Date Approved

9-24-2025

Graduate Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Engineering (M.S.E.)

Degree Program

School of Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Samhita Rhodes

Second Advisor

Dr. Sanjivan Manoharan

Third Advisor

Dr. Eric Ramsson

Fourth Advisor

Dr. David Kurjiaka

Academic Year

2024/2025

Abstract

A stroke is categorized as quickly developing symptoms of cerebral function loss with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin. Stroke detection in prehospital settings, such as an ambulance, is subjective and often requires additional imaging methods to obtain a definitive conclusion. Common non-invasive methods for stroke detection include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scans. Still, these techniques can be expensive, time-consuming, and dangerous due to exposure to strong magnetic fields and radiation. Two additional methods have been proposed for quick, inexpensive, and non-invasive stroke detection, namely Ultrasound Doppler and Pressure Transducer. A simplified physical simulation of the human cardiovascular system was fabricated using a peristaltic pump, analog in-line flow meters, artificial carotid arteries, and water as the working fluid. A fetal heart rate Doppler ultrasound monitor and two pulse transducer sensors were used to measure flow rate differential in the common carotid arteries at different rates of occlusion on one side. Results show that the ultrasound Doppler device is unable to display the expected peak frequency for each flow rate using a working fluid of water, and the pulse transducer requires careful calibration to obtain the actual flow rate. Future studies are necessary to validate the two techniques further. It is recommended to use a physiologic solution instead of water, to purchase and implement digital clamp-on flow meters that can provide actual flow rates, to add additional arteries to match human vasculature more closely, to calibrate the pulse transducers using objects with known masses, to incorporate a pump that can simulate human flow rate and beats per minute, and to make the setup a closed system, similar to how the human body functions.

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