Biomedical Engineering Services

Put Our Unique Biomedical Engineering Services to Work on Your Study

Our biomedical engineers are experts in areas such as tissue engineering, biomedical imaging, nanotechnology, biomechanics, neuroengineering, cardiovascular engineering and medical device design. Researchers of the Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences at Wake Forest Baptist have amassed—and sometimes created—unique capabilities in many of these areas that can be used to support or enhance your own preclinical and clinical research study with a Wake Forest Baptist principal investigator.

Human Body Models

Computational modeling is a growing component of injury biomechanics and trauma research. Through involvement in the Global Human Body Models Consortium, our researchers develop state-of-the-art virtual human models to improve safety in automotive, aerospace and military applications. These versatile, biofidelic virtual simulations can be used to study many areas, including injury prediction, orthopaedic surgical procedures, medical device design and more.

Key capabilities include:

  • Global Human Body Models Consortium: A multi-center, global effort to develop state of the art virtual human models for improving safety in transportation in automotive, aerospace and military applications
  • A variety of biofidelic human body models, including occupant, pedestrian, detailed and simplified versions
  • Injury Prediction Post-Processor: unique software developed by the biomedical engineering department to identify injury metrics or criteria

Mechanical Testing Services

Mechanical testing of components, devices, surgical systems and biological tissues is a vital part of surgical research and product development. Our researchers have advanced tools to conduct a variety of mechanical testing, from single-axis testing to six-axis force and torque control. These testing capabilities can support your projects in surgical validation, biomechanical characterization and device and component performance.

Key capabilities include:

  • MTS Landmark: This high-rate servo hydraulic material testing system characterizes materials and designs for mechanical properties, performance, fatigue and durability. Research projects can make use of compatible fixtures, load cells and contact/noncontact instruments, as well a variety of custom fixtures and sensors for testing.
  • Kuka KR 300 ultra: Our large format industrial robot is available for highly versatile and complex mechanical testing, including loading of orthopaedic implants and studying the biomechanics of surgical interventions. It is supplemented by a SimVitro control system and integrated motion capture system.
  • Phillips Clinical C-arm Fluoroscope System: This technology can be used to visualize inside tissue specimens to aid in proper surgical placement of implants and devices, as well as used to detect motion of implants and determine failure of an implant or tissue.

Imaging Analysis

The biomedical engineering department has developed the capabilities to analyze imaging data from MRI and CT scans in areas like aging, addiction, injury biomechanics, cancer and cardiovascular disease. Using data from radiological databases or from new scans, researchers analyze a variety of patient demographics and disease states, characterizing information like bone mineral density, cortical thickness and anthropometry and developing quantifiable information for surgical purposes or personalized medicine.

3D Printing and Prototyping

Rapid design and manufacturing of models, parts and prototypes have improved research and product development by providing quick and economic solutions that can be customized to the needs of individual projects.

Our biomedical engineers have access to professional design software, medical image segmentation and simulation tools, as well as industrial-grade 3D printing systems, which they use to produce clinical anatomical models to aid in surgical planning and customized research tools to support a variety of studies. Researchers also design and develop prototypes of medical devices, working through multiple prototype iterations to go from idea to workable product.

Key capabilities include:

  • Carbon M1: Industrial-grade production 3D printer capable of producing anatomical surgical models, fixtures, tools, jigs and medical device prototypes out of both prototyping and engineering grade materials.
  • Desktop printing solutions: Stereolithography (Formlabs FormOne, FormTwo) and Filament Deposition Modeling (Makerbot Replicator G5)