Medical Engineering Research...

MERF ANNUAL REPORT 2008 5

ANNUAL REPORT 2008

For Period 1 st July to 31 st December 2008

Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering

Our Mission :

“Make a positive difference to people’s lives by improving health care through clinically relevant r esearch.”

M E R F

Medical Engineering Research Facility


(Front Cover – Medical Engineering Research Facilities at The Prince Charles Hospital Campus, Staib Road, Chermside).


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE NOS 1. DIRECTOR’S REPORT ………………………………………………………………………………………... 2. INTRODUCTION TO MERF …………………………………………………………………………………… 3. REPORTING PERIOD ………………………………………………………………………..………………… 4. HIGHLIGHTS …………………………………………………………………………………..………………… 4.1 – BUILDING AND PLANNING ASPECTS OF MERF 4.2 – OPENING OF MERF 4.3 – THE FIRST SURGICAL SKILLS WORKSHOPS 4.3.1 – STRYKER SPINAL WORKSHOP 4.3.2 – MEDTRONIC CARDIOABLATION WORKSHOP 4.5 – STAFFING AT MERF 4.5.1 – RESEARCHERS UTILISING MERF FACILITIES 4.5.2 – QUT RESEARCH STUDENTS UTILISING MERF FACILITIES 4.6 – THE BIAXIAL INSTRON MACHINE 4.7 – DONATION OF HYPERBARIC CHAMBER 5. BREAKTHROUGHS ……………………………………………………………………..………………………

6. PROGRESS ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6.1 – RESEARCH AREAS 6.2 – ACTIVITIES IN RESEARCH LABORATORIES 6.2.1 – PROJECTS CONDUCTED IN 2008 6.2.2 – PROJECTS PLANNED IN 2009 6.3 – EDUCATION AND TRAINING FACILITIES

7. EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH AT MERF ……………………………………………………………………….. MARTIN WULLSCHLEGER

KATRINA MCDONALD JOHANNES REICHERT KIMBLE DUNSTER 8. MERF GOVERNANCE AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE………………………….………………. 8.1 – MERF GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE 9. SCHOLARSHPS AND FELLOWSHIPS ………………………………………………………………………. 9.1 FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENT 9.2 HIGHER DEGREE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 10. COMMERCIALISATION ……………………………………….………………………………………………

ATTACHMENT 1 – PUBLICATIONS ………………………………………………………………………………………

ATTACHMENT 2 – GRANTS ………………………………………………….. ………………………………………. ATTACHMENT 2.1 – NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS ATTACHMENT 2.2 – OTHER GRANTS

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1. DIRECTOR’S REPORT BY PROFESSOR MARK PEARCY

In 2003 a small group of researchers identified a need to provide specialist research and training facilities for close collaboration between researchers and clinicians. Discussions with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons also highlighted the lack of formal anatomical and surgical skills education for surgical trainees. The developing collaboration between QUT researchers and The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) staff led to discussions about a joint research and training facility. This culminated in a bid being submitted to the Queensland Government’s Smart State Research Facilities Fund (SSRFF) from QUT’s

Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering in collaboration with TPCH in January 2004. In June of that year the SSRFF awarded funding for this joint venture between QUT and TPCH to establish the Medical Engineering Research Facility (MERF) at Chermside. QUT provided additional funding to complete the construction and fit out, ably supported by The Prince Charles Hospital in the provision of land as well as equipment and staff. Our industry partners, Medtronic and Stryker, also provided support through the provision of funds and equipment. MERF is a complex facility housing anatomy laboratories, operating theatres and research laboratories in a compact building. The user group, architects and builders took great care in producing a building of world-class standard in order that the vision of what MERF should be might be achieved. (Testimonials from both national and international clients have subsequently indicated that MERF is indeed world-class.) Staff began moving into the building in March 2008 and the first formal workshop was held in July of 2008. Since then the activity undertaken in MERF has accelerated. In 2008 six workshops were held for 131 participants and activity in 2009, which will be reported in the next annual report, shows a remarkable growth as our reputation for providing first-class training develops. The research undertaken in the first six months of operation from July 2008 has also grown rapidly with 39 projects gaining ethics approval for research in MERF and 11 projects undertaken or commencing in the level 2 research laboratories. The complex nature of the activities conducted in MERF has required a significant effort by the staff to obtain all necessary licences and that compliance with all regulations is ensured. These are detailed later in the report but deserve mention here because of the great team effort by the staff to ensure that MERF is able to function to its potential. The excitement of MERF is that it has a unique combination of facilities and resources to address clinically relevant issues through collaborative research between clinicians, engineers and scientists and clinically relevant training not available anywhere else. The highlights for me in 2008 were the first anatomical and surgical skills workshop in July showing that we could deliver a superb training experience; the official opening on Tuesday 16th September 2008, a milestone in recognising that the dream was becoming reality; the successful use of the operating facilities by researchers from the TPCH; and perhaps most importantly the growing pride of the staff team in their role in MERF as it becomes a busy facility. 2008 has seen the commissioning of MERF and the beginning of activity. The prospects for 2009 are very exciting as we see research and training collaborations develop. Professor Mark Pearcy PhD, DEng, FIEAust, CPEng(Biomed) Director of MERF Professor of Biomedical Engineering Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering


2. INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH FACILITY

MERF Foyer and Breakout Area

The Queensland Government Smart State Facilities Fund awarded $5,000,000 to Queensland University of Technology in June 2004 to establish the Medical Engineering Research Facility (MERF) at The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside. QUT provided funding of $4.15 million to complete the construction and fit out, with funding and equipment support from industry partners, Medtronic and Stryker. The Prince Charles Hospital is supporting this $10.7 million facility by providing land as well as equipment and staff support. MERF is designed to meet Australia’s emerging needs in orthopaedic and artificial organs research. It provides a comprehensive suite of research and training facilities at the one location, including: � Research aimed at solving problems identified by clinicians in their practice, and directed or co-

directed by the clinicians; � Research into new techniques, materials, devices, procedures, and manufacturing techniques for

medical devices; and � Training of clinicians and other professional health workers in new products and techniques. 3. REPORTING PERIOD Initially it was expected that MERF would be functional in 2007, however, due to the complex nature of the building staff did not start moving into the building until March 2008 and functional activity began with the first workshop in July 2008. Correspondence in November 2008 between Professor Arun Sharma, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Commercialisation, QUT and Mr Brian Anker, Deputy Director-General, Science and Technology, Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, Queensland State Government addressed the issue of MERF not providing an annual report until 2009. A deed of variation was signed on 17 June 2009 revising the Schedule for MERF income and expenditure which, with evidence of compliance with this revised Schedule, triggered the final draw down of SSRFF funding for the building of MERF. Whilst this is the MERF Annual report for 2008 it is reporting on activity for the period 1st July – 31st December 2008.


4. HIGHLIGHTS 4.1 Building and Planning Aspects of MERF MERF is the first facility in Australia to support the full cycle of research, validation, commercialisation and training activities necessary to ensure widespread adoption of new medical devices and techniques throughout Queensland, and around the world.

After many months of careful design, planning and documentation with the architects, S2F, the builder, Evans Harch, was appointed and construction commenced in October 2006. The building was completed in 2008.

MERF provides a facility that enables staff from both The Prince Charles Hospital and QUT to be involved in research and training that is likely to lead to improvement in the quality of life of patients.

4.2 Opening of MERF MERF was officially opened on Tuesday 16th September 2008 by the Honourable Mr Stephen Robertson, Minister for Health, in the presence of the QUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Coaldrake, and the Director of

MERF, Professor Mark Pearcy.

The Medical Engineering Research Facility building under construction at the

Prince Charles Hospital site. Design planning was coordinated through

architects S2F and building by Evans Harch.

