Research Publications

Referred Journal Articles
  • Baskaran A, Hollinger D, Hailey R, Zabala ME, Rose C. Neuromuscular State Estimation via Space-by-Time Neural Signal Decomposition. ASME Letters in Dynamic Systems and Control (ALDSC) Journal – In Press
  • Roper J, Monaghan PG, Knight AD, Brinkerhoff SA, Harrison KD, Dearth CL, Hendershot BD, Sefton JM, Zabala ME, Vazquez A, Shannon D, Crumbley D. Characterization of ankle-foot prosthesis prescription patterns in U.S. Service members following unilateral transtibial amputation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol. 4, 2023, https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2023.1235693.
  • Castellano VK, Commander J, Burch T, Burch H, Remy J, Harman B, Zabala ME. Plantar Threshold Sensitivity Assessment Using an Automated Tool - Clinical Assessment Comparison Between a Control Population without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, and Populations with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, with and without Neuropathy Symptoms. PLOS ONE, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286559.
  • Hollinger D, Schall M, Chen H, Bass S, Zabala ME. The Influence of Gait Phase on Predicting Lower-limb Joint Angles. IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics – In Press
  • Larson J, Roper J, Murrah W, Zabala ME. Cognitive Dual-task Alters Local Dynamic Stability of Lower Extremity during Common Movements. Journal of Biomechanics, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111077
  • Larson J, Oldfather T, Perkins E, Zabala ME. Local Dynamic Stability of the Knee during a Repetitive Vertical Jump Task in Female Athletes. PLoS ONE 16(6): e0252839. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252839, 2021.
  • Castellano VK, Jackson RL, Zabala ME. Contact Mechanics Modeling of the Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament on the Plantar Surface of the Foot. International Journal of Foot and Ankle. 5(2), pp. 1-13, 2021.
  • Coker J, Chen H, Schall M, Gallagher S, Zabala ME. EMG and Joint Angle-Based Machine Learning to Predict Future Joint Angles at the Knee. 21, 3622, pp. 1-13, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21113622
  • Zabala ME, Gupta R, Dueitt M, Pasquerello N, Vazquez A. A Component-Based Coordinate System for Standard Transtibial Prostheses. Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics. 32(4): 301-309, 2020.
  • Oldfather TW, Zabala ME, Murrah W, Goodlett M. Knee Valgus vs. Knee Abduction Angle: Comparative Analysis of Medial Knee Collapse Definitions in Female Athletes. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering. 142(12): 121002 (12 pages), 2020.
  • Clark-Price S, Zabala ME, Burch T, Ragan J, Woods G. Pilot Study of a Modification of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine (RE-InVENT) for Mechanical Ventilation in Response to the 2019 Coronavirus Pandemic-Associated Ventilator Shortage. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 47(6), 2020.
  • Schall, Jr. M, Badawy M, Zabala ME, Coker J, Davis G, Sesek R, Gallagher S. Trunk Muscle Activity among Older and Obese People during One-handed Carrying. Applied Ergonomics. 78: 217-223, 2019.
  • Kennedy S, Price M, Zabala ME, Perkins E. Vibratory Response Characteristics of High Frequency Shape Memory Alloy Actuators. Journal of Vibrations and Acoustics. VIB-19-1244. 142(1): 011004 (8 pages), 2019.
  • Badawy M, Schall MC, Zabala ME, Coker J, Sesek R, Gallagher S, Davis G. Effects of Age and Obesity on Trunk Kinetics and Kinematics during One-handed Carrying. Journal of Biomechanics. 94: 107-114, 2019.
  • Kennedy SM, Wright TK, Zabala ME. Shape Memory Alloy as an Artificial Muscle Actuator for Exoskeletons. HDIAC Journal. 5(1): 32-35, Spring 2018.
  • Zabala ME, Favre J, Andriacchi TP. Relationship between Knee Mechanics and Time Since Injury in ACL-Deficient Knees without Signs of Osteoarthritis. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 43(5): 1189-1196, 2015.
  • Zabala ME, et al. Prospective Spatial Patterns of Tibial Cartilage Thickness Changes Following ACL Reconstruction. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 21: S219, 2013.
  • Zabala ME, et al. Three-Dimensional Knee Moments of ACL Reconstructed and Control Subjects during Gait, Stair Ascent, and Stair Descent. Journal of Biomechanics. 46(3): 515-520, 2012.
Refereed Conference Papers
