These projects are broadly aimed at understanding the musculoskeletal mechanics of the hand for the ultimate purpose of restoring grasping ability to persons with neurologic impairment, such as spinal cord injury and stroke.  Specificially, these projects involve the characterization of the the kinematics and kinetics of digits, of the connective tissue properties in digits and of muscle coordination that supports stable grasping.   Investigative approaches in these research areas include cadaver-based mathematical modeling, computational musculoskeletal modeling, cadaveric experimentation, human-subject testing and mechanical testing. 

Pedagogy in classical singing relies on a variety of ideas that are largely inconsistent. We believe this is the case because muscle activity and motion capture during vocal production in classical singing have not been well-studied.  This project seeks to understand the biomechanical features that enable classical vocal production in trained classical singers. 

Collaborator

• Lara Nie; Lara Nie-Mezzo Soprano, Swarthmore Music & Dance Dept

Patients with shoulder pain typically present with altered movement patterns due to guarding responses of muscles post injury perception or from degenerative changes. These patterns result in increased compression of structures resulting in tissue injury progressing pain. PT treatments are designed to optimize movement patterns improving joint kinematics while reducing stress and strain on injured structures. Patients often have difficulty restoring movement patterns as these changes are subconscious. Daily life requirements and postural deficits further enhance the difficulty addressing these conditions such as computer and phone use. Physical therapists often address this tension primarily during treatment while addressing pectoral length and scapular stability strength. Engagement of the rotator cuff and rhomboids is often prescribed to promote healing and kinematically improved posture.  This project seeks to develop a wearable device with biofeedback to enable more frequent rehabilitation than can be accomplished in the clinic by a PT and improve patient compliance around shoulder rehabilitation activities.

Collaborator

• Emma Phibbs, PT, DPT; Move Well PT 

This project seeks to develop and share a new curriculum and set of assessment tools to enable effective and efficient educational experiences for undergraduate engineering students in needs-identification and needs characterization--the first two steps in the Biodesign Process for health technology innovation. With the convergence of a rapidly changing landscape in healthcare, and the incredibly fast pace of technological change, today’s young innovators face unprecedented challenges. Yet, a combination of patient-focused approach and needs-first innovation skills can unlock unprecedented capacities to address these challenges and improve the lives of patients everywhere.

Collaborators

• Lyn Denend; Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign

• Ross Venook, PhD; Stanford Bioengineering Dept, Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign

• Richard Fan, PhD; Stanford Urology Dept

• Ravi Pamnani, Intact Therapeutics, Stanford Mussallem Center for Biodesign

Funding: NIH #5R25EB029387-02