Biomedical Engineering
Students focus on medical devices and biologicals for improving medical care.
The BME Capstone experience is intended to mirror the type of experiences new graduates will face when they begin their careers. In this context, the student team members learn project management and organization skills, enhance their technical breadth and depth, apply newly-acquired knowledge, and develop their documentation and presentation abilities.
Sponsors
The Spring 2025 Biomedical Engineering Symposium has been made possible by a generous contribution from our event sponsor.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech
Fueled by innovation at the intersection of biology and technology, we’re developing the next generation of smarter, less invasive, more personalized treatments.
Biomedical Engineering Symposium
Students display health care technology innovations poised to address the ever pressing and challenging unmet clinical needs that persist throughout the world.
Graduate applied projects
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Over 14 million people are affected by increased intracranial pressure (ICP) due to traumatic brain injury or conditions like hydrocephalus, which causes excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This research aims to develop and test…
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This study investigates whether uncomfortable footwear increases neural activation in the primary somatosensory cortex by measuring brain hemodynamic activity via fNIRS (Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy). Participants first walked on a treadmill for 5 minutes wearing their…
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The goal of this study is to take new individuals, undeveloped in the Korean martial art Tang Soo Do, and track their center of mass acceleration variability using Motion Capture technology with Ki Gong meditation…
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The project looked into the effects of air quality specifically PM 2.5 on cognitive and motor scores. Physics based motor task game “Super G” was played by 878 participants which were linked with their zip…
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This study aims investigate the impact of vibration on localized tissue oxygenation using NIRS biosensors. Participants were exposed to mechanical vibration, and oxygenation levels were monitored across baseline, post-vibration, and recovery phases. Results showed a…
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Current techniques involving the assessment and rehabilitation of peripheral neuropathies, neurological disorders, and traumatic injuries for motor control of hand digit forces fail to properly capture the complexities involved in multi-digit force coordination. By creating…
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Effects of Immersive Visual Distortion Perturbations on Step Length Symmetry Using Augmented Reality
This study investigates how augmented reality (AR)-based visual feedback distortion (VD) influences step length symmetry during treadmill walking. By comparing AR-based feedback with traditional monitor-based feedback, this research aims to determine whether AR can enhance…
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The Role of Lattice Geometry in Optimizing Necrotic Cell Washout in 3D-Printed Femoral Head Models” applied project explores how internal lattice bone structure affects the efficiency of the necrotic washout in femoral heads affected by…
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This study created a scalable microcarrier-based technology for converting hiPSCs into fully developed neurons for Alzheimer’s disease research. Neural progenitor cells were grown and differentiated for 40 days before being enzymatically separated into healthy single-cell…
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This project explores whether pressure sensor data from the heel-to-toe transition can be used to classify fatigue. Six participants wore LAAF smart insoles, and walking data was collected before and after a fatiguing exercise. Machine…
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Silk fibroin (SF) from Bombyx mori cocoons shows strong potential for biomedical use, especially in bone tissue engineering, due to its biocompatibility and mechanical properties. This study focused on synthesizing SF and modifying it with…
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This project aimed to automate part of the lyophilization process for point-of-care diagnostic devices using a customizable 3D-printed device. The rig effectively reduces reagent handling time while maintaining structural integrity comparable to traditional manual methods.…
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Standard culture conditions use non-physiological glucose (20-25mM) and oxygen (20%) levels that may alter neural development. This project investigated how aligning culture conditions with physiological levels (5mM glucose, 8% oxygen) affects neural organoid development. We…
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Immunomodulatory alpha-ketoglutarate (aKG) has been shown to enhance the bone repair process and can be used to supplement the 2.2 million bone grafts implanted globally every year. To control its release, aKG is converted into…
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This study employs THP-1 derived models to examine the effect of Extracellular vesicles on immune modulation. Confocal Microscopy and fluorescence-based markers were utilized to investigate the effect of Extracellular vesicles on the polarization of macrophages…
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This project explores novel formulations of PDMS-based films incorporating various encapsulation agents to enable controlled and sustained drug release. By comparing the effects of water, DCM, and an Ionic liquid on drug loading efficiency and…
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This project aims to develop and evaluate an open-source therapeutic video as a noninvasive intervention for individuals at risk of or diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The video integrates heart-coherent breathing exercises, 40 Hz gamma frequency…
