Mark Driscoll
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
McGill University
Canada
Biography
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, École Polytechnique of Montreal B. Eng. Mechanical Engineering, McGill University
Research Interest
Global interests reside in improving the biomechanical understanding of mechanisms that govern our musculoskeletal system. The use of complementary research platforms (in vivo, ex vivo, and in silico) foster novel findings towards the understanding of healthy system and the onset and/or pathomechanism of musculoskeletal disorders. Such translational research is interdisciplinary and requires a multifaceted approach to promote the engineering conception and design of new mechanical solutions. More specifically, the laboratory seeks to better understand the control system governing spinal stability. Of further interest is how this control system responds when mechanical biases are introduced resulting in physiological stress shielding. Spinal stability is sought via an intricate control system to which we all benefit from intrinsically. In a flawed or unstable system, the manner in which this control system responds to perturbations, originating from a mechanical bias for example, is of interest and explored. Control mechanisms of focus are the passive tissues, such as fascia, and the structural integrity of enclosed cavities such as abdominal and thoracic compliance. Moreover, the mechanical performance of current and future medical devices are also studied.
Publications
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Driscoll, M., Mac-Thiong, J-M., Labelle, H., Slivka, M., Stad, S., and Parent, S. (2013) Biomechanical assessment of reduction forces measured during scoliotic instrumentation using two different screw designs. Spine Deformity Journal, 1: 94-101.
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Driscoll, M., Mac-Thiong, JM., Labelle, H., Stad, S., Serhan, H., and Parent, S., (2015) Biomechanical comparison of two different pedicle screw systems during the surgical correction of adult spinal deformities, Spine Deformity Journal, 3(2): 114-121.Driscoll, M., Fortier-Tougas, C., Labelle, H., Parent, S., and Mac-Thiong, JM., (2014) Evaluation of an apparatus to be combined with a smartphone for the early detection of spinal deformities, Scoliosis, 9:10. (doi:10.1186/1748-7161-9-10)
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Driscoll, M., Aubin, C-E., Moreau, A., Wakula Y., Amini, S., and Parent, S., (2016) Novel hemi-staple for the fusionless correction of pediatric scoliosis: influence on intervertebral discs and growth plates in a porcine model. Clin Spine Surg, (E pub ahead of print)
