Challenge Question
How can we design instrumented knee braces to improve patient healing times?
Partner: This project is a collaboration between the three mentors listed below.
Project Summary
Knee joint injuries are common in Canada, especially to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and over 350,000 ACL reconstruction surgeries are performed in the United States each year. Knee orthotics are commonly used for treatment, both for prevention and during rehabilitation. 63% of knee surgeries prescribe knee braces as part of rehabilitation, valued at $65M for the US and Scandinavia alone. Current braces are static, mechanical devices that are not able to monitor and adjust for patient recovery, but many developments in knee orthotics, emerging technologies, and novel materials have emerged in recent years that could result in better patient outcomes following knee surgeries. A self-adapting knee brace that makes use of these recent developments would speed up patient rehabilitation through improved sensing and actuation. The goal of this project is to prototype a knee brace with sensors and actuators and propose a design for an actual trial. Team members might have disciplinary backgrounds in mechanical, electrical, and/or computer engineering, and may also have knowledge in physiotherapy, kinesiology, health sciences, and other medical-related fields.
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Organizational Profile
Dr. Gerd Grau and Dr. Garrett Melenka have collaborated to explore emerging technologies in fabrication and manufacturing. Dr. Grau is an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, with research interests in additive manufacturing processes, especially printed electronics and 3D printing, that enable the deployment of microelectronics in new ways. His lab works on all aspects of these novel microfabrication processes, including printing physics and fluid mechanics, the development of new printing tools and techniques, and the integration of various electronic and structural materials to fabricate devices for applications such as biomedical systems. Dr. Garrett Melenka is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, with research focused on the design, manufacture, mathematical modeling, and experimental analysis of advanced tubular braided composite structure. Dr. Melenka’s experience in composite materials has translated to the experimental analysis and modeling of additive manufactured structures, and he specializes in the experimental analysis of composite structures using measurement techniques such as three-dimensional digital image correlation and micro-computed tomography. Their collaboration is joined by Professor Will Gage from the Faculty of Health, School of Kinesiology and Health Science. His current research is on the neuromuscular control and biomechanics of postural control and joint stability, with a focus on the knee joint. He is also interested in mechanisms related to sensory-motor dysfunction and normal aging which might interrupt these levels of control as well as the potential impact of changes in neuromuscular control (local factors) on the development and progression of osteoarthritis.
Partner Website
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Key Words
- Knee Brace
- Rehabilitation
- Sensing and Actuating Technology