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Archive

Biomedical Engineering

Capstone archive for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

The following project collection represents the archive of projects presented during the Biomedical Engineering capstone events during the 2024-2025 academic year.

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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 a novel remote impedance measurement system (RIMS) that uses wireless power transfer between an external ultrasound emitter and an implanted…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 total time, with transitions also contributing meaningfully. Using these insights, an interactive tool was developed in Python to help athletes…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate

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 regular shoes, then repeated the trial after inserting provided uncomfortable shoe padding, while oxygenated hemoglobin levels, a key indicator of…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 acting as an intervention. Video Research poster View the poster Health

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 code to determine the effects of environmental data and participant performance. The goal was to investigate whether poor air quality…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 significant increase in both oxygenated hemoglobin and total hemoglobin, with sustained elevated levels during recovery, suggesting a lasting physiological effect…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 a protocol that is able to decompose multi-digit force coordination by extracting manipulation and grasping properties using principles in robotics,…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 gait symmetry adaptation and prolong retention of aftereffects. The findings of this study have the potential to inform more effective…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 avascular necrosis (A VN). Each 3D printed model was constructed out of resin and polylactic acid (PLA) materials with varying…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 suspensions. Immunofluorescence and calcium imaging validated neuronal identity and function, allowing for use in disease models and medication testing. Video…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 learning models were trained on extracted features to distinguish between fatigued and non-fatigued walking. Video Research poster View the poster…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) to create methacrylated SF (Sil-MA), which improves printability for 3D bioprinting. Adjusting the pH to basic conditions…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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. By improving efficiency and reproducibility of reagent production, fabrication of diagnostic devices can become scalable and more accessible. Video Research…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 found that physiological conditions promote human specific features of cortical development, including outer radial glia expansion and upper-layer neuron production,…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 degradable polyester of aKG microparticles (paKG), allowing for sustained delivery over time. These microparticles are incorporated into a modified hyaluronic…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 into Pro-inflammatory(M1) and anti-inflammatory (M2) phenotypes. The results aim to emphasize the potential of EVs in immune regulation particularly in…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 release kinetics, the study aims to optimize polymer-drug interactions for biomedical use. Future applications include tuning these formulations for specific…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 stimulation, and imagery—three nonpharmacological techniques associated with cognitive engagement and amyloid-beta plaque reduction. Currently in the data collection and development…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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, pneumatic jamming system incorporated for additional support. This particular project is a motion capture study focused on testing the device…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 indicators of cooperation by examining how individuals adapt to disruptions such as target uncertainty and task effort. Data will be…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 users. A pneumatic bladder was integrated with the Softhand Pro, a system called wearable integrated soft haptics (WISH), to provide…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 64x greater evolutionary speed compared to the previous manual method. My project developed a turbidostat to provide fresh bacteria to…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 were stained for cell nuclei (DAPI), blood vessels (CD31), neurons (Neun), microglia (Iba1), and astrocytes (GFAP) are used in addition…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 real-time feedback while the other half did not. Each kick was recorded on video, and a Python made script was…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 distinct ALS subgroups based on gene expression profiles and transposable element activity in the choroid plexus. Gene set enrichment analysis…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 developed the microfluidic digital immunoassay for point-of-care detection of NT-proBNP from whole blood. NT-proBNP, a commonly used biomarker for heart…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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. It was found that even at 40% siloxane was not toxic to the INS-1E transfected cells. Video Research poster View…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 distinct circadian stress patterns unique to each hormonal phase. The results suggest that wearables can reveal real-time, hormone-driven shifts in…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 step length, and margin of stability in healthy individuals. Our goal is to establish a pipeline that can be used…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

 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 frequencies of various path types taken by simulated cells. This model attempts to elucidate the mechanisms by which evolution biases…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 improvement for the FGE system is the common misalignment of the optics port during fiber replacements. To mitigate this issue,…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate

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 exoboots—the study aims to assess whether exoboot use contributes to increased fatigue. The findings are intended to inform the potential…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Graduate
Drug Dispensing Biofilm

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 (TSH), however it contains many obstacles, from simply remembering to take the medication to reactions caused by composition. Consequently, 35-60%…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate
Machine Learning Analysis of Spectro-Graphic Data for Biomarker Identification

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 epileptic events in EEG signals with accuracy and speed. We trained the model using a combination of internally collected EEG…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate
MRI Coil Blanket

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 anatomy. This project aims to develop a flexible and patient-friendly MRI coil blanket specifically designed for breast imaging. The proposed…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate
Pressurized Wound Irrigation

