Mark Driscoll
Mark Driscoll, Eng., Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and a Profession al Engineering (OIQ) with extensive medical device design experience. He also holds the NSERC Chair Design Engineering for Interdisciplinary Innovation of Medical Technologies. Since joining McGill, he has taught courses solely dedicated to design and biomechanics. Prof. Driscoll, before joining McGill University, was part of several start-up medical device companies where he successfully commercialized medical devices currently being used in over 15 countries. Moreover, Prof. Driscoll while in industry, was awarded “Best New Technology for Spine Care in 2014” and “ANSYS Hall of Fame” in 2015 for best use of engineering simulation platform for simulation spinal surgeries for medical device design analyses. Overall, over the last 10 years, Prof. Driscoll has authored and co-authored 1 book, 50+ publications, 6 white paper reports, and 125 peer reviewed conference presentations in the medical device field while working in industry and academia. Moreover, during this time, Prof. Driscoll has co-invented and designed 24 medical device patent applications. Since joining McGill in 2016, Prof. Driscoll has established a team of 17 (4 Post-Docs, 6 PhD, 4 Master’s, 2 research assistants, and a lab manager) and supervised over 40 undergraduate students in design projects. Further, while in industry Prof. Driscoll was awarded over 5 million in R&D design of medical devices and while at McGill has been awarded over 5 million in research funds while actively collaborating with top tier medical device companies. Prof. Driscoll’s design, developments and research were the feature of 10 press releases. Prof. Driscoll is an active Canadian Engineering Education Association (CEEA) and is part of the Strategic Interest Group towards improved Design Education. Most recently, in June 2018, Prof. Driscoll was awarded the Award for Outstanding Achievement, member 35 years and under, from the Order of Engineers of Quebec (OIQ) in acknowledgement of contributions in the Medical Technology Sector. Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Lab
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, École Polytechnique of Montreal
B. Eng. Mechanical Engineering, McGill University
MECH 463 - Final Year Capstone Design Project
MECH393 - Machine Element Design
MECH 561 - Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Systems
- Driscoll, M., Aubin, C-E., Moreau, A., Wakula Y., Amini, S., and Parent, S., (2016) Novel hemi-staple for the fusionless correction of pediatric scoliosis: influence on intervertebral discs and growth plates in a porcine model. Clin Spine Surg, (E pub ahead of print)
- Driscoll, M., Mac-Thiong, JM., Labelle, H., Stad, S., Serhan, H., and Parent, S., (2015) Biomechanical comparison of two different pedicle screw systems during the surgical correction of adult spinal deformities, Spine Deformity Journal, 3(2): 114-121.Driscoll, M., Fortier-Tougas, C., Labelle, H., Parent, S., and Mac-Thiong, JM., (2014) Evaluation of an apparatus to be combined with a smartphone for the early detection of spinal deformities, Scoliosis, 9:10. (doi:10.1186/1748-7161-9-10)
- Driscoll, M., Mac-Thiong, J-M., Labelle, H., Slivka, M., Stad, S., and Parent, S. (2013) Biomechanical assessment of reduction forces measured during scoliotic instrumentation using two different screw designs. Spine Deformity Journal, 1: 94-101.
- Driscoll, M., Aubin, C-E., Moreau, A., Wakula Y., Sawark, J., and Parent, S., (2012) Spinal growth modulation using a novel intravertebral epiphyseal device in an immature porcine model. European Spine Journal, 21(1): 138-144.
- Driscoll, M., Aubin, C-E., Moreau, A. and Parent, S., (2011) Biomechanical comparison of fusionless growth modulation corrective techniques in pediatric scoliosis. Med Bio Eng Comp, 49(12): 1437-1445.
- Driscoll, M. and Blyum, L., (2010) The presence of physiological stress shielding in the degenerative cycle of musculoskeletal disorders. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 15(3): 335-342.
- Driscoll, M., Aubin, C-E., Parent, S., Moreau, A. and Villemure, I., (2009) The role of concave-convex biases in the progression of idiopathic scoliosis. Eur Spine J, 18: p. 180-187.
Primary Research Theme: Design and Manufacturing
Secondary Research Theme: Biomechanics
Global interests reside in improving the biomechanical understanding of mechanisms that govern our musculoskeletal system. The use of complementary research platforms (in vivo, ex vivo, and in silico) foster novel findings towards the understanding of healthy system and the onset and/or pathomechanism of musculoskeletal disorders. Such translational research is interdisciplinary and requires a multifaceted approach to promote the engineering conception and design of new mechanical solutions.
More specifically, the laboratory seeks to better understand the control system governing spinal stability. Of further interest is how this control system responds when mechanical biases are introduced resulting in physiological stress shielding. Additionally, performs research and development of novel physics driven virtual reality surgical simulators for improved surgeon training in orthopeadics. Moreover, the mechanical performance of current and future medical devices are also studied.