Gerald E. Loeb
Professor of Biomedical Engineering,
Adj. Prof. Neurology, Pharmacy
Director of the Medical Device Development Facility,
Deputy Director, NSF Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic MicroElectronic Systems
Research Topics
- Neural prosthetics
- Sensorimotor control
- Muscle mechanics
- Spinal cord
- Haptic robots
Research Overview
We are interested generally in using electrophysiological interfaces between the nervous system and electronic equipment in order to understand natural functions (e.g. hearing, vision and movement) and to repair their disorders (e.g. deafness, blindness and paralysis). Previously, I have worked on cochlear implants (now commercially successful) and a cortical visual prosthesis (now being pursued by other research groups). Our current research is focused on reanimating or replacing paralyzed muscles and amputated limbs. This involves development of interface technologies (sensors, stimulators, etc.) and biomimetic control systems based on physiologically realistic mathematical models of muscles, proprioceptors and spinal cord circuitry. Such modeling builds on our many years of experimental research studying those structures in animals. We are also enhancing the haptic capabilities of mechatronic prosthetic limbs and industrial robots by incorporating biomimetic tactile sensors that we have developed and commercialized.Contact Information
- Web Sites:
- BME Faculty
Medical Device Development Facility
SynTouch LLC - E-mail:
- gloeb@usc.edu
- Mailing Address:
- University of Southern California
Denney Research Building B6, MC1111
1042 Downey Way
Los Angeles, CA 90089 - Office Location:
- DRB-B11, UPC
- Office Phone:
- (213) 821-5311
- Lab Location:
- DRB-B11, UPC
- Lab Phone:
- (213) 821-5311
- Fax:
- (213) 821-3897
Education
- B.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1969
- M.D., Johns Hopkins University, 1972
- Surgical resident, University of Arizona, 1972-73
Research Images
Selected Publications
View a complete Google Scholar search
Raphael G, Tsianos GA, Loeb GE. (2010) Spinal-like regulator facilitates control of a two degree-of-freedom wrist. J. Neuroscience 30:9431-9444 -Link
Cheng EJ, Loeb GE. (2008) On the use of musculoskeletal models to interpret motor control strategies from performance data. J Neural Eng. 5(2):232-253. -PubMed
Song D, Raphael G, Lan N, Loeb GE. (2008) Computationally efficient models of neuromuscular recruitment and mechanics. J Neural Eng. 2008 Jun;5(2):175-184. -PubMed
Song D, Lan N, Loeb GE, Gordon J. (2008) Model-based sensorimotor integration for multi-joint control: development of a virtual arm model. Ann Biomed Eng. 2008 Jun;36(6):1033-1048. -PubMed
Popovic D, Baker LL, Loeb GE. (2007) Recruitment and comfort of BION implanted electrical stimulation: implications for FES applications. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 15(4):577-586. -PubMed
Davoodi R, Urata C, Hauschild M, Khachani M, Loeb GE. (2007) Model-based development of neural prostheses for movement. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 54(11):1909-1918. -PubMed
Tan W, Loeb GE. (2007) Feasibility of prosthetic posture sensing via injectable electronic modules. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng. 15(2):295-309. -PubMed
Sachs NA, Loeb GE. (2007) Development of a BIONic muscle spindle for prosthetic proprioception. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 54(6 Pt 1):1031-1041. -PubMed
Hauschild M, Davoodi R, Loeb GE. (2007) A virtual reality environment for designing and fitting neural prosthetic limbs. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng.15(1):9-15. -PubMed