A reference of past and present projects with which I have been involved.
Nicolelis Lab - Duke University
Previous methods for eye-tracking in non-human primates has either relied on invasive measures (such as head-fixation) or has been cost-restrictive. To allow for freer, more natural movement for neurological studies (and implications in BMI devices) and easier access by research labs, an inexpensive head-mounted eye-tracking system was produced. This project was based on work done by Pupil Labs and repurposed for non-human primate use. The system has been tested with monkeys with encouraging results.
Graduate Coursework - Duke University
Several approximations for neural response to extracellular stimulation have been proposed. Their aims are to accurately represent single neuron activity in a computationally cheap method. These methods rely only on a few parameters and do not require solving of the cable equation (normally done through Euler method discretization). These approximations are usually derived for simple geometries of unmyelinated axons and assumed to hold for myelinated segments. However, there is reason to believe that this extension will not hold between continuous, homogenous fibers and discrete (node, antinode) inhomogeneous fibers. In this project, a team built algorithms to compare the accuracy of two approximations, the mirror estimate and the activating function, to a discrete NEURON model for myelinated fibers.
Senior Design Project - University of Tennessee
Hydrocephalus is diagnosed by a heightened pressure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricles of the brain. Current countermeasures rely on the implantation of a shunt to drain excess fluid. These shunts can precisely measure the pressure differential to keep CSF fluid at a safe level. However, these shunts are also susceptible to siphoning effects when the patient quickly changes body orientation. To better understand this event and allow designers to create safer shunts, our team proposed a testing bench to induce siphoning and quantify a shunt's ability to reduce the siphoning effects.