New Materials for an Implantable Blood Pump. Rotary blood pumps are at the leading edge of heart assist technology. VentrAssist has developed an innovative rotary blood pump with a hydro-dynamically suspended impeller. Advanced surface modifications will enable the device to be fabricated from polymers; this will make the device light, more compatible with the human body and less costly to produce. Surface treatments and coatings will be applied using ion implantation, to impart the required ....New Materials for an Implantable Blood Pump. Rotary blood pumps are at the leading edge of heart assist technology. VentrAssist has developed an innovative rotary blood pump with a hydro-dynamically suspended impeller. Advanced surface modifications will enable the device to be fabricated from polymers; this will make the device light, more compatible with the human body and less costly to produce. Surface treatments and coatings will be applied using ion implantation, to impart the required dimensional stability, impermeability and wear resistance. Following sophisticated experiments of modified materials, the best candidates will be used in prototype devices, for final selection of the optimal materials for the new device.Read moreRead less
Functional drug-releasing polymer nano-composites for preventing medical device infection and encrustation. By developing new methodologies for producing functional biomaterials, this research will benefit Australia by continuing our high profile in this research field and by producing economic benefits arising from development and export of materials technologies to the major user groups in USA and Europe. With our demonstrated linkages with Australian based biomaterials developers at CSIRO an ....Functional drug-releasing polymer nano-composites for preventing medical device infection and encrustation. By developing new methodologies for producing functional biomaterials, this research will benefit Australia by continuing our high profile in this research field and by producing economic benefits arising from development and export of materials technologies to the major user groups in USA and Europe. With our demonstrated linkages with Australian based biomaterials developers at CSIRO and University of Queensland, as well as with companies involved in the commercialisation of polyurethane based medical devices (Aortech P/L), this group is well placed to continue the research at a more applied level once the early basic stage is complete.Read moreRead less
Non-invasive control of an implantable rotary blood pump used as a left ventricular assist device. The Holy Grail for developers of rotary blood pumps used as left ventricular assist devices is to control the pump to meet the body's metabolic demand and to do this without the need for implanting additional sensors. The controller must also detect and avoid dangerous states associated with over and under pumping.
In this research we will derive and implement a pump control algorithm that will ....Non-invasive control of an implantable rotary blood pump used as a left ventricular assist device. The Holy Grail for developers of rotary blood pumps used as left ventricular assist devices is to control the pump to meet the body's metabolic demand and to do this without the need for implanting additional sensors. The controller must also detect and avoid dangerous states associated with over and under pumping.
In this research we will derive and implement a pump control algorithm that will allow non-invasive prediction of pump flow, automatic detection of pumping states and adjustments for the metabolic demand of the body. The algorithms will be tested on the bench and in animal and human studies.Read moreRead less
Understanding glycopolymer interactions with the extracellular matrix. This project aims to advance knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical structure of the endothelial glycocalyx, a dynamic cell surface extracellular matrix rich in proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. It will be the first to explore how charged glycopolymers interact with this dynamic interface with the goal to develop a model of the glycocalyx lifecycle. This project is expected to enable the transfer of skills, knowledg ....Understanding glycopolymer interactions with the extracellular matrix. This project aims to advance knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical structure of the endothelial glycocalyx, a dynamic cell surface extracellular matrix rich in proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. It will be the first to explore how charged glycopolymers interact with this dynamic interface with the goal to develop a model of the glycocalyx lifecycle. This project is expected to enable the transfer of skills, knowledge and ideas as well as advanced research and industrial training for young scientists. Knowledge derived from this project is expected to enable future innovation in molecules with tailored interactions with the glycocalyx with significant benefits for researchers, manufacturers and end users. Read moreRead less
Hermetic bonding of biomedical polymers for cardiac-assist devices. The use of a polymeric ventricular assist device will bring a much better quality of life to patients with end-stage heart failure. The project will address the remaining challenge, the creation of a hermetic polymer seal, enabling the development of a small, light and highly efficient heart pump. The project has the potential to improve the lives of many Australians as our demographic profile shifts towards older people. Patie ....Hermetic bonding of biomedical polymers for cardiac-assist devices. The use of a polymeric ventricular assist device will bring a much better quality of life to patients with end-stage heart failure. The project will address the remaining challenge, the creation of a hermetic polymer seal, enabling the development of a small, light and highly efficient heart pump. The project has the potential to improve the lives of many Australians as our demographic profile shifts towards older people. Patients with advanced heart failure will live longer, with a higher quality of life. It will assist heart failure sufferers to remain productive members of our community, because many people who use the device will be fit to return to work.Read moreRead less
Hybrid Sensor-based Physiological Control of an Implantable Rotary Blood Pump. With over 11 million people needing heart transplants worldwide and only 3000 donor hearts, an effective alternative therapy is needed. The Ventracor Ltd. rotary blood pump is one possible approach whereby a fully implantable mechanical device assists the failing heart. The innovative steps in this research proposal will be a means to robustly and safely control the speed of the pump to meet the metabolic needs of the ....Hybrid Sensor-based Physiological Control of an Implantable Rotary Blood Pump. With over 11 million people needing heart transplants worldwide and only 3000 donor hearts, an effective alternative therapy is needed. The Ventracor Ltd. rotary blood pump is one possible approach whereby a fully implantable mechanical device assists the failing heart. The innovative steps in this research proposal will be a means to robustly and safely control the speed of the pump to meet the metabolic needs of the body. Apart from the obvious health benefits for patients, this will provide the company with a huge market advantage that will also help to bolster the Australian medical device industry.Read moreRead less
Computational Reconstruction of Cardiac Pacemaker Activation and Atrial Propagation. This study seeks to develop accurate computer models of electrical activity in pacemaker and atrial cells of the heart, in order to understand how the heartbeat originates and propagates across the atria during normal and abnormal rhythms. In Australia, atrial fibrillation represents the most common form of chronic cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, as well as being a major risk factor in strok ....Computational Reconstruction of Cardiac Pacemaker Activation and Atrial Propagation. This study seeks to develop accurate computer models of electrical activity in pacemaker and atrial cells of the heart, in order to understand how the heartbeat originates and propagates across the atria during normal and abnormal rhythms. In Australia, atrial fibrillation represents the most common form of chronic cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, as well as being a major risk factor in stroke. Accurate computer modelling of normal and abnormal heart rhythms will provide greater insights into the development of antiarrythmic drugs as well as advancing knowledge of key electrical phenomena in the heart.Read moreRead less
Haemodynamic investigation of flow diverter stents for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. This project will explore the engineering of a flow diverter, an endovascular device for the treatment of brain aneurysms. The project will determine the optimal design of new types of flow diverters, which in turn could improve the effectiveness of treatments, thus reducing the associated costs of cerebral haemorrhage and stroke.
Structural design of third generation biomaterials. This project will design third generation biomaterials for heart valves, cartilage and bones that guide the formation of new tissue whilst being dissolved inside the human body. As a result, it is anticipated that painful and costly revision surgery will become obsolete. Major benefits will be achieved in paediatric health as implants will have the ability to grow with the child.
Biomaterials with multifaceted tunability and bio-specificity. Polyurethanes, a family of polymers with independently tunable mechanical and biodegradation properties, will be developed as a versatile platform material for biomedical implants. Novel energetic ion treatments that allow the coupling of bioactive agents to surfaces will eliminate adverse reactions and enable integration with surrounding tissue.