Imaging Research

Carly joined the Steadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI) Imaging Research Department as a Research Engineer in Spring 2015. She brings with her experience in image processing and an interest in orthopaedics. She is enthusiastic about applying her previous experience to the research taking place in the Imaging Research Department, focusing on quantitative MRI techniques to allow early, non-invasive diagnosis of joint disease.

Carly received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, Biomechanics from Boise State University with a minor in Biomedical Engineering in 2007. While attending Boise State, Carly worked as an undergraduate research assistant for the Center for Orthopaedic and Biomechanics Research (COBR) for four years, contributing to projects ranging from gait analysis to mass casualty ventilator design and prototyping. Her work on these projects provided her with experience collaborating with a team of engineers, biomechanists, and clinicians towards a common goal. In her final two years at COBR she had the opportunity to focus on an ergonomics and design project from the initial problem identification through design, prototyping, testing, and patenting stages. She presented this project, which focused on creating a more ergonomic ultrasound transducer handle to reduce work-related injuries, at the Northwest Biomechanics Symposium, 2011 and Design of Medical Devices Conference, 2012. This project’s design and engineering aspects inspired her to pursue a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering after graduation.

Carly was accepted to the mechanical engineering graduate program at the University of Utah and joined the Nanotribology and Precision Engineering Laboratory for her thesis research. Her thesis work focused on designing an inexpensive bench-top imaging setup and image processing script to allow the precise measurement of fatigue cracking damage in the polyethylene tibial components of total knee replacements. Measurement of fatigue crack damage in these components is important for total knee replacement testing and design improvement to ensure implant longevity for a growing population of young, active total knee replacement patients. Carly completed her thesis (entitled ‘Quantifying fatigue crack damage in polyethylene tibial inserts of prosthetic knee joints’) and graduated with a Master’s of Science in mechanical engineering in Spring, 2015 shortly after joining the SPRI Imaging Research Department staff.