Kenneth Watkin - Beckman Institute Researcher

Kenneth Watkin's research goals always include the mission of helping others.

"That's the principle driving force for all of the things that I do," Watkin said." The college that I'm in, Applied Health Sciences, thats the goal of all of us, to try and increase the quality of life of individuals in the world. Thats the principal reason I got into this."

Watkin's research involves biomedical engineering, with a focus on advancing technology toward applications such as imaging for drug delivery or biosensors for use in health monitoring systems. One such project involves the development of a battlefield helmet that uses biosensors embedded in the helmet pads to record data on blast injuries to the head. Tiny nanocomputers are incorporated in the biosensors to record and analyze real-time information for medical personnel on the extent of a head trauma injury.

The design has been accepted by the Army and the research is funded through a Concept Award from the Department of Defense. The team behind this project has developed a first generation prototype helmet, but Watkin said work is ongoing on the sensors, on signal processing for the device, and on system integration before battlefield condition testing can begin.

Copyright 2010 Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology