M AX L. B ALTER
D EPARTMENT OF B IOMEDICAL E NGINEERING , R UTGERS U NIVERSITY
Address: 44D Bartle Ct, Highland Park, NJ 08904 · Phone: 617-721-2064
Email: [email protected]
Web: eden.rutgers.edu/~mlb287
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maxbalter
Summary
Entrepreneurial smart creative with 3+ years experience leading medical device development.
3+ years experience working as the lead mechanical engineer for a medical device start-up specializing in computer-aided design (SolidWorks), software development (LabVIEW and C/C++), and
commercialization.
Broad engineering skill-set with dual degrees in mechanical engineering (BS, Union College) and
biomedical engineering (PhD, Rutgers University).
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at Rutgers focusing on mechanical design,
medical robotics, control systems, computer vision, and machine learning in the development of an
automated venipuncture robot.
Implemented ISO 13485 standards, statistical design of experiments, FMEA, and voice-of-customer
research throughout the design phases of the venipuncture robot.
Education
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering Rutgers University · Piscataway, NJ · ’12–present
NSF Fellow, GPA: 3.74/4.0, Advisor: Dr. Martin Yarmush
Thesis Title: Autonomous vision-guided robot for rapid blood draws and analysis
B.S., Mechanical Engineering Union College · Schenectady, NY · ’08–’12
GPA: 3.78/4.0, Magna Cum Laude, Departmental Honors, Presidential Scholarship
Thesis Title: 3D flying prey simulator
Honors and Awards
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship · Rutgers · ’13–’16
NSF SBIR Phase I Award · VascuLogic · ’15
NI Engineering Impact Award Winner – Machine Control Category · Rutgers · ’14
Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Fellowship · Rutgers · ’12–’13
USTFCCCA 2012 Division III Track & Field All-Academic Team · Union College · ’12
Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year · Union College · ’12
General Electric Energy Steinmetz Award · Union College · ’12
Booth Ferris Foundation Research Fellowship · Union College · ’11
Davis Projects for Peace Fellowship – water supply project in Ethiopia · Union College · ’11
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Professional Experience
Mechanical Engineer, VascuLogic, L.L.C. Piscataway, NJ · ’13–present
Lead mechanical engineer for a medical device start-up company, that develops and commercializes
image guided biotechnology devices
Managed and led the design engineers in the development of an automated venipuncture device
(VenousPro™), as well as the FMEA and design spec analysis
Conducted IRB approved human trials with the VenousPro™ device showing 97% first-stick success
in preparation for FDA submission and series A financing
Awarded an NSF SBIR Phase I grant titled: Portable, Image-Guided, Robotic Device for Fully Autonomous Venipuncture (Award ID #1448550, PI: Maguire, T.)
Certifications
Engineer in Training (EIT), New Jersey NCEES · License no. 1763684 · 3/13–present
Research Experience
Medical Robotics Design Researcher Rutgers University · Piscataway, NJ · 9/12–present
Developed a portable near-infrared and ultrasound guided autonomous robotic device for peripheral
venous access (i.e. blood draw or IV therapy)
Spearheaded the mechanical and robotic design of the device using SolidWorks, as well as the kinematic and motor control programming in LabVIEW
Collaborated with business development in the Center for Innovative Ventures of Emerging Technologies to enable commercialization of the venipuncture device
Bioengineering Research Assistant Union College · Schenectady, NY · 6/11–6/12
Designed, fabricated, and programmed a device to aid in the investigation of the neuronal control of
flying prey interception in dragonflies, working with Dr. Robert Olberg of Biology
Extensively utilized Simulink and Real Time Windows Target (components of MatLab) in the development of a closed loop feedback positioning system
Conducted biological experiments to elucidate neuronal control in dragonflies
Biomechanics Research Internship Union College · Schenectady, NY · 6/10–6/11
Collaborated with Dr. Andrew Rapoff of Mechanical Engineering in examining mandibular stresses
on symphyseal cross sections of gorillas and orangutans to help reveal metabolic activity of bone
tissue
Utilized MATLAB simulations to model cercopithecoid mandibles
Journal Publications
1) Balter ML, Chen AI, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. The system design and evaluation of a 7-DOF image
guided venipuncture robot. IEEE Transactions on Robotics 2015. (submitted)
2) Chen AI, Balter ML, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. In vitro and imaging evaluation of an autonomous medical robot for peripheral venous line placement. IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging 2015. (submitted)
3) Balter ML, Zinman AR, Wainman L, Shah A, Bednar A, Olberg RM, Ramasubramanian A, Hodgson
DA. Design and testing of a 3D flying prey simulator. Mechatronics. (in review)
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Conference Proceedings
1) Chen, AI, Balter ML, Maguire TJ. Real-time needle steering in response to rolling vein deformation by
a 9-DOF image-guided venipuncture robot. Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on
Intelligent Robots and Systems, Hamburg, DE, 28 September - 2 October 2015.
