Research in Health Technologies at ÉTS: To Prevent, Diagnose and Treat More Efficiently

In Quebec, as in all industrialized countries, health costs are exploding due to the aging population. Research in the field of health technologies – or in Biomedical Engineering – could be a game changer, either by creating innovations that prevent health problems, diagnose them or treat them more effectively. ÉTS biomedical engineering researchers are working on these and many other down-to-earth issues.

Strategic Directions in Health Technologies at ÉTS

At ÉTS, research in health technologies and biomedical engineering is based on a group of more than 20 faculty members attached to four different departments along with seven research chairs. Faculty researchers in biomedical engineering work closely with industrial partners and clinicians. In some cases, the collaboration between clinicians and our researchers is so closely coupled that research laboratories are located directly within Montréal hospital centres.

Research directions in health technologies at ÉTS

Medical imaging and deep neural learning; neuroimaging;
Virtual and augmented reality in the field of rehabilitation engineering and virtual reality for the cognitive training of athletes;
Speech recognition;
Biomaterials;
Modelling of physical and biological systems;
Surgical simulation;
Decision and diagnostic assistance;
Design of orthopaedic implants;
Virtual ergonomics, autonomy, mobility, exoskeletons and biomimicry;
Personalized medicine.

VIEW

Yvan Petit

Over the past 10 years, 7,000 people have suffered a spinal cord injury. Mechanical Engineering researcher Yvan Petit hopes to improve patient care for these victims.

CONTACT

Partners:
Gino Bélanger
Research advisor
514 396-8800, ext. 7855

Students:
Info-programmes

Research Chairs

Canada Research Chair in Engineering Innovations in Spinal Trauma
Canada Research Chair in 3D Imaging and Biomedical Engineering
Canada Research Chair in Precision Robotics
Canada Research Chair in Biomaterial and Endovascular Implants
NSERC-EERS Industrial Research Chair in In-Ear Technologies
ÉTS Research Chair on Interactive Robotics
ÉTS Research Chair on Artificial Intelligence in Medical Imaging
Chaire de recherche en orthopédie Marie-Lou et Yves Cotrel de l'Université de Montréal et de l'ÉTS

All the research chairs

Research Units

GRAM – Groupe de recherche en acoustique à Montréal
LATIS – Biomedical Information Processing Laboratory
LIO – Imaging and Orthopaedics Research Laboratory
LINCS - Cognitive and Semantic Interpretation Engineering Laboratory
LIVE – Interventional Imaging Laboratory
EREST – Research Team in Occupational Safety and Industrial Risk Analysis

All the research units

Specific Themes

Here is an overview of research themes that are of particular interest to ÉTS researchers (click for more):

Risk management in occupational health and safety
3D modelling and imaging of musculoskeletal systems
Spinal traumatology
Design of orthopaedic prostheses
Detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's Disease
Injectable biomaterials and cell therapy
Precision robotics
Rehabilitation robotics
Medical imaging and spectral analysis of the shape and geometry of data
Artificial Intelligence in medical imaging
Medical imaging and analysis of shapes of brain structures
Analysis of the walk of osteoarthritic subjects and modelling of the shoulder
Virtual ergonomics and 3D kinematic musculoskeletal modelling
Analysis of ultrasound medical images
Biomechanical modelling and design of orthopaedic prostheses
Additive manufacturing and biomedical implants
Navigation and augmented reality in cardiology and orthopaedics and 3D imaging
Biomechanics and surgical tools
Non-obtrusive telemonitoring during sleep
Real time telemedicine for emergency medical evacuation
Personalized medicine

Biomedical Engineering in Quebec

Montréal stands in 6^th place in North America for its concentration of jobs in the life sciences and health technologies. It is also home to 300 public and parapublic research centres as well as several world-class research centres affiliated with our three university mega-hospitals. The greater Montréal metropolitan region comprises 80% of the entire Québec life sciences and health technologies sector.

Over the next few years, the Quebec government will invest substantial sums in research so that the province ranks among the five most important centres of the sector. These amounts are intended to attract more private investors and to promote innovation in the Québec health network.

The Health Technologies Sector in Montréal

Montréal stands in 6^th place in North America for its concentration of jobs in the life sciences and health technologies

Montréal is also home to some 300 public and parapublic research centres as well as several world-class research centres affiliated with our three university mega-hospitals

The greater Montréal metropolitan region comprises 80% of the entire Québec life sciences and health technologies sector

Relieving pain for people with osteoarthritis of the knee or people who get around in a wheelchair. Icon

Rachid Aissaoui: When Engineering Meets Clinical Research

Osteoarthritis of the knee, a growing problem in Canada, costs several billion dollars in healthcare each year. Rachid Aissaoui, professor and researcher in the Automated Manufacturing Engineering Department, devotes his research skills to developing new technologies that will lead to determining the onset and the stage of progression of this disease and to rehabilitation of patients with certain movement disorders.

Learn more

Although implants can increase quality of life significantly, the issue is now to extend their lifespan. Icon

Natalia Nuño: Extending the Lifespan of Implants Through 3D Printing

Whether they are used for a knee or a hip, implants have a limited lifespan. As patients get younger and younger, implants need to be replaced more frequently, which creates its own share of concerns with each surgery. Natalia Nuño, biomechanics professor in the Department of Automated Manufacturing Engineering, is working to prolong the lifespan of prosthetics.