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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2016) | Viewed by 67143

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Prof. Dr. Wen-Hsiang Hsieh

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Department of Automation Engineering, National Formosa University, Huwei, Yunlin 632, Taiwan
Interests: innovative applications of mechanisms; mechatronics; automatic machinery
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Prof. Dr. Yi-Chang Wu

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Department of Automation Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, Taiwan
Interests: magnetic gear; finite-element analysis; magnetic materials; mechatronics
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Dear Colleagues,

The Conference on Biomedical Engineering Innovation 2015 (ICBEI2015) will be held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from 30 October to 3 November, 2015. This conference, as a sub-conference of the International Multi-Conference on Engineering and Technology Innovation 2015 (IMETI2015), will provide relevant and practical information about this exciting and thriving new technology, and its various applications to Biomedical Engineering related topics. All participants will obtain a familiarity with the various applications of Biomedical Engineering, recent and foreseen advancements.

This Special Issue selects excellent papers from ICBEI2015 and covers a very broad scope, a wide range of fields in science and engineering innovation and aims to bring together engineering technology expertise. We invite investigators to contribute original research articles, as well as review articles, to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Wen-Hsiang Hsieh
Prof. Dr. Yi-Chang Wu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

biomaterials
biomedical engineering
engineering innovation
IMETI; ICBEI; ICETI; Taiwan

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

3550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Simulated Investigations of Thin Polymer Substrates with an Indium Tin Oxide Coating under Fatigue Bending Loadings

by Jiong-Shiun Hsu, Chang-Chun Lee, Bor-Jiunn Wen, Pei-Chen Huang and Chi-Kai Xie

Materials 2016, 9(9), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9090720 - 24 Aug 2016

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6965

Abstract

Stress-induced failure is a critical concern that influences the mechanical reliability of an indium tin oxide (ITO) film deposited on a transparently flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. In this study, a cycling bending mechanism was proposed and used to experimentally investigate the influences of compressive and tensile stresses on the mechanical stability of an ITO film deposited on PET substrates. The sheet resistance of the ITO film, optical transmittance of the ITO-coated PET substrates, and failure scheme within the ITO film were measured to evaluate the mechanical stability of the concerned thin films. The results indicated that compressive and tensile stresses generated distinct failure schemes within an ITO film and both led to increased sheet resistance and optical transmittance. In addition, tensile stress increased the sheet resistance of an ITO film more easily than compressive stress did. However, the influences of both compressive and tensile stress on increased optical transmittance were demonstrated to be highly similar. Increasing the thickness of a PET substrate resulted in increased sheet resistance and optical transmittance regardless of the presence of compressive or tensile stress. Moreover, J-Integral, a method based on strain energy, was used to estimate the interfacial adhesion strength of the ITO-PET film through the simulation approach enabled by a finite element analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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4803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vivo Evaluation of Bulk Metallic Glasses for Osteosynthesis Devices

by Kazuhiro Imai and Sachiko Hiromoto

Materials 2016, 9(8), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9080676 - 9 Aug 2016

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4757

Abstract

Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) show higher strength and lower Young’s modulus than Ti-6Al-4V alloy and SUS 316L stainless steel. This study aimed to perform in vivo evaluations of Zr₆₅Al_7.5Ni₁₀Cu_17.5 BMGs for osteosynthesis devices. In the study for intramedullary implants, osteotomies of the femoral bones were performed in male Wistar rats and were stabilized with Zr₆₅Al_7.5Ni₁₀Cu_17.5 BMGs, Ti-6Al-4V alloy, or 316L stainless steel intramedullary nails for 12 weeks. In the study for bone surface implants, Zr₆₅Al_7.5Ni₁₀Cu_17.5 BMGs ribbons were implanted on the femur surface for 6 weeks. Local effects on the surrounding soft tissues of the implanted BMGs were assessed by histological observation. Implanted materials’ surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). In the study for intramedullary implants, bone healing after osteotomy was assessed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and mechanical tests. Histological observation showed no findings of the biological effects. SEM-EDS showed no noticeable change on the surface of BMGs, while Ca and P deposition was seen on the Ti-6Al-4V alloy surface, and irregularities were seen on the 316L stainless steel surface. Mechanical test and peripheral QCT showed that, although there was no significant difference, bone healing of BMGs was more than that of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The results indicated that Zr-based BMGs can lead to bone healing equal to or greater than Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Zr-based BMGs exhibited the advantage of less bone bonding and easier implant removal compared with Ti-6Al-4V alloy. In conclusion, Zr-based BMGs are promising for osteosynthesis devices that are eventually removed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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5627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Ca Content on Formation and Photoluminescence Properties of CaAlSiN₃:Eu²⁺ Phosphor by Combustion Synthesis

