ME 234: Introduction to Neuromechanics
Modeling Cerebral Motion associated with Shaken Baby Syndrome
This study, conducted as part of a final project for the course ME234: Introduction to Neuromechanics, investigates the biomechanical effects of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) through finite element modeling. Working with teammates, we simulated the interactions between the skull, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and brain during shaking to better understand the injury mechanisms involved in SBS. Unlike previous studies focused on high-force impacts, we examined the effects of lower-force, sustained shaking over several seconds, which is typical of SBS scenarios. Our results demonstrate that forces as low as 10-20 N over 1.75 seconds can cause significant strain in the brain and CSF, sufficient to rupture bridging veins and lead to subdural hemorrhages. This modeling approach contributes to a deeper understanding of brain injury risks in infants subjected to violent shaking and the critical role of rotational motion in SBS.
Conference Publication
Development and Characterization of Biostable Hydrogel Robotic Actuators for Implantable Devices: Tendon Actuated Gelatin
In this work, presented at the 2022 Design of Medical Devices Conference (ASME), we developed and characterized a novel protein-based hydrogel actuator aimed at enhancing the functionality of implantable medical devices. The gelatin actuators, crosslinked with microbial transglutaminase were designed to address key challenges in implantable device biocompatibility, including the foreign-body response. Our study demonstrated the material's ability to mimic the mechanical properties of human tissues, offering a promising alternative to traditional materials like silicone. The research explored the actuators' mechanical performance, degradation behavior, and long-term stability in physiological conditions, providing insights into their potential use in next-generation medical devices.