Bulmaro Valdés
PhD, MPE, BEng
Bulmaro Valdés
As a Biomedical/Mechatronics Engineer, my passion is to employ my research, robotics and data analysis skills to improve people's lives. The multidisciplinary nature of my work allows me to collaborate with clinicians, people with disabilities, neuroscientists, kinesiologists, caregivers and engineers.
Research Projects
A selection of my latest research projects
Publications
Cortical Effects of Noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
B.A. Valdés, K. Lajoie, D.S. Marigold, C. Menon. "Cortical Effects of Noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy," Sensors, vol. 21, no.4, 1476, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/s21041476
The Potential of Noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation for Optimizing and Assisting Human Performance
D.S. Marigold, K. Lajoie, B.A. Valdés, C. Menon, “The potential of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation for optimizing and assisting human performance,” Neuropsychologia, vol. 152, no. 107751, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107751
Robotics-assisted Visual-Motor Training Influences Arm Position Sense in Three-dimensional Space
B.A. Valdés, M. Khoshnam, J.L. Neva, C. Menon, “Robotics-assisted Visual-Motor Training Influences Arm Position Sense in Three-dimensional Space,” Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, vol. 17, no. 96, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-020-00727-w
Error Augmentation in Immersive Virtual Reality for Bimanual Upper-Limb Rehabilitation in Individuals with and without Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy
L. Shum, B.A. Valdés, N.J. Hodges, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Error Augmentation in Immersive Virtual Reality for Bimanual Upper-Limb Rehabilitation in Individuals with and without Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy,” IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems & Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 541-549, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSRE.2019.2959621
Effects of Noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation during a Bimanual Tracking Robotic Task
B.A. Valdés, C. Menon, “Effects of Noisy Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation during a Bimanual Tracking Robotic Task,” Frontiers in Neuroscience, vol. 13, e1132, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01132
Robot-Aided Upper-Limb Proprioceptive Training in Three-Dimensional Space
B.A. Valdés, M. Khoshnam, J.L. Neva, C. Menon, “Robot-Aided Upper-Limb Proprioceptive Training in Three-Dimensional Space,” Proc. IEEE/RAS-EMBS International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), Toronto, Canada, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICORR.2019.8779529
Using Error Augmentation in Immersive VR for Bimanual Upper Limb Rehabilitation of Youth with Hemiplegic Motor Disorders
L. Shum, B.A. Valdés, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Using Error Augmentation in Immersive VR for Bimanual Upper Limb Rehabilitation of Youth with Hemiplegic Motor Disorders,” Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada, 2019, [PDF]
Evaluating Motor Compensation Techniques for Bilateral Upper Limb Reaching Caused by the Design of a Visually Augmented Task in Immersive VR for Youth with Hemiplegic Motor Disorders
L. Shum, B.A. Valdés, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Evaluating Motor Compensation Techniques for Bilateral Upper Limb Reaching Caused by the Design of a Visually Augmented Task in Immersive VR for Youth with Hemiplegic Motor Disorders (Abstract),” International Neurorehabilitation Symposium (INRS), Toronto, Canada, 2019, [PDF]
Determining the Accuracy of Oculus Touch Controllers for Motor Rehabilitation Applications Using Quantifiable Upper Limb Kinematics: Validation Study
L. Shum, B.A. Valdés, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Determining the Accuracy of Oculus Touch Controllers for Motor Rehabilitation Applications Using Quantifiable Upper Limb Kinematics: Validation Study,” JMIR Biomedical Engineering, vol.4, no. 1, e12291, 2019, https://doi.org/10.2196/12291 [PDF]
Application of commercial games for home-based rehabilitation for people with hemiparesis: Challenges and lessons learned
B.A. Valdés, S.M.N. Glegg, N. Lambert-Shirzad, A.N. Schneider, J. Marr, R. Bernard, K. Lohse, A.M. Hoens, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Application of commercial games for home-based rehabilitation for people with hemiparesis: Challenges and lessons learned,” Games for Health Journal, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 197-207, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1089/g4h.2017.0137 [PDF]
Biofeedback vs. Game Scores for Reducing Trunk Compensation after Stroke: A Randomized Crossover Trial
B.A. Valdés, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Biofeedback vs. Game Scores for Reducing Trunk Compensation after Stroke: A Randomized Crossover Trial,” Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 96-113, 2018.
