Rice Engineering The student advances the design of the surgical tool to reduce postoperative complications

Chihtong “Lily” Lee never set out to reinvent surgical tools, but her curiosity, precision and creativity led her exactly that.

The Graduate of the University of Rice 2025 recently obtained second place in the undergraduate category at the Suman SB3C Summer Bioengineering Conference, a competence organized by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Selected as one of the main presentations of more than 200 presentations, Lee was invited to attend the National Conference in New Mexico, where she stood out for her work in improving surgical results for patients undergoing a common spinal procedure.

His research, entitled “Research of the GEOMETRY OF THE RETRACTOR BLADE IN THE ESOPHAGIC STRESS AND DEFORMATION DURING THE DISCECTOMY AND ANTEALE CERVICAL DISCECTOMY AND FUSHING,” explores how small design changes in surgical hardware could make a big difference in the patient’s recovery.

“My degree was in Civil Engineering, where I developed great interest in computational modeling and its real world applications, especially in water resources,” Lee said. “However, after taking a class in the analysis of finite elements, I was fascinated by their medical applications. Being close to the Texas Medical Center facilitated participation, and this was the first project that really combined my modeling history with medical research.”

The anterior cervical and fusion (ACDF) discectomy is the most commonly performed cervical column surgery in the US. UU. With more than 150,000 procedures every year. While surgery is often successful in relieving nerve compression and restoration of column stability, it involves a high risk of postoperative dysphagia, which is defined as difficulty swallowing due to irritation or esophageal damage caused during surgery.

Lee’s work, carried out in collaboration with the Neurosurgery Department of the Baylor School of Medicine, aims to identify how the geometry of the retractor blade contributes to tissue tension during the ACDF. The retractors are used to maintain the open surgical site, and its shape, material and placement can have a significant effect on surrounding tissues such as esophagus.

“This type of spinal surgery is the gold standard and widely used throughout the world, but patients often experience persistent pain and difficulty swallowing later,” Lee said. “While it is not potentially deadly, it affects the quality of life. Most research in this area has focused on clinical results, but the role of surgical hardware has greatly overlooks. This is one of the first studies that computational modeling uses to examine how the geometry and material properties of the retractor can help mitigate the stress of the tissues and postoperative complications.”

Using computational modeling, Lee conducted a parametric study that simulated the mechanical effects of different blades geometries, coating materials and insertion depths. Their models showed that the blades that incorporate soft and biocompatible coatings significantly reduced stress concentrations in the esophagus. These covered blades also distributed strength more uniformly, which could lead to less trauma and better post -surgical results.

“This project elegantly integrates engineering mechanics, which combines theory, calculation and experiments, to address a pressing clinical challenge by allowing surgical hardware to mechanically form the anatomy of a patient and investigating the effects of surgical retraction on soft tissues without altering the surgical procedure in itself,” said Raudel Avila Avila, a teacher of mechanical engineering in this. project.

This was my first bioengineering conference, and it was incredible to be surrounded by so many intelligent and driven people doing exciting job. It was inspiring to meet the researchers who advanced the field of non -linear mechanics and the specific modeling of the patient so innovative. Having my first study in this recognized field with an award was significant, but the best part was learning from others, seeing new techniques and thinking about how they could shape my future work and help improve patients’ results. “

Chihtong “Lily” Lee, student, University of Rice

The Lee project was supported by a subsidy of former rice engineering students, which allowed university students to study both mechanical engineering and bioengineering, including Mert çulcu, Catherine Stidham, Ella López and Komal Stealo. Although the work has not yet been published, Lee said he hopes to prepare for the presentation reviewed by pairs in the coming months. He also plans to continue his research at the Postgraduate School: this fall, he will begin working in his doctorate in mechanical engineering in RICE, conduct research in the Avila laboratory and focus on computational biomechanics and the design of biomedical devices.

“I am excited to carry out an interdisciplinary investigation at the intersection of medical care and mechanics,” Lee said. “Our group focuses on developing a theoretical and computational framework for the development of bioelectronic designs, and I am interested in better understanding electromagnetic mechanical behaviors coupled to inform a more efficient device design for health applications. It is an upcoming exciting chapter, and I am delighted to continue with RICE.”