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In partnership with ASU’s Neuromuscular Control and Human Robotics Lab, this project focuses on the design validation testing of a soft-back exosuit. The device is primarily composed of adjustable, elastic components with a small, active,…
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This project investigates human-human physical cooperation using the KINARM robotic manipulandum to analyze haptic interactions in dyadic motor tasks. Specifically, I aim to determine whether the 0-400ms or 400-800 ms time window better captures key…
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There are many well explored non-invasive methods of sensory feedback for prosthetic users. The purpose of this study was to explore pneumatic soft haptic feedback as a potential method of feedback for upper limb prosthetic…
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Surface Display for Phage Assisted Continuous Evolution (SurPhACE) enables the development of novel nanobodies with specific and heightened binding affinity to a given target. Automation of this method in one 96 well plate would enable…
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This project primarily focused on the analysis of immunohistochemical mice brain samples post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) to assess the targeting and retention of nanoparticles (NPs) conjugated with targeting and control peptides. The tissue sections analyzed…
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This project focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of biomechanical feedback in improving soccer kicking accuracy among healthy adult participants. Participants were instructed to perform a series of kicks toward predefined target zones, with half receiving…
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and ultimately, respiratory failure or death. Through the application of unsupervised clustering techniques, we identified three…
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A point-of-care device for use in monitoring heart failure was tested using a prototype portable microscope to analyze its performance and versatility. This project builds on the previous work of Dr. Chao Chen, Ph.D., who…
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The overall goal of this project is testing the toxicity of siloxane on INS-1E transfected cells. The concentrations that it was tested at are 40%, 20%, 10% and 8% with a control of no siloxane.…
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This project explores how physiological stress varies across the four phases of the menstrual cycle using wearable heart rate variability (HRV) data. By analyzing LF/HF ratios over 90 days from 18 participants, the study identiJies…
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This project explores how performing a cognitive task affects a person’s ability to regain balance after a physical perturbation. Using motion capture, force plates, and a joystick-controlled game, we measured key gait metrics such as…
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This project aims to better understand the path dependence of stochastic cell fate determination. This is done through the creation of a stochastic model of cell differentiation governed by a trigene network to identify the…
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The Barbara Smith Lab’s Fluorescence-Guided Electrophysiology (FGE) System was created to identify neuronal subtypes inside the brain, an ongoing goal due to the imaging constraints of current systems caused by light attenuation. One area of…
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This project investigates the physiological effects of wearing exoskeletal boots (exoboots) during extended walking in fit individuals. By measuring heart rate and oxygen consumption across different walking conditions—flat vs. incline terrain and with vs. without…
Undergraduate biomedical capstone projects
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This project analyzed real-world race data from collegiate triathletes to identify which race segments best predict overall sprint triathlon performance. A multiple linear regression model revealed that the bike split had the strongest influence on…
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Hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease in which the hormone secreting part of the thyroid is destroyed and therefore unable to regulate metabolism and growth. Levothyroxine is an oral treatment which helps decrease Thyroid Secreting Hormone…
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Our mission is to ensure the proper leptin delivery system targets patients with type 1 diabetes, aiming to reduce systemic dosage delivery and benefit patients. Determined to lessen the long-term healthcare costs, this project promises…
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Our capstone team has worked in order to develop a 3-dimensional steerable catheter system for the placement of an endovascular shunt to treat obstructive hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus occurs when a buildup of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in…
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Intravenous (IV) catheters are critical for delivering medications directly into the bloodstream, but they pose a significant risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), which can lead to severe complications, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare…
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Epilepsy diagnosis often relies on manual interpretation of EEG data, a process that is time-consuming, prone to error, and difficult to scale. Our project addresses this by developing a machine learning model capable of detecting…
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Current breast lesion localization methods, such as wire and radioactive seed placements, present several challenges—including patient discomfort, logistical complexity, and procedural risks. These invasive techniques often require pre-operative scheduling constraints, multiple clinic visits, and increased…
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The Anti-Spasticity Soft Robotic Elbow Brace is designed to treat spasticity in patients in stroke rehabilitation therapy. It delivers real-time muscle EMG data to occupational therapists while straightening the forearm muscles through a Bowden Cable…
