Volume 1, Issue 4
San Jose State University Biomedical Engineering Society
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Message from the President
Interview with Dr. Mallika Keralapura
Bay Area Medical Device Conference
Conference Photos
BMES Holds Bi-Annual Poster Session
BMES Holds Elections for 2010-2011
BMES Visits Boston Scientific
Contact Info:
BMES @SJSU # 90,
c/o Student Involvement
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA 95192 – 0038
sjsubmes@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/sjsubmes
May 2010
SJSU BMES
Chapter
Newsletter
A Message from the President
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6
As the academic year comes to an end, along with my Presidency, I would like to reflect on the
accomplishments we have made this year and the path we must continue to follow as a society.
During the past year, we visited ISIS, Philips Healthcare, and Boston Scientific, where we were
able to see first-hand the jobs, goals and opportunities in the biomedical device industry. We
hosted poster presentations on campus, providing students real-world feedback on their
research and presentations. I attended the national BMES Conference to represent us as a
strong and innovative chapter. Our most important accomplishment was planning and hosting
the Bay Area Biomedical Device Conference 2010, held on March 30. We worked together to
create a unique and engaging conference for biomedical device professionals, students and
faculty. Our efforts were recognized by San Jose State University when we were awarded the
Outstanding New Program Award at the annual Student Involvement Banquet.
As a society, we have made confident strides to expand our chapter and have made our
presence known on campus; however, we must continue to grow. For the coming year, I have
full confidence that our new executive committee will lead us to even more success.
Please join me in actively participating with and supporting our executive committee, under the
leadership of our new President, Emily Wong. Let’s make this upcoming year even better than
the previous one.
Sheena Deol
 Page 2 SJSU BMES Chapter Newsletter – May 2010

Interview with Dr. Mallika Keralapura

Did you know? Dr. Mallika Keralapura, assistant using FEM (finite element
professor of Electrical modeling) and then processing
October is National Breast Cancer Engineering, joined SJSU in the image.
Awareness Month (NBCAM). Founded 2008 and quickly established
Could elastography be used in
in 1985, NBCAM has been providing herself as a valuable addition to place of the standard
breast cancer awareness and the burgeoning Biomedical mammograms that are
education for the past 25 years. To Engineering programs. While currently performed?
learn more, visit http://www.nbcam.org. pursuing her Ph.D. at UC Davis,
Dr. Keralapura focused on Dr. Keralapura:
breast cancer diagnosis using
You don’t want to replace any
ultrasound. During post-doctoral
current techniques that are
work at UCSF she studied
used in the hospital, because
ultrasound applications for
they have some benefit.
prostate cancer therapy. We
Instead, you always want to
spoke to Dr. Keralapura about
add information to the Where do you see the field of
her current research projects
diagnostic test. If a cancer detection going in the
and the future of cancer future?
mammogram comes back
detection.
suspicious, a sonogram is
Each imaging modality has its
What motivated you to pursue performed. Some hospitals own strengths – MRI, CT,
biomedical engineering after now use an elastogram Ultrasound, and Mammography
studying electrical engineering alongside the sonogram. all provide complementary
as an undergraduate? images. More imaging fusion
Are you working on any other technology is coming, mixing, for
Dr. Keralapura: projects? instance, CT and MRI on the
same image. This provides more
We are working on a breast information for diagnosis.
Electrical engineering provided
cancer drug delivery project
good fundamentals, and
with Dr. Maryam Mobed- What led you to oncology
biomedical engineering provided Miremadi, Professor of research?
an application area upon which I Bioengineering. We are trying
could build. I was always to find ways to deliver local Cancer is a fascinating, unsolved
fascinated with biology and drugs to tumors, using problem. I’m particularly
anything that has to do with microcapsules. passionate about breast cancer
medicine, so I naturally and plan to continue working on
We also have two projects that breast cancer research for many
gravitated towards biomedical
focus on treatment monitoring years.
engineering. of prostate cancer. We have a
collaboration with the UCSF Do you have any advice for a
What are some of the research Thermal Therapy Group. They student who wants to pursue
projects you and your students build devices for prostate cancer research?
are working on? cancer ablation that are tracked
using MRI. We are trying to It’s an exciting field with plenty of
Dr. Keralapura: develop alternative algorithms funding available through the NSF
to assist tracking. and NIH. Those pursuing a Ph.D.
I work on ultrasound will find many fellowships
applications for both the What equipment do you use in available. When you contribute to
diagnosis and treatment of the Biomedical Systems Lab cancer research, you directly
cancer, focusing mainly on (Engr. 317)? benefit many lives. This makes it
breast cancer and prostate a very rewarding field.
cancer. We have a range of basic
ultrasound equipment: power
We are trying to tackle breast amplifiers, hydrophones, Samir Shah
cancer diagnosis using transducers, measurement
elastography (strain imaging). I systems for intensity and
am working with one of my attenuation. We will soon be
students, Naema Hashmi, on getting a portable ultrasound
the modeling aspects of scanner as well as a high-end
elastography, creating the image microscope.
 Page 3 SJSU BMES Chapter Newsletter – May 2010

