Expert Details
Injury Biomechanics (head and spine), Medical Device Design, Structural Analysis, Patents
ID: 726312
Maryland, USA
Expert passed the patent bar in 2002, and has testified in a number of patent disputes.
Expert has been working in biomechanics since his BS degree in mechanical engineering from MIT in 1980, and worked building instrumentation while an undergraduate as well. His initial position, between undergraduate and graduate school, was at the orthopedic biomechanics lab at the Mayo Clinic from 1980 to 1981, when he returned to graduate school. Expert has published on bone mechanics, cartilage mechanics, injury mechanics, and circulatory control over the space of the last 30 years. He engaged in research on traumatic brain injury due to blast loading at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, where he is able to consult for non-government-related issues. Expert has given deposition testimony in over 20 cases regarding injury mechanics and the mechanical factors that are associated with injuries.
Expert has taught biomechanics and mechanical design at Rice University and at three medical schools (to residents in preparation for professional exams).
Expert has a broad background in medical device analysis and consulting, including projects involving stents, endoscopic surgical tools, bone plates, pacemaker leads, catheters, total joint replacements, inhalers, vena cava filters, wound therapy devices, exercise equipment, in vitro fertilization equipment, and insulin pumps. Expert has published papers on failure processes in total joint replacements, testing methods for interfaces, and elastography. Since passing the patent bar in 2002, Expert has consulted on several patent actions involving medical devices as well as actions involving paintball guns, children's furniture, and other devices.
Expert is currently developing finite element computer models of the head, neck and thorax for the analysis of injury in military applications. In the past several years, Expert has developed computer models for mechanisms of mild traumatic brain injury, blast-related head trauma, and blast-resistant crew seating in military vehicles. In the past several years, Expert has also given expert witness testimony on injuries in automobile accidents and industrial accidents, including cases involving construction and offshore oil platforms.
Oil Rig Injury Cases: Testified in court and deposition on claims involving back and neck injuries during duties on oil rigs: Pulling slips, Nippling Down. Developed measurements and mathematical models for fluid pumping due to loose tolerances in orthopedic implants under load. Measured strains in a deep water repair device for 20 inch pipelines to assess the accuracy needed for proper sealing at depth. Developed an ultrasonic indentation gauge for measuring cartilage material stiffness in situ. Developed a measurement technique and measured strains within tissue expanders for reconstruction after mastectomy: Showed that the local curvature of the tissue expander was responsible for strain differences within the envelope of the expander.
TECHNICAL SKILL SET:
Computational mechanics and Fluid dynamics
• LS-Dyna (expert), Abaqus (expert), Ansys (proficient), CTH (proficient), Fluent (proficient)
• Truegrid (expert), LS-Prepost (expert), Cubit (proficient), OASYS (proficient), Hypermesh (proficient)
• Extensive interfaces to Matlab, Python
Computational Electrodynamics
• Sim4Life (expert), Comsol (proficient), Maxwell (proficient)
Technical Areas of Practice
• Blast Physics and Injury
o Extensive modeling with LS-Dyna and CTH
o Applications to air and underwater explosives and coal mine explosions
o Supervised younger colleagues.
• Nonlethal Weapons
o Kinetic – injury profiles
o Electric Incapacitation – models for physiologic reactions
• Medical Devices:
o Joint Replacement – Extensive experience (dating to 1988) in analysis and measurements
o Orthopedic Instrumentation – Surgical tools and plates
o Pacemakers – Modeling and measurement experience on leads
o Infusion pumps – analyses of seals
• Railroad applications
o Project work on locomotive cab design and crashworthiness
o Patent on collision damper
• Accidents
o Injury analysis in falls, automotive accidents, blast, and impact
o Consulting expert in litigation on automotive, industrial, maritime, and petrochemical settings
• Intellectual property
o Passed the patent bar in 2002
o Consulting expert in litigation on medical devices, bicycle seats, children’s furniture
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1999 | Degree: MBA | Subject: Marketing and Entrepreneurship | Institution: University of Houston |
| Year: 1985 | Degree: ScD | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: MIT |
| Year: 1980 | Degree: BS | Subject: Mechanical Engineering | Institution: MIT |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2022 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Principal Clinical Research Analyst | Department: |
Responsibilities:Project Manager and Subject Matter Expert on Blast Injuries• Provided scientific review and summaries of injury and biomechanical literature on injuries due to explosive blast exposure • Led a 5 person team tasked with generating reports to upper-level command on the status of the science, reviewing proceedings of scientific meetings run by BIRCO, and supporting responses to requests for information from DoD. Supported administrative requirements. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2018 to 2022 | Employer: Johns Hopkins Medical School | Title: Faculty | Department: Department of Radiology |
