Patent: WO2025072476A1, Surgeon Console
About
After just over 2 years working in exoskeletons, I transitioned to surgical robotics, joining Noah Medical in the mechanical engineering team. I started on the robotic bronchoscopy system (the Galaxy System) from prototype phase to limited market release. Once the product was commercial, I opted out of becoming a sustaining engineer, transferring instead to the R&D team working on another clinical indication. On that project, I transitioned from purely being an individual contributor to being both an individual contributor and a team lead, for development of a surgeon console and haptic manipulators.
Contributions
Mechanical Engineering Technical Lead
- Led team of 5 consultants in development of surgeon console (stereoviewer, touchscreen, ergonomic adjustability, foot pedals) and haptic manipulators (7 DoF robotic arms)
- See pictures from Patent WO2025072476A1 in slideshow above. While my name is not on the patent, I participated as the lead and designer for those subsystems.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration: controls engineers to develop kinematic models and select motors and sensors; clinical engineers to optimize procedure workflow and determine requirements; electrical engineers to design PCBA footprints and harnesses; industrial engineering on incorporating ergonomics and usability
- Drove program-level technical strategy, schedule, and resourcing with project management
- Worked with supplier engineering and manufacturing teams on production vendor selection, manufacturing line layout, assembly equipment selection, assembly aid fixture design, and MPIs
Mechanical Engineer / Senior Mechanical Engineer
- Developed capital equipment for robotic bronchoscopy system from prototype to design verification execution
- Designed and built fixtures for characterizing product performance (IPX, instrument accuracy, motor torque, etc)
- Owned drafting and review of requirements, dFMEAs, and test cases
- Processed complaints from the field and performed root cause analysis on returned equipment
- Oversaw machine shop area, training others on proper equipment usage and regularly maintaining equipment
Skills
SolidWorks, Technical leadership, Mechatronics with embedded systems, Haptics, Optics, Design for manufacturing, assembly, and service, Iterative prototyping, Manual milling and general machine shop usage, Human-centered design, V&V, Complaint investigation