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Danny Bluestein, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Director of the Undergraduate
Program, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Figure 1. Numerical simulations of
blood flow past an aortic mechanical heart valve, showing trajectories
of platelets in the flow field. |
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Despite major progress, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause
of death in the western world. One of the major culprits in cardiovascular
disease and in devices designed to treat or restore impaired cardiovascular
function is the non-physiologic flow pattern that enhances the hemostatic
response mainly through platelet activation. Platelets have long been
regarded as the preeminent cell involved in physiologic hemostasis and
pathologic thrombosis. We have developed an innovative technique for measuring
flow induced platelet activation in models of arterial stenosis, Left
Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), and mechanical heart valves. The mechanisms
by which the non-physiologic flow patterns induce platelet activation
and generate free emboli, that enhance the risk of cardioembolic stroke,
was demonstrated by us using sophisticated numerical simulations, non-invasive
flow measurements using Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV), in
vitro studies with platelet assays, and in vivo experiments with mechanical
heart valves implanted in the sheep model. The results of this research
will aid in elucidating physical forces that regulate cellular function
in flowing blood, and may be applied to improve the design of blood recirculating
devices and to develop more potent drugs for treating cardiovascular diseases.
Recently we have applied similar techniques to study the effect of smoking,
second hand smoke, and nicotine, on cardiovascular diseases and their
progression under blood circulation conditions.
A non-exhaustive list of current projects, which IBRP students can participate
in include:
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Figure 2. Measurements of platelet
activity state (PAS) in blood flow past two mechanical heart
valves in a Left Ventricular Assist Device. |
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DPIV measurements in transparent models of cardiovascular pathologies
and devices.
- Numerical simulations of blood flow in cardiovascular pathologies
and devices.
- Platelet activity state measurements in blood recirculating devices.
- Effects of smoking, second hand smoke, and nicotine on flowing platelets.
- Platelet activity measurements and interaction with the endothelium
in an hemodynamic cell shearing device
Student Background: We are looking for
highly motivated undergraduate students with a strong engineering and
math background. Computer programming skills and fluid mechanics background
are desirable for numerical simulations. Biology background and training
in experimental procedures could be acquired during the course of the
project.
Contact Information
email: danny.bluestein@sunysb.edu
url: http://bme.sunysb.edu/bme/people/faculty/d_bluestein.html
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