A new optimized experimental designing method in biomedical engineering study is provided in this paper. The characteristic of the uniform design and orthogonal design was compared. Then, a new experimental design was proposed, which was the combined use of the two experimental designs. Discussed the theoretical basis, using method and its advantages. Furthermore, we proved the validity through our experiment. This method has the specificity of uniform design, fewer times of experiment and suit for experiment with multi-factors and multi-levels. This makes full use of the advantages of orhtogonal design which is widely used and can be analyzed by simple intuitionist analysis, avoids the disadvantages of uniform design in which data can only be processed by computer software. It can be widely used in the research and development of biomedicine engineering.
Biomedical Engineering ; methods ; Biomedical Research ; methods ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Research Design

Biohybrid artificial organs encompass all devices capable of substituting for an organ or tissue function and are fabricated from both synthetic materials and living cells. The viability of engineered tissue could be related to the viability of implanted cells. The system of viability assay for mammalian cell culture can be applied to the determination of cell viability for engineered tissue. This review explores various methods of cell viability assay which can be applied to the viability evaluation of engineered tissue. The major criteria employed in viability assays include survival and growth in tissue culture, functional assay, metabolite incorporation, structural altercation, and membrane integrity. Each viability assay method is based on different definitions of cell viability, and has inherent advantages and disadvantages. In order to be able to assess the viability of cells with one assay method, it is desirable to compare the viability measurements from various assays derived from different criteria.
Animal ; Biomedical Engineering*/methods ; Cell Division ; Cell Survival ; Human

It is no doubt that the gene therapy using recombinant engineering cells provides a novel approach to many refractory diseases. However, the transplant rejection from the host's immune system against heterogeneous cells has been the main handicap of its clinical application. The modern cell micro-encapsulation technique with good immune isolation makes it possible to overcome this problem and has shown potential application foreground in clinical therapies for a lot of diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Hemophiliac disease. This article reviews mainly the relative materials and techniques in processing micro-encapsulation, the host cells used to construct the recombinant genetic engineering cells and application of cell micro-encapsulation technique in the field of gene therapy.
Biomedical Engineering ; methods ; trends ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; trends ; Genetic Therapy ; trends ; Humans ; Miniaturization ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; trends

This paper is based on the research and analysis of the existing related measuring methods, and aimed at the characteristics of equivalent artificial soft materials, and it also proposes a new adaptable test method to measure elastic modules. The modules are based on capacitive gate transducer and micrometer which suits for soft materials. Based on this proposed method, a micro feed mechanism has been designed. The same strain of soft materials under compress test was realized, and the feasibility of this method by analyzing the test results was testified.
Biocompatible Materials ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Biomedical Engineering ; methods ; Computer Simulation ; Elastic Modulus ; Hardness ; Materials Testing ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the computer aided design (CAD) method of veneer restoration, and to assess if the solution can help prosthesis meet morphology esthetics standard.

METHODSA volunteer's upper right central incisor needed to be restored with veneer. Super hard stone models of patient's dentition (before and after tooth preparation) were scanned with the three-dimensional laser scanner. The veneer margin was designed as butt-to-butt type. The veneer was constructed using reverse engineering (RE) software.

RESULTSThe technique guideline of veneers CAD was explore based on RE software, and the veneers was smooth, continuous and symmetrical, which met esthetics construction needs.

CONCLUSIONSIt was a feasible method to reconstruct veneer restoration based on RE technology.

Biomedical Engineering ; methods ; Computer-Aided Design ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; methods ; Dental Veneers ; Humans ; Incisor

It is difficult to test the elastic modulus of the soft bio-anthropomorphic materials by using the general stretch-strain test method. With the equipment for a hardness testing system of bio-anthropomorphic materials and millesimal gauge, we introduce in this paper a compress-strain test method and carry out the related test-data curve-fitness. The test results indicate that this kind of method can be adopted in testing the elastic modulus of the soft bio-anthropomorphic materials and help to compare and distinguish the biomechanics equivalent between the tissues.
Biocompatible Materials ; Biomedical Engineering ; methods ; Computer Simulation ; Elastic Modulus ; Elasticity ; Hardness ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; methods

Tissue engineering can serve as an alternative treatment for a malfunctioning or lost organ. Isolated and expanded cells adhere to a temporary scaffold, proliferate, and secrete their own extracellular matrices (ECM) replacing the biodegrading scaffold. The genitourinary system, composed of the kidney, ureter, bladder, urethra, and genital organs, is exposed to a variety of possible injury sites from the time of fetal development. All the urinary organs are mainly composed of smooth muscle and uroepithelial cells and which may be approached by tissue engineering techniques. A large number of materials, including naturally-derived and synthetic polymers have been utilized to fabricate prostheses for the genitourinary system. Usually, whenever there is a lack of native urologic tissue, reconstruction is considered with native non-urologic tissue, such as, gastrointestinal segments, or skin or mucosa from multiple body sites. Engineering tissues using selective cell transplantation may provide a means to create functional new genitourinary tissues. This review concerns urinary tissues reconstructed with bladder uroepithelial cells and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) implanted on biodegradable polymer matrices.
Animal ; Biomedical Engineering*/methods ; Bioreactors ; Cytological Techniques/trends ; Human ; Stem Cells/physiology ; Urinary Tract*

The concept of cell transplantation using tissue engineering techniques has provided numerous possibilities in the area of urologic tissue reconstruction. Tissue engineering applications in the genitourinary tract system have been investigated in almost every tissue in order to improve, restore and replace existing tissue function. Although most reconstructive efforts still remain in the experimental stage, several technologies have been transferred to the bedside with satisfactory outcome. In this article, we describe tissue engineering approaches attempted in the genitourinary system for reconstruction.
Animal ; Biomedical Engineering* ; Bladder ; Fetus ; Gene Therapy/methods ; Genitalia ; Human ; Kidney ; Ureter ; Urethra ; Urogenital System*

Carbon nanotubes, a new member of the carbon material family, can be considered as graphite sheets rolled-up into cylinders with diameters ranging in the nanometer scale. In recent years, carbon nanotubes have attracted intensive interests because of their unique nanostructures and outstanding mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties. In this paper, the structures and basic features of carbon nanotubes were described in brief. The research advances in the carbon nanotubes on the specific recognition of biomolecules by surface modification and functionalization, in the enhancement to cell growth as culture scaffolds in vitro, and in the improvement of biocompatibility for implantable biomedical material were reviewed. Also comments were made on their potential applications in biomedical sensor and biomedical microelectrics.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Biomedical Engineering ; trends ; Nanotechnology ; methods ; trends ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of designing and fabricating customized titanium bone substitutes to restore mandibular bone defects using reverse engineering (RE) and rapid prototyping (RP) techniques.

METHODSTitanium tray for mandibular defects were designed and fabricated through multi-step procedures of reverse engineering and rapid prototyping, then in operation it was filled with cancellous bone and fixed.

RESULTSThe bone substitutes fabricated by this method had been successfully put into clinical use for maxillofacial surgery in 2 patients and got a satisfactory result.

CONCLUSIONSReverse engineering combining with rapid prototyping could accomplish the design and manufacture of implant for the restoration of mandibular bone defects.

Adult ; Biomedical Engineering ; Bone Substitutes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; surgery ; Mandibular Prosthesis Implantation ; methods