MERF Opening Ceremony


4.3 The First Surgical Skills Workshops 4.3.1 Stryker Spinal Workshop

The first workshop held at MERF was on Saturday 19th July 2008. This was a Stryker Spinal Workshop and involved pedicle screw placement in the thoracic and lumbar spine. This professional training was delivered by consultant neurosurgeons namely Dr Bruce Hall, Dr Ross Gurgo and Dr Jeff Webster, and six neurosurgeons attended the course. Stryker were very happy with the outcomes of the course and are looking forward to future opportunities for education and training.

4.3.2 Medtronic Cardioablation Workshop The first Medtronic workshop held on the 6th September 2008 at MERF was a cardioablation workshop involving demonstration of atrial ablation techniques and mitral valve replacement, presented by a Prince Charles Hospital surgical trainer and two facilitating surgeons from the Wesley and St Andrews Hospitals with 17 surgeon delegates attending. The first part of the course focused on the Medtronic Irrigated RF Ablation System, where all delegates practiced ablation of the atria tissues. The second part of the workshop focused on mitral valve replacement, this was undertaken by seven of the delegates who were cardiac registrars. The course went extremely well and Medtronic expect to run similar courses in the future.


4.5 Staffing at MERF

Directorate Professor Mark Pearcy - QUT Professor Ross Crawford - QUT Dr Philip Lee – TPCH Operations Mr Keith Officer (QUT) Mrs Gail Stringfellow (QUT) Anatomical Surgical Skills Laboratory Mr James Kelly - QUT Mr Ian Mellor – QUT Mr Duncan Norris (Part-Time) – QUT Biological Research Facility Dr Kathleen Wilson – TPCH Dr Katrina Whitting (Part Time) – QUT Mr Michael Lindeberg – TPCH Mr Peter Lindeberg – TPCH Mr William Sommers – TPCH Research Laboratories and Technical Support Mr Greg Tevelen - QUT Mr David McIntosh – QUT 4.5.1 Researchers Utilising MERF Facilities QUT/IHBI Dr Martin Wullschleger Dr Ben Goss Dr Beat Schmutz Dr Kris Roy Dr Mark Shillington Professor Ross Crawford Dr Johannes Reichert Mr Kenny Yusuf Professor Michael Schuetz Dr Laura Gregory Professor Dietmar Hutmacher Dr Devakara Epari Dr Lance Wilson QUT/TPCH Mr Kimble Dunster Dr Kathleen Wilson TPCH Professor John Fraser Professor Andreas Schibler Mr John-Paul Tung UQ Associate Professor Lindsay Brown

4.5.2 QUT Research Students Utilising MERF Facilities Greg Couzens

Wei Fan Thor Friis

Nicholas Greatrex Shaun Gregory Navdeep Kaur Pushpanjali Krishnakanth

Katrina McDonald Verena Quent Johannes Reichert Imran Sattar Mark Shillington Hoi Ting Shiu Sanjlenna Singh Victoria Toal Yun Wai Young (Will) Kenny Yusuf


4.6 The Biaxial Instron Machine At the MERF Opening the Health Minister was shown the recently commissioned Biaxial Instron Machine that will be used by MERF researchers for testing joints and biomaterials.

QUT Professor Mark Pearcy, Health Minister Stephen Robertson and QUT Professor Peter Coaldrake at MERF

4.7 Donation of a Hyperbaric Chamber for Oxygen The rapy Research by Don Fry Mr Don Fry AO owner and Chairman of AIMTEK – Aerospace, Industrial and Marine Technology has recently donated a hyperbaric chamber to facilitate the research program “The effect of hyperbaric oxygen on secondary degeneration after spinal cord injury” being conducted at MERF with Dr Ben Goss as Chief Investigator.


5. BREAKTHROUGHS

� The training courses in anatomical and surgical skills in combination with companies and international instructors should be seen as a breakthrough in educational development for Queensland.

� The development of techniques to study reduction of injury due to smoke inhalation. � Investigation of factors affecting the viability of lung transplants. � Investigation of techniques to reduce secondary degeneration in spinal injury. � Development of techniques to study the mechanics of osteoporotic bones. 6. PROGRESS 6.1 Research Areas Areas targeted for rapid advancement as MERF research capabilities become available include: � Bone replacement and cartilage replacement systems;

� Promotion of bone healing;

� Optimising spinal surgical procedures;

� Augmentation for osteoporotic bone and crush fractures;

� Non-biological replacement organs (eg artificial heart).

