Danny Bluestein

Associate Professor
Established Investigator – American Heart Association
Director, Biofluids Laboratory

 
Research Focus

My primary research interests are in biofluids and cardiovascular pathologies. I am studying blood flow in the cardiovascular system, with a special interest in flow induced cardiovascular pathologies, and the design optimization of cardiovascular prostheses. I envision to bring recent advancements made in various fields, namely numerical modeling, non-invasive flow measurement techniques, and innovative blood measurement techniques, to better understand the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular pathologies such as stenoses, aneurysms, vulnerable plaques, thrombus formation, and pathological flow fields past prosthetic heart valves and various blood recirculating devices (ventricular assist devices, etc.) that may lead to cardioembolic strokes. Additionally, I am studying the effects of smoking and second hand smoke on cardiovascular disease risk.

Specifically I am conducting research in the following areas:

• Dynamics of flow and cellular transport through pathologies in blood vessels, with a special focus on platelet function.
• Blood flow and risk of rupture in abdominal aortic aneurysms and vulnerable plaques.
• Flow induced mechanisms of thrombus formation and embolism in prosthetic heart valves.
• Hemodynamic design parameters for reducing the thrombogenic potential of prosthetic heart valves and ventricular assist devices.
• Effects of smoking and second hand smoke on cardiovascular disease risk.

The following methods and modalities are utilized in this research:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) modeling.
• Multiscale modeling on multicluster supercomputers.
• Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV).
• In vitro simulation of physiological flows.
• Platelet assays for studying thromboembolism.
• Flow cytometry.
• Animal models (sheep) to study free emboli formation in heart valves using Transesophageal Echocardiography (TE) and Transcranial Doppler.

 
Education

• Ph.D. - Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, 1992.
• M.Sc. - Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel, 1985.
• B.Sc. - Aeronautical Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, 1981.

 
Academic Appointments

• 2002-present Associate Professor (with tenure), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University
• 1996-2002 Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY.
• 1993-1996 Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL. Manager of the Biofluids lab.
• 1992-1993 Adjunct Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering Dept., University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
• 1992 Research Associate, Biomedical Engineering Dept., Memphis State University, Memphis, TN.

 
Honors

• 2004 - Outstanding Service to the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook.
• 2003 - Established Investigator Award, American Heart Association
• 2000 - Campus Life Award, Student Politi Association and the Department of Student Union and Activities, Stony Brook.
• 1998 - Mentor Award, Summer Research Institute at Stony Brook
• 1995 - International Who's Who in Medicine
• 1993 - Outstanding International Scholar (Beta Theta Chapter of the University of Miami) 

 
Professional Activities

Offices held in professional societies:

• Chair (elected 2006-2009), Biofluids Committee, ASME, Bioengineering Division (BED)

Editorial Positions:

• Associate Editor, ASME Journal of Medical Devices
• Editorial Board, Expert Review of Medical Devices

Reviewer:

• National Institutes of Health, BTSS study section
• National Institutes of Health, BTSS-BRP study section
• National Science Foundation, Dir. for Biology Sciences, Div. Environmental Biology.
• NSF BES CAREER proposals Review Panel
• National Academy of Sciences, Twining Program Research Grants.
• Reviewer for Journal of Biomechanics, Journal of Biomechanical Engineering, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Experiments in Fluids, Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey- Engineering Textbooks, ASME FED.

Membership in Professional Societies and Committees:

• Member, ASME, Bioengineering Division (BED)
• Member, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES).
• Member, International Hemodynamic Society.