2) Balter ML, Zinman AR, Olberg RM, Ramasubramanian A, Hodgson DA. Design, construction, and
testing of a flying prey simulator. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Dynamic Systems and Control Conference
and 11th Motion and Vibration Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 17-19 October 2012.
3) Balter ML, Zinman AR. Design of a three-dimensional flying prey simulator. Proceedings of the 26th
Annual Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), Ogden, Utah, 29-31 March 2012.
4) Rapoff AJ, Balter ML, McGraw WS, Daegling DJ. Relative contributions of internal reaction forces to
stresses in the great ape mandibular symphysis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 2011:144(S52):248.
(Special Issue of Proceedings of Annual Meeting of American Association of Physical Anthropologists)
Presentations
1) Chen AI, Balter ML, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. Portable Robot for Autonomous Venipuncture using 3D
Near Infrared and Ultrasound Guidance. Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, San Antonio,
TX, 22-25 October 2014.
2) Chen AI, Balter ML, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. Portable robotic device for autonomous peripheral venous access using near infrared guidance. Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA,
25-28 September 2013.
3) Balter ML, Zinman AR, Hodgson DA. The design and application of a three-dimensional flying prey
simulator. ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), Houston, TX,
9-15 November 2012.
4) Balter ML, Zinman AR, Hodgson DA. Design of a three-dimensional flying prey simulator. The 22nd
Annual Steinmetz Symposium, Schenectady, NY, 11 May 2012.
5) Balter ML, Zinman AR, Hodgson DA. The design and application of a three-dimensional flying prey
simulator, ASME Student Professional Development Conference (SPDC) Old Guard Competition, Troy, NY,
27-28 April 2012.
6) Balter ML, Zinman AR, Hodgson DA. Design of a three-dimensional flying prey simulator, The 26th
Annual Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), Ogden, Utah, 29-31 March 2012.
Posters
1) Balter ML, Chen AI, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. The Design and Implementation of a 4 DOF Robotic
Manipulator for Automated Venipuncture. Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, San Antonio,
TX, 22-25 October 2014.
2) Chen AI, Balter ML, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. Portable, image-guided robotic device for automated
venipuncture. Rutgers Biotechnology Training Fellowship Symposium, Piscataway, NJ, 24 June 2014.
3) Chen AI, Balter ML, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. Portable, image-guided robotic device for automated
venipuncture. Rutgers Biotechnology Training Fellowship Symposium, Piscataway, NJ, 26 June 2013.
4) Balter ML, Chen AI, Maguire TJ, Yarmush ML. Design of a modular 6 DOF robot for automated venipuncture. Rutgers Biotechnology Training Fellowship Symposium, Piscataway, NJ, 26 June 2013.
5) Olberg RM, Balter ML, Zinman AR, Ramasubramanian A, Hodgson DA. Three-dimensional visual receptive fields of target-selective descending neurons in the dragonfly. The Tenth International Congress of
Neuroethology, College Park, MD, 5-10 August 2012.
