Biomedical Engineering

The Mechanical & Industrial Engineering department has extensive linkages with the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering.  Students have access to numerous well-equipped laboratories within the institute as well as in the MIE department.

Professor N. Ashgriz
Cell Dynamics: We are conducting computational research on the leukocyte (white blood cell) dynamics.  Such information are needed for understanding of their functions and behavior in health and disease.  Cell deformation depends on the rheological properties as well as internal cell structure. We are developing a three-dimensional computational model of a compound drop which is capable of capturing deforming interfaces.  We are simulating deformation of leukocyte subpopulations, namely, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils, under various stress conditions.

Professor M.W. Carter
Information system and scheduling applications in health care technology.

Professor T. Chau
General focus is on intelligent systems (software, hardware, materials & analytical methods) for pediatric rehabilitation within a biopsychosocial framework. Motor control and learning. Upper extremity prosthetics. Access and communication. Intelligent systems.

Professor W.L. Cleghorn
Ankle joint motion analysis under load simulating normal gait.  Analysis and design of an orthotic ankle brace.  Design of an improved valve and hose system for home ventilators.  Design of a spatial thumb joint for a prosthetic hand.

Professor P.Cox
Pulmonary physiology. Quality maintenance. Nosocomial infection in critically ill patients. Respiratory physiology focuses have been centered on developing strategies aimed at minimizing ventilatory induced lung. Methods of improving surfactant functions in a lung injury model.

Professor A.A. Goldenberg
Robotic-based surgery under MRI feedback and control.

Professor D.F. James
Fundamental studies in biomechanics, e.g., bone-drilling mechanics and consequent heat generation, physiological lubrication and its dependence on synovial fluid viscosity and cartilage structure and porosity.

Professor D. McCammond
Analysis of stresses associated with dental implants and prosthesis.

Professor S.A. Meguid
Multiscale modelling of ankle-foot orthosis.  Metacarpophalangeal reconstruction in the arthritic hand; mechanical behaviour of finger implants evaluated through numerical modelling and experimental techniques.  Stress analysis of porous dental implants.

Evaluation of the pin-bone interface stresses using both experimental and theoretical techniques.  Identification of a link between the quasi-static and dynamic responses of a tennis racquet and the pain experienced by many tennis players; namely, lateral epicondylitis.

Professor J.K. Mills
Current research is focused on the development of intelligent control systems for mechanical devices in use for the physically challenged.  Work addresses the development of smart interfaces for the user of such devices.  Work has been in conjunction with the Sunnybrook Medical Centre.

Professor A.W. Neumann
Application of thermodynamics to processes of biomedical relevance: Modeling of cell and protein adhesion to synthetic and natural biomaterials.  Elucidation of the functioning of lung surfactants.  Application of surface thermodynamics to biotechnological problems.

Professor M. Popovic
Advanced rehabilitation systems. Neuroprostheses for grasping, standing, walking and sitting. Sophisticated human-machine interfaces. Monitoring and assessment devices. Programmable and portable stimulator for transcutaneous FES applications.

Professor C.A. Simmons
Study of the mechanobiological basis of the regeneration and pathology of skeletal and cardiovascular tissues. Approaches integrate experimental and computational cell biomechanics with state-of-the-art quantitative cellular and molecular biology. Some current topics include: stem cell-based skeletal tissue engineering; mechanobiological studies of heart valve calcification; and development of novel technologies for high throughput mechanobiology.

Professor D. Steinman
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and medical imaging are used to elucidate the roles that vascular geometry and hemodynamics may play in the development, diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases.

Professor Y. Sun
Biological/biomedical studies assisted by MEMS and NEMS (e.g., cellular biomechanics aided by MEMS/NEMS devices).  Microrobotic biomanipulation: manipulating bio-materials (e.g., DNA and individual biological cells) with microrobotic systems.

Professor K.J. Vicente
Improving quality and productivity in health care by applying human factors principles to the design of computer-based anesthesiology equipment.

Professor C.A. Ward
The mechanism by which the protein channels of biological membranes are opened is being studied using a new theory of kinetics (Statistical Rate Theory - SRT).  The mechanism involves the adsorption (binding) of Ca ions to the proteins of biological membranes (gating currents) and the subsequent generation of an electric potential difference across the interfaces of the membranes. Under voltage clamp conditions, the gating currents as a function of time can be predicted with SRT.

Professor L. You
Biomechanics, tissue engineering, cellular mechanotransduction, bone modeling and remodeling, and bone regeneration. Currently, we are working on the anti-resorptive effect of mechanical loading on bone tissue; the advanced microfluidics system for bone cell mechanotransduction study; the role of focal adhesion assembly in cell mechanosensitivity using micropatterned surface; and development of advanced artificial bone matrix by employing novel microfabrication technologies.