Lukas W. DiBeneditto's Professional Profile at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)

Personal Website: DiBeneditto.com
Personal Email: Lukas@DiBeneditto.com

Lukas W. DiBeneditto earned a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BME) from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in August 2023. During his time at the university, he distinguished himself by developing a novel artificial liver medical device prototype specifically designed for ammonia removal in 2023.

He served as a Bio-Engineering Organs Initiative Researcher for the renowned Cook Cardiopulmonary Engineering Group and collaborated with the Mayo Clinic in their Transforming Transplant strategic initiative. Lukas was guided and mentored by his Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Keith E. Cook, The David Edward Schramm Professor and Head of Biomedical Engineering.

Photo shows 2023 Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Biomedical Engineering (BME) Diploma Ceremony with Keith Cook (left) and Lukas W. DiBeneditto (right).
Photo shows 2023 Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Biomedical Engineering (BME) Diploma Ceremony with Keith Cook (left) and Lukas W. DiBeneditto (right).

Lukas is passionate about conducting transformative research in biomedical engineering. His focus lies in developing ground-breaking solutions to confront pressing healthcare challenges. He is particularly interested in regenerative engineering and creating artificial organs as potential solutions to organ failure caused by disease, trauma, or combat injury.

Possessing a wide array of skills, such as computer programming, laboratory research, mechanical design, project management, rapid prototyping, and statistical analysis. Lukas is well-equipped to drive novel approaches in biomedical research and deliver outstanding results.

Graduate Research Project, Thesis, & Data Analysis

Lab Work, research, design, development, iteration, validation, & testing, of a Novel Medical Device Prototype Artificial Liver for Temporary Liver Support using Artificial Lung Technologies in a Biosafety Level 2 Lab (BSL-2).

THESIS

Title: Temporary Liver Support Using Artificial Lung Technologies: Ammonia Removal via Peritoneal Dialysis for Acute Liver Failure with PFC and PDMS at Vacuum Pressure

Abstract: PURPOSE: This study probes the potential for enhanced ammonia removal in the context of acute liver failure (ALF) management by developing and testing a system incorporating a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) filter, perfluorocarbon (PFC), and vacuum pressure. Our hypothesis posits that this system can effectively facilitate ammonia capture and removal in a simulated peritoneal environment. METHODS: Our experimental setup consisted of a system incorporating a PDMS filter, PFCs, and vacuum pressure. We simulated a peritoneal environment using a vortex mixing tank, where we mixed reverse osmosis deionized (RODI) water with different amounts of ammonium hydroxide to replicate the presence of ammonia in ALF. This solution, aided by PFCs, was circulated through the PDMS filter under vacuum pressure, facilitating the diffusion of ammonia from the liquid phase to the gas phase. Sensors measured gas ammonia, liquid ammonium (NH4+), temperature, pressure, pH, mass, and volumetric flow. RESULTS: Our findings indicate that the combination of PFC, the high permeability of the PDMS filter, and vacuum pressure can be used for ammonia gas removal. Further data regarding the efficiency of the PDMS filter will be elaborated in the results section. CONCLUSIONS: Despite certain limitations, such as a limited sample size, limited PDMS filter surface area, and non-medical grade PFC, this study underscores the substantial potential of our proposed system for ALF management. Future studies should aim to refine the peritoneal dialysis model, expand the sample size, increase the PDMS surface area, and introduce animal model testing for further validation.

DATA ANALYSIS

Title: Temporary Liver Support Using Artificial Lung Technologies: Ammonia Removal via Peritoneal Dialysis for Acute Liver Failure with PFC and PDMS at Vacuum Pressure DATA ANALYSIS