  • Baskaran A, Hollinger D, Hailey R, Zabala ME, Rose C. Neuromuscular State Estimation via Space-by-Time Neural Signal Decomposition. Proceedings of the Modeling, Estimation, and Control Conference, 2023.
  • Bass S, Hollinger D, Pollard R, Zabala ME. Comparison of Joint Angle Prediction Algorithms to Control a Lower-Lim Exoskeleton Emulator. Proceedings of the 2023 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, Knoxville, TN, August 8-11, 2023.
  • Hollinger D, Zabala ME. Enhancing Model Generalizability via Transfer Learning for Multi-Action Intent Recognition. Proceedings of the 2023 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, Knoxville, TN, August 8-11, 2023.
  • Bell D, Zabala ME. Evaluation of a Pneumatic Cylinder for Actuating an Ankle Exoskeleton. Proceedings of the 2023 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, Knoxville, TN, August 8-11, 2023.
  • Hollinger D, Zabala ME. Enhancing Model Generalizability via Transfer Learning for Multi-action Intent Recognition. Proceedings of the Mid-South Biomechanics Conference, Memphis, TN, February 17, 2023.
  • Pollard R, Hollinger D, Zabala ME. A Kinematics-Based Approach to Future Joint Angle Prediction. Proceedings of the Mid-South Biomechanics Conference, Memphis, TN, February 17, 2023.
  • Hollinger D, Zabala ME. A Random Forest Regression to Predict Joint Angles Across Various Gait Phases. Proceedings of The North American Congress on Biomechanics, Ottawa, Canada, August 21-25, 2022.
  • Zabala ME, Gray G. Impact testing of customized, 3D printed protective gear. Proceedings of the 2021 Military Health System Research Symposium, August 23-26, 2021.
  • Jacobs A, Larson J, Zabala ME. Lower Extremity Stiffness in Previously Injured vs. Uninjured Female Athletes. Proceedings of the 2021 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, virtual meeting, August 10-13, 2021.
  • Hollinger D, Schall M, Chen H, Coker J, Zabala ME. The Effect of Sensor Combinations on Predicting Knee Flexion Angle. Proceedings of the 2021 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, virtual meeting, August 10-13, 2021.
  • Larson J, Taylor W, Jacobs A, Zabala ME. The Effects of Cognitive Load on Local Dynamic Stability during a Fatigue Jump. Proceedings of the 2021 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, virtual meeting, August 10-13, 2021.
  • Zabala ME, Kennedy S, Schall MC, Cummings P, Kiehl Z. Inter-operator and inter-day motion classification accuracy with an electromyography sensor-embedded textile base layer. Proceedings of the 2020 Military Health System Research Symposium, (conference cancelled due to COVID-19, published at https://mhsrs.amedd.army.mil/).
  • Zabala ME, Coker J. Knee Flexion Prediction from a Neural Network Algorithm with Various Sources of Training Data. Proceedings of the 2020 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, virtual meeting, August 4-7, 2020.
  • Taylor W, Jacobs A, Larson J, Zabala ME. Bilateral Asymmetry in Leg Stiffness During Dynamic Activities. Proceedings of the 2020 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, virtual meeting, August 4-7, 2020.
  • Weathers C, Oldfather T, Zabala ME. Knee Valgus Angle: MRI versus Motion Capture. Proceedings of the 2020 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, virtual meeting, August 4-7, 2020.
  • Larson J, Zabala ME. Evaluating Limb Stiffness and Local Dynamic Stability in Cutting and Landing Movements of Female Athletes. Proceedings of the 2020 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, virtual meeting, August 4-7, 2020.
  • Carpenter S, Zabala ME, Perkins E, Larson J, Marino A. Frequency Characterization of This Soft Tissue Artifact During a Relaxed and Activated State. Proceedings of the 2020 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, virtual meeting, August 4-7, 2020.
  • Kennedy S, Price M, Zabala ME, Perkins E. High Frequency Shape Memory Alloy Actuators. American Society of Mechanical Engineers - International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, Salt Lake City, Utah, November 8-14, 2019.
  • Coker J, Zabala M, Chodaba M, Chen H. EMG and Joint Angle-Based Machine Learning to Predict Future Joint Angles at the Knee. XXVII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Calgary, Canada, July 31-August 4, 2019.
