SBIR Phase I: Educational Interactive Hemodynamics Flow Visualization and Analysis

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目是关于开发一个教育交互式血流动力学可视化和分析系统，用于任何研究血流的人，如医学或生物工程专业的学生的生理学课程。对于研究血流的人来说，血液动力学在生理学课程中是非常重要的。在过去的四十年里，血流动力学原理的教学没有明显的变化。我们建议开发一种经济实惠的系统，利用高度可视化技术的廉价版本-粒子图像测速（PIV） ？用于血液动力学原理实验教学。使用PIV与可互换的血管模型可以直观地说明血液动力学的基本规律。然而，研究级别的PIV系统使用高功率激光器，通常成本超过10万美元。高成本和安全方面的考虑阻碍了PIV系统在教育系统中的应用。我们不仅将开发一种方法，从硅胶和负担得起的PIV系统中创建可互换的血管模型，而且还将通过开发软件作为教育过程的虚拟教学助理，创建学习材料和新颖的教学策略，学生可以通过互动实验提高对血液动力学的理解。这将是一次重要的技术飞跃。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是推进血流动力学的教学。此外，该系统有潜力用于验证计算机模拟，并评估心血管装置的流体动力学性能。在活体实验中用于教学的动物数量也可以减少。该系统将以合理的价格为教师提供最新的技术作为教学工具，使他们能够获得新的知识和技能，并修改他们的课程和教学实践。该系统的低成本将使预算有限的学校能够使用最先进的技术向学生教授血液动力学。该技术操作简单、成本低、视觉效果好，可用于博物馆、科学中心和类似机构制作科学和工程展品。除了教学之外，这项技术以一种经济实惠且易于使用的形式成功实施，可以在未来使研究人员能够使用快速原型系统快速制作患者特定的精确血管模型。我们的商业合作伙伴LaVision对此感到兴奋，因为他们看到了不断增长的需求，全球市场潜力为2.5亿美元。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is about developing an Educational Interactive Hemodynamics Flow Visualization and Analysis System to be used in physiology courses for anyone studying blood flows such as medical or bioengineering students. Study of hemodynamics is very important in physiology courses for anyone studying blood flows. Teaching the principles of hemodynamics has not significantly changed over the last forty years. We propose to develop an affordable system that utilizes an inexpensive version of a highly visual technology - Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) ? to be used in teaching hemodynamic principles experimentally. Using PIV with interchangeable blood vessel models can visually illustrate fundamental laws of hemodynamics. However, research level PIV systems utilize high-power lasers and usually cost over $100K. The high cost and safety considerations prohibit adaptation of PIV systems in the education system. We will not only develop a method to create interchangeable blood vessel models from silicone and an affordable PIV system but also create learning materials and novel teaching strategies by developing software as a virtual teaching assistant for the education process, where the students can develop enhanced understanding of hemodynamics by interactive experiments. This will be an important technological leap.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to advance the teaching of hemodynamics. In addition the system has the potential to be used to validate computer simulations, and assess the hydrodynamic performance of cardiovascular devices. The number of animals used for teaching in in-vivo experiments may also be reduced. The system will provide faculty the latest technology as a teaching tool at an affordable price, allowing them to acquire new knowledge and skills and to revise their curricula and teaching practices. The low cost of the system will allow schools with limited budgets to use the state of the art technology to teach hemodynamics to their students. Due to its simplicity of operation, low cost and being highly visual, this technology can be used at museums, science centers and similar institutions to develop exhibits in science and engineering. Apart from teaching, successful implementation of this technology in an affordable and easy to use form can in the future enable investigators to visualize flow in patient-specific accurate blood vessel models made quickly using rapid prototyping systems. Our commercial partner, LaVision, is excited about this as they see a growing demand, and worldwide market potential is $250MM.