and Director of the Tulane Advanced Transplant Institute, and Dr. R. Glynn Holt, a Mechanical Engineer at Boston University. The second device is the focused ultrasound system for in vitro and in vivo studies of tumor destruction by High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), which can be used alone and in combination
with chemical ablation methods such as Percutaneous Ethanol Injection (PEI). HIFU is an upcoming technology for noninvasive or minimally invasive tumor ablation by delivery of localized acoustic energy at a focal region within the target tumor. It has been used for ablation of small volumes in vivo without damaging the surrounding region. Two main mechanisms of HIFU are acoustic absorption (resulting in tissue heating), and acoustic cavitation which creates additional heating and mechanical damage of tissue by cavitation bubbles. PEI has also been used as an ablation method for small localized tumors. When injected into the tumor, the ethanol causes dehydration of cellular cytoplasm and denaturation of cellular proteins. Using different types of cancer as well as tumor xenograft models, experiments in Prof. Khismatullin’s laboratory showed a strong synergistic effect of HIFU and PEI in tumor destruction. Synergy between HIFU and PEI is evidenced by the desired therapeutic effect with substantial reduction in the dose of both HIFU and ethanol. The combination is also found to be less sensitive to the heat sink effect that is responsible for incomplete destruction of tumor by thermal ablation methods, including HIFU alone. Research using the focused ultrasound system is funded by grants from the Louisiana Board of Regents and Tulane University Senate Committee on Research. Prof. Khismatullin’s project collaborators include Professors Joseph Buell, Emal Kandil, others from Tulane Medical School.
CAMS Receives Donation From Almar Foundation The Center for Anatomical and Movement Sciences (CAMS) gives Tulane BME students a unique approach to engineering education. Located in the basement of the Reily Center on the uptown campus, the CAMS is comprised of three units: a primary gross anatomy lab, a physiology lab and a faculty research lab. In addition to the hands-on experience of human cadaver dissection, students are also able to view and participate in surgical implantation demonstrations performed on cadavers. “We are offering an innovative approach to teaching biomedical engineering,” says Mic Dancisak, Senior Professor of Practice and the center’s director. “I don’t know of another school that gives students the opportunity to participate in these kinds of surgeries and procedures.” A recent gift from the Almar Foundation is supporting that visionary approach at CAMS by giving biomedical engineering students the opportunity to further their understanding of human anatomy. The Almar Foundation gift will allow CAMS to purchase a mini C-arm, which converts x-rays into visible images and allows surgeons to easily visualize their procedures. This capability is especially important for surgeons learning to
place new medical devices, because it gives doctors a beforeand-after image that verifies that the medical device is positioned correctly. The addition of the C-arm also makes renting lab space from the center more attractive for industry partners. To bring more learning opportunities to students, Dancisak has been working closely with industry partners. These partners lease lab space from the center to demonstrate procedures to physiciancustomers using new implantable medical devices. Tulane BME students have a chance to participate in these procedures with these industry partners and surgeons. “Interfacing with these industry representatives is a huge value for our students,” says Dancisak. “These networking opportunities can help students with internship and job opportunities.” “I have been grateful to Tulane since I graduated in 1969 with a BS in Engineering,” says Dr. Monroe Laborde (E ’69, M ’73), Almar Foundation representative. “Biomedical engineering had not started yet as a department but an engineering curriculum major allowed me time to do pre-med courses. I have been happy to help the Biomedical Engineering Department at Tulane since they gave me such a good education.” TULANE BME NEWSLETTER 8