Description:

Alumni Speakers
Carson Thomas, Amanda Sawicki, and Simone Horneye
Host: Professor Suzanne Olds

Carson Thomas, BS, PhD:
Carson Thomas (BS 1993, PhD 1999) is currently Director of Portfolio Strategy for the Baxter’s renal business, which works to improve the lives of renal patients worldwide. Before joining Baxter, Carson spent 15 years with GE Healthcare working in marketing, strategy, and product development within the X-ray business and the radiation dose tracking business. When he was hired at GE, he initially worked in Clinical Research and Advanced Clinical Applications, helping to introduce the first digital X-Ray systems and several advanced applications that helped transition the X-Ray modality into a digital modality.

Amanda Sawicki, BS, MS:
Amanda Sawicki (BS/MS, 2014) is a Senior Engineer at Baxter Healthcare. She started working for Baxter in 2012, as a co-op student on an R&D team developing a home hemodialysis device. Following graduation from NU, she joined full time as a member of Baxter’s Technical Development Program, where she had the opportunity to complete rotations across R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality organizations. Her current role is in the Risk Management Office, where she recently helped develop a new global risk management process and is responsible for coaching product teams through the process.

Simone Horneye, BS:
Simone Horneye (BS, 1994) is a Marketing Consultant for Medtronic plc. She began her career as an Applications Engineer at GE Healthcare. She received her MBA from the University of Michigan in 2001, and has worked at Medtronic for the past 16 years in a number of US and international positions. She is currently responsible for sales and marketing execution in the Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure Management Division.

Description:

Benjamin Binder-Markey
Doctoral Student in Professor Wendy Murray’s Laboratory
Northwestern University
Host: Professor Wendy Murray
Co-supervised by: Wendy Murray and Julius Dewald

Title:
“Exploring Healthy and Pathologic Hand Function through the Development and Application of Biomechanical Musculoskeletal Hand Models”

Abstract:
The hand is an extremely complex system comprised 27 bones and 23 degrees of freedom that are controlled by 42 muscles. Coordinated healthy hand opening and closing is achieved by coupling the movements of multiple joints. This coupling is achieved through a complex balance of forces within the hand contributed by soft tissues structures that surround each joint and muscles that span over multiple joints. However, due to this complexity the hand is highly susceptible to functional impairments if there is an disruption to the balance of these forces due to an injury. First, I will present a novel method we have developed to incorporate the passive mechanical structures of the hand into a biomechanical musculoskeletal model, coupling the movements between the wrist and fingers. Then I will explore how alterations of the biomechanical structures of the hand affect function after an injury through two clinical examples. First, using the model developed above we will explore how alterations of these structures lead to the development of the claw finger deformity after paralysis of the intrinsic muscles. Second, using experimental data we will explore how changes in the passive stiffness of the hand may contribute to impairments after a stroke. The use of both modeling and experimental methods allows for a greater understanding of hand function in both the healthy and impaired populations. This knowledge will aid in the development of more targeted and effective rehabilitation interventions or devices to improve the quality of life for these individuals.

Description:

Philip R. Troyk, PhD
Associate Dean of Armour College of Engineering
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Professor, Stuart School of Business
Illinois Institute of Technology
Host: Professor John Troy

Title:
“Implantable Neural Prostheses: Concepts and Technology”

Abstract:
The prospects and expectations for using implantable electronic devices as therapies for neural deficit or disease, are rapidly growing. While advances in electronic technology used in our daily lives seem almost boundless, there remain significant challenges for designing implantable neural prosthesis systems that leverage common commercial and industrial capabilities. Problems unique to the biological environment and neural interface continue to limit progress for translational development of modern neural prostheses. Deeper understanding of key technological barriers are needed to advance this emerging research field. This seminar will focus upon critical issues of designing devices for neural interfaces and approaches to enable their clinical deployment.

Description:

Ranu Jung, PhD
Professor and Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering
Wallace H. Coulter Eminent Scholars Chair of Biomedical Engineering
Florida International University
Host: Professor Mitra Hartmann

Title:
”Closed Loop Biohybrid Systems for Restoring Neural Function”

Abstract:
Real-time communication between a nervous system and a device is now possible, but full and reliable integration in biohybrid systems is still far from reality. Biohybrid systems of the future are likely to utilize biomimetic machines with direct neural interfaces not only to integrate with the biological system, but also to close the loop in a manner that promotes adaptation in the nervous system. This talk will present some of our work that uses tools and techniques from computational neuroscience and neural engineering to develop biohybrid systems. An ongoing study is developing a neuromorphic adaptive control system to provide ventilatory assistance after spinal cord injury. In other work, a first-in-human trial is planned to restore sensation to upper limb amputees with a neural-enabled prosthetic hand system.

Description:

Yasin Dhaher, PhD
Research Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Research Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Northwestern University
Host: Professor Mark Johnson

Title:
“Beyond Convention: Investigating the Influence of Sex Hormones in Rehabilitation Medicine”

Abstract:
Nearly 20% of all stroke survivors are in their prime of life. Stroke in young adults may have significant long-term economic and social consequences, and the incidence of stroke in young women is rising. Between 1994 and 2007 the number of strokes increased by 17% in women age 15-34, and by 36% in women age 35-44 years of age. There is a great need for effective rehabilitation in this population, as younger age doesn’t mean greater improvement after discharge leaving 53% of young stroke survivors dissatisfied with their quality of life, naming motor impairment as a specific factor. Specific to women in their prime of life, a growing body of literature suggests that cyclically fluctuating hormone concentrations may modulate the excitability of cortical networks.
The goals/objectives of this talk are :
1. Highlight the systemic effect sex hormones have on the basic properties of the key constituents engaged in post stroke rehabilitation; the musculoskeletal system, the spinal and motor cortical structures.
2. Discussion on the implication of these findings to understanding injury and the design of effective rehabilitation therapies will be presented.