"Cardiac Vibration Signals: From Physiological Measurement to Digital Cardiovascular Health"
Speaker: Kouhyar Tavakolian, PhD, MBA, FAIMBE,
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sentara Endowed Chair in Bioelectrics, and Executive Director of the Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics at Old Dominion University
Day and Date: Friday, September 18, 2026
Time: 9:00AM to 10:00AM
Location: Iacocca B023
Abstract:
Cardiac mechanical activity generates subtle vibrations that can be measured noninvasively using techniques such as seismocardiography (SCG) and ballistocardiography (BCG). These signals provide information complementary to traditional electrical and optical cardiovascular measurements and offer opportunities for continuous, unobtrusive assessment of cardiovascular function. This talk will review the physiological foundations of cardiac vibration signals, sensing technologies and signal-processing approaches used to acquire and interpret SCG and BCG, and their relationship to cardiac timing, hemodynamics, and cardiovascular function.
Personal Bio:
Kouhyar Tavakolian, PhD, MBA, FAIMBE, is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Sentara Endowed Chair in Bioelectrics, and Executive Director of the Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics at Old Dominion University. His research focuses on biomedical sensing, cardiovascular monitoring, and biomedical signal and image processing, with particular expertise in cardiac vibration signals, including seismocardiography (SCG) and ballistocardiography (BCG). His work spans wearable and non-contact sensing, multimodal physiological monitoring, AI-enabled healthcare technologies, and care-in-place applications. Dr. Tavakolian has led and contributed to major multidisciplinary research programs supported by agencies including ARPA-H, DoD, NSF, NIH, NASA, and USDA, with an emphasis on translating engineering innovations into practical healthcare solutions. He is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).
This event is free and open to the public. Please reach out to the Department of Bioengineering's team (inbioe@lehigh.edu) with any questions or comments.