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Bioengineering, Volume 12, Issue 7 (July 2025) – 5 articles

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13 pages, 2165 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increasing Nebulizer Spray Efficiency Using a Baffle with a Conical Surface: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis

by Hung-Chieh Wu, Fu-Lun Chen, Yuan-Ching Chiang, Yi-June Lo, Chun-Li Lin, Wei-Jen Chang and Haw-Ming Huang

Bioengineering 2025, 12(7), 680; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12070680 - 20 Jun 2025

Abstract

Breath-actuated nebulizers used in aerosol therapy are vital to children and patients with disabilities and stand out for their ability to accurat ely deliver medication while minimizing waste. Their performance can be measured according to the mass output and droplet size. This study aimed to analyze how the baffle impact surface geometries affect the pressure and flow streamlines inside the nebulizer using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Computer-aided design models of conical symmetric, conical asymmetric, and arc-shaped baffle designs were analyzed using CFD simulations, with the optimal spray output validated through the differences in mass. Conical baffles exhibited superior pressure distribution and output streamlines at 0.25 cm protrusion, suggesting that the nebulizer spray performance can be enhanced by using such a conical baffle impact surface. This result serves as a valuable reference for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials)

19 pages, 5255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AI-Assisted Image Recognition of Cervical Spine Vertebrae in Dynamic X-Ray Recordings

by Esther van Santbrink, Valérie Schuermans, Esmée Cerfonteijn, Marcel Breeuwer, Anouk Smeets, Henk van Santbrink and Toon Boselie

Bioengineering 2025, 12(7), 679; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12070679 - 20 Jun 2025

Abstract

Background: Qualitative motion analysis revealed that the cervical spine moves according to a consistent pattern. This analysis calculates the relative rotation between vertebral segments to determine the sequence in which they contribute to extension, demonstrating a mean sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 85%. However, the extensive time that is required limits its applicability. This study investigated the feasibility of implementing a deep-learning model to analyze qualitative cervical motion. Methods: A U-Net architecture was implemented as 2D and 2D+t models. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and Intersection over Union (IoU) were used to assess the performance of the models. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was used to compare the relative rotation of individual vertebrae and segments to the ground truth. Results: IoU ranged from 0.37 to 0.74 and DSC ranged from 0.53 to 0.80. The ICC scores for relative rotation ranged from 0.62 to 0.96 for individual vertebrae and from 0.28 to 0.72 for vertebral segments. For segments, 2D+t models presented higher ICC scores compared to 2D models. Conclusions: This study showed the feasibility of implementing deep-learning models to analyze qualitative cervical motion in dynamic X-ray recordings. Future research should focus on improving model segmentation by enhancing recording contrast and applying post-processing methods. Improved segmentation accuracy will enable routine use of the analysis of motion patterns in clinical research. The absence or presence of a motion pattern, or identification of new patterns has the potential to aid in clinical decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spine Biomechanics)

27 pages, 12504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Controlling Cell Migratory Patterns Under an Electric Field Regulated by a Neural Network-Based Feedback Controller

by Giovanny Marquez, Mohammad Jafari, Manasa Kesapragada, Kan Zhu, Prabhat Baniya, Yao-Hui Sun, Hao-Chieh Hsieh, Cristian O. Hernandez, Mircea Teodorescu, Marco Rolandi, Min Zhao and Marcella Gomez

Bioengineering 2025, 12(7), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12070678 - 20 Jun 2025

Abstract

Electric fields (EFs) are widely employed to promote tissue regeneration and accelerate wound healing. Despite extensive study, the cellular responses elicited by EFs are complex and not well understood. The present work focuses on cell migration—a process essential to organismal development, immune surveillance, and repair—and seeks to achieve its precise, closed‑loop regulation. Effective control is impeded by (i) the nonlinear and stochastic nature of migratory dynamics and (ii) safety constraints that restrict the admissible EF magnitude. To address these challenges, we reformulate a neural network (NN) feedback controller previously developed for single-cell membrane‑potential regulation and adapt it to guide population-level cell migration. A projection operator is embedded into the NN weight‑update law to prevent maladaptive learning that arises when the control signal saturates at its EF limit. Numerical simulations confirm that the modified controller maintains accurate trajectory tracking under saturation and outperforms the original NN design. Finally, we demonstrate a proof‑of‑concept by implementing the controller in vitro to direct the electrotactic migration of naïve macrophages in 2D culture under a unidirectional EF. For the in vitro experiments, we compare performance to the standard proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields in Biology and Medicine: From Mechanisms to Biomedical Applications: 3rd Edition)

10 pages, 2117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Interference in CIEDs Exposed to Magnetic Fields at Power Frequencies: Induced Voltage Analysis and Measurement

by Mengxi Zhou, Djilali Kourtiche, Julien Claudel, Patrice Roth, Isabelle Magne, François Deschamps and Bruno Salvi

Bioengineering 2025, 12(7), 677; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12070677 - 20 Jun 2025

Abstract

Despite ongoing concerns about electromagnetic interference affecting cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in the electrical industry workplaces, no study has experimentally assessed induced voltages in CIEDs under exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields. This study addresses this gap by quantifying such interference using a dedicated experimental setup to reproduce high intensity magnetic fields and to measure voltages induced on CIEDs under exposure. A thorough analysis was carried out in comparison with formula-based and simulation approaches applied in previous studies. The induced voltages on CIEDs were measured across varying configurations, including sensing mode, implantation method, exposure frequency, and magnetic field orientation. Our findings reveal the induced voltage levels under exposure from a statistical perspective and highlight correlations between susceptibility and the impact factors, with unipolar configurations and left pectoral implants exhibiting the highest susceptibility. This work provides insights into electromagnetic interference risks for CIED carriers and supports the development of individual protection strategies to enhance occupational safety. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields in Biology and Medicine: From Mechanisms to Biomedical Applications: 3rd Edition)

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21 pages, 9022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ex Vivo and Simulation Comparison of Leakage in End-to-End Versus End-to-Side Anastomosed Porcine Large Intestine

by Youssef Fahmy, Mohamed Trabia, Brian Ward, Lucas Gallup and Whitney Elks

Bioengineering 2025, 12(7), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering12070676 - 20 Jun 2025

Abstract

Anastomotic leaks after colorectal resection are serious surgical complications. We have compared the integrity of two common colorectal anastomosis techniques, end-to-side (ES) and end-to-end (EE), to control specimens using a novel experimental setup that mimics anastomotic air leak tests, which are typically performed during surgeries. Freshly harvested porcine colonic sections from 23 F1 cross-species pigs were used. Pressure measurements and video imaging were used to monitor the ex vivo experiments on EE, ES, and Control specimens. Using EE (n = 16), ES (n = 12), and Control (n = 22) specimens, leak pressure was 282.6 ± 3.0 mm Hg for EE, 282.8 ± 2.6 mm Hg for ES, and 294.4 ± 12.1 for the Control. Time to leakage was 106.3 ± 28.1 s for EE, 263.9 ± 2127.0 s for ES, and 194.5 ± 90.2 s for the Control. We found that, while EE and ES have nearly identical leak pressures, ES was superior in terms of time to leakage and tissue expansion, which may explain why ES anastomoses have a lower clinical anastomotic leak rate. Two dependent variables representing stress and strain of colonic tissues were introduced. These variables showed ES was comparable to the Control. The experiments were simulated successfully using the finite element method (FEM). This research provides a reproducible ex vivo system with a corresponding FEM system to study the differences between anastomosis techniques and may help design anastomoses with lower leak rates and improve patient outcomes in colorectal surgeries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Assessment of Medical Devices)

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