Carnegie Mellon University

Medical Devices & Robotics

Research in Medical Devices & Robotics takes advantage of the superb environment for systems engineering, computation and robotics at Carnegie Mellon University. Devices and robotics are being developed to innovate the clinical applications, based on mechanical, electrical, computational principles. Strong emphasis is placed on the understanding of fundamental principles and the development of enabling technologies. Close collaborations are carried out with adjunct faculty at local medical centers in mediating access to clinical facilities and patient data.

Three main focus areas within Medical Devices & Robotics include Neural Computation & Neural Engineering, Cardiovascular Fluid & Solid Mechanics, and Cardiovascular & Surgical Devices.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering has a strong focus on designing devices that interface directly with the nervous system and the cardiovascular system. An overarching principle in this research area is that good design of medical devices must be based on a solid understanding of the basic science behind the organ system. Our research in this area thus spans everything from basic science and modeling through clinical application.

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Christopher J. Bettinger

Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering

Research Interests

BioMEMS for tissue regeneration; biodegradable electronic devices; biomimetic tissue-device interfaces; biomaterials synthesis; microfabrication of biomaterials 

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Maysam Chamanzar

Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Neural engineering; multimodal (electro-acousto-optical) neural interfacing; bio-photonics; optogenetics; bio-sensing

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Steven M. Chase

Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Neuroscience Institute

Research Interests

Brain-computer interfaces; neural engineering; motor learning; motor control

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Howie Choset

Professor, Robotics Institute, Biomedical Engineering, and Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research Interests

Medical robotics; snake robotics; medical imaging

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Keith E. Cook

The David Edward Schramm Professor and Head, Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Artificial lungs; biomaterials; ex-vivo organ perfusion; hemodynamics; right ventricular function; critical care medicine

Marc Dandin research

Marc Dandin

Assistant Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Integrated circuits, bioMEMS, biosensors, bioelectronics, microfluidics

Zakory Erickson research

Zackory Erickson

Assistant Professor, Robotics Institute and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Healthcare robotics; robot learning; physical human-robot interaction; wearables; mobile manipulation

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John Galeotti

Systems Scientist, Robotics Institute
Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Novel optics for imaging and visualization; biomedical image analysis and visualization; combining robotic multi-camera computer vision with volumetric/tomographic biomedical imaging modalities; Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)

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Hartmut Geyer

Associate Professor, Robotics Institute and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Legged dynamics and control, motor control of human locomotion, powered prosthetics, humanoid robotics

noelia grande gutierrez research

Noelia Grande Gutierrez

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Bioengineering, computer-aided design (CAD), biomechanics, fluid mechanics, medical laboratory technology

Eni Halilaj research

Eni Halilaj

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Robotics

Research Interests

Musculoskeletal biomechanics, medical imaging, computational modeling, wearable sensing, machine learning

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Bin He

Trustee Professor, Biomedical Engineering
Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Neuroscience Institute

Research Interests

Electrophysiological source imaging; brain-computer interface; neuromodulation; inverse problem; functional neuroimaging; tissue electrical property imaging

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Jana Kainerstorfer

Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Biomedical optics; neurophotonics; neural sensing; medical devices; optical imaging of cerebral perfusion; portable optical devices for disease monitoring; clinical translation of optical devices; bedside monitoring of cerebral trauma

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Shawn K. Kelly

Adjunct Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering; Senior Systems Scientist, Engineering Research Accelerator; Research Biomedical Engineer, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Research Interests

Retinal prostheses for the blind; neural prostheses; neural stimulation circuitry; wireless power and data telemetry for medical devices;  hermetic packaging for medical devices

axel moore research image

Axel Moore

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Articular cartilage, intervertebral disc, spine, osteoarthritis, scoliosis, physical rehabilitation, in vivo biomechanics, ex vivo biomechanics

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O. Burak Ozdoganlar

Ver Planck Professor, Mechanical Engineering; Associate Director, Engineering Research Accelerator; Courtesy, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering

Research Interests

Mechanics of micro-scale material removal; dynamics & vibrations of micro-scale structures and micromachining; novel micro/nano-manufacturing techniques and application-driven research

Rahul Panat research

Rahul Panat

Russell V. Trader Career Development Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Microscale 3D printing, bioengineering, neuroengineering, sensors, Li-ion batteries

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Cameron N. Riviere

Associate Research Professor, Robotics Institute and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Medical robotics; rehabilitation robotics; control systems; medical devices; biomedical human-machine interfaces

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Kenji Shimada

Theodore Ahrens Professor in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Courtesy Appointment, Biomedical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Robotics Institute, and Institute for Complex Engineering Systems

Research Interests

Medical robotics; computer-assisted surgery; human body modeling and simulation

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Douglas J. Weber

Akhtar and Bhutta Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Neuroscience Institute and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Neurorehabilitation, sensorimotor integration, brain-computer interfaces, biomechanics, motor control

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Victoria Webster-Wood

Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Bioinspired robotics; biohybrid robotics; cell & tissue engineering; biomaterials; organic actuators; organic control

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Sossena Wood

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Ultrahigh field and high field magnetic resonance imaging, sickle cell disease, optical imaging, electromagnetic and thermal simulations, phantom

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Byron Yu

Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research Interests

Neural engineering; brain-computer interfaces; systems neuroscience; computational neuroscience; machine learning

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Yongjie Jessica Zhang

Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Finite element applications in biomechanics; patient-specific geometric modeling and mesh generation; image processing; multiscale modeling of biomolecular complexes; computer-assisted surgery

Yongxin (Leon) Zhao research

Yongxin (Leon) Zhao

Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences

Research Interests

Bioengineering, cell and tissue engineering, diagnostic and therapeutic, expansion microscopy, nanoscale

Siyang Zheng research

Siyang Zheng

Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering

Research Interests

Microfluidics/BioMEMS, nano-biotechnology, cancer diagnosis and treatment, infectious diseases, implantable devices