Skip to main content

mechanical engineering Archives

Keith Obstein receives inaugural Brock Family Center Innovator of the Year Award

Nov. 17, 2023—Keith Obstein, MD, MPH, has received the inaugural Innovator of the Year Award from the Brock Family Center for Applied Innovation in recognition of his achievements in developing and commercializing a magnetic, flexible colonoscopy system with the potential to provide a safer alternative to standard colonoscopy.

Read more


Physicians, engineering students, families and friends construct DIY face shields

Apr. 2, 2020—As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to grow, Nashville resident Kobie Pretorius was searching for some way to provide meaningful help to others. And she realized her apprehension was spiking each morning as her husband went out the door for work.

Read more


VU engineers, VUMC doctors team for open-source ventilator design

Apr. 1, 2020—As COVID-19 continues to push unprecedented challenges on medical communities, one of the most pressing threats for hospital staff across the country is a dwindling supply of ventilators.

Read more


VISE team seeks to develop new robot to ease prostatectomies

Apr. 11, 2019—The Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering (VISE) team of Robert Webster III, PhD, and Duke Herrell, MD, have received a $2.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a new surgical robot for endoscopic transurethral prostatectomy.

Read more


Design competition aims to assist laryngectomy patients

Mar. 29, 2018—The first annual LaryHacks, a competition to design innovative devices, apps or methods to assist laryngectomy patients who have had their voice boxes removed, has been set for Thursday, April 12, 5 to 8 p.m., in the Wond’ry, 2414 Highland Ave. in the Vanderbilt University Engineering and Science building.

Read more


‘Smart cane’ could one day help flag gait problems, falling risks more quickly

Feb. 12, 2018—Falling is no joke when you're a senior citizen or have other balance issues. Vanderbilt engineers are working on a 'smart cane' that could help physical therapists spot and treat problems sooner.

Read more


Meet Vanderbilt’s first Academic Pathways fellows

Oct. 27, 2017—Seven outstanding Ph.D.’s with diverse backgrounds and experiences have come to Vanderbilt to pursue postdoctoral training with an eye toward academic careers.

Read more


Team to develop steerable robotic needle for biopsies

Oct. 26, 2017—Collaboration between a mechanical engineer at Vanderbilt University and a pulmonologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has resulted in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant that will be used to develop a steerable robotic needle to safely biopsy hard-to-reach lung nodules.

Read more


Smart underwear prevents back stress with just a tap

Aug. 1, 2017—"Performance-boosting super suit" hidden under clothing can be activated by a double tap to save users' backs.

Read more


How six cups of ground coffee can improve nose, throat surgery

Jun. 20, 2017—Vanderbilt engineers have designed a “granular jamming cap” filled with coffee grounds that can improve the accuracy of the sophisticated “GPS” system that surgeons use for nose and throat surgery.

Read more


Research that ruled in 2016: Readers’ favorite stories

Dec. 16, 2016—Artificial kidneys, gay-straight alliances and junkyard batteries captured readers' attention in 2016.

Read more


‘Young Scientist’ showcases high schoolers’ research at Vanderbilt

Jun. 2, 2016—High school students performing advanced research at Vanderbilt have the opportunity to share their findings with the scientific community through a journal of their own.

Read more


Recent Stories from VUMC News and Communications Publications

Vanderbilt Medicine
Hope
Momentum
VUMC Voice

more