Responsibilities:• Developed low-cost instrumentation system for diagnosis and status evaluation in Parkinson’s disease in a cross-functional team including neurologists, engineers, and radiologists. The system develops remote diagnosis technology using standard evaluation methods augmented by wavelet transforms. We are currently developing a product vision, roadmap, and customer interface for this digital product. Machine learning methods are being applied.• Published two journal articles and delivered five podium presentations at national meetings |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2009 to 2022 | Employer: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory | Title: Senior Professional Staff | Department: National Security Technology Division |
Responsibilities:• Led a team developing computational models for analysis of injuries to human anatomical structures due to IED and projectile threats. Participated in sponsor engagement and project planning, adjusting the scope and deliverables for projects funded by DoD organizations.• Conducted computational model validation against measurements from explosive and shock-tube tests on phantoms and Post-Mortem Human Subjects • Led the Development of anatomically accurate computational models for analysis of nonlethal weapons, working with the sponsor to adapt to changes in support from prior participants. Gained sponsor buy-in for a revised tool to allow users to develop nonlethal weapons that are effective without causing serious injury The tool, consisting of analysis codes and numerical models, will be available on user machines or over the web. Characterized the existing software (based on Java and MATLAB) for re-coding in Python, and supervised the younger developers on the implementation. Advised on product development, contributed to the technical development, and led a technical team. • Provided mentorship to analysis staff in computational analyses using large-scale computing hardware and advanced analysis codes, including LS-Dyna, Abaqus, and Sandia CTH. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2005 to 2009 | Employer: Foster-Miller Inc | Title: Senior Engineer | Department: Structures and Transportation |
Responsibilities:• Developed a technology plan for a measurement of Traumatic Brain Injury severity, involving several stakeholders and developers. Achieved $4m in funding in collaboration with trauma surgeons in New York, the Department of Defense, and developers at Qinetiq (Great Britain). The two-year effort involved proposal preparation and technology planning, along with hiring staff and developing measurement protocols to satisfy DoD Technology Readiness standards.• Developed new capabilities for analysis of railroad crashes involving fuel spills and the risk of fires or explosions. Worked in a cross-functional team of experimentalists and analysts to deliver a prediction of fire risk in derailments • Developed nonlinear suspension capability for locomotive cabs that stabilized the ride, resulting in a team-developed prototype for sponsor testing. • Led a cross-functional analysis team for the development of seat suspension systems for injury prevention in military vehicles, which resulted in a fielded product, used by a NATO country. • Participated in Medical Device Research and Development Teams aimed at deployable heart valves, insulin pumps, and related devices. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2005 | Employer: Exponent Failure Analysis Associates | Title: Senior Engineer | Department: Biomechanics |
Responsibilities:• Initiated Biomechanics services in the Boston-area office, developing team projects with electrical and fire/explosive groups.• Medical Device Analysis: Materials selection, Stress analysis, Patent infringement. Includes total joint replacements, stents, intravenous tubing, dialysis machines, catheters, vascular occlusion devices. • Injury Analysis: Biomechanics, force and stress analysis of biological structures. Includes industrial injuries (oil rigs, construction sites) and accident analysis (automobile, bus, industrial equipment) |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1999 to 1999 | Employer: Resmed | Title: Director | Department: Business Development |
Responsibilities:• Manufacturer of Continuous positive Airway Pressure Devices. Tasked with developing applications in cardiology and stroke rehabilitation. Visited surgical and medical staff to structure project plans for 510(k) applications. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1993 to 1999 | Employer: UT Medical School at Houston | Title: Assistant Professor | Department: Orthopedics |
Responsibilities:• Led a cross-functional Biomechanics Research group through departmental transitions from University to private organization and back to University organization. Developed outside funding, and shared resources from cardiology and anatomy labs.• Supervised orthopedic resident research projects with several stakeholders and with industrial support • Developed methods to measure pacemaker lead flexure for design by a sponsoring Texas manufacturer. Led a cross-functional team to develop the protocol, achieved $50k funding and developed measurements in collaboration with cardiologists, engineers, and data scientists. • Developed experimental and computational models for orthopedic implants, including new methods to model bone adaptation to stress. • Developed experimental and computational models for bone circulation in a team with orthopedic surgeons and engineers • Did research on cement pressurization around total hip implants, resulting in a student master’s thesis and a publication in collaboration with a local orthopedic surgeon. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1993 to 1999 | Employer: Rice University | Title: Visiting Associate Professor | Department: Mechanical Engineering |