Conferences- organizing, chairing:

• International Scientific Committee, 5th World Congress of Biomechanics.
• Organizing Committee, 2nd International Bio-Fluid Mechanics Symposium and Workshop, March 28-30, 2008, Caltech, Pasadena, California.
• Organizing Committee, Summer Bioengineering Conference, Keystone, CO, June 20-24, 2007, chair, Fluid Mechanics in Arterial Disease session.
• Conference Co-Chair, 33rd Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, Stony Brook University, New York, March 10-11, 2007, Chair, Cardiovascular Mechanics I & II sessions.
• International Scientific Committee, 5th World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, July 29-August 4, 2006.
• Chair, "Thrombosis in devices and Cardiovascular Pathologies" session, 5th World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, July 29-August 4, 2006.
• Chair, Blood and Thrombosis session, Summer Bioengineering 2005 Conference, Vail, CO.
• Chair, Cardiovascular Flow Assessment Session, and  Flow Mechanics of Stenosis and Stents Session, IMECE ASME Conference, 17-19 Nov 2004, Anheim, CA.
• Chair, Thrombosis Session, 2004 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Annual Fall Meeting, Oct. 13-16, 2004, Philadelphia, PA.
• International Bio-Fluid Symposium and Workshop, Organizing Committee, Theme Leader, December 12-14, 2003, CalTech, Pasadena, California
• Chair, Cardiovascular fluid dynamics in healthy and pathologic states sessions, Summer Bioengineering 2003 Conference, Key Byscane, FL.
• Chair, Fluid Mechanics: Cardiovascular Devices, Panel member- Symposium on Biofluids Education,  IMECE 2002, New Orleans, November17-22, 2002.
• Chair, Heart Valve Mechanics session, IMECE 2001, November 11-16, 2001, NYC, NY.
• Chair, Flow-Induced Pathologies in Large Vessels session, BMES Fall 2001 meeting, October 4-7, 2001, Duke University, NC.
• Co-chair, Cardiac Valve Mechanics session, Summer Bioengineering Conference, Snowbird, Utah, June 27 - July 1, 2001.
• Chair, Cardiovascular Mechanics IV session, The 2000 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, November 5-10, 2000, Orlando, Florida.
• Program Committee, Co-Chair, Cardiac Mechanics track, BMES 2000, Seattle, October 12-14, 2000.
• Chair, Vascular Grafts Stents and Flow Dynamics session, BMES 2000, Seattle, October 12-14, 2000.
• Chair, ‘Arterial Stenosis’ session, BMES 1998 Annual Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio, October 10-13, 1998.
• Organizing Committee, ASME /AIChE/ ASCE 1997 Summer Bioengineering Conference.
• Chair, 'Blood/Material Interaction' and 'Cardiovascular Engineering 4' sessions, ASME /AIChE/ ASCE Summer Bioengineering Conference, Sun River, Oregon, June 11-15, 1997.
• Co-chair, 'Biofluid Mechanics of Prosthetic Heart Valves' session, ASME (IMECE) Winter Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, November 17-22, 1996.

 
Publications

Click here to search Danny Bluestein's PubMed listings

Contribution to Books

• Bluestein, D. and Lieber, B. B. “Flow and Clot”, in Neurovascular Disease Series, Vol. 1: Thrombus and Stroke. Wakhloo, A.K., Lieber, B.B.., Mericle, R., Linfante, I., Gounis, M. (eds.), Marcel & Dekker. In Press.
• Einav, S. and Bluestein, D. “Dynamics of Blood Flow and Platelet Transport in Pathological Vessels”. In Cardiac Engineering: From Genes and Cells to Structure and Function, S. Sideman and R. Beyar (eds.), Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 2004, Vol. 1015, 351-367.
• Bluestein, D. and Einav, S. Techniques in the Analysis of Stability of Pulsatile Flow through Heart Valves, in Biomechanics Systems Techniques and Applications: Cardiovascular Techniques, Volume II, Leondes, C.T. (ed.), CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, 2001, pp. 4-1:4-39.