by Shyan-Lung Chung and Shu-Chi Huang

Materials 2016, 9(3), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9030178 - 8 Mar 2016

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5466

Abstract

Effects of Ca content (in the reactant mixture) on the formation and the photoluminescence properties of CaAlSiN₃:Eu²⁺ phosphor (CASIN) were investigated by a combustion synthesis method. Ca, Al, Si, Eu₂O₃, NaN₃, NH₄Cl and Si₃N₄ powders were used as the starting materials and they were mixed and pressed into a compact which was then wrapped up with an igniting agent (i.e., Mg + Fe₃O₄). The compact was ignited by electrical heating under a N₂ pressure of ≤1.0 MPa. By keeping the molar ratios of Al and Si (including the Si powder and the Si in Si₃N₄ powder) both at 1.00 and that of Eu₂O₃ at 0.02, XRD (X-ray diffraction) coupled with TEM-EDS (transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope) and SAED (selected area electron diffraction) measurements show that AlN:Eu²⁺ and Ca-α-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ are formed as the major phosphor products when the Ca molar ratio (denoted by Y) is equal to 0.25 and AlN:Eu²⁺ and Ca-α-SiAlON:Eu²⁺ could not be detected at Y ≥ 0.75 and ≥1.00, respectively. CASIN (i.e., CaAlSiN₃:Eu²⁺) becomes the only phosphor product as Y is increased to 1.00 and higher. The extent of formation of CASIN increases with increasing Y up to 1.50 and begins to decrease as Y is further increased to 1.68. While the excitation wavelength regions are similar at various Y, the emission wavelength regions vary significantly as Y is increased from 0.25 to 1.00 due to different combinations of phosphor phases formed at different Y. The emission intensity of CASIN was found to vary with Y in a similar trend to its extent of formation. The Ca and Eu contents (expressed as molar ratios) in the synthesized products were found to increase roughly with increasing Y but were both lower than the respective Ca and Eu contents in the reactant mixtures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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4644 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Novel Nitinol Spherical Occlusion Device for Liver Cancer

by Hao-Ming Hsiao, Yi-Ping Wang, Chun-Yi Ko, Yu-Han Cheng and Han-Yu Lee

Materials 2016, 9(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma9010019 - 2 Jan 2016

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6953

Abstract

Liver cancer or hepatic cancer is a cancer that originates in the liver. It is formed from either the liver itself or from structures within the liver, including blood vessels or the bile duct. Liver cancer can be a life-threatening condition, but it may be cured if found early. Hepatic artery embolization is one of the treatment options involving the injection of substances to reduce the blood flow to cancer cells in the livers of patients with tumors that cannot be removed by surgery; however, this treatment has some limitations. In this paper, we propose a novel nitinol “spherical occlusion device” concept, the first of its kind in the world. Our proposed spherical occlusion device is able to reduce the blood flow to cancer cells by deploying it in the upstream hepatic artery supplying blood to the liver. Moreover, it could carry multiple chemotherapy or radioactive drugs for delivery directly to the target site. Nitinol alloy was chosen as the device material due to its excellent super-elastic property. Computational models were developed to predict the mechanical response of the device during manufacturing and deployment procedures, as well as its hemodynamic behavior. Simulation results showed that the presence of the spherical occlusion device with 14%–27% metal density deployed at the upstream location of the right hepatic artery had significant occlusion effects, with the average blood flow rate cut down by 30%–50%. A pulsed fiber laser and a series of expansions and heat treatments were developed to make the first prototype of the spherical occlusion device for the demonstration of our novel concept. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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4123 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Compatibility Evaluation of Polypropylene/High Density Polyethylene Polyblends

by Jia-Horng Lin, Yi-Jun Pan, Chi-Fan Liu, Chien-Lin Huang, Chien-Teng Hsieh, Chih-Kuang Chen, Zheng-Ian Lin and Ching-Wen Lou

