Abscesses, pockets of fluid caused by infections in the human body, are typically treated in hospitals by draining the fluid through a catheter. However, the viscous and heterogeneous nature of the fluid often leads to prolonged treatment duration or even drainage failure. Furthermore, current practice relies only on qualitative observations of viscosity for catheter size selection, with little quantitative data to guide this parameter. In this work, we introduce a compact magnetic stress rheometer platform to examine the rheological response of nine different abscess fluids under shear stress. A magnetic field applies a force to a probe that induces it to shear the underlying abscess fluid. Its spatiotemporal displacement is measured, resulting in the determination of creep compliance. The results are well-fitted to a 5-element viscoelastic model, providing a quantitative and robust prediction of abscess fluid rheology for a variety of etiologies. We show that while viscoelastic parameters between abscess fluids of different etiologies can span five orders of magnitude, zero-shear viscosity should be sufficient in future predictions of drainage flow rates. The custom-built instrument we have developed is portable, inexpensive, and sterile-compatible, serving as an ideal platform for point-of-care analyses in clinical settings to facilitate catheter selection and enable healthcare workers to devise optimal treatment strategies for each patient. Moreover, the versatility of our platform extends its potential application to rheological measurements in diverse medical contexts.
Audrey Shih has received the Excellence in Fluids Mechanics Research and Oral Presentation Award! The award is in recognition of an excellent oral presentation in the Fluid Mechanics Area at AIChE.
As an executive member of GSAC, Audrey has been ‘an advocate for the needs and concerns of ChemE graduate students and serves as a liaison between the student community and the Department leadership’. As a first-year mentor in the Department, Audrey provides guidance and support to ‘first-year students as they select research groups and adjust to graduate school life’. In addition to supporting current students, Audrey also ‘supports prospective students by welcoming them as a recruitment weekend volunteer and prospective student buddy for the past three years’. Outside of Chemical Engineering, Audrey is also a ‘Community Associate working with the Graduate Life Office to plan welcome events, orientation programs, and multicultural, educational, and social events throughout the year to foster a sense of community across all departments.’
Audrey Shih entered Princeton with aspirations of using science to protect vulnerable people from allergens. “I have a severe peanut allergy, and I thought I might help come up with a method to detect allergens in food,” said Shih.
The last oily blobs in contaminated waterways are often removed using chains of common molecules, known as polymers, that are mixed with water and flushed through aquifers to rid chemicals. Why polymers aid in this process and exactly what happens when they are flowing through the rocks and water is unclear, limiting industry confidence in the effectiveness of using polymers for water cleanup.
