Broad Area Colloquium For AI-Geometry-Graphics-Robotics-Vision

Computer Modeling of Human Movement Abnormalities

Scott Delp
Biomechanical Engineering Division
Mechanical Engineering Department
Stanford University

Wednesday, March 29, 2000
refreshments 4:05PM
talk begins 4:15PM
TCseq201, Lecture Hall B
http://robotics.stanford.edu/ba-colloquium/

Abstract

The outcomes of surgeries performed to correct movement abnormalities are unpredictable and sometimes unsuccessful. This problem exists because: (i) the biomechanical causes of the abnormal movement patterns are unclear, (ii) the effects of common surgical procedures on muscle function are not understood, and (iii) the development and testing of new operative techniques rely almost entirely on clinical trials (i.e., trying surgeries on patients) in which the means to quantify surgical changes or predict postoperative results do not exist. I believe that the design of improved treatments will proceed more effectively if computer models are developed that can help explain the underlying causes of movement abnormalities and the functional consequences of surgical interventions. This presentation will describe a computer simulations that provides insight into the mechanics several movement abnormalities. The presentation will also review the results of simulations that demonstrate the utility of computer-assisted design of corrective surgical procedures.

About the Speaker

Scott Delp received the Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Stanford University in 1990. For the next eight years he held a faculty position at Northwestern University, where he was jointly appointed between the Medical and Engineering Schools. Scott moved to Stanford this year as an Associate Professor in the newly formed Biomechanical Engineering Division in the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Scott has established the Digital Human Lab at Stanford to focus on the development and testing of human movement simulations. These simulations are used to study mechanisms of neuromuscular diseases, design surgeries and medical devices, guide the performance of surgery, and educate engineers, medical students, and surgical residents. Scott has received numerous awards for his work, including the Young Scientist Award from the American Society of Biomechanics, a National Young Investigator Award from NSF, and a TRP award for which he was honored at a White House ceremony with President Clinton.

bac-coordinators@cs.stanford.edu
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Last modified: Tue Mar 21 13:16:29 PST 2000