Abstract: Bone cutting is a fundamental aspect of numerous surgical procedures in orthopedics, dentistry, and neurosurgery, particularly for implantation and repair. Over the past few decades, innovative bone surgical techniques have been developed to minimize invasiveness and enable more precise and delicate cuts. In minimally invasive surgery (MIS), controlled bone resection is critical to avoid damage to the bone itself or surrounding delicate tissues. Traditional tools such as electric saws, manual chisels, gouges, burrs, and high-speed drills are often associated with significant limitations, including imprecise cuts, excessive cutting forces, elevated temperatures at the cutting site, bone fractures, and a heightened risk of trauma to adjacent tissues. These issues can hinder osseointegration and significantly delay healing. Furthermore, intraoperative and postoperative complications arising from these tools place a substantial burden on healthcare systems, increasing patient stress and financial strain on hospitals. The development and adoption of advanced, safe, and efficient bone cutting technologies are essential, particularly in orthopedics and craniotomy. Such innovations can greatly enhance surgical outcomes, reduce complications, and alleviate the overall burden on healthcare systems.
A novel surgical technique called ultrasonic cutting (UC) involves applying high-frequency vibrations to the cutting tool in the direction of the cut. UC has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional tools for minimally invasive surgery due to its superior precision, safety, and efficiency. Experimental studies using ultrasonic tools have shown that, with the right frequency and amplitude, the cutting process generates lower forces and temperatures. Vibrational drilling (VD) or ultrasonically assisted drilling (UAD) has also demonstrated significant advantages over conventional drilling (CD). It requires less drilling force, causes less delamination around the hole, and produces fewer microcracks. Frequencies below 15 kHz in VD are particularly effective for safe and efficient bone drilling, as they minimize force, temperature, and necrosis. Conversely, worn drills have been found to cause greater biological damage to bone than sharp drills under similar conditions. With optimal vibrational frequency and drilling parameters, UAD can significantly reduce structural and biological damage to bone compared to CD. To integrate this innovative technique into orthopedic and neurosurgery, it is essential to develop, evaluate, and provide surgeons with specialized bone-cutting tools designed to meet these advanced requirements.
In addition to the research study highlighted above, participants will be introduced to ongoing/proposed research projects in Sultan Qaboos University in collaboration with international partners.
1. Design and development of hand-held bone surgical drill with ultrasonic assistance
2. Modeling Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB)
3. Design, development & testing of artificial cardiac circulatory system for performance evaluation of cardiovascular devices
4. Experimental and numerical investigation on the effect of chemotherapy agents on arterial stiffness

Biography: Dr. Khurshid Alam earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Biomechanics) from Loughborough University, UK. He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Sultan Qaboos University. A Chartered Engineer, Dr. Alam is a member of the Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). He has held teaching and research positions at esteemed institutions such as Loughborough University (UK), the University of Strathclyde (UK), NUST (Pakistan), GIK Institute (Pakistan), and Air University (Pakistan). Dr. Alam has extensive experience in curriculum development and has been actively involved in the accreditation of degree programs in mechanical and industrial engineering. He is presently leading and coordinating the ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, USA) accreditation efforts within his department. Dr. Alam's research interests encompass Applied Mechanics, Biomechanics, Tissue Mechanics, Computational Mechanics, Fluid–Structure Interaction Modeling, Energy Systems, and the design and development of laboratory equipment. He has authored over 70 publications in renowned international journals and conference proceedings.