Publication Date
2016
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Caroline Cao (Advisor), Brian Rigling (Committee Member), Ulas Sunar (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBME)
Abstract
Endovascular intervention is the current gold-standard for screening and treating aortic aneurysms and complications caused by peripheral vascular disease (PAD). A typical endovascular procedure begins with inserting an endovascular guidewire into the femoral artery via incision. A catheter is then threaded over the guidewire and both tools are then navigated to the treatment site. The navigation is guided solely by fluoroscopy (x-ray) imagery that is performed throughout the duration of the procedure. Not only does this method provide limited 2-D guidance, but also exposes the patient and medical staff to high levels of radiation. This thesis research focuses on the design of a shape tracker which can be used to aid in endovascular navigation by providing shape information of endovascular tools to the physician. Design of the fiber optic shape tracker includes a fiber optic cable instrumented with semiconductor nanocrystals, quantum dots (QDs), to act as point sensor fluorophores. To facilitate design development this research focuses on optical fiber micromachining, QD characterization, QD deposition pattern optimization and Sensor integration evaluation. Final prototypes showed the capability to detect multiple bend in a single fiber and to interpret bend direction from fiber output using a novel QD "grouping" method.
Page Count
99
Department or Program
Department of Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering
Year Degree Awarded
2016
Copyright
Copyright 2016, all rights reserved. My ETD will be available under the "Fair Use" terms of copyright law.
