Design, prototyping, and testing of devices for electrical and mechanical stimulation during recellularization of facial composite tissue grafts

Details

Supervisors

Raucent, Benoît ; Duisit, Jérôme

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil électromécanicien

Abstract

The face is an essential identity element. It allows people identification, and it is also an essential vector in social interactions. Indeed, the face is important to the non-verbal communication, and especially to the expression of emotions thanks to its great mobility allowed by the orofacial muscles. However, when this one is injured, it is extremely difficult to hide or repair the wounds. Allograft transplantation techniques have been introduced, but the current cost-benefit ratio of these procedures is low due to the extensive postoperative treatments, including an immunosuppresive therapy. A recent technique, called cell-on-scaffold-seeding technology, has emerged as a response to the problems related to standard transplantation. The basis of this technique is to cleanse an organ from its cells, and reseed it with the patient’s own cells. The technique has already been tested by Dr. Jérôme Duisit and his team on different facial subunits, and has shown encouraging results. Moreover, a device has been designed and assembled by Alexia Springuel in order to ease the technique application, and to optimize the graft physiological conditions for a proper recellularization. However, regarding grafts containing muscles, a mechanical and/or electrical stimulation could favour muscle cell growth, maturation and proper organization during the recellularization stage. It is with this background that a device capable of mechanical and electrical stimulation has been developed. This device also ensure all necessary physiological conditions for a graft optimal recellularization. The objectives of this present work are numerous. The first one is to deeply understand what is a facial composite tissue grafts. Its composition, its mechanical and electrical features. Then, improvement suggestions regarding the device implemented by Alexia Springuel has been provided. Also, a portable electrical stimulation device has been implemented and tested for occasional use on different facial subunit graft. Finally, a complete device including mechanical and electrical stimulation, and ensuring necessary physiological conditions for a graft optimal recellularization, has been designed, assembled and tested