Ryan E. Breighner, M.S.M.E.

Contact

Ryan E. Breighner
Research Assistant - Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory
Department of Mechanical Engineering

Texas Tech University
Box 41021
Lubbock, TX 79409-1021

Email: ryan.e.breighner@ttu.edu

Education

M.S.M.E, Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, 2009 [Thesis]
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Magna Cum Laude in Honors Studies, Texas Tech University, 2006

Experience

Teaching Assistant, Texas Tech University, Spring 2007 - Summer 2009
Research Assistant, Texas Tech University, Summer 2006, 2007, 2008, Summer 2009 - Present
Engineering Assistant (co-op), BWXT Pantex, Panhandle, TX, Spring/Summer 2005

Research Interests

ACL Injury - Risk Factors and Mechanisms
Biomedical Imaging/3D Reconstruction
Injury Biomechanics
Patient-Specific Implant Design and Fabrication

Fellowships, Scholarships, and Awards

Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Scholar, 2010 & 2011
Texas Tech University Provost Doctoral Fellow, Fall 2009 - Present
Texas Tech University Summer Dissertation/Thesis Award, Summer 2009
Texas Tech University Graduate School Poster Competition Winner, 2007 & 2010

Projects

Effect of Quadriceps Loading on ACL Strain - In-Vitro Simulation
Design and Fabrication of Dynamic Knee Loading Apparatus
Image-Based Probability-of-Injury and Odds Ratio Estimation for Multiple ACL-Injured Subjects
Image-Based Volumetric Measurement of Articular Cartilage and Validation
Age and Glycation Effects on Muscle and Tendon Stiffness in Rats (HESS)
FE Analysis and Mechanical Evaluation of Implants for the Repair of Dista ript> l Femoral Fractures

Journal Articles

J. Hashemi, R. Breighner, N. Chandrashekar, D.M. Hardy, A.M. Chaudhari, S.J. Shultz, J.R. Slauterbeck, and B.D. Beynnon. 2010. Hip extension, knee flexion paradox: A new mechanism for non-contact ACL injury. J Biomech, 44(4);577-585.

J. Hashemi, R. Breighner, T.H. Jang, N. Chandrashekar, S. Ekwaro-Osire, and J.R. Slauterbeck. 2010. Increasing pre-activation of the quadriceps muscle protects the anterio r cruciate ligament during t he landing phase of a jump: an in vitro simulation. Knee, 17(13); 235-241.

Presentations

J. Hashemi, R. Breighner, H. Mansouri, J.R. Slauterbeck, and B.D. Beynnon. Odds-ratio and probability estimation based on tibial plateau geometry for subjects with multiple ACL injuries. 2011 Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Long Beach, California, January 13-16, 2011.

R. Breighner, J. Hashemi, N. Chandrashekar, and J.R. Slauterbeck. The effects of tibial geometry and joint compression on anterior cruciate ligament strain: an in-vitro study. 2011 Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Long Beach, California, January 13-16, 2011 (Poster).

R. Breighner, T.H. Jang, S. Ekwaro-Osire, N. Chandrashekar, and J. Hashemi. An In-Vitro Investigation of the Role of Quadriceps Load During One-Legged Jump Landing. Proceedings of the 2nd World Congress of Sports Injury Prevention, Tromsø, Norway, June 26-28, 2008. Also presented at: Annual Meeting of the Gait and Clinical Motion Analysis Society, Denver, Colorado, March 10-13, 2009 and 55th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 22-25, 2009 (Poster).

Correspondence

J. Hashemi, R. Breighner, N. Chandrashekar, J.R. Slauterbeck, and B.D. Beynnon. 2010. Letter to the editor: a framework for assessing the viability of proposed anterior cruciate ligament injury mechanisms. Am J Sports Med, 38(7); NP3-7.

J. Hashemi, R. Breighner, T.H. Jang, N. Chandrashekar, S. Ekwaro-Osire, and J.R. Slauterbeck. 2010. RE: Oh and Ashton-Miller: Comments on Hashemi et al. "Increasing pre-activation of the quadriceps muscle protects the anterior cruciate ligament during the landing phase of a jump: An in vitro simulation." Knee, 17(4); 261-3.

Background

I am a Doctoral student originally from Pittsburgh, PA, although Austin is my home in the Lone Star State. I am a member of the Texas Tech Chapters of Pi Tau Sigma (Mechanical Engineering) and Tau Beta Pi (Engineering) honor societies and continue to serve as an officer/advisor to the former.

Within Mechanical Engineering, solid mechanics is my area of concentration. My research centers around injury biomechanics, particularly rupture of the ACL.

Upon completion of my degree I hope to secure a position either teaching at the university level or conducting research at a nationally recognized laboratory or institute.

Resources