At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers showcase their novel prosthetic liner

Sarah Holland — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 20:25:07 +0000

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers showcase their novel prosthetic liner Sarah Holland Wed, 02/14/2024 - 15:25

As a capstone to the bioengineering program at ��AV, senior students complete a team-based, two-semester design project developing solutions to real-world biomedical and/or clinical problems.

At the topping off ceremony for Fuse at Mason Square, Mason bioengineering majors Alessandra B Coogan, Katie A Harrison, Karmel Webster, Rachel A Ometz, and Sujung Rodriguez presented their group’s project on a novel prosthetic sleeve.

Tell us about your project.

Prosthetic liners are integral in ensuring a socket fits properly and comfortably. But due to the nature of their design, prosthetic users face the challenge of heat and moisture accumulation around the residual limb. On a hot August day, a simple walk to the mailbox can generate such a significant amount of sweat that bacterial infections, blisters, and swelling can develop. Despite the plethora of solutions saturating the market, the problem endures, propelling our team to confront this issue with a user-centered perspective.

What inspired you to select this topic?

Our motivation to take on this challenge springs from a profound belief that prosthetics should transcend mere functionality; they should empower, not limit. Furthermore, this undertaking allows for the blend of diverse disciplines, ranging from material science to computational modeling. Moreover, dedicating our senior year to this cause provides us with the unique opportunity to give back to the communities around us and raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with amputations.

What has been your greatest success thus far?

Our greatest success is the number of people we've met who are willing and eager to help us with our project. We think that speaks to the greater collaborative nature of science and innovation, embodying Mason's mission: innovation is our tradition.

What is one thing you’ve learned while working on this project that will be useful to you in the field?

How iterative the design process is. Each iteration of brainstorming, prototyping, and refinement may seem like setbacks at first, but in reality are new avenues we can approach from a different, more educated perspective. On top of this, feedback is critical. The relationship between iteration and feedback has been instrumental in propelling our project forward. It underscores the importance of adaptability and the continuous quest for improvement.

How would dedicated research space, such as the plans for Fuse at Mason Square, help sustain your project?

Fuse would offer us the opportunity to connect with individuals from myriad backgrounds and experiences. In such a richly diverse environment, the ability to garner insights from individuals beyond the confines of our field or even engineering becomes a potent catalyst for innovation. Fuse becomes not just a physical space but an incubator for cross-disciplinary dialogue and ideation for anyone.

From left, Rachel A Ometz, Katie A Harrison, Alessandra B Coogan, and Sujung Rodriguez pose with a prototype of their prosthetic sleeve. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Karmel Webster, a member of the prosthetic liner team who was unable to attend the demonstration. Photo provided.

Read about the recent celebration at Fuse at Mason Square

Pioneer solutions with Mason's bioengineering major

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Bioengineering student pursues career in lab research

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 15:47:54 +0000

Bioengineering student pursues career in lab research Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/03/2021 - 11:47

In This Story

Juan Cebral

Parag Chitnis

In early high school, the chance to solve world problems in a lab appealed to junior bioengineering student Medhini Sosale. Since then, she’s known that a combination of field and lab work is what she wants to do for her career, and her time at Mason has given her endless opportunities to explore it further.

Raised in Ashburn, Virginia, Sosale is currently working in bioengineering associate professor Parag Chitnis’ lab, where he is experimenting with ultrasound technology to deliver drugs. Her project is sponsored by the Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research and the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.

“This semester, I am working on creating a 3D model of the blood-brain barrier of a rat’s brain,” says Sosale. In rats and humans, the blood-brain barrier is a protective boundary that keeps bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other organisms from penetrating the brain. It is an important part of the body’s immune system.

“The barrier is very effective, but if we could find a way to access it to deliver targeted medications through ultrasound, we could limit invasiveness and target specific illnesses,” says Sosale.

In her freshman year at Mason, she started working with bioengineering professor Juan Cebral. Her work with Cebral introduced her to new areas of bioengineering and computational research. “Professor Cebral was running a computational model on how to optimize the treatment of strokes. I was running tests on the model, and I learned that I enjoyed the computational side of bioengineering too,” says Sosale.

“For both of these projects, I learned a lot about neuroscience, and that is something I definitely want to pursue,” says Sosale.

Sosale grew up dancing and playing music and was curious about climate change. She hopes to combine some of her interests in her career and possibly look at the neuroscience and genetic implications of surviving a climate disaster.

Sosale hopes to pursue a PhD in a field like conservation biology. She knows her engineering mindset and skills will prepare her for whatever field she chooses.

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At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers showcase their novel prosthetic liner

Tell us about your project.

What inspired you to select this topic?

What has been your greatest success thus far?

What is one thing you’ve learned while working on this project that will be useful to you in the field?

How would dedicated research space, such as the plans for Fuse at Mason Square, help sustain your project?

Read about the recent celebration at Fuse at Mason Square

Pioneer solutions with Mason's bioengineering major

Related News

Topics

Bioengineering student pursues career in lab research

In This Story

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