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Technical Skills
Engineering Software:
SolidWorks, AutoCAD, 3DS Max, Inventor, Cinema 4D, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Simulink, Microsoft Office, Working Model, Electronics Workbench, Mathematica, Visual Studio
Operating Systems:
Windows, MAC, Linux, Unix
Computer Languages:
LATEX, C/C++, Java, Visual Basic, Python
Web Design:
HTML, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop
Prototyping & Machining:
Mill, Lathe, CNC, 3D Printing
Professional Society Associations
IEEE – Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers · Member · ’13–present
Sigma Xi – The Scientific Research Society · Member · ’12–present
BMES – Biomedical Engineering Society · Member · ’11–presnt
American Society of Mechanical Engineers · Member · ’11–present
Pi Tau Sigma – Mechanical Engineering Honor Society · Member · ’11–present
Tau Beta Pi – Engineering Honorary Society · Member · ’10–present
EWB – Engineers Without Borders · Member · ’09–present
Leadership Experience
Varsity Track & Field Union College · Schenectady, NY · ’08–’12
Senior captain of the indoor and outdoor Track & Field teams
2012 Indoor Liberty League champion, 2012 Indoor NYSTC champion, and three time ECAC qualifier
in the long jump
2012 Liberty League Indoor co-field performer of the year
School record holder in the long jump: 23 ft. 1.75 in. and 4x200 m relay: 1:30.68
Engineers Without Borders Union College · Schenectady, NY · ’09–’12
Spearheaded the chapter’s clean water supply project for Boru village in Northern Ethiopia as chapter
president from 2011–2012
Directed meetings and events with students, faculty, and professional engineers
Winner of a Davis Projects for Peace grant in 2011 to conduct a site assessment in Boru village, Ethiopia
Established connections with Save the Children in Ethiopia for our clean water supply project
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Mentoring Experience
Undergraduate Students Mentored at Rutgers:
A. Gorshkov, B. Bixon, A. Colinco, V. Martin, S. Srikanth, S. Woo, J. Kam, S. Santhebennur, J. McHale,
S. Bellamkonda, R. Chawla, A. Kudlai, J. Sparrow-Hood, A. Vaghela, N. Kuchimanchi, D. Tanikella,
J. Mushailov
Highlighted Student Projects:
Brian Bixon BS, Biomedical Engineering · Rutgers · ’14–’15
Project: A centrifuge based point-of-care device for the determination of a 2-part white blood
cell count and hemoglobin measurement
Awarded $800 Rutgers Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship – Spring ’14
Alexander Gorshkov BS, Biomedical Engineering · Rutgers · ’14–’15
Project: The design and implementation of a rapid blood fractionation system for integration
with an automated venipuncture device
Awarded $1100 Rutgers Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship – Fall ’14
Subha Srikanth BS, Biomedical Engineering · Rutgers · ’14–’15
Project: Developing improved vein imaging devices for difficult venous access
Awarded $850 Rutgers Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship – Fall ’14
Jennifer McHale BS, Biomedical Engineering · Rutgers· ’14–’15
Project: Developing anesthetic releasing hydrogels to aid ultrasound propagation in automated
venipuncture
Awarded $900 Rutgers Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship – Fall ’14
Jonathon Sparrow-Hood, BS, Biomedical Engineering · Rutgers · ’13–’14
Project: Automated needle release and reloader system for the robotic arm in the venipuncture
device
Awarded $1000 Rutgers Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship – Spring ’14
Anish Vaghela, BS, Biomedical Engineering · Rutgers · ’13–’14
Project: Needle tracking system via optical and acoustic imaging for the venipuncture device
Awarded $800 Rutgers Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship – Spring ’14
Narasimha Kuchimanchi, BS, Biomedical Engineering · Rutgers · ’13–’14
Project: Blood flow detection using 2D brightness mode ultrasound imaging for the venipuncture device
Awarded $1000 Rutgers Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship – Spring ’14
Dhananjay Tanikella, BS, Biomedical Engineering · Rutgers · ’13–’14
Project: Smart system - graph-based machine vision learning algorithms for peripheral vein
classification for the venipuncture device
Awarded $800 Rutgers Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship – Spring ’14
Jeremy Mushailov, BS, Civil Engineering · University of Maryland · ’13
Project: Design and construction of an optical shell housing for the venipuncture robot
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