Biomedical Engineering Research Group
The Biomedical Engineering Research Group, part of ARU's Medical Technology Research Centre (MTRC), brings together medical experts and engineers to solve today’s biomedical engineering problems.
Within the group, we have particular interests and experience in anatomy and physiology, mechatronics, robotics, medical technology (expanding the work of the Medical Technology Laboratory group), device development and validation, orthopaedic engineering, respiratory analysis, and computer simulation (artificial intelligence, finite element analysis, gamification, and virtual reality).
The group also has close links to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, and West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
In addition to research, the group is also involved in engineering education and outreach programs. For example, we regularly partner with Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society to deliver events and educational resources for primary and secondary school children.
Above: Top row left-right: ARU-branded Arduino used for our medical devices; Arduino-based die rolling project; Arduino ECG circuit;. Bottom row: ECG reading from the Arduino ECG circuit
Top right: Finite element model in Abaqus of a foot, showing stresses in the first metatarsophalangeal joint (the big toe).
- Dr Stephen Hughes - Senior Lecturer/Course Leader, School of Medicine
- Dr Jennifer Martay - Senior Lecturer/Course Leader, School of Engineering and the Built Environment
- Dr Samantha Goodchild - Lecturer, School of Medicine
- Dr Shabnam Sadeghi Esfahlani - Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering and the Built Environment
- Alireza Sanaei - Lecturer, School of Engineering and the Built Environment
- Steve Farnden (external) - Head of Biomedical Engineering, Broomfield Hospital
- Phil Vaughan (external) - Consultant, West Suffolk Hospital
- Prof Paul White (external) - Head of Biomedical Engineering, Addenbrooke’s Hospital
- Using the Bose mechanical testing machine to determine material properties of biological tissues.
- Electromechanical Characterisation of a Rubber/Graphite Strain Gauge
Martay, J. L. B., Martay, H., Carpes, F., 2021. BodyWorks: Interactive interdisciplinary online teaching tools for biomechanics and physiology teaching. Advances in Physiology Education, 45(4), pp. 715-719.
British Science Festival, 11 September 2021: Dr Stephen Hughes, "Medical Devices" and Dr Jennifer Martay, "Kinecting Engineering with Medicine".
Student enrichment activity, 20 October 2021: Dr Jennifer Martay, "Exploring with Microscopes".
Student enrichment activity, 3 November 2021: Dr Stephen Hughes and Dr Jennifer Martay, "Medicine and Engineering; A Sporting Spotlight" (part of Futures Festival).
We've created a number of freely-available engineering education tools. Please get in touch if you’d like to collaborate on making more/have topics to suggest.
Biomedical engineering
BodyWorks Kinematics Tool (position/animate a stick figure and calculate joint angles).
BodyWorks Neuromuscular Simulation (place electrodes and collect EMG traces in muscle).
BodyWorks EMG Analysis Tool (process EMG signals using rectification, filters, and envelopes).
Installing SimpleOpenNI for Kinect Cameras (up-to-date/2021 instructions to install software to use Kinect camera as cheap motion analysis alternative).
Running and Updates to SimpleOpenNI from Making Things See (first code to check SimpleOpenNI installation and updates to code found in the book Making Things See).
Engineering materials
Crystal Structures (explore BCC, FCC, and HCP unit cells).
General engineering
Auto-generated Maths Exams (practice algebra through to calculus math questions with answers).
Effects of Loading on a Block (apply normal and shear loads to a block and watch it squish and stretch).
Stress Transformations (obliquely cut a block and calculate normal and shear stresses along the cut).
Contact us
For more information and to get involved, email [email protected]