Biomedical Engineering Facilities

The Biomedical Engineering office is located in Bogard Hall on the main campus of the University. Closely associated with the BmE Program is the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science (CyBERS - 31,000 square feet). These facilities and equipment have an estimated value of $4M. This complex houses classrooms, instructional laboratories, faculty and administrative offices, and research and service laboratories. Recognizing the important function that maintenance and support services play in the activities of the Center, the layout of the building includes spaces for a machine shop, a woodworking shop, an electronics shop, a computer facility, drafting and design rooms, and a media production facility. As the activities of the Program have grown, expansions and renovations have facilitated the development of shops/facilities that are more responsive to the needs of the faculty and staff. Today the space assigned to maintenance and support services exceeds 3,215 square feet. These areas are staffed with full-time employees including a adaptive rehabilitation specialist, an electronic technician, and a media/production specialist. These employees are funded from state funds and other resources available to the Center.

Assistive Technology Services Laboratory

Rehabilitation Device Information Center
Driver Assessment
Seating and Positioning/Mobility
Augmentative Communication
Independent Living Skills

Biomedical Engineering Research Labs

The Program has an established national and international reputation in areas of systems physiology and rehabilitation engineering. In addition, the Program is developing the area of biomedical microdevices or "BioMEMS" in conjunction with the Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM). Research labs currently associated with the Biomedical Engineering Program include:

The Rehabilitative Neuroscience Laboratory is used to quantify human movement especially as it relates to spasticity and joint biodynamics. Equipment in this laboratory includes devices to deliver precise displacement or torques to the ankle, knee or shoulder joints. Portions of this laboratory are located at the V.A. Medical Center in Shreveport where palmtop computers are used as interface devices for quantifying spasticity.

The SLIP/FALLS Laboratory is used to study the psychophysics of balance and neurologically intact and neurologically impaired states. Equipment in this laboratory includes the Sliding Linear Investigative Platform For Assessing Lower Limb Stability (SLIP/FALLS) which is capable of making vibration-free linear translations from 5 µm to 12 cm at accelerations of up to 2.5 mm/sec**2. This lab also has a Tek-Scan pressure-sensitive floor mat system. This laboratory is presently at the VAMC-Shreveport and is being duplicated at CyBERS.

The Artificial Intelligence Laboratory is equipped with hardware and software appropriate for neural network modeling and expert system development. Its purpose is to develop novel solutions to problems in decision-making utilizing fundamental domain knowledge, a systems modeling approach, and appropriate artificial intelligence techniques. Primary applications are ECG interpretation and cognitive orthotics.

The Nitric Oxide Sensor Fabrication Laboratory is used to construct, test, and apply nitric oxide electrosensors. This includes a rapid cyclic voltammeter. This laboratory is supported by the Chemistry Program. Biomedical Engineering faculty members use this laboratory in collaboration with Chemistry faculty members on the sensing of nitric oxide, serotonin and superoxide during platelet adhesion.

The Micromanufacturing and Instrumentation Research Laboratory is used in a variety of research activities related to the fabrication of micro-sized devices, sensors and structures for use in biomedical applications. Design and testing takes place in this laboratory with fabrication being performed at the Institute for Micromanufacturing . The laboratory is also used for general biomedical instrumentation projects. Current projects involve microfabrication, modeling and testing of a variety of devices and systems.

The Electrode Fabrication Laboratory is used to build pH and oxygen glass electrodes (microsensors). The hardware available includes microscopes, a computer-controlled horizontal electrode puller, an electrode beveler, electroplating apparatus, and various types of meters used in the process. This laboratory may be used to calibrate, test and use pH electrodes (microsensors). Equipment available includes a computer monitored dual electrometer, chart recorder, water bath, balance, and manipulators, and basic trouble-shooting equipment.

The Mass Transport Laboratory contains one experimental work station and contains the equipment to study oxygen mass transport in brain slices and in heart papillary muscle. Equipment includes a computer monitored and controlled piezoelec-tric manipulator, picoammeter, vibration isolation apparatus, water bath and recording equipment.

The Tissue Engineering and Cell Culture Laboratory has been designed to investigate the effects of hemodynamic phenomena on the behavior of vascular cells, (endothelial cells, platelets, smooth muscle cells, osteoblasts) as related to atherosclerosis, intimal hyperplasia, thrombosis, bone growth, and micromanufactured cell substrates. The lab includes a laminar fume hood, an evironmentally-controlled flow chamber, an imaging microscope, an injection-flow apparatus (syringe pump), an incubator, a centrifuge, a refrigerator, and a plate reader. The lab is jointly funded by CyBERS and the School of Biological Sciences.

The Biofluid Mechanics Laboratory is used to measure velocities and flows in models of arteries. The models may be three-dimensional representations of human artery bifurcations, or they may be more idealized models which are used to study specific responses of blood-borne or vascular cells. The purpose of the laboratory is to determine the hemodynamic mechanisms involved in arterial adaptation and disease. The laboratory includes laser Doppler velocimetry equipment, a cone-in-plate viscometer, a data acquisition computer, a Pentium personal computer which runs Autocad, ultrasonic equipment, an anti-vibration table, spatial analyzer, physiological pressure transducers, two Carolina medical EMF flowmeters, a transit time flow meter, model manufacturing facilities, and a distilled water generator.

Biomedical Engineering Support Facilities

The facilities listed below are housed within the CyBERS.

Electronic Shop: The facility contains a variety of testing, monitoring, and repair devices. The available devices provide a medium-level capability for testing, repairing, and fabricating electronic components.

Graphics/Media Studio: The studio includes a graphics computer and scanner, color and black and white printers, graphics layout table, various still and motion cameras, digital still and video cameras with supplementary lenses, and necessary lighting equipment. There is also an editing area for producing classroom and training video tapes.

Metal Shop: The facility contains light metal working power tools, including a sheet metal bender and an TIG welder. The available tools provide the capability for low-level tooling and fabrication, with the higher level milling and tooling capability having been transferred to the Institute for Micromanufacturing facility.

Wood Shop: The shop contains a variety of general wood working power tools, both portable and stationary. The available tools provide the capability for moderate-level tooling, fabrication, and finishing.

Facilities at the Institute for Micromanufacturing

The Institute for Micromanufacturing central research and development component consists of 41,000 ft 2 of laboratory and office space dedicated to meet the research and development needs of academia and industry in the area of miniaturization and micromanufacturing. The 20,000 ft 2 laboratory area is environmentally controlled. Contained within this space is a 2,500 ft 2 cleanroom with fully certified class 1000 and class 100 working areas. In addition the lab area houses a laboratory-based teaching and training facility, a physical characterization laboratory, a laser process development laboratory, electronics assembly / test laboratory, a hot embossing / injection molding laboratory, a nine station plating laboratory, a laboratory for precision machining under tightly controlled temperature and humidity conditions, and five application specific, process development laboratories. An additional 2,500 ft2 is reserved for cleanroom facility expansion.

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