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Precision Phantoms addresses the gap in medical device tuning and calibration by offering biomimetic phantoms made from solid gels with varying concentrations of electrical property modifiers as the foundational material that simulates the electrical properties…
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a critical tool in the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. However, traditional breast coils can be rigid, uncomfortable, and not optimized for patient diversity in body types and…
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Craniotomies require precise bone drilling to safely access the brain while minimizing risks to neural tissue and surrounding structures. Conventional neurosurgical drills often lack real-time feedback and advanced control systems, increasing the risk of thermal…
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Rigid spinal implants are commonly used to treat pediatric deformities, but are poorly suited to ongoing growth, resulting in asymmetric bone development and poor tissue integration. A clinical need exists for orthopedic implants that correct…
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A post-anoxic coma takes place after a person suffers from cardiac arrest and does not receive enough oxygen to the brain. Patients may regain all cognitive function, while others never recover. Once these patients are…
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Pressurized Wound Irrigation from PureStream MedTech aims to enhance wound-cleaning procedures in the emergency rooms (ERs) by providing a fast, efficient, and reliable innovative method. Infections are a common complication in emergency rooms that can…
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Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the buildup of plaque in a patient’s peripheral arteries namely the legs and feet. PAD currently affects more than 10 million Americans and is an underserved disease as most patients…
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The quantification of surgical skills is critically important for assessing the effectiveness of surgical training and optimizing the performances of skilled surgeons. Hand motion tracking in simulated surgery scenarios is emerging as a promising tool…
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The engineering team at AVACE™ Biomedics has developed a novel medical device concept that would assist in verifying bone segment placement and realignment—intraoperatively—during a bone deformity correction. The concept is centered around a circular bubble…
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Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are medications used for managing blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes. However, these treatments often cause unwanted side effects like nausea and stomach discomfort, have unpredictable side effects in…
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Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) affects about 2–4% of kids between 10 and 18. If not treated early, it can lead to serious health problems. Bracing is a common way to stop the curve from getting…
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Many rural hospitals lack the infrastructure to support large stocks of pre-warmed intravenous (IV) fluids for invasive medical procedures, and as a result require an alternative solution to produce the needed stock in a short…
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The PulmonUs team designed ReLung, a refillable dry powder inhaler that is biodegradable and also easier to use for patients. Current aerosol inhalers that are available on the market utilize hydrofluoroalkanes (HFAs) to deliver asthma…
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The accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning for orthopedic conditions rely heavily on the precise visualization of bone structures from medical imaging data. Current imaging modalities, such as CT and MRI scans, provide detailed cross-sectional…
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The ExecuWear Biometric Sleeve is a wearable device designed to address the health challenges of high-performing professionals and executives who spend extended periods in sedentary, high-stress environments, increasing their risk of cardiovascular complications. This device…
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Idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by abnormal wound healing around the subglottis and tracheal region. Excessive fibrosis causes ECM deposition in the area, leading to tissue stiffness and narrowing of…
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This project aims to develop a low-cost, smartphone-adaptable ophthalmic imaging device that can be used to improve access and quality of eye care, particularly in emergency departments (i.e., triage contexts) and resource-limited settings (e.g., remote…
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Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, affecting about 1 in 5 women after childbirth. It’s defined as a blood loss of 500 mL or more within 24 hours of vaginal…
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Within the last hundred years, a considerable stall in fracture research at the growth plate has contributed to inadequacies in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric orthopedic fractures, sometimes leading to lifelong pain, immobility, and…
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PharmAccount is developing an innovative module that integrates continuous medication counting into medication management systems like the BD Pyxis™ MedStation to address inefficiencies and vulnerabilities in hospital medication management. Hospitals face challenges in maintaining accurate…
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Biomarkers available in the vaginal canal can provide valuable and accurate information for reproductive health. Accurate monitoring can provide insights into fertility, cycle tracking, and infection detection. This development includes an intravaginal sensor that measures…
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As of 2024, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with 313,510 new cases and 42,250 deaths in that year alone. Most patients are eventually treated with breast-conserving surgery…