Peer Reviewed Journal Papers

• Rissland, P., Alemu, Y., Einav, S., Ricotta, J., Bluestein, D. (2008) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Risk of Rupture- Patient Specific FSI simulations Using Anisotropic Model. Submitted to J. Biomech. Eng.
  • Nobili, M., Sheriff, J.F., Morbiducci, U., Redaelli, A., Bluestein, D. (2008) Platelet Activation Due to Hemodynamic Shear Stresses: Damage Accumulation Model and Comparison to in vitro Measurements.  ASAIO J., In Press (Jan-Feb 2008 issue).
  • Gaurav, G., and Bluestein, D. (2008) In-vitro devices to investigate biological effects of highly dynamic pathological shear stress in cardiovascular pathologies and devices. Expert Rev. Medical Devices, In Press.
  • Gaurav, G., Sulan, X., Bluestein, D., Jesty, J. (2007) Low-nicotine cigarettes substantially increase platelet activation in smokers. Submitted to Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
  • Bluestein D., Yared, A., Avrahami, I., Dumont K., Gharib, M., Ricotta J., Einav, S. (2007) Influence of microcalcifications on Vulnerable Plaque Mechanics using FSI modeling. J. Biomech., In Press.
  • Yared, A. and Bluestein, D. (2007) Flow induced platelet activation and damage accumulation in a mechanical heart valve – numerical studies. Artificial Organs, 31(9):677–688.
  • Dumont, K., Vierendeels, J., van Nooten, G., Verdonck, P., Bluestein, D. (2007) Comparison of the Hemodynamic and Thrombogenic Performance of Two Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valves using a CFD/FSI model. J. Biomech. Eng., 129; 558-565.
  • Raz, S., Yared, A., Einav, S., Bluestein, D. (2007) Flow Induced Platelet Activation in Models of Arterial Stenosis. Annals of Biomedical Eng. Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 493–504.
  • Dumont, K., De Beule, M., Ricotta, J., Impellizzeri, P., Verhegghe, B., Verdonck, P., Bluestein, D. (2007) The Effect of Intraluminal Thrombus in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm on Risk of Rupture - a Patient Specific Modeling Approach. J. Computer Methods Biomech. Biomed. Eng., Accepted for publication.
  • Yin, W., Krukenkamp, I.B., Saltman, A.E., Gaudette, G., Suresh, K., Bernal, O., Jesty, J.,  Bluestein, D. (2006) The Thrombogenic Performance of a St. Jude Bileaflet MHV in a Sheep Model.  ASAIO J. Vol. 52(1), 28-33.
  • Bluestein, D. (2006) Towards Optimization of the Thrombogenic Potential of Blood Recirculating Cardiovascular Devices Using Modeling Approaches. Expert Rev. Medical Devices, 3(3), 267-270.
  • Zhou, M. Ladeinde, F., Bluestein, D. (2006) The flow of a power-law fluid in the near-wake of a flat plate. Physics of Fluids, 18,088102-1-4.
  • Raz, S., Yared, A., Einav, S., Bluestein, D. (2006) Flow Induced Platelet Activation in Models of Arterial Stenosis. Annals of Biomedical eng. Under revision.
  • Dumont, K., Vierendeels, J., van Nooten, G., Verdonck, P., Bluestein, D. (2006) Comparison of ATS Open Pivot Valve and St Jude Regent Valve using a CFD model based on fluid-structure interaction. Submitted to J. Biomech. Eng.
  • Dumont, K., De Beule, M., Ricotta, J., Impellizzeri, P., Verhegghe, B., Verdonck, P., Bluestein, D. (2006) The Effect of Intraluminal Thrombus in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm on Risk of Rupture - a Patient Specific Modeling Approach. Submitted to J. Computer Methods Biomech. Biomed. Eng.
  • Avrahami, I., Dumont K., Einav, S., Gharib, M., Ricotta J., Bluestein D. (2006) Influence of microcalcifications on Vulnerable Plaque Mechanics using FSI modeling. In Submission.
