Ciprian N. Ionita PhD

Ciprian Ionita

Ciprian N. Ionita
PhD

Assistant Professor

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Biomedical Imaging; Cardiovascular Disease; Diagnostic Radiology; Image Processing and Analysis; Imaging Informatics; Neurosurgery; Radiological Physics; Vascular and Interventional Radiology; Vision science

Contact Information
8052 Clinical Translational Research Center
875 Ellicott Street
N/A
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 400-4283
cnionita@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

I am an Assistant Professor with a dual appointment in the Biomedical Engineering Department and Neurosurgery. I am the director of the Endovascular Devices and Imaging lab at Canon (former Toshiba) Stroke and Vascular Research Center. My research career focuses on improvement of endovascular image guided interventions and encompasses three major components: medical imaging, computer programming and endovascular device development.
The greatest breakthrough of my team in the last three years is the development of complex 3D printed (3DP) vascular patient specific phantoms based on 3D imaging. Using my previous experience in developing CT reconstruction algorithms and 3D data analysis, this step came naturally. We are using these phantoms to test devices and validate software such as CT-FRR, parametric imaging and material decomposition using spectral CT. The 3DP phantoms we develop are probably some of the most complex reported in literature. We created new tools for 3D mesh manipulation and workflow to build complex vascular trees, which maintain vessel down to 400 microns diameter. My team collaborates directly with 3D printing industry and engineers in academy, to optimize the 3DP materials and match tissue mechanical properties. As center of excellence for 3D printing, we contribute to identification of new clinical applications for the 3DP technology, 3DP material development, and testing, and software development.
One of the challenges my team is tackling, is the 3D printing material and 3D design optimization to build structures with controlled mechanical properties. In the last two years, my research focused on how to use the 3D printing technology to create digital structures which can simulate mechanical properties of vascular tissue, vascular networks and arterial disease. My effort is directed toward developing methods to warp 3D structures and embed them within the arterial wall. The embedded structures could be printed with different materials to different mechanical properties. This approach will allow optimization of phantom physical properties which match those of the arteries. Thus, by combining the 3D design with the new polymers used for the 3D printing while maintaining the patient specific geometry, I plan to develop a vascular model which will behave and react identical as a human vessel, both healthy and diseased.
On a secondary effort on 3DP, my team is involved in developing implantable devices; we are collaborating with metal printing industries in testing methods to develop 3DP patient specific devices. We are able to reproduce coronary stents, which match the physical size/geometry of those used in current practice. However, mechanical and corrosion aspects need more investigations. In this context, I believe that additive manufacturing can be another path towards personalized medicine, by allowing manufacturing of patient specific devices rather than one size fits all kind of approach used by current device manufacturers.
Concerning my involvement in the scientific community, in the last two years, I became deeply involved with the effort to implement the new advances of 3D printing into a clinical setting. I have given presentations and symposiums at conferences such as RSNA where I emphasized the new additive manufacturing advances and the close relation with the 3D medical imaging. The new digital material technologies, the improved resolution and fast building time make this technology practical for the high pace workflow in the hospitals. As of now I am involved with Special Interest Group from RSNA for standardization of 3DP printing operations in hospitals and development of a DICOM standard associated with the workflow and manufacturing of 3D printed medical objects.

Education and Training:

  • PhD, Medical Physics, SUNY at Buffalo (2005)
  • BS, Applied Nuclear Physics, University of Bucharest

Employment:

  • Faculty, Biomedical Engineering, SUNY at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (2014-present)

Awards and Honors:

  • Poster Cum Laude (2019)
  • Honorable Mention (2018)
  • Cum Laude (2015)
  • Honorable Mention (2009)
  • Educational Poster Award (2002)

Research Expertise:

  • 3D Printing
  • Computed Tomography and Micro-Computed Tomography
  • Endovascular Devices
  • Vascular Disease Diagnosis and Modeling

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • October 2022–September 2024
    Hemodynamically induced molecules regulating the initiation of intracranial aneurysms
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $438,835
  • April 2020–March 2024
    High Speed Angiography at 1000 frames per second
    NIH
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $3,000,000
  • August 2021–July 2023
    Data-driven models to predict delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage
    NIH
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $448,500
  • July 2021–June 2023
    STTR: An AI-Enhanced Angiographic System to Guide Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms
    NSF
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $275,000
  • January 2021–September 2022
    Artificial Intelligence Quantitative Angiographic System to Guide Endovascular Procedures
    NSF
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $50,000
  • June 2020–May 2021
    Quantitative angiography for real time neuro-interventional guidance
    NYS
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $100,000
  • January 2017–January 2019
    Validation of a CT based FFR software using the 640 Slices Aquilion Scanner
    Jacobs Institute
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $81,115
  • August 2016–August 2017
    In-Vivo feasibility testing of an Asymmetric Flow Diverter based on Solitaire AB platform for treatment of intracranial aneurysms
    Medtronic-Jacobe Institute industry collaboration
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $93,501
  • August 2012–July 2016
    Microangiographic guidance of flow modifying stents - renewal
    NIH
    Role: Co-Investigator
    $2,526,475

Patents:

  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSESSING A VASCULATURE Methods and systems are provided for assessing a vasculature of an individual. In an embodiment of a method, one or more angiographic parametric imaging (API) maps of the vasculature are obtained, wherein each API map of the one or more API maps encodes a hemodynamic parameter. A state of the vasculature is determined using a machine-learning classifier applied to the one or more API maps. (2021)
  • X-ray diagnostic apparatus and medical image processing method An X ray diagnostic apparatus includes an X ray tube generating X rays, a first detector detecting the X rays, at least one second detector arranged in front of a first detection surface of the first detector and including a second detection surface narrower than the first detection surface and indicator points provided on a rear surface of the second detection surface, a projection data generation unit generating first projection data based on an output from the first detector, and a positional shift detection unit detecting a positional shift of the second detector relative to the first detector in accordance with an imaging direction by using the first projection data and a predetermined positional relationship between the points and detection elements in the second detector. (2017)

Journal Articles:

See all (96 more)

Abstracts:

See all (57 more)

Professional Memberships:

  • American Association of Phycists in Medicine (2003–present)
  • SPIE (2003–present)
  • Radiology Society of North America; Member

Service Activities:

  • Past President: Upstate New York Association of Physicist in Medicine 01/2013- 12/2013 President Elect: Upstate New York Association of Physicist in Medicine (UNYAPM) a chapter of the American Association of Physicist in Medicine; Past President (2015)
  • NIH; Neuroscience and Ophthalmic Imaging Technologies;; Grant Reviewer (2014)
  • President: Upstate New York Association of Physicist in Medicine President: Upstate New York Association of Physicist in Medicine; President (2013–2014)
  • Reviewer: American Association of Physicists in Medicine meetings Reviewer: Medical Physics,AAPM meetings , Physics in Medicine and Biology (PMB), Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR).; Peer Reviewer (2010–present)
  • Treasurer: Upstate New York Association of Physicist in Medicine 01/2009-12/2011 Treasurer: Upstate New York Association of Physicist in Medicine (UNYAPM) a chapter of the American Association of Physicist in Medicine.; Treasurer (2009–2011)
  • Reviewer: Medical Physics; Peer Reviewer (2004–present)
  • Reviewer: Physics in Medicine and Biology Reviewer: Medical Physics,AAPM meetings , Physics in Medicine and Biology (PMB), Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR).; Peer Reviewer (2004–present)

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Contact Information

8052 Clinical Translational Research Center
875 Ellicott Street
N/A
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 400-4283
cnionita@buffalo.edu