Some of the clinical conditions impacted by the work are: � Joint (hip & knee) replacements due to arthritis, injury,

osteoporosis and other causes;

� Fractured long-bones and fractures neck or femur (including as a result of trauma);

� Cancer requiring bone tumour resection surgery;

� Spinal deformity, back pain (including disc regeneration), and osteoporotic spines;

� Congestive heart failure and impaired functioning of other organs.

MERF research facilities include operating theatres, cell culture laboratories, materials testing laboratories and mechanical and electrical workshops.


6.2 Activities in Research Laboratories 6.2.1 Projects Conducted in 2008

Researcher Affiliations of Investigators and Other Facilities Utilised

Project Status

Ben Goss QUT/IHBI The effect of hyperbaric oxygen on secondary degeneration after spinal cord injury

Completed 2008

Ben Goss QUT/IHBI Assessment of a biomaterial for bone replacement

Ongoing 2009

Yun Wai Young (Will) QUT/IHBI Reduction of secondary degeneration in spinal cord injury

Ongoing 2009

Lance Wilson QUT/IHBI Cement mantle testing for replacement hip joints Ongoing 2009

Katrina McDonald QUT/IHBI Vertebral compression fractures in the osteoporotic spine

Completed 2008

Roland Steck QUT/IHBI Plastic bone compression testing as a model for fracture fixation testing

Completed 2008

Roland Steck QUT/IHBI Mouse bone torsion testing for fracture healing studies

Completed 2008

Kimble Dunster QUT/TPCH Plaster cast setting and the affect of ambient temperature

Completed 2008

John Fraser TPCH Lung transplant procedures Ongoing 2009

6.2.2 Projects Planned for 2009

Researcher Affiliations of Investigators and Other Facilities Utilised

Project Status

Greg Couzens QUT/IHBI Scaphoid / Lunate wrist fracture fixation methods

Ongoing 2009

Thor Friis QUT/IHBI Cell culture research for arthritis and bone replacement

Ongoing 2009

6.3 Education and Training Facilities A significant feature of MERF is the incorporation of professional training programs for surgeons, general practitioners, anaesthetists, nurses, and other professional health workers, providing a vital “hands on” complement to the virtual hospital simulation suite at the Queensland Health Skills Development Centre. The state of the art six-station operating theatre is also audio and television equipped to broadcast workshops to remote sites. In 2008 six training workshops were held with a total of 131 attendees.


7. EXAMPLES OF RESEARCH AT MERF

Influence of Surgical Approach on Fracture Healing Outcome (Martin Wullschleger)

While the complete evaluation of the experiments is still ongoing, first results indicate advantages for fractures treated in a minimally invasive fashion. The minimally invasive surgical approach resulted in less damage to the soft tissues surrounding the fracture. This was demonstrated by analysis of clinical markers for muscle injuries in the circulating blood. Mechanical testing of the healing bone, which is a measure of healing outcome, showed an earlier recovery of strength and stiffness for the fractures treated with the minimally invasive approach. These first results demonstrate that the minimally invasive surgeries for the internal fixation of bone fractures, despite being more demanding for the surgeon, lead to outcomes that are comparable to the ones achieved by traditional surgical methods. These results have direct clinical implications and will further aid the development of improved surgical methods for the application of fracture fixation implants. ___________________________________________________________________

The Trauma Research Group has concluded experiments to determine whether the surgical approach, the way by which a fixation implant is applied to the fractured bone, has any influence on the healing outcome of bone fractures. Minimally invasive (so-called “keyhole”) surgeries have become a popular method to apply fracture fixation plates, with fewer fractures treated by a traditional open reduction internal fixation, where the fracture site is exposed along the entire length of the implanted fracture fixation plate. However, while the newer method offers obvious cosmetic (smaller scars) and potential other advantages (e.g. reduced infection risk), it comes at the cost of increased exposure to X-ray radiation and is generally more demanding for the surgeon.

