Mechanical Engineering

Faculty and Staff - Karyn S. Kunzelman, PhD

Graduate Faculty, Research Professor

Mechanical Engineering, UMaine and Superior Surgical Solutions Inc., Formerly: Cardiac Surgery, Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, Central Maine Medical Center, Lewiston, Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute, Central Maine Medical Center, 300 Main Street, Lewiston, ME 04240, USA

Karyn Kunzelman has more than 20 years of experience in medical and surgical research investigation, research program management, infrastructure building, resource development, and strategic planning. She has held senior management positions in both academic and private sectors, as the Director of Research at the University of Washington, University of Wisconsin, and Central Maine Medical Center.

Dr. Kunzelman has a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and a B.S. in Engineering Science from the University of Michigan. She has held faculty positions at the University of Washington, University of Wisconsin, and University of Maine; in Surgery, Biomedical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering Departments. She serves on numerous national grant review panels (NIH, NSF, AHA), is an associate editor for two professional biomedical journals, and serves on the board of directors for national and international professional biomedical associations.

219 Boardman Hall
University of Maine
Orono, Maine 04469-5711
Phone: (207) 581-2120
Fax: (207) 581-2379

e-mail: karyn.cochran@maine.edu
 e-mail: kunzelka@msn.com

EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

 2010-present                  Associate Editor – Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology

2002-present                  Associate Editor – Journal of Heart Valve Disease

SPECIAL NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

2010-2014           National Institutes of Health, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Surgery and Bioengineering Study Section, Member

Principal Investigator, Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair: A Validated Fluid-Structure Interaction Model, National Institutes of Health RO1, 8/1/09-6/30/14, $2,995,516.

Mitral regurgitation is the most common heart valve problem encountered in clinical practice. Mitral valve repair is considered superior to mitral valve replacement, and there many surgical techniques utilized to address differing pathologies.  One approach to assess the effects of pathology and proposed surgical repair is to utilize a computational model, in which pathologic or surgical alterations can be assessed systematically.   However, current models are limited by assumptions related to geometry and material properties and importantly, none have been validated with detailed experimental data.  In our current work, we are utilizing an advanced fluid-structure interaction (FSI) model of the mitral valve system that allows analysis of the valve in the normal, diseased, or repaired states.  The findings are validated utilizing a well-established, but unique experimental in-vitro system, in which mitral valve function can be extensively assessed.  Once validated, this FSI model can be utilized to assess many different types of pathology and repair.  We have chosen to assess two pathologic conditions (annular dilatation, papillary displacement) and one type of repair (percutaneous edge-to-edge repair) in both the diastolic or systolic phases. The ultimate long term goal of this research)  is to provide an advanced fluid-structure interaction model of the mitral valve that could ultimately be used for individualized patient planning for mitral valve repair.

Selected Publications

1. Kunzelman KS, Cochran RP, Chuong CJ, Ring WS, Verrier ED, Eberhart RC. Finite element analysis of the mitral valve. J Heart Valve Dis. 1993;2:326-340.
2. Kunzelman KS, Cochran RP, Chuong CJ, Ring WS, Verrier ED, Eberhart RC. Finite element analysis of mitral valve pathology. J Long Term Effects of Med Imp. 1993;3:161-179.
3. Grande KJ, Cochran RP, Reinhall PG, Kunzelman KS. Stress variations in the human aortic root and valve: The role of anatomic asymmetry. Ann Biomed Eng, 1998;26:534-545.
4. Nicosia M, Cochran R, Reinhall P, Einstein D, Kunzelman K. A Coupled fluid-structure model of the aortic valve and root. J Heart Valve Dis, 2003; 12:781-9.
5. Einstein DR, Reinhall P, Nicosia M, Cochran RP, Kunzelman KS. Dynamic finite element implementation of nonlinear, anisotropic hyperelastic biological membranes.  Comp Meth Biomech Biomed Eng, 2003; 6(1):33-44
6. Einstein D, Reinhall P, Kunzelman K, Cochran RP: Hemodynamic determinants of the mitral valve closure sound: a finite element study. IEEE Med  Biol Eng Comp, 2004; 42(6):832-46. 
7. Einstein D, Reinhall P, Kunzelman K, Cochran RP: Nonlinear finite element analysis of the mitral valve. J Heart Valve Dis, 2005;14(3):376-85
8. Einstein D, Reinhall P, Kunzelman K, Cochran RP: The relationship of normal and abnormal microstructural proliferation to the mitral valve closure sound: ASME Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, 2005;127(1):134-147.  
9. Kunzelman KS, Einstein D, Cochran RP: Fluid structure interaction models of the mitral valve: Function in normal and pathologic states.  Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2007; 362(1484):1393-406. 
10. Schievano S,  Kunzelman K, Nicosia M,  Cochran R,  Khambadkone S,  Einstein D,  Kunzelman K,  Bonhoeffer P:  Percutaneous Mitral Valve Dilatation: Single Balloon versus Double Balloon – A Finite Element Analysis.  J Heart Valve Dis, 2009;18(1):28-34.
11. Einstein DR, DelPin F, Jiao X, Kuprat AP, Carson JP, Kunzelman KS, Cochran RP, Guccione JM, Ratclifee MB.  Fluid-structure interactions of the mitral valve and left heart: Comprehensive strategies, past, present, and future.  Comm Num Meth Eng.  2010 Mar;26(3-4):348-380.

Image Description: Karyn

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