Role of Emerging Technology in Improved Healthcare

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Minnesota

"Transcranial Ultrasound Imaging and Therapy Using dual-mode Ultrasound Arrays: First-in-Man Results"
Transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) is increasingly being used in a variety of clinical applications ranging from neuromodulation to targeted ablation. The advantages of tFUS are now well established, but its full potential is yet to be realized due to the challenges posed by the propagation through the skull. To mitigate these distortions, existing clinical systems operate at conservatively low frequencies in the range of 250 – 700 kHz, where the effects of distortion and attenuation are acceptable. However, this may limit the use of tFUS to targets in the central region of the brain, which excludes the cortical regions. For the last decade, we have been developing imaging and sensing methods for guidance, monitoring, and controlled delivery of tFUS using dual-mode ultrasound array (DMUA) technology. We have demonstrated the feasibility of imaging the tFUS-induced thermal and mechanical bioeffects in vivo at sub-therapeutic exposure levels using specialized DMUA imaging modes. More recently, we have demonstrated the feasibility of in situ exposimetry of tFUS application based on DMUA imaging and sensing of the tissue response at the target and in the path of the beam, including the skull. In this talk, we describe the imaging and sensing capabilities of our DMUA system, including imaging results from human glioblastoma patients.

Bio: Emad S Ebbini. Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. His research focuses on array and signal processing with applications to biomedical ultrasound. He pioneered the concept of dual-mode ultrasound arrays, which is currently being used in clinical applications such as the noninvasive treatment of peripheral vascular disease. In addition, he has developed several imaging and sensing methods for guidance and monitoring of focused ultrasound (FUS) interventions, including ultrasound thermography and thermometry and quantitative tissue property estimation based on nonlinear pulse-echo imaging. He is a fellow of the IEEE and served as a president of the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound, in addition to numerous IEEE activities.

Professor, Mechanical Engineering
University of Minnesota

"3D Printed Electronics for Wearable and Biomedical Devices"

Bio: Michael C. McAlpine is the Kuhrmeyer Family Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He received a B.S. (2000) in chemistry with honors from Brown University, and a Ph.D. (2006) in chemistry from Harvard University. His research interests are focused on 3D printing functional materials and devices for bioelectronic applications, with recent breakthroughs in 3D printed OLED displays and 3D printed bionic eyes (one of National Geographic’s "12 Innovations that will Revolutionize the Future of Medicine"). He has received several awards for this work, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), and the National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award.

Chief Executive Officer
Vocxi Health

"New Noninvasive Sensors for Disease Detection and Monitoring"
Vocxi Health is developing a new class of noninvasive sensors for disease detection and monitoring using breath-derived metabolic signatures. The platform integrates a graphene-based variable capacitor sensor array with functionalized chemistries to capture multidimensional capacitance shifts generated by volatile organic compound mixtures in exhaled breath. Rather than measuring a single biomarker, the system applies Metabolomic Pattern Recognition (MPR) to convert complex cross-reactive signals into stable, digitized breathprints associated with metabolic states. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are used during algorithm development to define disease-specific signatures, with embedded models enabling deployment without real-time AI dependence. Feasibility studies have demonstrated the ability to distinguish conditions including lung cancer, toxic exposure, and heart failure, supporting further development for chronic disease monitoring and longitudinal care.

Bio: Ping Yeh is a cancer survivor and health tech serial entrepreneur.  He is currently CEO of Vocxi Health, a Boston Scientific and University of Minnesota spinout that transforms breath into early cancer and disease detection insights. Vocxi has recently been nominated for the Prix Galien, the equivalent to the Nobel Prize for medical technologies. After barely surviving blood cancer 13 years ago, Ping pivoted from a successful tech leader into an innovator in the healthtech industry where he cofounded, StemoniX, the first company to industrialize human brain production to discover new and safer medicines without the use of animals; which helped drive the creation of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 which authorized the use of non-animal alternatives for new drug applications. He serves on several med tech company and non-profit boards including Medical Alley which serves the health industry.

Director of Research and Technology
Medtronic

"Real-World Applications of AI and Robotics in Spinal Health"
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics is revolutionizing spine health by enhancing care across the entire patient journey. This presentation explores how emerging technologies are shaping clinical practice, from initial diagnosis to long-term post-operative follow-up.  AI-powered imaging and predictive analytics are providing tools to clinicians that better diagnose complex spinal conditions and plan for precise, patient specific surgical interventions. During surgery, robotic-assisted systems are improving intraoperative execution of surgical plans, reducing variability, and enhancing safety through real-time guidance and automation. Post-operatively, patient outcomes are being leveraged to improve predictive tools for future patients.  Real-world examples will illustrate the tangible benefits and challenges of implementing these technologies in diverse healthcare settings. By spanning the full care continuum, this presentation highlights the transformative role of emerging technology in delivering patient-centered, data-driven spinal care.

Bio: Patrick Helm, Ph.D. is a Sr. Research Director and a Bakken Fellow within the Cranial and Spinal Technologies business at Medtronic leading a team focused on advancing the role of imaging, navigation, and robotics to improve surgical outcomes.  He also co-leads Medtronic’s Robotics and Navigation Technology Development Center, which develops therapy delivery technologies for enterprise-wide applications.

Patrick holds degrees from the Johns Hopkins University in Biomedical Engineering and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia prior to joining Medtronic.  His primary research interests center around combining novel technologies from core engineering disciplines with clinical applications to improve therapy delivery and clinical outcomes.  He holds 60+ patents, 100+ publications and serves as a member on academic and industry boards.

Founding Co-Chair of the Design of Medical Devices Conference
Founding Director of the Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center
Member of the National Academy of Engineering
Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Minnesota

Bio: Dr. Erdman currently has a number of ongoing projects of which many are related to biomedical engineering and medical device design. Dr. Erdman has had research collaborations with faculty in Ophthalmology, Neuroscience, Epidemiology, Orthopedics, Surgery, Dentistry, Otolaryngology and Sport Biomechanics. He has collaborated with over 50 companies in mechanical and product design, including Honeywell, Medtronic, Xerox, 3M, BSC, Andersen Windows, Proctor and Gamble, Graco, HP, Rollerblade, Sulzer Medica, Gillette, Dell, Abbott (formerly St Jude Medical) and Yamaha. He also led the effort to create LINCAGES, a mechanism software design package that has been use worldwide.