Materials 2015, 8(12), 8850-8859; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma8125496 - 17 Dec 2015

Cited by 125 | Viewed by 16687

Abstract

This study proposes melt-blending polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) that have a similar melt flow index (MFI) to form PP/HDPE polyblends. The influence of the content of HDPE on the properties and compatibility of polyblends is examined by using a tensile test, flexural test, Izod impact test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM results show that PP and HDPE are incompatible polymers with PP being a continuous phase and HDPE being a dispersed phase. The FTIR results show that the combination of HDPE does not influence the chemical structure of PP, indicating that the polyblends are made of a physical blending. The DSC and XRD results show that PP and HDPE are not compatible, and the combination of HDPE is not correlated with the crystalline structure and stability of PP. The PLM results show that the combination of HDPE causes stacking and incompatibility between HDPE and PP spherulites, and PP thus has incomplete spherulite morphology and a smaller spherulite size. However, according to mechanical property test results, the combination of HDPE improves the impact strength of PP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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7194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Different Manufacturing Methods on the Conflict between Porosity and Mechanical Properties of Spiral and Porous Polyethylene Terephthalate/Sodium Alginate Bone Scaffolds

by Ching-Wen Lou, Chien-Lin Huang, Chih-Kuang Chen, Chi-Fan Liu, Shih-Peng Wen and Jia-Horng Lin

Materials 2015, 8(12), 8768-8779; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma8125488 - 14 Dec 2015

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5233

Abstract

In order to solve the incompatibility between high porosity and mechanical properties, this study fabricates bone scaffolds by combining braids and sodium alginate (SA) membranes. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plied yarns are braided into hollow, porous three dimensional (3D) PET braids, which are then immersed in SA solution, followed by cross-linking with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and drying, to form PET bone scaffolds. Next, SA membranes are rolled and then inserted into the braids to form the spiral and porous PET/SA bone scaffolds. Samples are finally evaluated for surface observation, porosity, water contact angle, compressive strength, and MTT assay. The test results show that the PET bone scaffolds and PET/SA bone scaffolds both have good hydrophilicity. An increasing number of layers and an increasing CaCl₂ concentration cause the messy, loose surface structure to become neat and compact, which, in turn, decreases the porosity and increases the compressive strength. The MTT assay results show that the cell viability of differing SA membranes is beyond 100%, indicating that the PET/SA bone scaffolds containing SA membranes are biocompatible for cell attachment and proliferation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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13533 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ultrasound Elasticity Imaging System with Chirp-Coded Excitation for Assessing Biomechanical Properties of Elasticity Phantom

by Guan-Chun Chun, Hsing-Jung Chiang, Kuan-Hung Lin, Chien-Ming Li, Pei-Jarn Chen and Tainsong Chen

Materials 2015, 8(12), 8392-8413; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma8125458 - 3 Dec 2015