Reducing trunk compensation in stroke survivors: A randomized crossover trial comparing visual vs. force feedback modalities
Editors' Selections From Issue: B.A. Valdés, A.N. Schneider, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Reducing trunk compensation in stroke survivors: A randomized crossover trial comparing visual vs. force feedback modalities”, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol.98, no.10, pp. 1932-1940, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2017.03.034 [PDF]
Trunk Compensation during Bimanual Reaching at Different Heights by Healthy and Hemiparetic Adults
B.A. Valdés, S.M.N. Glegg, H.F.M. Van Der Loos, “Trunk Compensation during Bimanual Reaching at Different Heights by Healthy and Hemiparetic Adults”, Journal of Motor Behavior, vol. 49, no. 5, pp. 580-592, 2017, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00222895.2016.1241748 [PDF]
Kinecting the Moves: The kinematic potential of rehabilitation-specific gaming to inform treatment for hemiplegia (Expanded Journal Version)
S.M.N. Glegg, C.T. Hung, B.A. Valdés, B.D.G. Kim, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Kinecting the Moves: The kinematic potential of rehabilitation-specific gaming to inform treatment for hemiplegia”, International Journal of Child Health and Human Development, vol. 9, no.3, pp. 351-360, 2016. [PDF] (This is an expanded version of the paper by the same name presented to the International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies)
Visualisation of two-dimensional kinematic data from bimanual control of a commercial gaming system used in post-stroke rehabilitation
Best Student Paper Award: B.A. Valdés, N. Shirzad, C.T. Hung, S.M.N Glegg, E. Reeds, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Visualisation of two-dimensional kinematic data from bimanual control of a commercial gaming system used in post-stroke rehabilitation”, in Proc. International Conference on Virtual Rehabilitation, Valencia, Spain, June 9-12, pp. 243-250, 2015. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7358571/ [PDF]
Kinecting the Moves: The kinematic potential of rehabilitation-specific gaming to inform treatment for hemiplegia (Expanded Book Version)
S.M.N. Glegg, C.T. Hung, B.A. Valdés, B.D.G. Kim, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Kinecting the Moves: The kinematic potential of rehabilitation-specific gaming to inform treatment for hemiplegia”, in Technology, Rehabilitation and Empowerment of People with Special Needs, 1st ed. New York, Nova Science Publishers, ch. 10, pp. 111-121, 2015. [PDF] (This is an expanded version of the paper by the same name presented to the International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies)
FEATHERS, a bimanual upper limb rehabilitation platform: a case study of user-centred approach in rehabilitation device design
N. Shirzad, B.A. Valdés, C.T Hung, M. Law, J. Hay, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “FEATHERS, a bimanual upper limb rehabilitation platform: a case study of user-centred approach in rehabilitation device design”. in Proc. International Conference on Engineering Design ICED 2015, Milan, Italy, July 27-30, pp. 361-370, 2015. https://www.designsociety.org/publication/37632/feathers_a_bimanual_upper_limb_rehabilitation_platform_a_case_study_of_user-centred_approach_in_rehabilitation_device_design [PDF]
Kinecting the Moves: The kinematic potential of rehabilitation-specific gaming to inform treatment for hemiplegia (Conference Version)
Best Short Paper Award: S.M.N. Glegg, C.T. Hung, B.A. Valdés, B.D.G. Kim, H.F.M. Van Der Loos, “Kinecting the Moves: The kinematic potential of rehabilitation-specific gaming to inform treatment for hemiplegia”, in Proc. International Conference on Disability, Virtual Reality and Associated Technologies, Gothenburg, Sweden, September 2-4, pp. 313-316, 2014. [PDF]
Usability testing of gaming and social media applications for stroke and cerebral palsy upper limb rehabilitation
