Skin Flap Planner for Reconstructive Surgery

We have received funding to develop a Skin Flap Planner for Reconstructive Surgery. This is a collaborative project between the National University of Singapore, Johns Hopkins Singapore and the National University Hospital, Singapore. Skin reconstruction involves identification of a donor site, flap design and cut, and placement on the recipient site. Flap design is complex because the cut flap changes its shape, cannot rereturn to original size without blood problems, has anisotropic and non-linear elasticity, and must fit a new three-dimensional shape. Poor design results in third site grafts, and in extra scarring, donor site trauma, surgery time and hospital stay. Third site grafts occur in a majority of cases, some unavoidable. Our flap simulator will provide surgeons with systematic decision support through the use of patient-specific skin measurement data and virtual manipulation tools to design the flap.

We are interested in motivated individuals who will bring appropriate knowledge in mechatronics and system design and/or computational (bio)mechanics. They will be able to collaborate with the members of our group working on biomedical engineering (http://guppy.mpe.nus.edu.sg/~eburdet/), and to enjoy living in South East Asia with excellent conditions for life and work (http://www.newasia-singapore.com/).

Applicants should email a detailed CV and the names and addresses of three referees. Send your application or ask for further information at e.burdet@ieee.org.

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August 2003, by E. Burdet