Fully Funded Swansea and Boston Scientific Ltd PhD Scholarship: Bioprosthetic Design Evaluation Through Experimental-Computational Techniques

Subject areas: Experimental Mechanics, Heart Valves, Digital Image Correlation (DIC), Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Biomechanics, Fluid-Structure Interaction 

Project description:  

Heart valve (HV) disease is a major cause of cardiac malfunction with high mortality if left untreated. Over 200,000 patients/year receive bioprosthetic HV replacements, which exhibit superior haemodynamic behaviour and enable transcatheter replacements. However, the material and geometric design of these highly flexible structures is extremely challenging. A detailed understanding of HV loading and the corresponding mechanical strains and stresses is essential to ensure device longevity (37million cardiac cycles per year!), whilst ensuring optimal cardiovascular function for the patient. This project proposes to integrate state-of-the-art image-based measurement techniques with computational models for a holistic characterisation of HV fluid-structure interaction behaviour. The HVs will be tested in a pulsatile flow mock loop that simulates cardiovascular flow and pressure waveforms. The PhD student will exploit a combination of digital image correlation (DIC) and particle image velocimetry (PIV) methods to robustly characterise the biomechanical behaviour of the HVs. DIC is a non-contact optical measurement technique that can capture full-field displacement and strain on HVs. DIC is highly adaptable and is widely applied in mechanical testing when complex, non-uniform strain fields are expected and where point-based measurements or hard-wired gauges are impractical and insufficient. A multi-camera setup will be used to accurately capture detailed strain fields where the HV rotates and deforms from closed to open state and back. The 4D PIV system will also allow dynamic coherent flow structures to be captured, enabling a more complete view on valve performance. A computational workflow may be integrated alongside these experiments to create a powerful framework to aid future design development. 

In situ mechanical testing with any imaging techniques has its own challenges in immersed conditions, e.g., optical distortions. The Team at the Biomedical Engineering Simulation & Testing Lab (BEST Lab), led by Dr Arora and Dr van Loon, are actively pushing the boundaries of DIC, as well as particle image velocimetry (PIV) and digital volume correlation (DVC) amongst other image-based experimental mechanics methods. Measurements in challenging conditions are a focus of the Team for >15 years. The challenge of combined imaging methods may require bespoke and novel solutions to the imaging setup. Challenges with strain corrections due to variable distortions, pattern durability, application compatibility and technique effectiveness under controlled cardiovascular flow loading needs to be pursued in this studentship. Such challenges working in complex measurement environments and translation from the lab to industrial applications have been performed by the Team over the years. This project will contribute to extending this capability, developing novel measurements with close collaboration with the industrial partner. 

Eligibility 

Candidates must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. We also welcome applications from graduates in computational science or mathematics. Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.

This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at £19,237.

Additional research expenses will also be available.

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