Learn how bright Buckeyes teamed up with OhioHealth to save a life

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Tony Mango, former Biomedical Engineering student

Celebrating years of hard work, recently graduated Buckeyes took a collective sigh of relief knowing their hours spent in the library paid off. But few could graduate knowing that they left a tangible impact, something more than a stellar GPA. 

 

Figure 1: On the left is a perspective view of the re-usable device, composed of the polymer handle and stainless-steel slide. On the right shows the slide alone. The red line depicts where the slide was cut shortened in the simulation.
Figure 1: On the left is a perspective view of the re-usable device, composed of the polymer handle and stainless-steel slide. On the right shows the slide alone. The red line depicts where the slide was cut shortened in the simulation.

Tony Mango was one of these graduates. The biomedical engineering student led simulation and modeling for his group’s capstone project, a three-month-long engagement with OhioHealth to develop an environmentally friendly, cost-effective tool to improve thoracostomy procedures— and potentially save a life. These procedures alleviate fluid buildup around the lungs in pneumonia/infection cases and bleeding around the lungs caused by traumatic chest injuries from a car crash for example. The new tool dissects adipose tissue, punctures the pleural cavity, and provides a channel as guidance for placing a chest tube in the superior apex of the pleural cavity.  

Emily Nutwell, SIMCenter researcher, served in an advising role during the model-building process, element selection, and solver identification. The industry veteran guided Mango in designing the mid-plane shell model, mesh, boundary conditions, and analysis from the results, including a buckling analysis. All but one material passed the factor of safety of three tests. 

Collectively, the students wanted to explore a disposable version of the tool that would be injection molded with a much weaker polymer material; the group had four options in mind - FDA approved, biocompatible, easily injection molded polymers - that they wanted to test to determine if they would fracture inside the body when puncturing the pleural cavity. They previously ran a cadaver porcine study and identified "max" force data to puncture the pleural cavity, using this in a static structural model inside Ansys Workbench.  

 

Figure 2: On the left is a mid-plane shell model of the device. The right is the mesh created using shell elements.
Figure 2: On the left is a mid-plane shell model of the device. The right is the mesh created using shell elements.

According to Mango, “the primary driver for a disposable version was to create a tool for trauma and field situations, where typically all devices used in the surgery are disposed of afterwards. Thus, plastic was the obvious choice here since injection molding is far cheaper in volume than metal forging.” 

With OSU students and SIMCenter leading the charge, OhioHealth can perform thoracostomy procedures with more accuracy and enjoy a new revenue stream from trauma and field workers who typically wouldn’t have bought the device unless it was both affordable and disposable. As for the students, they’re thrilled to have played a part in such a unique project, capping off their undergraduate college experience.  

Tanya Nocera, Assistant Professor-Clinical, Biomedical Engineering served as the group’s advisor.  

Contact SIMCenter at simcenter@osu.edu regarding simulation needs for future biomedical, aerospace, automotive, or consumer products.