ABOUT US
The POC Medical Devices Lab is addressing a variety of healthcare challenges around the globe. Recent projects include (1) training phantom for ultrasound-guided nerve block, (2) portable centrifuge for anemia diagnosis, (3) system to identify substandard pharmaceuticals, (4) breathalzyer for diabetic monitoring, and many more.
TEAM MEMBERS
DR. MIKE RUST
Michael J. Rust received his B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, in 2003 and 2009, respectively. During his undergraduate training, he worked for Ethicon Endo-Surgery and AtriCure, companies that specialize in the development of novel surgical devices. While completing his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Rust served as an NSF GK-12 Graduate Fellow, which allowed him to develop hands-on engineering activities for high school students. In 2009, he joined the faculty of Western New England University where he currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering. He teaches undergraduate courses in bioinstrumentation, physiology, lab-on-a-chip, and global health. Dr. Rust has published numerous papers in professional conferences and technical journals, and he is a co-inventor on two US patents. He is a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). Dr. Rust’s work has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), American Society for Quality (ASQ), Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), and the Jenzabar Foundation. His research interests involve the development of point-of-care medical technologies, including bioinstrumentation for use in low-resource settings. Dr. Rust is the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer at New England Breath Technologies, which is developing a non-invasive breathalyzer for monitoring diabetes.
CURRENT AND FORMER STUDENTS
Jeff Bibeau, 2010
Bryce Benson, 2010
Nick Carlson, 2011
Jason Criscuolo, 2011
Ben Senderling, 2011
Lindsay Tencza, 2012
Laura Daniel, 2012
Joseph Papu, 2012
Jess Woods, 2013
Marek Nicpon, 2013
Nicole Banach, 2013
Corinne Gamache, 2013
Brianna Sporbert, 2013
Scott Crawley, 2013
Cassie Zieminski, 2014
Alex Meschutt, 2014
Emily Dubuc, 2014
Megan French, 2015
Joe Corso, 2015
Tyler Gerhardson, 2015
Ryan Dubay, 2015
Majdi Sheikh, 2016
Eric Thibodeau, 2016
David Kisala, 2016
Matt Coralli, 2016
Shaine Spencer, 2016
Nick Striglio, 2016
Allie Goncalves, 2017
Pat Nix, 2017
Ben Perry, 2017
Mike Zyla, 2017
Dominick Marino, 2017
Andrew Aldrich, 2017
Alan Haberern, 2017
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COURSES
LAB ON A CHIP
This course studies the design, development, and application of Lab on a Chip systems in the biomedical and life sciences. Topics include fundamentals of miniaturization, microfluidics, sensors, fabrication, packaging, and system integration. Students review current applications of miniaturized chemical/biological analysis systems and design a basic microfluidic system that is implemented in a hands-on laboratory project. (BME 432)
BIOSENSORS, BIOMEMS, AND NANOMEDICINE
This course studies the development and application of micro and nanotechnologies in medicine. Topics include biosensors, transduction mechanisms, and fundamentals of bio-microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS). Recent progress in nano-scale sensors and systems is also explored, including nanoparticle-based systems for targeted therapy, drug delivery, and nanobiosensors. (BME 434)
GLOBAL HEALTH & TECHNOLOGY
This course studies a variety of challenges at the intersection of healthcare, technology, society, and culture. Intended for any student who has an interest in global health, topics include health statistics, emerging conditions, and recent technological solutions. The course includes a 12-day trip to Guatemala with faculty to explore healthcare in a developing country. (ILP 238)
GET IN TOUCH
Feel free to contact Dr. Rust at any time regarding our published work, course offerings or any other inquires.