Overview of research work of Prof. Chu on two medical devices

Abstract

Surgical procedures are relatively common and procedures for broken bones often involve intramedullary nailing to repair the bone and keep it stable. However, there are challenges associated with the process and Professor Woeichyn Chu, who is a distinguished professor based within the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, is developing a medical device to help surgeons overcome these challenges, benefiting patients and clinicians. The device is called iMET (intra-medullary endo-transilluminating) and came about after Woeichyn Chu spoke with his brother, Dr William Chu, General Orthopedic Department, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taiwan, about some of the challenges relating to intramedullary nailing which led the brothers to begin working together to develop a medical device to help target distal locking holes in intramedullary nailing procedures. The iMET device that the brothers are developing is designed to improve target aiming accuracy and reduce dose absorption concerns. In the process, it will save significant time, effort and money. As well as benefiting patients and clinicians, iMET also reduces X-ray fluoroscopy time, which has health benefits for all involved. Woeichyn Chu and his brother are also developing a device called iKypho, which applies negative pressure during bone cement injection in percutaneous vertebroplasty surgeries. iKypho reduces bone cment leakage risks when using low viscosity cement and reducing the costs associated with high viscosity bone cement.