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Title: Dead Man Walking - Robotic Force Control: Applications from Medicine to Manufacturing

Summary: At the Cleveland Clinic BioRobotics Lab we have created a center of excellence for biomechanical testing of biological structures and biomaterials. Our mission is to employ world-class facilities to allow investigators to conduct high-quality research on the mechanical properties of existing biological structures and constructs, as well as to quantify the potential for new technologies and clinical advancements. The robotic systems we developed allow researchers to simulate loading conditions on a cadaveric joint by using actuators to simulate muscle forces while simultaneously applying external loads to the joint. Applications of this type of testing are numerous and can be used to provide insights into orthopedics, joint kinematics, surgical techniques, and disease pathologies. Applications of the enabling technology have benefits in surgical robotics as well as manufacturing.

Bio: Robb Colbrunn Ph.D.
Director, BioRobotics Lab, Cleveland Clinic

Robb received a B.S.M.E. in 1996 from Grove City College, a M.S.M.E. in 2000 from Case Western Reserve University, and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 2013 from Cleveland State University. Along the way he worked in both academia and industry developing test systems for the automotive industry, creating control systems for unique robotic actuators, performing system integration of International Space Station experiments for NASA, and designing & manufacturing novel medical devices. He was recruited by the Cleveland Clinic in 2005 to launch the BioRobotics Core. His area of research interest lies where medicine and robotics intersect; both currently and in the future. Much of the research he has done is in the realm of orthopaedic biomechanics using robotic testing methodologies, but is not limited to a single joint or anatomical region. This broad perspective has given him a unique view and cross-disciplinary knowledge in the field. Robotics are becoming more and more common in today’s world and the potential applications are limitless. He is motivated by having the ability to harness those technologies and apply them in ways to ultimately help patients.

This talk will focus on:

• A general overview of our lab and how we are enabling researchers around the world to advance patient care with multi-axis robotic force control.
• The underlying force control technologies that make this research possible and how they have been shown to have applicability in surgical robotics as well as manufacturing for worker safety and productivity