Responsibilities:• Developed and Taught courses in biomechanics, mechanical design, and stress analysis• Supervised Graduate Students • Was part of a team that got $5M funding from the Whitaker foundation for the start-up of an Undergraduate Bioengineering Curriculum |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1993 to 1999 | Employer: University of Houston | Title: Adjunct Professor | Department: Mechanical Engineering |
Responsibilities:• Supervised Graduate Students• Collaborated in research on elastography and was part of a thesis committee resulting in a student Doctoral thesis. (The student is currently tenured at Columbia.) |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1990 to 1993 | Employer: University of Missouri- Kansas City Medical School | Title: Director of Research | Department: Department of Orthopedics |
Responsibilities:• Initiated a Biomechanics lab in collaboration with the Chairman, and got support and buy-in for facilities and space.• Won a three-year $180k Whitaker foundation grant to study high-precision methods for preparing bones for orthopedic implants, in collaboration with medical and dental school staff. • Supervised orthopedic resident research projects including surgical techniques and materiel development for interface strength. Got buy-in and cooperation from Orthopedic Faculty. • Developed computational bone remodeling simulations that led to several team publications and podium presentations |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1985 to 1990 | Employer: Massachusetts General Hospital | Title: Assistant in Orthopedics | Department: Biomechanics |
Responsibilities:• Conducted research on cemented and un-cemented total hip replacements as part of a cross-functional team. Developed methods to quantify ingrowth of bone into orthopedic implants using Scanning Electron microscopy. Co-Investigator on a $2M NIH grant for study of bony ingrowth fixation• Developed software to quantify bone cement porosity, and participated in studies to minimize pores in bone cement which could decrease durability. These techniques are widely used today. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1985 to 1990 | Employer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Title: Research Associate | Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering |
Responsibilities:• Supervised graduate and undergraduate student research, resulting in several completed theses. Collaborated on research with MIT professors on interface fracture. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1982 to 1985 | Employer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Title: Research Assistant | Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering |
Responsibilities:• Thesis research on the MIT hip project, sponsored by a Whitaker Health Sciences Fund fellowship (three years, including tuition and stipend). |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1981 to 1985 | Employer: Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Title: Teaching Assistant | Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering |
Responsibilities:• Supervised labs, instructed students on the use of testing machines |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1980 to 1981 | Employer: Mayo Clinic | Title: Research Engineer | Department: Orthopedic Biomechanics Lab |
Responsibilities:• Did experimental and computational research on the mechanics of the elbow. Wrote data acquisition and analysis code, including determination of moment arms for muscles and constrained optimization for force analysis |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2008 to 2009 | Agency: USAMRMC | Role: Reviewer | Description: Reviewed Proposals for funding in Traumatic Brain Injury |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| - Orthopedic Research Society - American Society of Mechanical Engineers |
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| PE Texas Registered Patent Agent, USPTO |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| - Refereed scientific papers: 42 - Letters to the editor: 3 - Meeting presentations (partial list): 75 |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Approximately 20 depositions on injury, patent cases, and medical devices. Six in-court appearances in injury, product liability, and patent cases. Passed the Patent bar (as an agent), 2002. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Biomechanics courses for orthopedic residents. Biomechanics courses for undergraduate and graduate students at Rice University. |
| Marketing Experience |
|---|
| Long-term exposure (over 25 years) to orthopedic devices and technology. |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| Russian | Mid-intermediate level - can read scientific papers and web sites. |
Fields of Expertise
applied mechanics, ballistics, continuum mechanics, fracture mechanics, legal patenting, mechanics, structural mechanics, biomechanics, anthropometry, anthropomorphic, biomedical engineering, biomedical instrumentation, bone mechanics, biomedical device, medical device, prosthesis, implantable device, medical instrument, surgical instrument, stent, brain injury, head and neck injury, injury biomechanics, orthopedic injury, spine injury, workplace injury, brain concussion, abdominal injury, garment product development, inhaler, biomedical application, medical filter, plastic medical device, electrocautery instrument, 510(k) document, degree of freedom, therapeutic device, biomedical product development, industrial acoustic noise measurement, new product design, couple balance, burn injury, mechanical respirator, orthosis, innovation, electrocardiograph, fluid mechanics, endoscope, catheter