Robotics in Biomedical Engineering Developments

🚨 New Research Alert! 🚨 Proud to share our latest publication in Communications Engineering: "Powered knee exoskeleton improves sit-to-stand transitions in stroke patients using electromyographic control" Millions of stroke survivors struggle daily with basic tasks like standing up from a chair. Our team developed a lightweight powered knee exoskeleton that listens to the user's muscle signals and provides assistance during sit-to-stand transitions. 🦿 Key findings from our study: ✅ 59% increase in peak torque at the paretic knee ✅  32% reduction in muscle effort ✅  13.7% improvement in weight-bearing symmetry ✅  8.8% faster stand-up times Most excitingly, this is the first study to show that EMG-driven powered knee assistance can improve sit-to-stand transitions in individuals with hemiparesis post-stroke, without requiring extensive training. 🙏 A big thank you to our incredible participants and interdisciplinary team, including mechanical engineers, physical therapists, and rehabilitation scientists. This work moves us closer to intuitive, wearable robotics that restore independence and mobility. 🔗 Link to full study in comments 🔬 If you're working at the intersection of robotics, neurorehab, or human movement science, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Andrew Gunnell, Sergei Sarkisian, PhD Lukas Gabert #BionicEngineering #WearableRobotics #Exoskeletons #StrokeRehab #HumanCenteredDesign #RehabilitationTechnology #EMGControl #Biomechanics #Neuroengineering #robotics University of Utah University of Utah John and Marcia Price College of Engineering University of Utah Research University of Utah Robotics Center

An American lab has created robotic white blood cells that track and kill infections in real time At a bioengineering facility in Maryland, scientists have successfully built the first fully autonomous synthetic leukocytes — robotic white blood cells that can detect and destroy bacterial invaders inside the human body. These microbots are about the size of real neutrophils and are powered by biothermal gradients, allowing them to move with the bloodstream. Each unit is coated in protein sensors that detect bacterial enzymes and chemical distress signals from infected tissue. Once locked on, they pierce the pathogen’s membrane using a mechanical lancing mechanism — all without damaging nearby human cells. The bots are built using flexible hydrogel shells that mimic natural cell walls, letting them squeeze through capillaries and evade immune rejection. Early trials in mice showed a 74% faster recovery from bloodstream infections with no observed toxicity or side effects. This approach could revolutionize how we treat infections, especially antibiotic-resistant strains. Instead of flooding the body with drugs, doctors could deploy fleets of programmable immune support bots directly into the blood. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is funding the next phase of trials, hoping to deploy these bots for battlefield wound infections and sepsis prevention. Civilian applications will follow — especially in hospitals where resistant bacteria thrive. We may soon live in a world where your immune system is backed by an army of programmable defenders — silently navigating your veins.