Bay Area Medical Device Conference 2010

Did you know?
The 2010 National BMES
Conference is being held October 6-9
in Austin, Texas. More than 3000
participants, 1200 poster
presentations, and three full days of
symposia are expected. To learn
more, visit http://www.bmes.org
On March 30, 2010, the BMES Student Chapter at SJSU hosted the First Annual Bay Area Medical
Device Conference in the Engineering Auditorium at San Jose State University. The Conference was
intended to bring together students, faculty and industry professionals for an opportunity to gain
knowledge and awareness of current advances in the medical device field, as well as to provide
networking opportunities. At this first event, the attendance was 160; the Conference was sponsored
by three companies and a professional society, enabling BMES@SJSU to keep registration costs at a
very affordable rate.
Topics covered at the Conference this year encompassed many facets of the medical device industry.
Featured presentations ranged from discussions on starting a medical device company, taking ideas
from concept to products, discussions on the failure mechanisms of implantable medical devices, to
selection of adequate animal models for pre-clinical trials. The sequence of the lectures as well as
the thoroughness of the speakers allowed the audience to fully comprehend and associate the
process of clinical trials with product development.

Among the attendees were undergraduate and graduate students of various disciplines from local
universities, faculty from SJSU, and working professionals from various biotechnology, medical
device, and engineering industries. The comments regarding the Conference as a whole, as well as
feedback received, were very positive. The attendees commended the diverse yet connected topics,
and the many opportunities dedicated to networking and student research presentations. Many were
already inquiring about the next Conference.

The experience of BMES students, faculty advisor, and industry advisors, involved in the planning
and preparation of the entire conference, was very rewarding and fulfilling. Together, the Planning
and Advisory Committees worked collaboratively and efficiently to culminate an extensively,
successful Conference. The BMES officers and students gained significant practical experience in
planning, project management, communication and teamwork skills.

As a result, the Chapter received the 'Outstanding New Program' Award for this event at the annual
'Student Involvement Recognition Banquet' sponsored by Associated Students at San Jose State
For more photos taken University. The Second Bay Area Medical Device Conference is tentatively scheduled for March 30,
from the Conference and 2011, and the SJSU BMES Student Chapter looks forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces.
For further information, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Chapter:
various BMES activities,
sjsubmes@gmail.com
please visit our Picassa
album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ Emily Wong
sjsubmes
 Page 4 SJSU BMES Chapter Newsletter – May 2010

Summer 2010 Bioengineering Bay Area Biomedical Device Conference

Classes at SJSU:
2010 Photos
Engr 177: Physiology for
Engineers
Instructor: Dr. Michael Sneary
Tues-Thurs
5:30 ~ 8:00 p.m.
Room: DH 250

Engr 274: Regulatory, Clinical and

Manufacturing Aspects of Medical
Devices

Instructor: Dr. Selvaduray

Mon, Wed 5:30 - 8:20 p.m.
Room: Engr 303

Fall 2010 Bioengineering

Classes at SJSU:

