Active Projects
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Clinical Knee Arthrometer to Measure Knee Laxity
NC Innovation (PI Schmitz, North Carolina A&T State University)
Role: Consultant (Arthrolax Solutions, Shultz; Entrepreneur in Residence, Sawant)
Aim: Greater knee laxity is a key indicator of joint integrity and predictor of future injury risk. This project will take a multidisciplinary engineering approach to define (Aim 1), creatively design and build (Aim 2) and conduct extensive customer discovery on (Aim 3) a Phase I prototype that will inform and refine the design for future Phase 2 activities. Our commercialization goal is to equip clinicians with a precision instrument that enhances diagnostic accuracy, informs rehabilitation progression and return to play decisions, and identifies at-risk individuals with minimal training.
Role of Hormones on Bundle-Specific ACL Function in the Growing Knee Joint
NIH-NIAMS 5R01AR071985 (PI Fischer, North Carolina State University)
Role: Consultant (ArthroLax Solutions; Shultz)
Aim: Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee joint are rising, particularly for the female adolescent population, yet the mechanisms driving age- and sex-specific ACL tissue adaptations that may lead to increase injury risk are unclear. The goal of this proposal is to determine how the timing and level of sex hormones impact ACL bundle size and function. Such information will be critical to provide guidance for patient-specific injury risk and treatment algorithms.
