The tricuspid valve apparatus deserves more attention than being a “forgotten valve”. The main abnormality in the tricuspid valve is functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) or the leakage. Tricuspid annuloplasty is the most preferred technique to correct functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR). However, the technique is not foolproof and the long term durability is in question. Mechanical engineers can do something about it and can design and perform simple experiments and get some important information related to the long term durability. Professor Bhattacharya's present research is on tricuspid annuloplasty and the related mechanics. After the talk one will be able to understand the effect of mechanics on a heart valve and how can one improve the design of medical devices. Heart valves are very much “MECHANICAL” but are made of tissues and control blood flow in your heart!
 
About the Speaker:
Professor Shamik Bhattacharya graduated with his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Texas Tech University in 2011. His primary research interest is in fluid mechanics and tissue mechanics of heart valves. Following his postdoctoral research at the University of Connecticut, he accepted one of the first faculty positions in a brand new Mechanical Engineering programme at St. Mary’s University, San Antonio in 2013. As an assistant professor, Professor Bhattacharya is building up the fledgeling Mechanical Engineering (ME) program at St. Mary’s along with another tenure track faculty. In this new program, he has taught courses from freshman to senior level. He’s also making full use of the opportunity to lay the framework for a curriculum highlighted by undergraduate research and experiential learning. His students have submitted conference abstracts in the prestigious Summer Biomechanics, Bio-transport and Bioengineering Conference (SB3C, previously ASME-SBC).  For his research, he frequently collaborates with surgeons at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Outside the classroom, Dr Bhattacharya works with the San Antonio Boosting Engineering Science and Technology (SABEST) committee to organize the annual competition in St.Mary’s. SABEST encourages science and engineering education in area high schools through robotics competition.

His web page is https://www.stmarytx.edu/faculty/bhattacharya-shamik/