Abstract: This document details the preparation and statistical analysis of the multi-device recorded data for the master’s thesis research project titled “Temporary Liver Support Using Artificial Lung Technologies: Ammonia Removal via Peritoneal Dialysis for Acute Liver Failure with PFC and PDMS at Vacuum Pressure”. (DiBeneditto, 2023) Central to the analysis is a MATLAB program, “main.m”, comprising 3313 lines of code. This program produced the figures, tables, and results presented in this document. The resulting files are stored in the program working directory, “_trials” and “device-calibration” folders, and represent 355 files across 114 folders, totaling 144 MB. The following sections provide in-depth insights into the methodologies employed, findings obtained, and their implications in the broader context of Acute Liver Failure management. The core objective of our study was to evaluate the efficiency and feasibility of a system incorporating a PDMS filter (representative of artificial liver technology) in tandem with perfluorocarbon (PFC, representative of artificial lung technology) to remove ammonia from a liquid solution in a simulated peritoneal environment. To investigate the potential application for acute liver failure (ALF) patients and attempt to answer two central questions: Can the PDMS filter effectively facilitate the diffusion of ammonia from the liquid to the gas phase, thereby removing it? Does the presence of PFC enhance or influence this ammonia removal process? Our data provides substantial evidence regarding the efficacy of the PDMS filter in facilitating ammonia removal. However, the role of PFC in this process remains unclear and requires further investigation. The complexity of the experiment and the variations observed in trials with similar parameters suggest we need additional studies to understand the variables we are exploring fully.