B.A. Valdés, C.G.E. Hilderman, C.T. Hung, N. Shirzad, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Usability testing of gaming and social media applications for stroke and cerebral palsy upper limb rehabilitation,” in Proc. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference, Chicago, Il, August 26-30, pp. 3602-3605, 2014. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6944402/ [PDF]
Detecting locomotive activity in the Procambarus clarkii crayfish, using machine vision and LabVIEW
B.A. Valdés, J.M. Gómez-González, Rodríguez-Sosa, J.J. Bernal-Alvarado, A. Vega-Gonzalez, 2012, “Detecting locomotive activity in the Procambarus clarkii crayfish, using machine vision and LabVIEW”, The XXXV National Congress of Biomedical Engineering (CNIB), San Luis Potosi, Mexico, October 4-6, pp. 135-138, 2012. [PDF]
PhD Dissertation: Reducing Compensatory Movements in Stroke Therapy through the Use of Robotic Devices and Augmented Feedback
B.A. Valdés, “Reducing Compensatory Movements in Stroke Therapy through the Use of Robotic Devices and Augmented Feedback,” PhD Dissertation, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 2017. [PDF]
Master Thesis: Robotic Orthotic Device for Finger Rehabilitation
B.A. Valdés, “Robotic Orthotic Device for Finger Rehabilitation,” Master Thesis, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 2011. [PDF]
Non-Refereed: Using a Robotic Device to Enhance Upper-Limb 3D Proprioception (Abstract)
B. A. Valdés, M. Khoshnam, J. L. Neva, C. Menon, “Using a Robotic Device to Enhance Upper-Limb 3D Proprioception (Abstract),” Proc. Tenth Annual G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre Rehabilitation Research Day, Vancouver, BC, 2019. [PDF]
Non-Refereed: Motor adaptation to visual symmetry error augmentation in bimanual forward reaching (Abstract)
L. Shum, B.A. Valdés, H.F.M. Van der Loos “Motor adaptation to visual symmetry error augmentation in bimanual forward reaching (Abstract),” Proc. Ninth Annual G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre Rehabilitation Research Day, Vancouver, BC, 2018. [PDF]
Non-Refereed: Reducing compensatory movements in stroke therapy through the use of robotic devices and augmented feedback (Abstract)
B.A. Valdés, “Reducing compensatory movements in stroke therapy through the use of robotic devices and augmented feedback (Abstract),” Proc. Eighth Annual G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre Rehabilitation Research Day, Vancouver, BC, 2017. [PDF]
Media: Visualisation of 2D kinematic data from bimanual control of a commercial gaming system used in post-stroke rehabilitation
B.A. Valdés, N. Shirzad, C.T. Hung, S.M.N. Glegg, E. Reeds, H.F.M. Van der Loos, “Visualisation of 2D kinematic data from bimanual control of a commercial gaming system used in post-stroke rehabilitation”, in International Society for Virtual Rehabilitation Newsletter, New Jersey, USA, 2015, no.5, 2015. [PDF]
Interviews and Media
Education
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering
2012-2017
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada
Dissertation: “Reducing Compensatory Movements in Stroke Therapy through the Use of Robotic Devices and Augmented Feedback”
Supervisor: Dr. Machiel Van der Loos
Public Scholars Initiative
2016-2017
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada
Innovative pilot program intended to explore how a top-tier university can support doctoral pathways that encourage purposeful social contribution, new forms of collaborative scholarship, and broader career readiness for students
Profile: [LINK].
Engineers in Scrubs Program
2012-2013
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada
Program designed to foster innovation in medical technology
by training biomedical engineers in clinical environments. [LINK].
Master in Professional Engineering, Biomedical Stream
2010-2012
The University of Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Dissertation: “Robotic Orthotic Device for Finger Rehabilitation”
Supervisor: Dr. Graham Brooker
Industrial Automation Courses
2007
The Esslingen University of Applied Science
Göppingen, Germany
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronics Engineering
2003-2007
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (Tec de Monterrey)
León, México