Amir Manbachi, MSc, PhD

Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirmanbachi/

https://twitter.com/AManbachi

• Virtual video tour | Johns Hopkins HEPIUS Innovation Lab

• HEPIUS Innovation Lab Grand Opening

• Smart, Voice-assisted Operating Rooms

• Dean Schlesinger HEPIUS Grand Opening Remarks

• Redonda Miller HEPIUS Innovation Lab Remarks. September 14, 2021

• Focused Ultrasound Foundation Remarks at HEPIUS Grand Opening, Sept. 14, 2021

• Ultrasound Monitoring of Microcirculation: An original study from the laboratory bench to the clinic

• Ultrasound Neuromodulation of Spinal Cord Injury

• Implantable Cranial Ultrasound Sensor for Post-Operative Monitoring of Brain Tumor Regrowth

• Implantable Ultrasound Sensor for Post-operative Monitoring of Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

• Podcast 301: Crossing the Valley of Death in Medical Research through Sound at HEPIUS Innovation Labs, Blink of an Eye (Feb. 18, 2026)
• Johns Hopkins lab aiming to improve spinal cord injury care hits FDA milestone, The Business Journals (Feb 6, 2023)
• Back(s) to Life, JHU Engineering (Summer 2021)
• Backs to the Future, Hopkins Medicine Magazine (Winter 2021)
• Developing Implantable and Wearable Technology to Treat Spinal Cord Injury, NeuroLogic (Winter 2021)
• KL2 Scholar Co-leads Team in Developing Implantable and Wearable Technology for Spinal Cord Injuries, Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical & Translational Research (2/5/21)
• $13.48M Awarded to Johns Hopkins Scientists to Develop Implantable Ultrasound Devices for Patients with Spinal Cord Injury (10/12/20)
• Cross-disciplinary Team Will Design, Develop Devices to Better Treat Spinal Cord Injuries, Hub (11/11/2020)
• Hopkins-born venture aims to use ultrasound technology to treat brain tumors, Baltimore Business Journal (Jan 2018)

Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Joint Appointment in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

Pioneering work in applying sound and ultrasound technologies to various neurosurgical applications such as imaging, tumor ablation, and neuromodulation. Specific interests include ultrasound-guided spine surgery, detection of foreign bodies, and monitoring blood flow and tissue perfusion.

HEPIUS Lab - Lab Website

My research interests and expertise lie in the physics of medical ultrasound and the design and fabrication of novel image-guided interventions, with a particular focus on ultrasound imaging and therapeutic ultrasound. I am passionate about translating engineering innovations into clinically impactful tools, with an emphasis on patient safety, quality assurance, and real-world deployment. My work bridges fundamental research in acoustic physics with translational development of wearable and implantable technologies for neurological disorders and trauma care.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=EhKqSpIAAAAJ&hl=en

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=Manbachi%20Amir

• Kerensky MJ, Paul A, Routkevitch D, Hersh AM, Kempski Leadingham KM, Davidar AD, Judy BF, Punnoose J, Williams A, Kumar A, Lehner K, Smith B, Son JK, Azadi JR, Shekhar H, Mercado-Shekhar KP, Thakor NV, Theodore N, Manbachi A. Tethered spinal cord tension assessed via ultrasound elastography in computational and intraoperative human studies. Nat Commun Med (Lond). 2024 Jan 5;4(1):4. doi: 10.1038/s43856-023-00430-6. PMID: 38182729; PMCID: PMC10770351.
• Routkevitch D, Soulé Z, Kats N, Baca E, Hersh AM, Kempski-Leadingham KM, Menta AK, Bhimreddy M, Jiang K, Davidar AD, Smit C, Theodore N, Thakor NV, Manbachi A. Non-contrast ultrasound image analysis for spatial and temporal distribution of blood flow after spinal cord injury. Scientific Reports. 2024 Jan 6;14(1):714. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-51281-7. PMID: 38184676; PMCID: PMC10771432.
• Tsehay Y, Zeng Y, Weber-Levine C, Awosika T, Kerensky M, Hersh AM, Ou Z, Jiang K, Bhimreddy M, Bauer SJ, Theodore JN, Quiroz VM, Suk I, Alomari S, Sun J, Tong S, Thakor NJ, Doloff JC, Theodore N, Manbachi A. (2023) Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Neuromodulation of a Rodent's Spinal Cord Suppresses Motor Evoked Potentials, IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, doi: 10.1109/TBME.2022.3233345
• Abramson HG, Curry EJ, Mess G, Thombre R, Kempski-Leadingham KM, Mistry S, Somanathan S, Roy L, Abu-Bonsrah N, Coles G, Doloff JC, Brem H, Theodore N, Huang J and Manbachi A (2022) Automatic detection of foreign body objects in neurosurgery using a deep learning approach on intraoperative ultrasound images: From animal models to first in-human testing. Front. Surg. 9:1040066. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.1040066 
• Aghabaglou F, Ainechi A, Abramson H, Curry EJ, Kaovasia TP, Kamal S, Acord M, Mahapatra S, Pustavoitau A, Smith B, Azadi J, Son JK, Suk I, Theodore N, Tyler BM, Manbachi A. Ultrasound monitoring of microcirculation: an original study from the laboratory bench to the clinic. Microcirculation (New York, NY: 1994) 2022 May 24:e12770.  https://doi.org/10.1111/micc.12770  