The Biomechanics of Osteoporotic Vertebral Comp-ression Fractures (Katrina Mc Donald) Vertebral compression fractures are the most common type of osteoporotic fracture and are associated with pain, increased thoracic curvature, reduced mobility, and difficulty with self care. The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanics of spinal osteoporosis and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures by developing multi-scale computational, Finite Element (FE) models of both healthy and osteoporotic vertebral bodies. The models were used to simulate the progression of osteoporosis, the effect of different loading conditions on vertebral strength and stiffness, and the effects of vertebroplasty on vertebral and trabecular mechanics. The trabecular bone model, vertebral body model and vertebroplasty models were validated against in-vitro data from a series of compression tests performed using human cadaveric vertebral bodies.

Vertebral specimen being compression tested in the Instron

Testing Machine


Tissue Engineering of Artificial Bone for Reconstru ction of Large Bone Defects (Johannes Reichert)

Bone usually shows good healing capacity and most fractures or bone defects heal spontaneously. However, a compromised wound environment, insufficient surgical technique or biomechanical instability can result in large defects with limited intrinsic regeneration potential. Segmental bone defects pose a major surgical, socio-economical and research challenge and highly influence patients’ quality of life. The most common anatomic location of segmental bone defects is the tibial diaphysis. Over the years, bone grafts have advanced as the “gold standard” treatment. However, the use of autologous bone is associated with additional anaesthetic time and personnel required for graft harvesting. Often, insufficient amounts of graft can be obtained while access to donor sites is limited. Donor site pain, nerve damage or haemorrhage can occur while donor bone is predispositioned to failure. To circumvent these limiting factors, there has been continuous interest in the use of synthetic and naturally derived bone graft substitutes during the past decades. More recently, the concept of tissue engineering has emerged as an important approach to bone related orthopaedic and trauma research. Tissue engineering unites aspects of cellular biology, biomechanical engineering, biomaterial sciences and trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Its general principle involves the association of cells and/or growth factors with a natural or synthetic supporting scaffold to produce a three-dimensional, implantable construct. A considerable number of research groups and commercial entities worldwide therefore concentrate their efforts on the development of tissue engineering approaches as an alternative to bone grafting. These groups are highly interested in evaluating their concepts in reproducible, preclinical, large segmental defects models. Therefore Dr. Johannes Reichert and his colleagues have established a highly standardized and reproducible critical sized, tibial, segmental bone defect model. A negative control group was included to show that untreated defects do not show spontaneous healing (Fig. 1A). As well, defects were reconstructed using autologous cancellous bone graft from the iliac crest (gold standard) to serve as baseline data for comparison (Fig. 1B). Currently, different biomaterials (e.g. Polycaprolactone-Tricalciumphosphate composite scaffolds (PCL-TCP), Fig. 2A) and scaffold growth factor combinations (e.g. PCL-TCP with OP-1, a recombinant bone growth stimulating agent, Fig. 2B) are being evaluated in regards to their osteogenic potential in short (3 months) and long-term (12 months) studies to assess their suitability to serve as bone graft substitutes. All specimens are analysed by x-ray imaging, conventional CT scans, biomechanical testing (torsional strength & stiffness), microCT and histology/ histomorphometry. In summary, these studies will facilitate the translation of cell- and/or scaffold-based therapies from bench to bedside by conclusively demonstrating the level of therapeutic benefit and elucidating the essential underlying biological mechanisms.

Fig. 1: 3 cm tibial defect in a tibia fixed with a dynamic compression plate and left untreated (A) or reconstructed with auto-logous cancellous bone (B) 3 months after surgery. While the untreated defect didn’t show any signs of healing (A), the defect reconstructed with auto-logous bone graft was solidly bridged with newly formed bone (B).

Fig. 2: 3 cm tibial defect reconstructed with a PCL-TCP scaffold (A) or PCL-TCP + OP-

1 (B).