Key Collaborators and Advisors

Graduate Coursework & Selected Works

Graduate Honors

Graduate Publications & Presentations

  1. DiBeneditto LW. Temporary Liver Support Using Artificial Lung Technologies: Ammonia Removal via Peritoneal Dialysis for Acute Liver Failure with PFC and PDMS at Vacuum Pressure DATA ANALYSIS. [Pittsburgh (PA)]: Carnegie Mellon University; 2023 Oct. 177 p. doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/GJFPD. doi: 10.1184/R1/24582960. Available from: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GJFPD. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/24582960. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20231031-data-analysis-temporary-liver-support-using-artificial-lung-technologies-final.pdf.
  2. DiBeneditto LW. Temporary Liver Support Using Artificial Lung Technologies: Ammonia Removal via Peritoneal Dialysis for Acute Liver Failure with PFC and PDMS at Vacuum Pressure [master's thesis]. [Pittsburgh (PA)]: Carnegie Mellon University; 2023 Aug. 333 p. ISBN: 9798380335881. Carnegie Mellon University ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. ProQuest document ID: 2864402381. doi: 10.1184/R1/24130056.v1. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/24130056.v1. Available from: https://www.proquest.com/docview/2864402381. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20230808-thesis-temporary-liver-support-using-artificial-lung-technologies-final.pdf.
  3. Temporary Liver Support Using Artificial Lung Technologies Presentations:
  4. DiBeneditto LW, Smith MA. Evaluating the Synergistic Effects of a Novel Thermal Polymer Composite in a Targeted Brain Cooling Device for Heat Stroke Treatment: Reducing Heat-Induced Brain Damage and Enhancing Patient Outcomes. Final Research Proposal, Spring 2023, Introduction to Neural Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University; 2023 May 6; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20230506-cmu-42630-introduction-neural-engineering-final-research-proposal-paper-compressed.pdf. 14 pages. 82 references.
  5. DiBeneditto LW, Abbott RD. Cinnamon as a Potential Biomaterial for Treating Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in Wound Healing. Final Presentation, Spring 2023, Introduction to Biomaterials, Carnegie Mellon University; 2023 Apr 25; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20230425-cmu-42610-introduction-to-biomaterials-final-project-presentation-compressed.pdf. 23 slides, 22 references, 12 minutes, 24 in attendance.
  6. DiBeneditto LW, Abbott RD. Cinnamon as a Potential Biomaterial for Treating Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in Wound Healing. End of the Semester Project - Literature Review Paper, Spring 2023, Introduction to Biomaterials, Carnegie Mellon University; 2023 Apr 25; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20230423-cmu-42610-introduction-to-biomaterials-final-project-paper-compressed.pdf. 7 pages. 21 references.
  7. DiBeneditto LW, Smith MA. Rapid, Targeted Brain Cooling: Using Peltier Effect Thermoelectric Cooling and Thermally Conductive Impregnated Polymers. Lightning Presentation, Spring 2023, Introduction to Neural Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University; 2023 Apr 25; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2023 Mar 20. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20230228-cmu-42630-introduction-neural-engineering-lightning-presentation-compressed.pdf. 4 slides, 19 references, 4 minutes, 26 in attendance.
  8. DiBeneditto LW, Tajik S, Yang Z, Chan J. Metals, Leading an In-Class discussion on Wang et al., 2011, “Orthopedic implant technology: biomaterials from past to future.” 2023 Feb 9. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20230209-cmu-42610-introduction-to-biomaterials-group-project-presentation-metals-compressed.pdf. 19 slides, 10 references, 45 minutes.
  9. DiBeneditto LW, Mook B, Strong K, Thomas A, Wang Y. Computational Analysis of Heart Diseases, MATLAB Final Project. Summary and MATLAB code, Fundamentals of Computational Biomedical Engineering class, Fall 2022, Carnegie Mellon University; 2022 Dec 7; pp. 1-4, 43-88. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20221207-cmu-42675-fundamentals-of-computational-biomedical-engineering-matlab-final-project-compressed.pdf. 50 pages, 20 references.
  10. DiBeneditto LW, Mook B, Strong K, Thomas A, Wang Y. Computational Analysis of Heart Diseases, MATLAB Final Project. Presentation, Fundamentals of Computational Biomedical Engineering class, Fall 2022, Carnegie Mellon University; 2022 Dec 6; pp. 5-42. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20221207-cmu-42675-fundamentals-of-computational-biomedical-engineering-matlab-final-project-compressed.pdf. 38 slides, 18 references, 21 minutes.
  11. DiBeneditto LW, Linn WJ, Ahmed S, Zhou L, Acharya D, Koushik J, Wood S. Final Project: Group Project Performing Single-Subject Analysis of Structural Mri, Resting-State Fmri, Task-Based Fmri, and Perfusion Mri Dataset. Paper, Fundamentals of MRI and Neuroimaging Analysis class, Spring 2022, Carnegie Mellon University; 2022 May 11; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20220511-cmu-42668-fundamentals-of-mri-and-neuroimaging-analysis-final-project-paper-compressed.pdf. 7 pages, 28 references.
  12. DiBeneditto LW, Linn WJ, Ahmed S, Zhou L, Acharya D, Koushik J, Wood S. Final Project: Group Project Performing Single-Subject Analysis of Structural Mri, Resting-State Fmri, Task-Based Fmri, and Perfusion Mri Dataset. Video Presentation, Fundamentals of MRI and Neuroimaging Analysis class, Spring 2022, Carnegie Mellon University; 2022 May 30; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20220501-cmu-42668-fundamentals-of-mri-and-neuroimaging-analysis-final-project-presentation-video-compressed.mp4. 21 slides, 24 references, 12 minutes.
  13. DiBeneditto LW, Linn WJ, Ahmed S, Zhou L, Acharya D, Koushik J, Wood S. Final Project: Group Project Performing Single-Subject Analysis of Structural Mri, Resting-State Fmri, Task-Based Fmri, and Perfusion Mri Dataset. Presentation, Fundamentals of MRI and Neuroimaging Analysis class, Spring 2022, Carnegie Mellon University; 2022 May 1; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20220501-cmu-42688-fundamentals-of-mri-and-neuroimaging-analysis-final-project-presentation-compressed.pdf. 21 slides, 24 references.
  14. DiBeneditto LW, Roberts K. Cardiovascular Biomechanics: Cardiac Surgical Robotics - Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS). Slide Presentation presented at Cardiovascular Mechanics class, Spring 2022, Carnegie Mellon University; 2022 Feb 14; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20220214-cmu-42648-cardiovascular-biomechanics-presentation-compressed.pdf. 38 slides, 26 references, 22 minutes, 36 in attendance.
  15. DiBeneditto LW, Bhat A, Shankar DG, Bettinger C. Synergistic Optimal Blood Clotting Resistance for Hemodialysis via an Experimentally Determined Three-Component System of Filter Material, Protein Resistant Coating, and Anticoagulant. Paper, Engineering Biomaterials class, Fall 2021, Carnegie Mellon University; 2021 Dec 14; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Available from: https://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/lwd/files/20211214-cmu-42611-engineering-biomaterials-final-project-paper-nih-style-r21-proposal-on-biomaterials-based-technologies-compressed.pdf. 11 pages, 39 references.

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© 2023, Lukas W. DiBeneditto

 

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