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 lead to further complications, ultimately leading to elongated treatment, extended hospital stays, and higher patient costs. Traditional irrigation tools used…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate
Validation of Markerless Motion Tracking for Quantification of Surgical Skills

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 to extract motion features to quantify surgical skill. As traditional motion tracking systems require wearing physical markers which can restrict…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate
GLP-1 Phage Design

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 different individuals, and require injections, making them often a challenge for patients to adhere to. Our flagship product addresses these…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate
Post-Partum Hemorrhage

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 delivery and 1000 mL or more after a cesarean. Despite its severity, PPH is often detected through visual estimation or…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate
Women’s Health

 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 temperature and pH levels. Data would be available on a HIPAA complaint, encrypted app for patient and clinician use. Data…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate
Breast Localization

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 (BCS). The current treatment paradigm in patients undergoing BCS involves at least three invasive procedures including (1) biopsy; (2) placement…

Program Date
Spring 2025
Research
Undergraduate

Magic Angle Spinning (MAS) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy is known for its ability to produce sharper, more resolved peaks compared to traditional liquid chemical extraction NMR. The broad, poorly resolved peaks typically observed in liquid NMR average out in solid-state MAS, resulting in higher quality data, especially when applied to complex samples such as…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

Multisensory integration is a complex integration of multiple senses used to form percepts that are critical for interacting with one’s surroundings. Mixed reality platforms are a way to study multisensory integration. In a recent study from the lab, a mixed reality platform was used to examine effects of different tactile cues and arm visual feedback…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neurosurgical treatment that uses electrical stimulation to targeted portions of the brain to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, Tourettes, OCD, and obesity. The current Leksell frame Adjuster is an antiquated device that neurosurgeons have been using that is very tedious and outdated for them. I will be…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate
Assessing Cognitive Performance during Dynamic Activities with Varying Insole Textures

Assessing the data quality and overall presence of current excited signal is an important stage of screening and processing the data produced from Magnetic Resonance Electrical Impedance Tomography (MREIT) experiments. To do this, Signal to Noise (SNR) analysis and two methods of subtractive comparison were utilized. The data analyzed consisted of previously collected MREIT scans…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

Assessing the data quality and overall presence of current excited signal is an important stage of screening and processing the data produced from Magnetic Resonance Electrical Impedance Tomography (MREIT) experiments. To do this, Signal to Noise (SNR) analysis and two methods of subtractive comparison were utilized. The data analyzed consisted of previously collected MREIT scans…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

Stress significantly impacts cognitive function, health, and overall well-being, with auditory stressors, such as occupational noise, posing a frequent challenge in both professional and personal environments. This study investigates the relationship between auditory stress, physiological stress responses measured through Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), and cognitive performance using Stroop and Hopkins Verbal Learning Task (HVLT) tests….

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

Early gestation placental immunology and nutrient transport have been poorly understood due to limitations in ethical constraints and inadequate animal model replication. Current placenta-on-a-chip models offer a controlled approach for placental studies but lack precision in early gestation stages. Before developing a fully 3D printed microfluidic chip that models early placental interactions between placental and…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

The importance of effective recovery strategies in reducing fatigue, enhancing performance, and preventing injuries has driven interest in evaluating innovative footwear solutions. This study aimed to investigate the role of different footwear types in enhancing peripheral circulation, focusing on their ability to influence blood oxygenation and delivery. By analyzing changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) and…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

The advancement of medical technology has led to the development of innovative devices aimed at enhancing patient care and monitoring. This project focuses on the design and fabrication of an IoT-enabled infusion syringe pump integrated with a biosensing system for telemedicine applications. The system combines Arduino-based technology, a ball screw linear guide for precise medication…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

The Leksell Frame is a device used in stereotactic surgery, commonly for Deep Brain Surgery (DBS). The device requires manual adjustments and soft tapping using a screw to set the target location on the brain. It is prone to human error, limiting its precision and efficiency. The aim of the project is to modernize the…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While many safety interventions have been implemented to reduce occurrence, the options to treat TBI post injury are severely lacking. In order to address this need, this project presents preclinical evidence on the use of tolerogenic vaccines to reduce neuro inflammation and…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate

Gaze shifts in sports provide important visual cues for anticipating and adapting to dynamic play situations. Volleyball athletes have been shown to rely heavily on gaze shifts from the ball to the spiker, particularly during blocking. Effective volleyball performance hinges on this gaze behavior, however, gaze shift patterns necessary for blocking success remain unclear. The…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Graduate
Drug Dispensing Biofilm