An Experimental Model for the Measurement of Inspir ed Gas Temperatures in Ventilated Neonates (Kimble Dunster) The objective of the research was to determine the inspired gas temperature at points from the endo-tracheal tube (ETT) circuit manifold to the tip of the ETT in a model neonatal lung. A model lung attached to standard ventilator circuit, autofeed chamber and humidifier was ventilated using typical pressure-limited, time cycled settings. Temperatures were measured at various distances along the ETT using a K-type thermocouple temperature probe. The results showed that the inspired gas temperature dropped from the circuit temperature probe site (40 degrees C) to the proximal end of the ETT (37 degrees C). The temperature dropped further as it passed through the exposed part of the ETT (34 degrees C) but then warmed again on entering the lung model so that the inspired gas at the distal end of the ETT was 37 degrees C. Statistically significant differences were found with a one-way ANOVA P-value of <0.0001. The differences between each pair of mean temperatures were statistically significant (all P<0.001) except when comparing the proximal end of the ETT with midway down the ETT (Bonferroni's Multiple Comparison Test, P>0.05). The study concluded that the inspired gas temperature drops as it passes through the circuit temperature probe site, the proximal end of the ETT and the exposed part of the ETT. The inspired gas rewarms on entering the model lung and exits the ETT at the desired temperature. The effect of measuring temperature closer to the patient, setting the circuit temperature higher and/or increasing the ambient temperature through which the circuit passes, need to be evaluated in further studies. Jardine, L. A., K. R. Dunster, et al. (2008). "An experimental model for the measurement of inspired gas temperatures in ventilated neonates." Paediatric Pulmonology 43(1): 29-33.


8. MERF GOVERNANCE AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 8.1 MERF Governance Committee This Committee, comprising of the Executive Dean BEE, Executive Director IHBI, Director MERF, Faculty Manager BEE, Institute Manager IHBI, Director Division of Research and Commercialisation, and a Secretary, met on nine occasions over a six month period and considered a wide range of governance, reporting and management issues related to:

� Oversight of the commissioning of MERF. � Governance framework and BEE/IHBI/MERF relationship with reporting through the IHBI

Executive Committee � Structure of Committees and Advisory Groups. � Staff resources and concomitant development. � Resolution of building issues. � Position description for and appointment of Operations Manager.

As a result of the committee discussions, the following MERF governance and management groups were constituted to report to the MERF Directorate:-

� MERF Operations Group (comprising Operations Manager and Area Managers) � MERF Advisory Group (BRF Manager and BRF users) � MERF Biological Resource Management Committee (internal and external advisers) � MERF Ethics Advisory Group (QUT and State Government Senior Representatives).

9. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS Details of Scholarships and Fellowships related to MERF are presented below. 9.1 Fellowship Recipient

Verena Quent 9.2 Higher Degree Research Scholarship Recipients

Wei Fan Johannes Reichert Nicholas Greatrex Imran Sattar Shaun Gregory Hoi Ting Shiu Navdeep Kaur Sanjlenna Singh Pushpanjali Krishnakanth Victoria Toal Katrina McDonald Yun Wa Young

10. COMMERCIALISATION In 2008 MERF researchers worked through IHBI and QUT’s technology transfer and commercialisation company, qutbluebox (bluebox) to review potential IP and commercialisation opportunities. No disclosures relating to activities in MERF were made to bluebox during 2008. Discussions have been ongoing during MERF’s six months of operation and will continue through 2009. A number of potential opportunities may be identified in 2009, but there is nothing to report in 2008. The Medical Engineering Research Facility underpins the ability of researchers to develop ideas through research to prototype devices for evaluation.


ATTACHMENT 1 - PUBLICATIONS MERF has only been operational since the middle of 2008 and yet it has already provided facilities to assist researchers and PhD students to complete studies that have been published in international literature. Journal Articles

Brown CP, Crawford RW, Oloyede A. In search of a parameter to distinguish viable from non-viable articular cartilage—Indentation and ultrasound Studies. Advanced Materials Research. 2008;32:223-228.

