Indian SFU Grad Helping To Improve Technology For Critically Ill Patients

SURREY – Student RamMeyyappan’s interest in carryingout research related to SimonFraser University professorAndy Hoffer’s new Lungpacermedical device resulted in unexpecteddividends.Meyyappan, who graduated lastweek with an M.Sc. in biomedicalphysiology and kinesiology,became so interested inLungpacer’s technology that hewound up creating an importantaspect of it.SFU spin-off companyLungpacer Medical Inc. is developinga device to preventdiaphragm atrophy in criticallyill patients who must usemechanical ventilators. Often,they fail to breathe independentlyagain.The device will electrically activatethe diaphragm to keep itstrong while the patient remainson the ventilator, improving thepatient’s chances of weaningfrom the ventilator and breathingindependently.Meyyappan used his knowledgeof physiology to design the system’sstrategy and technologyfor stimulating the diaphragmfor the appropriate time, intensityand duration.It also became the topic of histhesis, which has been submittedfor international patents.”My contribution is coming upwith a method to determinewhen to stimulate thediaphragm in synchrony withthe ventilator,” says Meyyappan.”I came up with a set of rulesfor how strongly to stimulatethe diaphragm based on individualpatient needs.”He then worked with the company’sbiomedical engineers todevelop the system circuitry forLungpacer’s control unit.Today, Meyyappan is one of sixgraduated SFU biomedicalphysiologists or engineers to behired full-time at Lungpacer,which works out of a lab in theDepartment of BiomedicalPhysiology and Kinesiology.He is playing a key role in thepre-clinical testing of the betasystem prior to human clinicaltrials next year.”The amount I’ve learned frommy peers in the company hasbeen incredible, it was an importantpart of my graduate education,”says Meyyappan.”It really demonstrated themeaning of research and developmentand although it wasdemanding, it was shaping mefor the better.”Meyyappan came to SFU in2009 from India on an SFUTargeted Graduate EntranceScholarship and will remain inCanada on a three-year workingvisa while applying for permanentresidency.Simon Fraser University isCanada’s top-ranked comprehensiveuniversity and one ofthe top 50 universities in theworld under 50 years old.With campuses in Vancouver,Burnaby and Surrey, B.C., SFUengages actively with the communityin its research and teaching,delivers almost 150 programsto more than 30,000 students,and has more than120,000 alumni in 130 countries.