The Department of Biomedical Engineering held the PhD dissertation defense of Zainab Ayad Wajih on Monday, November 18, 2024, for her dissertation titled:

"Development and Analysis of Intra-Aortic Balloon Performance by Using Artificial Intelligence in Open Heart Surgery"

The defense committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Karima Ismail Amouri from the College of Mechanical Engineering, University of Baghdad, with the following members:

• Professor Dr. Sadiq Mohammed Al-Hamash, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad
• Professor Dr. Aqeel Abdullah Mohammed, College of Mechanical Engineering, Al-Nahrain University
• Assistant Professor Dr. Ahmed Faiq Hussein, College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University
• Assistant Professor Dr. Rana Ibrahim Mahmoud, College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University

The dissertation was supervised by:

• Assistant Professor Dr. Sadiq Jaafar Abbas, College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University
• Consultant Surgeon Dr. Wissam Saleh Al-Obaidi, Director of Ibn Al-Bitar Center for Cardiac and Vascular Surgery

The dissertation was scientifically reviewed by:

• Assistant Professor Dr. Hala Salman Hassan, College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University
• Assistant Professor Dr. Saad Mahmoud Ali, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology

The linguistic review was conducted by Lecturer Dr. Muna Mustafa Kareem, College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University.

Study Objectives

The study aims to utilize artificial intelligence to detect deviations in blood pressure waveform shapes caused by improper timing between the intra-aortic balloon pump and the aortic valve. Additionally, it uses AI to estimate the patient’s need for the balloon based on preoperative factors and to enhance patient risk assessment techniques.

The dissertation was approved as it met the requirements for the PhD degree.