Conroy JL, Whitehouse SL, Graves SE, Pratt NL, Ryan P, Crawford RW. Risk factors for revision of early dislocation in total hip arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2008;23:867-872.

Davies MW, Dunster KR, Wilson K. Gas exchange during perfluorocarbon liquid immersion. Life support for the ex utero fetus. Med Hypotheses. 2008;71:91-8.

Fan W, Crawford R, Xiao Y. Structural and cellular differences between metaphyseal and diaphyseal periosteum in different age groups. Bone. 2008;42:81-89.

Grant C, Fraser JF, Dunster KR, Schibler A, (2008) The assessment of regional lung mechanics with electrical impedance tomography: a pilot study during recruitment manoeuvres, Intensive Care Medicine, 35 (1), p166-170.

Jardine LA, Dunster KR, et al. (2008) “An experimental model for the measurement of inspired gas temperatures in ventilated neonates”. Paediatric Pulmonology 43(1):29-33.

Krebs J, Ferguson S, Hoestrup S, Goss B, Haeberli A, Aebil N. Influence of bone marrow fat embolism on coagulation activation in a model of vertebroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90:349-356.

Little JP, Pearcy MJ, Adam CJ. Are coupled rotations in the lumbar spine largely due to osseoligamentous anatomy: A modelling Study. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering. 2008;11:95-103.

Schmutz B, Volp AR, Momot K, Pearcy MJ, Schuetz M, (2008) Using MRI for the imaging of long bones: First experiences, Journal of Biometrics, 41 (1), pS188-S188.

Singh S, Jones BJ, Crawford R, Xiao Y. Characterisation of a mesenchymal-like stem cell population from osteophyte tissue. Stem Cells and Development. 2008;17:245-254.

Timms D, Fraser J, Hayne M, Dunning J, McNeil K, Pearcy M. The BIVACOR rotary biventrical assist device: concept and in vitro investigations. Artificial Organs. 2008;32:816-827.

Xiao Y, Peng H, Mao X, Whittaker A, Crawford R. Novel synthetic biomimin polymers for cell delivery. Journal of Advanced Materials Research. 2008;32:215-222.

Guest Editors

Pearcy MJ, Adam CJ, Thompson R, Wilcox R. Guest editors for Special Issue Current concepts and clinically significant outcomes of recent research into spinal mechanics. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part H, Journal of Engineering in Medicine. 2008;222:1-248.

International Conference Presentations

Chen G, Schmutz B, Steck R, Pearcy M, Wullschleger M, Wilson C, Schuetz M. Predicting the fatigue life of internal facture fixation plates. 16th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics. Lucerne, Switzerland. 6-9 July 2008.

Gaddum N. Passive Control of a Rotary Bivad; An experimental and numerical investigation. 16th Congress of the International Society for Rotary Blood Pumps. Houston, Texas, 22-24 October 2008.

McDonald K, Little J, Pearcy M, Adam CJ. Relative roles of cortical and trabecular thinning in reducing osteoporotic vertebral body stiffness: a modelling study. 13th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering. Singapore. 3-6 December 2008.


ATTACHMENT 1 – PUBLICATIONS CONT’D…

McDonald K, Little JP, Pearcy MJ, Adam CJ. Relative roles of cortical and trabecular thinning in reducing osteoporotic vertebral body stiffness: A modelling study. 13th International Conference on Biomedical Engineering (ICBME). Singapore, 3-6 December 2008.

Australia/New Zealand Conference Presentations

Goss B, Lutton C, Young W, Mackay-Sim A, Meedeniya A. Reduction of secondary degeneration after spinal cord injury by acute delivery of vascular growth factors. Spine Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting. Adelaide, Australia, April 2008.

Schmutz B, Volp A, Momot K, Schuetz M. Using MRI for the imaging of long bones: First experiences. 14th Annual Scientific Meeting, Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society. Brisbane, Australia. 17-18 November 2008.