  • Yin, W., Krukenkamp, I.B., Saltman, A.E., Gaudette, G., Suresh, K., Bernal, O., Jesty, J.,  Bluestein, D. (2006) The Thrombogenic Performance of a St. Jude Bileaflet MHV in a Sheep Model.  ASAIO J. Vol. 52(1), 28-33.
  • Yin, W., Gallocher, S., Pinchuk, L., Schoephoerster, R.T., Jesty, J., Bluestein, D. (2005) Flow Induced Platelet Activation in a St. Jude MHV, a Trileaflet Polymeric Heart Valve and a St. Jude Tissue Valve. Artificial Organs. 29(10):826–831.
  • Bluestein, D., Moore. J.E. (2005) Biofluids Educational Issues: An Emerging Field Aims to Define Its Next Generation. Annals of Biomedical eng., Vol. 33, No. 12: 1674 – 1680.
  • Schulz-Heik, K., Ramachandran, J., Bluestein, D., and Jesty, J. (2005) The extent of platelet activation under shear depends on platelet count: differential expression of anionic phospholipid and factor Va. Pathophysiology of Haemostasis and Thrombosis, Vol. 34, No. 6, 255-262.
  • Dumont, K., Impellizeri, P., Ricotta, J., Alemu, Y., Bluestein, D. (2005) Assessment of fluid wall shear stress and vessel wall stress in an 'ideal' atherosclerotic plaque model. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. Supp 1: p. 91-2.
  • Yin, W., Yared., A., Jesty, J., Affeld, K., Bluestein, D. (2004) Flow Induced Platelet Activation in Bileaflet and Monoleaflet Mechanical Heart Valves in a Left Ventricular Assist Device. Annals of Biomedical eng., Vol.32, No. 8, 1058-1066.
  • Bluestein, D., Yin, W., Affeld, K., Jesty, J., (2004) Flow-Induced Platelet Activation in a Mechanical Heart Valve. J. Heart Valve Dis, Vol. 13, No. 3, 501-508.
  • Bluestein, D. (2004) Research Approaches for Studying Flow Induced Thromboembolic Complications in Blood Recirculating Devices. Expert Rev. Medical Devices, 1(1), 65-80.
  • Rubenstein, D., Jesty; J., Bluestein; D (2004) The Effects of Mainstream and Sidestream Cigarette Smoke Extracts and Nicotine on Platelet Activation under Static and Dynamic Flow Conditions. Circulation 109:78-83.
  • Ramachandran, J., Rubenstein, D., Bluestein, D., Jesty, J. (2004) Activation of platelets exposed to shear stress in the presence of smoke extracts of low-nicotine and zero-nicotine cigarettes: the protective effect of nicotine. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 6(5), 835–841.
  • Bluestein D, Li, Y, and Krukenkamp, IB. (2003) Erratum to Free Emboli Formation in the Wake of Bi-Leaflet Mechanical Heart Valves and the Effects of Implantation Techniques. J. Biomechanics, 36 1065-1066.
  • Jesty, J., Yin, W., Perrotta, P., Bluestein, D. (2003) Platelet activation in a circulating flow loop: combined effects of shear stress and exposure time. Platelets, 14, 11–17.
  • Adam J. Singer, Erik S. Mittra, Danny Bluestein, Judd E. Hollander (2002) Simulated wound irrigation impact pressures. Journal of Trauma, Critical Care, and Emergency Medicine, 3(1) 9-16.
  • Bluestein, D. (2002) Drug Delivery - Engineering Principles for Drug Therapy. The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 77, 492.
  • Bluestein D, Li, Y, and Krukenkamp, IB. (2002) Free Emboli Formation in the Wake of Bi-Leaflet Mechanical Heart Valves and the Effects of Implantation Techniques. J. Biomechanics, 35(12) 1533-1540.
  • Bluestein D., Rambod, E. and Gharib, M. (2000) Vortex shedding as a mechanism for free emboli formation in mechanical heart valves. J. Biomech. Engr., Vol. 122, pp. 125-134.
