A unique embolic protection device to mitigate circulating debris generated during cardiac surgeriestextBuyukkucak, BerkecreatorSodha, NeelReaderCoulombe, KareenReaderKofron, CelindaAdvisorBrown University. Biology and Medicine: Biomedical Engineeringsponsor2019, None p.born digitalThesis (Sc. M.)--Brown University, 2019thesesPostoperative cerebral injuries due to debris traveling up the carotid arteries can be a devastating complications of open-heart surgeries. While the benchmark medical device manufacturers sought to address the problem with embolic protection devices, so far, clinical outcomes have not improved. This study builds on a solution proposed by demonstrates the feasibility to use a double-layered, pocketed medical grade mesh, with a conical Nitinol frame. To conduct preliminary tests for capture efficiency and the design’s effect on blood flow, planar and conical mesh structures were built (PMSs, CMSs). Each structures were either single layered (SL) (100 μm pore size), double layered (DL) (350 μm pore size mesh on the inner layer), small pocketed double layered (SP DL) or large pocketed double layered (LP DL). PMSs were tested for their capture efficiency and on average caught 92.47 ∓2.02% of the introduced debris. CMSs were placed in an aortic model and were tested for their capture efficiency as they were being retrieved. SP DL CMSs caught significantly more debris than the rest (P>0.05) with an average of 96.67∓8.09%. Furthermore, preliminary modeling of fluid dynamics shows a 36-fold drop in velocity across the CMSs of the water exiting a cannula with an average velocity of 225.08 ∓ 1.40 cm/s. Future studies will account for and include the use of blood both for computational modeling and for a flow profile analysis of blood as it flows through the EPD, with Doppler ultrasound imaging. The verification tests presented in this study were promising in terms of the debris capture of the proposed EPD. With the conceptual framework that this study has built, and with the identified limitations, future verification experiments will aim to ensure and underscore the safety of use of the proposed EPD. These preliminary results and the next set of verification experiments should lead to validation studies in animal models for an extensive preclinical trial. Eventually, the iterative design process and early adaptation to challenges ahead will result in a product that would protect open-heart surgery patients from cerebral-injury, all around the world.Cardiovascular system--DiseasesCerebrovascular diseaseembolic protection deviceHeart--SurgeryEnglishRPB2019060310.26300/wcrk-1a82In CopyrightCollection is open for research.