  • Badawy M, Schall M, Zabala ME, Coker J, Sesek RF, Gallagher S, Davis GA. Trunk Kinetics and Kinematics among Older and Obese Individuals during One-handed Carrying. XXVII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Calgary, Canada, July 31-August 4, 2019.
  • Larson J, Zabala ME, Wright TK, Perkins E. Maximum Lyapunov Exponent Analysis of a Repetitive Vertical Jump Task in Female Athletes. XXVII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Calgary, Canada, July 31-August 4, 2019.
  • Oldfather T, Zabala ME, Young M, Goodlett M, Murrah W. Knee Valgus vs. Knee Abduction Angle: Comparative Analysis of Medial Knee Collapse Definitions in Female Athletes. XXVII Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Calgary, Canada, July 31-August 4, 2019.
  • Ergle M, Elliot K, Matthews C, Pegues C, Price M, Jackson R, Zabala ME. Characterization of Ex Vivo Horse Hooves on Solid Surfaces. 74th STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Nashville, TN, May 19-23, 2019.
  • Kiehl ZA, Sathyanarayan D, Halverson K, Zabala ME, Gallager S, Farrell B. A System for Assessing Cervical Readiness Using Analytics and Non-Invasive Evaluation (CRANE). Proceedings of the International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 2019, pp. 265-270.
  • Callihan, Jr. M, Kaylor SK, Watts SO, Zabala ME, Hibberd E, Coker J*. Creating a Safe Environment for Providers during Horizontal Patient Transfer. Proceedings of Creating Healthy Work Environments. New Orleans, LA, February 22-24, 2019.
  • Herrera SV, Zabala ME. Analyzing the Anatomical Motion of Shape-Memory Actuators in Hand Exoskeletons when Grabbing Objects. Proceedings of the 2018 Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, October 17-20, 2018.
  • Zabala ME, Gupta R, Badawy M, Richard L. Validation of Fiducial Marker Tracking for Applications in Prosthetic Alignment. 2018 Military Health System Research Symposium, Kissimmee, FL, August 20-23, 2018.
  • Badawy M, Schall MC, Coker J, Sesek R, Davis G, Zabala ME, Gallagher S. Effect of Obesity on Trunk Muscle Activity during One-Handed Carrying. Proceedings of the 2018 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, Rochester, MN, August 8-11, 2018.
  • Wright TK, Kennedy S, Young M, Goodlett M, Zabala ME. Comparing Two Measures of Knee Valgus Angle. Proceedings of the 2018 American Society of Biomechanics Meeting, Rochester, MN, August 8-11, 2018.
  • Herrera SV, Zabala ME. Design of a Shape-Memory Alloy Actuated Glove. Proceedings of the Biomedical Engineering Society Conference, Phoenix, AZ, 2017.
  • Zabala ME, Yang N, Imler S, Zhao K, Ray R. Evaluation of Ejection Risk and Injury Distribution Using Data from the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS). SAE 2014 World Congress and Exhibition, Technical Paper No. 2014-01-0491, Detroit, MI, April 8–10, 2014.
  • Zabala ME, Favre J, Andriacchi TP. The Relationship between Time Past Injury, Knee Kinematics, and Kinetics during Gait in the ACL Deficient Knee. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting – San Antonio TX, 2013.
  • Baghoolizadeh M, Zabala ME, Keiper A, Andriacchi TP. Detecting Associations between Knee Rotational Laxity and Kinematics in a Healthy Population, American Society of Mechanical Engineers Summer Bioengineering Conference, Paper No. SBC2013-14420, Sunriver, OR, June 26-29, 2013.
  • Zabala ME, Scanlan SF, Andriacchi TP, Donahue J. Differences in Active Torsional Stiffness of ACL Reconstructed versus Healthy Contralateral Knees, Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting - San Francisco, CA, 2012.
  • Zabala ME, Favre J, Scanlan SF, Andriacchi TP. The Relationship between Medial-Lateral Femoral Cartilage Thickness Ratio and Peak Knee Adduction Moment for ACL Reconstructed and Healthy Contralateral Knees. International Symposium of Ligaments and Tendons – San Francisco CA, 2012.
  • Zabala ME, Scanlan SF, Andriacchi TP, Donahue J. Variation in Tibial Anterior Cruciate Ligament Insertion Relative to Conventional Surgical Guidelines. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting - Long Beach, CA, 2011.
  • Zabala ME, Scanlan S, Donahue J, Andriacchi TP. Differences in External Knee Adduction Moment Between ACL Reconstructed and Contralateral Knees. American Society of Biomechanics – Long Beach CA, 2011.
  • Zabala ME, Scanlan SF, Andriacchi TP. Alterations in the 3D Tibiofemoral Neutral Position following ACL Deficiency and Reconstruction. Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting -New Orleans, LA, 2010.

