| Meet the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Darryl Thelen Weideman Professor of Mechanical Engineering |
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Research area The UW Neuromuscular Biomechanics Laboratory conducts research on the biomechanics and neuromuscular coordination of human movement, with applications in orthopedics, rehabilitation and sports medicine. The lab specializes in the development and use of novel wearable sensors and dynamic imaging technologies to characterize musculotendon kinematics and kinetics during movement. Experiments are often coupled with computer simulations of the neuromusculoskeletal system, to investigate movement biomechanics and test principles guiding movement control. The overall goal of the research is to establish a scientific basis for the clinical treatment and prevention of injuries and impairments that limit locomotor performance.
What excites you about your work?
“I’m excited to bring new and innovative tools to biomechanics researchers and practitioners. We’re currently working on a noninvasive wearable sensor to measure muscle forces that drive human movement. The sensor works by tracking miron-scale vibrations within the tissue and using that to assess the mechanical loading the tissue is undergoing. I’m excited about applications of the technology, which could span from fundamental biomechanics and motor control research in the lab to physical therapists and athletic trainers working with patients recovering from surgical procedures.”
What do you hope to achieve?
“We’ve been using this technology for funded research projects in-house since 2018, and I’ve always wanted to get it into the hands of others, using the extensive knowledge we’ve gained to enable others to address interesting scientific and clinical questions. I hope to commercialize it into an intuitive, easy-to-use product that provides reliable, interpretable results. We’re close to introducing a high-end lab product that integrates with other lab equipment in the field of biomechanics and have a second lower-cost wearable that could be useful by PTs, athletic trainers and fitness enthusiasts.”
Prof. Thelen’s work combines biomechanics, advanced computing and wearable technology to open up new ways of monitoring and treating movement disorders without invasive procedures. WARF is excited to partner with Darryl to bring this technology to clinical treatment.
– Jeanine Burmania, WARF, Senior Director, IP and Licensing
Want to learn more?
Jeanine Burmania, [email protected], 608.960.9846