  • Bluestein, D. (2000) Stent-induced thromboembolism. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 28:3. 346-348.
  • Jesty, J. and Bluestein, D. (1999) The Use of Acetylated Prothrombin as a Substrate in the Measurement of the Procoagulant Activity of Platelets: Elimination of the Feedback Activation of Platelets by Thrombin. Analyt. Biochem., Vol. 272, No. 1, pp. 64-70.
  • Bluestein, D., Gutierrez, C., Londono, M. and Schoephoerster, R.T. (1999) Vortex shedding in arterial stenosis and its relevance to mural platelet deposition. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 27:6, pp. 763-773.
  • Bluestein, D., Niu, L., Schoephoerster, R.T. and Dewanjee, M.K. (1997) Fluid mechanics of flow through a stenosis: relationship to the development of mural thrombus. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 344-356.
  • Bluestein, D., Niu, L., Schoephoerster, R.T., and Dewanjee, M.K. (1996) Steady flow in an aneurysm model: Correlation between numerical  simulation and blood platelet deposition. J. Biomech. Engr., Vol. 118, No.3, pp. 280-286.
  • Bluestein, D. and Einav, S. (1995) The Effect of Varying Degrees of Stenosis on the Characteristics of Turbulent Pulsatile Flow Through Heart Valves. J. Biomechanics, Vol. 28, No. 8, pp. 915-924.
  • Bluestein, D., Einav, S. and Hwang, N.H.C. (1994): A Squeeze Flow Phenomenon at the Closing of a Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve. J. Biomechanics, Vol. 27, No. 11, pp. 1369-1378.
  • Bluestein, D. and Einav, S. (1994): Transition to Turbulence in Pulsatile Flow Through Heart Valves- A Modified Stability Approach. J. Biomech. Eng., Vol. 116, No. 4, pp. 477-487.
  • Bluestein, D., Viscarra, H., Niu, L. and Schoephoerster, R.T. (1994) Fluid Mechanics of Arterial Stenosis and Aneurysm: Relationship to Blood Platelet Deposition on the Wall. CSCE Eng. Mech., vol. IV, pp. 115-120.
  • Bluestein, D. and Einav, S. (1994): A Modified Stability Diagram of Pulsatile Flow Through Heart Valves Based on Improved Spectral Estimates of LDA Data. ASME FED Laser Anemometry: Advances and Applications, Vol. 191, pp. 125-133.
  • Bluestein, D. and Einav, S. (1993): Spectral Estimation and Analysis of LDA Data in Pulsatile Flow Through Heart Valves. Experiments in Fluids, Vol. 15, pp. 341-353.
  • Bluestein, D., and Hwang, N.H.C. (1993) The Squeeze Flow Field of a Mechanical Heart Valve at Closure. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 1993; 21(S1):23.
  • Bluestein D., Menon, S., Wu, Z.J., S., Haubold, A., Armitage, T.L. and Hwang, N.H.C. (1993): The Closing Behavior of a New Bileaflet Mechanical Heart Valve. ASAIO Journal, Vol. 39 (3), pp. 398-402.
  • Bluestein, D., Einav, S. and Hwang, N.H.C.(1992) Stability of Flow Through Heart Valves: A Comparison Between the Traditional Approach  and a Novel Approach. ASME BED Advances in Bioengineering, Vol. 22, pp. 427-431.
  • Bluestein, D. and Einav, S.(1986): The Effect of a Plane Wall in the Discharge of a Swirling Jet, Laser Anem. Fluid Mech., Vol. 3, pp. 151-154.

   
  Patents

  • An assay of the activation state of platelets. International patent application disclosure date 7/14/00 (based on US provisional patent application No. 60/143,702).

   
  Funding Agencies

  • National Institutes of Health
  • American Heart Association, NY Affiliate
  • American Heart Association, National
  • Binational Science Foundation
  • SOM Stony Brook
  • The Whitaker Foundation
  • National Science Foundation
  • FAMRI