This project aims to create an alternative to current hypothyroidism treatments through the concept of a multi-layer T4-delivering patch. This patch would be applied to the surface of the skin and diffuse transdermally into the bloodstream for a more localized delivery. The design consists of a hydrogel scaffold, about half of which will be blank…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Machine Learning Analysis of Spectro-Graphic Data for Biomarker Identification

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting over 50 million people worldwide. Current methods for monitoring and diagnosing epilepsy are conducted through EEG data collection and manual analysis in a clinical setting. This method can be both stressful and costly for patients as well as time-consuming and inefficient for clinicians. Our team aims to produce…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Stroke Rehab Robotics

This Capstone project focuses on a soft robotic elbow brace designed to treat spasticity in patients in stroke rehabilitation therapy. It delivers real-time muscle data to occupational therapists while straightening the forearm and hand muscles. Spasticity, characterized by muscle stiffness and involuntary contractions, presents a major barrier to recovery for stroke patients, affecting both comfort…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
MRI Coil Blanket

The flexible MRI coil blanket is a novel imaging device designed to enhance the comfort and diagnostic precision of breast imaging. Traditional MRI systems rely on rigid coils that can be uncomfortable and poorly suited for certain anatomies, leading to suboptimal imaging quality and patient dissatisfaction. Our concept addresses this gap by creating a flexible,…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Pressurized Wound Irrigation

We are creating a reusable pressurized wound irrigation device to enhance wound-cleaning procedures in emergency rooms. Infections are a common complication in emergency rooms that can lead to further complications, ultimately leading to elongated treatment, extended hospital stays, and higher patient costs. Irrigation tools used in emergency rooms today consist of syringes or bottles with…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Validation of Markerless Motion Tracking for Quantification of Surgical Skills

The quantification of surgical skills is critically important not only for assessing the effectiveness of surgical training, but also for individualized optimization of performance of skilled surgeons. Motion tracking of hand movements in simulated surgery scenarios is emerging as a promising tool to extract motion features to quantify surgical skill. As traditional motion tracking systems…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
GLP-1 Phage Design

Semaglutide-based pharmaceuticals have gained increasing interest in the clinical treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) due to their effectiveness in glycemic control. Acting as a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), semaglutide enhances insulin secretion and promotes beta-cell survival. GLP-1RA therapeutics offer a promising alternative to insulin and existing treatments for the estimated 38 million…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Modular Optical System that Acts as an Adapter for Smart Devices

Description of Concept: This project aims to develop a smartphone attachment device capable of capturing high-quality ophthalmic images for analysis of the posterior and anterior eye segments. Clinical Need/Market: A 2023 WHO report finds that despite nearly 2.2 billion people worldwide having vision impairment—half of which cases were preventable—a large percentage of patients lack access…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Post-Partum Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, affecting approximately 1 in 5 women following childbirth. Primary postpartum hemorrhage is typically defined as a blood loss of 500 mL or more within the first 24 hours after vaginal delivery and a blood loss of 1000 ml or more within the first 24…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Bone Breaker

Currently, there are no current devices that induce a growth plate fracture or arrest with precision and accuracy. This causes a stall in the orthopedic research space and is a large gap in the medical technology market. Our concept design is a precision medical device designed for safe and effective bone fracture management, with a…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
An Automated, Continuous Counting Inventory Module for Medication

PharmAccount is developing an innovative module that integrates continuous medication counting into the BD PyxisTM MedStation to address inefficiencies and vulnerabilities in hospital medication management. Hospitals globally face challenges in preventing drug diversion, maintaining accurate medication inventory, and reducing administrative burdens on nursing staff. The current reliance on manual blind counts for controlled substances is…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Women’s Health

80% of U.S. women experience imbalance of their reproductive hormones often causing conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, PID, chronic yeast infections and chronic bacterial vaginosis. 1 in 6 women globally also experience infertility and 1.3 million women in the U.S. are experiencing menopause annually. The aim of BioBalance is to advance female reproductive healthcare and…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate
Breast Localization

As of 2024, breast cancer is the most predominant form of cancer in the United States, with 313,510 new cases and 42,250 deaths in that year alone. Current treatment methods involve a 3-step surgical process for the (1) biopsy and placement of a primary localization marker, (2) placement of the secondary localization marker which is…

Program Date
Fall 2024
Research
Undergraduate