Project Description:

In sagittal craniosynostosis, the sagittal suture of the cranium in babies under 6 months of age fuse prematurely, resulting in an elongated head shape and impaired brain development. Current treatment options of open cranial remodeling surgery, helmet molding therapy, and cranial spring surgery all offer inadequate solutions to both the provider and patient with regards to surgical risk and treatment accessibility. The cranial spring surgery requires two surgeries under anesthesia, one to implant metal springs to expand the skull and a second to remove those springs, but each surgery under anesthesia for patients under 6 months of age incurs higher risks than adults due to their small size and associated difficulties with intubation and medicating through intravenous lines. NeuraSkull technologies are revolutionizing sagittal craniosynostosis treatment through the development of The CranioSpring. It is an optimal treatment option for sagittal craniosynostosis because it is made of bioresorbable polymers and metal alloys. This allows it to degrade on its own following the expansion period without having to be removed in a second surgery, but still function and be implanted using the same mechanisms as the current standard metal springs. The prototype for The CranioSpring is projected to be finalized in December 2022, with submissions for animal testing and market approval to come in 2023.

Project Photo:

To see the full poster, click the poster link at the end of the page

Student Team Members

• Renee Liu
• Bryan Kaplan
• William Zhu
• David Lu
• Makenzie Higgins
• Shalika Subramanian
• Gnagna Sy
• Emma Anderson

Course Faculty

Project Mentors, Sponsors, and Partners

• Dr. Alan Cohen (Clinical Mentor)
• Dr. Robin Yang (Clinical Mentor)
• Dr. Elizabeth Logsdon (BME Mentor)
• Jennifer Schultz (TA)
• Dr. Warren Grayson (Committee Member)
• Dr. Timothy Weihs (Committee Member)
• Dr. Mohammad Fouda (Committee Member)
• Kelly Hartnett (Committee Member)