Current and Proposed Research

Cooperative Medical Research Programs

The work briefly described below is an extension of that given in Section 1.4. For each project listed, the applicant co-supervises a graduate student. The current projects are:

(i) Ankle Joint Motion Analysis Under Load Simulating Normal Gait (HMRC, Toronto). A graduate student is investigating the range of motion of the ankle and knee joints through experimental studies. The goal of the research is to more readily and accurately predict the design requirements of an associated brace.

(ii) Analysis and Design of an Orthotic Ankle Brace (HMRC, Toronto). This work involves both experimental and theoretical investigations. Force and strains measured from an experimental unit will be compared with a finite element model. It is intended to use the finite element model as a design tool to investigate the minimization of material requirements.

(iii) Design of an Improved Valve and Hose System for Home Ventilators (West Park Hospital). A cooperative research program has been established with Dr. R.S. Goldstein of West Park Hospital, Toronto, for the redesign of home ventilators. The current design has been in use for approximately 25 years, and although has been proven to be reliable, it is now considered to be heavy and bulky. This research will involve theoretical and experimental analyses. Experiments will be performed at the laboratories of West Park Hospital, Toronto. The theoretical research will include manufacture of a prototype employing stereolithography.

(iv) Design of a Spatial Thumb Joint for a Prosthetic Hand (HMRC, Toronto). This research involves the development of the mechanism employed in the next generation of prosthetic hands. It is intended to employ a hand with a thumb joint capable of pivoting about two separate axes, as opposed to existing units which employ a planar mechanism for thumb motions.