Dr. Rouzbeh Amini

Dr. Rouzbeh Amini

Title: Assistant Professor
Dept/Program: Biomedical Engineering
Office: OLRC Room 301F
Phone: 330-972-5232
Email: ramini@uakron.edu
Website: http://amini.uakron.edu

Biography

Dr. Amini entered Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran, to study mechanical engineering in September 1997. Following his undergraduate training, he completed a two-year compulsory service in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Sharif University of Technology. In 2003, Dr. Amini joined the graduate school of engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. After earning his master’s degree, Dr. Amini completed a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota in the field of ocular biomechanics and biotransport. He then continued his research work on the mechanics of soft tissue as a postdoctoral trainee at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Bioengineering, where he held the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NIH F32). He conducted his postdoctoral research on the biomechanics of cardiac valves. Dr. Amini has served as an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Akron since August 2013. 

Research Specialty

The overall goal of Dr. Amini’s research laboratory is to improve human health by studying the multi-scale biomechanics and biotransport in soft tissues. In many human diseases, the lack of mechanical integrity of the tissue extracellular matrix could lead to deleterious outcomes. Dr. Amini’s group has been extending the scope of experimental techniques (e.g. small-angle light scattering, planar biaxial testing, and ex vivo beating heart) to quantify mechanical and microstructural properties of soft tissues. They have also been developing computational models based on experimentally quantified responses of these tissues. 

Publications

  • Pant, AD; Kagemann, L; Schuman, J; Sigal, IA; Amini, R; (2017) “An Imaged-based Inverse Finite Element Method to Determine In-vivo Mechanical Properties of Human Trabecular Meshwork.” Journal for Modeling in Ophthalmology, 1(3):100-111.

  • Amini-Khoiy, K; Bsiwas, D; Decker, TN; Asgarian, KT; Loth, F; Amini, R; (2016) “Surface Strains of Porcine Tricuspid Valve Septal Leaflets Measured in Ex-vivo Beating Hearts.” J Biomech Eng, 138(11): 111006.

  • Amini-Khoiy, K; Amini, R; (2016) “On the Biaxial Mechanical Response of Porcine Tricuspid Valve Leaflets.” J Biomech Eng, 138(10): 104504.

  • Gsellman, LA; Amini, R; (2016) “Patients with Intravitreal Gas Bubbles at Risk of High Intraocular Pressure without Exceeding Elevation of Surgery: Theoretical Analysis.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 57(7): 3340-7.

  • Hobson, CM; Amoroso, NJ; Amini, R; Ungchusri, EN; Hong, Y; D'Amore, A; Sacks, MS; Wagner, WR; (2015) “Fabrication of Elastomeric Scaffolds with Curvilinear Fibrous Structures for Heart Valve Leaflet Engineering.” J Biomed Mater Res A, 103(9):3101-3106.

  • Barone, WR; Amini, R; Maiti, S; Moalli, PA; Abramowitch, SD; (2015) “The Impact of Boundary Conditions on Surface Curvature of Polypropylene Mesh in Response to Uniaxial Loading.” J Biomech, 48(9):1566-1574.

  • Pierlot, CM; Lee, JM; Amini, R; Sacks, MS; Wells, S; (2014) “Pregnancy-Induced Remodeling of Collagen Architecture and Content in the Mitral Valve.” Ann Biomed Eng, 42(10): 2058–2071. PMID: 25103603

  • Amini, R; Voycheck, CA; Debski, RE; (2014) “A Method for Predicting Collagen Fiber Realignment in Non-planar Tissue Surfaces as Applied to Glenohumeral Capsule during Clinically Relevant Deformation.” J Biomech Eng, 136(3): 031003. PMID 24292366

  • Fata, B; Zhang, W; Amini, R; Sacks, MS; (2014) “Insights into Regional Adaptations in the Regional Pulmonary Artery Using Meso-scale Structural Model: Effects of Ascending Aorta Impingement.” J Biomech Eng, 136(2): 021009. PMID 24402562

  • Lee, CH; Amini, R; Gorman, RC; Gorman, JH; Sacks, MS; (2014) “An Inverse Modeling approach for Stress Estimation in Mitral Valve Anterior Leaflet Valvuloplasty for In-vivo Valvular Biomaterial Assessment.” J Biomech, 47(9): 2055–2063. PMID 24275434

  • Lee, CH; Oomens, PJ; Rabbah, JP; Yoganathan, A; Gorman, RC; Gorman, JH; Amini, R; Sacks, MS; (2013) “A High-Fidelity and Micro-anatomically Accurate 3D Finite Element Model for Simulations of Functional Mitral Valve.” Lect Notes Comp Sci, 7945: 416–424. doi 10.1007/978-3-642-38899-6_49

  • Jouzdani, S; Amini, R; Barocas, VH; (2013) “Contribution of Different Anatomical and Physiological Factors to the Iris Contour and Anterior Chamber Angle changes during Pupil Dilation.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 54(4): 2977–2984. PMC 3638663

  • Amini, R; Eckert, CE; Koomalsingh, K; Minakawa, M; Gorman, JH; Gorman, RC; Sacks, MS; (2012) “On the In-vivo Deformation of the Mitral Valve Anterior Leaflet: Effects of Annular Geometry and Referential Configuration.” Ann Biomed Eng, 40(7): 1455–1467. PMC 3377845

  • Amini, R; Jouzdani, S; Barocas, VH; (2012) “Increased Iris-lens Contact Following Spontaneous Blinking: Mathematical Modeling.” J Biomech, 45(13): 2293–2296. PMC 3438650

  • Amini, R; Whitcomb, JE; Al-Qaisi, MK; Akkin, T; Jouzdani, S; Dorairaj, S; Prata, T; Ilitchev, E; Liebmann, J; Ritch, R; Barocas, VH; (2012) “The Posterior Location of the Dilator Muscle Induces Anterior Iris Bowing during Dilation Even in the Absence of Pupillary Block.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 53(3): 1188–1194. PMC 3339903

  • Whitcomb, JE; Amini, R; Simha, N; Barocas, VH; (2011)“Anterior-Posterior Asymmetry in Iris Mechanics Measured by Indentation.” Exp Eye Res, 39(4):475–481. PMID 21787771

  • Amini, R; Barocas, VH; Kavehpour, HP; Hubschman, JP; (2011) “Computational Simulation of Altitude-change-induced Intraocular Pressure Alteration in Patients with Intravitreal Gas Bubbles.” Retina, 31(8): 1656–1663. PMID 21765373

  • Powell, TA; Amini, R; Oltean, A; Barnett, V; Segal, Y; Barocas, VH; (2010) “Elasticity of the Lens Capsule as Measured by Osmotic Swelling.” J Biomech Eng, 132(9): 091008. PMID 20815642

  • Amini, R; Whitcomb, JE; Prata, T; Dorairaj, S; Liebmann, J; Ritch, R; Barocas, VH; (2010) “Quantification of Iris Concavity.” J Ophthalmic Vis Res, 5(3): 211–212. PMC 3379916

  • Amini, R; Barocas, VH; (2010)“Reverse Pupillary Block Slows Iris Contour Recovery from Corneoscleral Indentation.” J Biomech Eng, 132(7): 071010. PMID 20590288

  • Amini, R; Barocas, VH; (2009) “Anterior Chamber Angle Opening during Corneoscleral Indentation: the Mechanism of Whole Eye Globe Deformation and the Importance of the Limbus.” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 50(11): 5288–5294. PMID 19553625

Education

  • B.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (2001)
  • M.Sc., Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass. (2005)
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. (2010)
  • Postdoc, Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. (2013)

Courses

Undergraduate

Tools for Biomedical Engineering (Solidworks Instructor)

Biomedical Computing

Experimental Techniques in Biomechanics

 

Graduate

Soft Tissue Biomechanics

Finite Element Analysis in Biomechanics and Biotransport