Auburn University Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

  • Pollard R, Hollinger, D, Zabala ME. A Kinematics-Based Approach to Future Joint Angle Prediction. Auburn University Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship. 2023
  • Gray G, Zabala ME. Strength at Impact Testing of Customized 3D Printed Guards. Auburn University Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship. 2021(9).
  • Carpenter S, Zabala ME, Larson J, Marino A. Frequency Characterization of Thigh Soft Tissue Artifact during a Relaxed and Activated State. Auburn University Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship. 2020(7).
  • Herrera SV, Zabala ME. A Shape-Memory Alloy Actuated Hand Exoskeleton. Auburn University Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship. 2018(7).

Patents

  • “Semi-automated Plantar Surface Sensation Detection Device”, Innovator(s): Vitale K. Castellano, Michael Edgar Zabala, Thomas Burch, Hayden G. Burch, Jonathan Commander, Kenny V. Brock. Issue Date: August 30, 2022

Non-Provisional Applications

  • Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17027464, “Semi-automated Plantar Surface Sensation Detection Device”, Innovator(s): Vitale K. Castellano, Michael Edgar Zabala, Thomas Burch, Hayden G. Burch, Jonathan Commander, Kenny V. Brock. File Date: September 21, 2020.
  • Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17179698, “Methods for Manufacturing Individualized Protective Gear from Body Scan and Resulting Products”, Innovator(s): Michael Edgar Zabala, Jacob Larson, Vitale K. Castellano, Austin Harris. File Date: February 19, 2021
  • Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 17/891,862, “Methods for Manufacturing Individualized Protective Gear from Body Scan and Resulting Products”, Innovator(s): Michael Edgar Zabala, Jacob Larson, Vitale K. Castellano, Austin Harris. File Date: August 19, 2022

International Patent Applications

  • PCT/US22/47593, “Methods for Manufacturing Individualized Protective Gear from Body Scan and Resulting Products”, Innovator(s): Michael Edgar Zabala, Jacob Larson, Vitale K. Castellano, Austin Harris, File Date: October 24, 2022. 

Provisional Applications

  • Provisional Patent Application No. 63/446,611, “Method for Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Diabetic Neuropathy”, Innovators(s): Michael Edgar Zabala, Vitale K. Castellano, Thomas E. Burch, Jonathan C. Commander; Chad Rose, Rhet Hailey. File Date: February 17, 2023
  • Provisional Patent Application No. 62/903,211, “Semi-automated Plantar Surface Sensation Detection Device”, Innovator(s): Michael Edgar Zabala, Vitale K. Castellano, Kenny V. Brock, Thomas Burch, Hayden G. Burch, Jonathan Commander. File Date: September 20, 2019
  • Provisional Patent Application No. 63/088,722, “Automated Process for Generating a Custom Wearable Device from a Pre-Defined Shape”, Innovator(s): Michael Edgar Zabala, Vitale K. Castellano, Jacob Larson, Austin Harris. File Date: October 7, 2020
  • Provisional Patent Application No. 62/978,642, “XOArmor: Customized Wearable Protective Guard”, Innovator(s): Michael Edgar Zabala, Vitale K. Castellano, Jacob Larson. File Date: February 19, 2020
  • Provisional Patent Application No. 62/993,922, “CPAP-Emergency Ventilator Retrofit”, Innovator(s): Ryan S. Hill, Michael C. Hamilton, Joseph S. Ragan, Michael Edgar Zabala, Thomas Burch, Hayden G. Burch, Justin Harrison. File Date: March 24, 2020
  • Provisional Patent Application No. 63/165,306, “Tension Driven Linear Actuator”, Innovator(s): Theresa D. Hardin, Michael Edgar Zabala, Jordan Coker, Jake Ebel. File Date: March 24, 2021.
  • Provisional Patent Application No. 63/262,933, “Process for Generating Custom Wearable Device from Pockets on a Worn Garment”, Innovator(s): Michael Edgar Zabala, Vitale K. Castellano, Jacob Larson. File Date: October 22, 2021.