Sugiyama S, Goss B, Wullschleger M, Wilson K, Williams R. Reliability of clinical measurement for assessing spinal fusion. 14th Annual Scientific Meeting, Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society. Brisbane, Australia. 17-18 November, 2008.

Wullschleger M, Schmutz B, Ito K, Steck R, Schuetz M. Minimally invasive versus open plate osteosynthesis: Quantative radiographic analysis of callus morphology of distal femur fractures using computed tomography imaging. 14th Annual Scientific Meeting, Australian and New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society. Brisbane, Australia. 17-18 November 2008.

Wullschleger M, Schmutz B, Ito K, Steck R, Schuetz M. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis: Quantitative analysis of callus formation in a distal femur fracture model using computed tomography imaging. 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA). Hobart, Australia. 12-15 October 2008.

Wullschleger M, Steck R, Wilson K, Ito K, Schuetz M. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis: Advanced early fracture healing in a trauma model. 68th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA). Hobart, Australia. 12-15 October 2008.


ATTACHMENT 2 - GRANTS 2.1 NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS GRAN T ARC Discovery Grant TITLE Patient-specific biomedical modelling for improved treatment of spinal

deformity CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

M Pearcy, C Adam, J Evans, G Askin

GRAN T ARC Discovery Grant TITLE Engineering articular cartilage with zonal structure and function CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

D Hutmacher, T Klein, J Malda, R Sah

GRAN T ARC Discovery Grant TITLE Bilayered and growth factor-loaded composite scaffolds for the guided bi-

differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

X Miao, Y Xiao, R Crawford

GRAN T ARC Linkage Grant TITLE Development of a prothrombogenic bone graft substitute CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

R Crawford, M Schuetz, A Stemberger, B Goss, B Scott

GRAN T ARC Linkage Grant TITLE Understanding the biomechanical effects of fixation strategies to improve the

technology of fracture management CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

M Schuetz, S Mishra, G Chen, S Perran

GRAN T NHMRC Development Grant TITLE The next generation of Biomaterials; in vivo assessment of lumbar spine fusion

biodegradable interbody cages CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

B Goss, C Lutton

GRAN T NHMRC Development Grant TITLE Development of a smart arthroscopy system and prototype probe for joint

tissue CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

A Oloyede, R Crawford


ATTACHMENT 2 – GRANTS CONT’D…

2.2 OTHER GRANTS

GRAN T Queensland Department of State Development, Smart State Fellowship TITLE Development and characterisation of an osteoinductive polymeric bone graft

substitute material for use in orthopaedic surgery CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

B Goss

GRAN T Synthes TITLE Morphology database for fracture modelling, implant design and optimisation CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

B Schmutz, M Scheutz

GRAN T IHBI Early Career Researcher TITLE Evaluation of an implantation sensor to monitor pressure, oxygen tension and

temperature in vivo over extended periods during bone regeneration CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

D Epari

GRAN T Department of Education, Science and Training International Science

Linkages, Australia – China fund for Science and Technology Co-Operation TITLE Developing tissue engineered product for clinical application using a model of

temporomandibular joint disorders CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

Y Xiao, R Crawford, X Miao

GRAN T Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Grant TITLE Application of a human bone engineering platform to an in-vivo prostate cancer

model CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

D Hutmacher, T Klein, J Reichert

GRAN T Australian Orthopaedic Association TITLE Tissue engineering as a potential approach for the treatment of osteonecrosis CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

R Crawford, X Miao, Y Xiao

GRAN T AO Research Foundation TITLE Effect of surgical approach on fracture healing CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

M Wullschleger, M Schuetz, K Ito

GRAN T Marian and EH Flack Trust TITLE Improving treatment outcomes for children with scoliosis: practical use of

computer modelling CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

C Adam


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

“The Medical Engineering Research Facility would like to acknowledge the contributions to the 2008 Annual Report made by staff and researchers of the

Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), the Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering (BEE), other offices of Queensland University of Technology (QUT), researchers and clinicians of The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) and our industry

partners Medtronic and Stryker”.

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