MeBioSys – Mechanical engineering of biological and bio-inspired systems

The Mechanical engineering of biological and bio-inspired systems – MeBioSys (2023-2028) project was established in the call for Excellence in Research from ESIF funds, the JAK operational program. The main contribution is the development of new technologies for mechanical engineering as a convergence of biological and technological evolution. The aim is to achieve progress in the research and development of a new generation of technological, manufacturing and material solutions for demanding engineering applications with high added value. The research agenda consists of two research plans dedicated to bioinspired mechatronic systems in materials (development of materials based on theoretical approaches and bioinspiration, superlubricity of machine elements inspired by biosystems, development of SMART material structures and bioinspired metamaterial systems) and mechatronic systems for biomedical engineering (hybrid and composite biomaterials, modification and nanostructuring of biomaterial surfaces, mechatronic systems for biomedicine).

The main beneficiary of the project is BUT Brno, CTU is in the position of another participant together with 5 research organizations, the investigator is the Department of Mechanics, Biomechanics and Mechatronics, where biomechanics and mechatronics are combined. CTU participates in the development of mechatronic systems for biomedical engineering. Research is being carried out on systems with distributed actuators and sensors. It is used to develop biomechatronic systems using distributed actuators and sensors in layers of artificial veins with actively controlled stiffness (Fig. 2), including actuation for the needs of research on blood circulation and the function of artificial lungs. Specifically, the design of a new peristaltic pump (Fig. 1) as an actively controlled tubular biomechatronic structure and the development of advanced methods for its control are being carried out so that it achieves the optimal physiological shape of the pressure and flow wave in the patient's extracorporeal blood circulation depending on his current condition.

Fig. 1 Concept of peristaltic pump with distributed actutors

Fig. 2 Inflation – extension experiments with artificial elastic vascular grafts. Scheme of the experimental setup is shown on the left: the sample (1) is pressurized by a piston-driven syringe (2). Pressure is measured using a pressure transducer (3). Two cameras (4, 5) record the deformed specimen. The data are gathered and synchronized by a computer. A photo of specimen mounted in the testing chamber on the right.
 

Contact:

prof. Ing. Michael Valášek, DrSc.

Department of Mechanics, Biomechanics and Mechatronics FME CTU in Prague

E-mail: michael.valasek@fs.cvut.cz

Phone: +420 224 357 361