04/14/2021
By Susan Pryputniewicz

The Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology program invites you to attend a doctoral dissertation defense by Jose Pacheco-Saya on “Evaluation of the Efficacy of Exoskeletons in Reducing Injury Risk Factors during Manual Material Handling (MMH) Activities."

Candidate: Jose Luis Pacheco-Saya
Date: Monday, April 26, 2021
Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Location: This will be a virtual defense via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact the student jose_pachecosaya@student.uml.edu or committee advisor bryan_buchholz@uml.edu at least 24 hours prior to the defense to request access to the meeting.

Committee Chair (Advisor): Bryan O. Buchholz, Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Committee Members:

  • Laura Punnett, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • David J. Cornell, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology, UMOVE Center Researcher, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Brian Umberger, Professor, Movement Science, Director of Locomotion Research Laboratory, University of Michigan

Abstract:
Because of the progress of technology, we have liberated from heavy tasks in a large sense. However, heavy manual handling tasks are still a burden in industrial settings, contributing to fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). From the standpoint of workplace health and safety, passive wearable exoskeletons may be helpful devices in reducing considerably musculoskeletal loads and the underlying factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal injury. The aim of this project was to assess whether passive exoskeleton create transference of load between musculoskeletal regions, an increase energy expenditure/metabolic workload, and change patterns of muscle use, while wearing the device.

All interested students and faculty members are invited to attend the online defense via remote access.