Engr 115: Intro to Bioengineering

Instructor: Dr. Mobed-Miremadi
Tues 6:00 - 8:45 p.m.
Room: CL 234

MatE 175: Biomaterials

Instructor: Dr. Selvaduray

Tues & Thurs 4:30 - 5:45 p.m.
Room: IS 113

ME 267: Engineering
Biomechanics

Instructor: Dr. El-Hage

Tues & Thurs 6:00 ~ 7:15 p.m.
Room: CL 202

Page 5
2009-2010 Officers and
Committees:
President: Sheena Deol
Vice President: Nava Krishna
Secretary: Nandini Gurunathan
Treasurer: Nick
Suuthipongsaward
Advisors: Edward Labrador
Ricardo Duque
Newsletter: Emily Wong
Samir Shah
Historian: Mrudhula Gampala
IT and Website: Edward
Labrador
Corporate Sponsorship: Mark
Mirigian
Finance: Ricardo Duque
Chapter Development: Nandini
Gurunathan
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Guna
Selvaduray
Conference Organizing Committee
SJSU BMES Chapter Newsletter – May 2010
BMES Hosts Bi-Annual Poster
Presentation
SJSU BMES held its bi-annual poster
session on May 11, 2010, conveniently
located in the lobby of the Engineering
Building. Featured posters were from
students in Biotransport Phenomena
taught by Dr. Maryam Mobed-
Miremadi, and Biomedical Imaging
taught by Dr. Mallika Keralapura. What
students gained through lectures was
reflected and exhibited in their posters.
Posters on display were evaluated by
a Faculty panel, comprised of Dr.
Mobed-Miremadi, Dr. Keralapura, and
Dr. Michel Goedert. Among those
evaluated, awards were presented to
the following students: Arash Azarmi,
Jacquana Diep, Sabra Djomehri,
Reagan Dolendo, Yu Feng, Henry
Kao, Tetyana Mizina, Trupti Partani,
Devanshi Patel, Alice Tsui, David
Wright, and Sam Young.
Congratulations to the winners!
Emily Wong
Emily Wong
SJSU BMES Holds Elections for 2010-
2011
On April 15, 2010, SJSU BMES held elections for the 2010-2011 Academic Year. After a brief
message from outgoing BMES President Sheena Deol, the election process got underway.
Following her nomination to the position of BMES President, Emily Wong gave a short speech
and was unanimously voted in as President for the upcoming school year. In addition, Shruthi
Thirumalai was elected Vice-President, Sukhdeep Chera was elected Secretary, and Larissa
Clark was elected BMES Treasurer.
Once officer elections were complete, club members were elected to fill the various BMES
committees that keep the club operational: membership, newsletter, historian, website/IT,
corporate relations, events, finance, and chapter development.
Congratulations to the new officers and committee members!
Samir Shah
 Page 6 SJSU BMES Chapter Newsletter – May 2010

Upcoming Events:
BMES Visits Boston Scientific
End-of-the-Semester
Celebration/Party
Date: May 26, 2010
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Hawgs Seafood Bar
150 S. Second St.
San Jose, CA 95113

Industrial Tour to Agilent

Technologies

Date: June 11, 2010

Where: 5301 Stevens Creek
Boulevard
Santa Clara, CA
95051

BMD Orientation
Date: August 12, 2010
Time: 5:00 pm
Where: Engr. 287, SJSU

Bay Area Biomedical Device
Conference 2011
Date: March 30, 2011
Time: 8:00 am
Where: SJSU College of
Engineering
For more information and to
register, please visit:
http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/bmes/
Every semester, the BMES organizes an industrial tour at a medical device company in the
Bay Area to enhance both learning and professional networking. This spring, the BMES had
an opportunity to tour the Boston Scientific facility in Fremont as well as acquire familiarity
on products in their Neurovascular department.
Boston Scientific is a company dedicated to developing and marketing less-invasive medical
devices to benefit various fields, such as cardiology, endoscopy, urology, and
neuromodulation.
The tour began with an in-depth presentation on the company's neurovascular products
utilized to treat those affected by hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Following the
presentation, the members of BMES underwent a brief training session on the procedure for
entering the clean room. Once in the clean room, members were exposed to the working
environment, and had the opportunity to observe the assembling of neurovascular products.

Overall, the tour to Boston Scientific enabled members of BMES to attain a thorough view of
successful medical devices as well as gain hands-on experience in the industry.

Emily Wong
We’re on the Web!
http://engr.sjsu.edu/bmes/