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6104

Abstract

The biomechanical properties of soft tissues vary with pathological phenomenon. Ultrasound elasticity imaging is a noninvasive method used to analyze the local biomechanical properties of soft tissues in clinical diagnosis. However, the echo signal-to-noise ratio (eSNR) is diminished because of the attenuation of ultrasonic energy by soft tissues. Therefore, to improve the quality of elastography, the eSNR and depth of ultrasound penetration must be increased using chirp-coded excitation. Moreover, the low axial resolution of ultrasound images generated by a chirp-coded pulse must be increased using an appropriate compression filter. The main aim of this study is to develop an ultrasound elasticity imaging system with chirp-coded excitation using a Tukey window for assessing the biomechanical properties of soft tissues. In this study, we propose an ultrasound elasticity imaging system equipped with a 7.5-MHz single-element transducer and polymethylpentene compression plate to measure strains in soft tissues. Soft tissue strains were analyzed using cross correlation (CC) and absolution difference (AD) algorithms. The optimal parameters of CC and AD algorithms used for the ultrasound elasticity imaging system with chirp-coded excitation were determined by measuring the elastographic signal-to-noise ratio (SNRe) of a homogeneous phantom. Moreover, chirp-coded excitation and short pulse excitation were used to measure the elasticity properties of the phantom. The elastographic qualities of the tissue-mimicking phantom were assessed in terms of Young’s modulus and elastographic contrast-to-noise ratio (CNRe). The results show that the developed ultrasound elasticity imaging system with chirp-coded excitation modulated by a Tukey window can acquire accurate, high-quality elastography images. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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6233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reduction of Adipose Tissue Formation by the Controlled Release of BMP-2 Using a Hydroxyapatite-Coated Collagen Carrier System for Sinus-Augmentation/Extraction-Socket Grafting

by Jung-Seok Lee, Tae-Wan Kim, Soyon Park, Byung-Soo Kim, Gun-Il Im, Kyoo-Sung Cho and Chang-Sung Kim

Materials 2015, 8(11), 7634-7649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma8115411 - 11 Nov 2015

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6252

Abstract

The effects of hydroxyapatite (HA)-coating onto collagen carriers for application of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) on cell differentiation in vitro, and on in vivo healing patterns after sinus-augmentation and alveolar socket-grafting were evaluated. In vitro induction of osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation was compared between the culture media with rhBMP-2 solution and with the released rhBMP-2 from the control collagen and from the HA-coated collagen. Demineralized bovine bone and collagen/HA-coated collagen were grafted with/without rhBMP-2 in sinus-augmentation and tooth-extraction-socket models. Adipogenic induction by rhBMP-2 released from HA-coated collagen was significantly reduced compared to collagen. In the sinus-augmentation model, sites that received rhBMP-2 exhibited large amounts of vascular tissue formation at two weeks and increased adipose tissue formation at eight weeks; this could be significantly reduced by using HA-coated collagen as a carrier for rhBMP-2. In extraction-socket grafting, dimensional reduction of alveolar ridge was significantly decreased at sites received rhBMP-2 compared to control sites, but adipose tissue was increased within the regenerated socket area. In conclusion, HA-coated collagen carrier for Escherichia coli-derived rhBMP-2 (ErhBMP-2) may reduce in vitro induction of adipogenic differentiation and in vivo adipose bone marrow tissue formation in bone tissue engineering by ErhBMP-2. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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1689 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Effect of Angle Variation on Water Permeability through Hourglass-Shaped Nanopores

by Dai Tang, Longnan Li, Majid Shahbabaei, Yeong-Eun Yoo and Daejoong Kim

Materials 2015, 8(11), 7257-7268; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma8115380 - 29 Oct 2015

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7910

Abstract

Water transport through aquaporin water channels occurs extensively in cell membranes. Hourglass-shaped (biconical) pores resemble the geometry of these aquaporin channels and therefore attract much research attention. We assumed that hourglass-shaped nanopores are capable of high water permeation like biological aquaporins. In order to prove the assumption, we investigated nanoscale water transport through a model hourglass-shaped pore using molecular dynamics simulations while varying the angle of the conical entrance and the total nanopore length. The results show that a minimal departure from optimized cone angle (e.g., 9° for 30 Å case) significantly increases the osmotic permeability and that there is a non-linear relationship between permeability and the cone angle. The analysis of hydrodynamic resistance proves that the conical entrance helps to reduce the hydrodynamic entrance hindrance. Our numerical and analytical results thus confirm our initial assumption and suggest that fast water transport can be achieved by adjusting the cone angle and length of an hourglass-shaped nanopore. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from ICBEI2015)

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