• Advanced Design Team: Instrumentation, Whiting School of Engineering, EN.580.498
• Senior Design Project, Whiting School of Engineering, EN.580.580 / 581
• Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Research, Whiting School of Engineering, EN.580.511
• BME Design Group, Whiting School of Engineering, EN.580.411

Dr. Manbachi is recognized for his contributions to more than 20 inventions.

• Ultrasonic signal processing for bone sonography,

This invention relates to methods and devices for use in ultrasound imaging. Ultrasonic methods, systems and low-frequency annular transducer array devices for bone image guidance, particularly during spinal fusion surgery and the process of pedicle screw insertion are provided.

WO2014186903A1, 5/24/13

• Ultrasonic array for bone sonography,

This invention relates to methods and devices for use in ultrasound imaging. Ultrasonic methods, systems and low-frequency annular transducer array devices for bone image guidance, particularly during spinal fusion surgery and the process of pedicle screw insertion are provided.

WO2014186903A1, 4/25/13

• Monitoring and treatment of injuries using wearable devices, US patent WO2022076510A1, 4/14/22
• Flexible control and guidance of minimally invasive focused ultrasound,

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a transducer design for minimally invasive focused ultrasound (MIFU). The present invention allows flexible control of a focused ultrasound wave using mechanical and electrical control. The transducer array is implemented on a flexible substrate that can be mechanically controlled through two or more physical configurations. As with conventional electronic "steering," the transducer elements can be controlled electronically to provide adjustable focus of the ultrasound. The combination of mechanical and electronic control provides the device a very flexible method for delivering focused ultrasound. The invention also includes a design that allows integration of ultrasound and endoscopic image guidance. The ultrasound guidance includes anatomical visualization and functional imaging (e.g. blood flow and coagulation of vasculature). The ultrasound imaging transducer is used for thermometry within the region of interest for treatment. Endoscopic imaging allows for improved understanding of tip location in real-time.

WO2018160657A1, 2/28/17

• Cranial implant devices, systems, and related methods, US patent WO2021050843A1, 3/18/21

• American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM)'s 2024 Peter Arger Excellence Award
• Hisako Terasaki 2024 Young Innovator Award
• Baltimore Business Journal's 2023 list of 40 under 40
• Baltimore Business Journal's Inno Fire Award, Baltimore Business Journal, 3/1/23
• FDA approves our invention as a medical device breakthrough designation, Food and Drug Administration, 1/6/23
• Baltimore Business Journal's 40 under 40 award, Nov 2022, Baltiomore Business Journal, 11/17/22
• Robert B. Pond Sr. Excellence in Teaching Excellence Award, Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, 5/22/18
• University of Toronto's Inventor of the year award, University of Toronto, 5/15/15
• Ontario Brain Institute 2013 Entrepreneurial fellowship, Ontario Brain Institute, 5/28/13

• Affiliate Faculty, Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design
• Affiliate Faculty, Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality

• Biomedical Engineering Society
• BME-IDEA: Biomedical Engineering Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Alliance,

  The Biomedical Engineering Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Alliance (BME-IDEA) is a ‚Äãconsortium of leading faculty‚Äã at over 150 ‚Äãinstitutions who are committed to sharing best practices in teaching innovation, design, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship.

• Design of Medical Devices
• SPIE Medical Imaging
• The International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU)
• The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)