Robert S. Cargill, II, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Cargill applies his expertise in the principles of bioengineering to a wide range of engineering projects emphasizing the interaction between physical environment and biological system. He performs product design and evaluation in the areas of medical devices and firefighting equipment. He also addresses issues involving the biomechanics of human injury in the areas of human tolerance, occupant kinematics, and rigid body dynamics. Dr. Cargill successfully uses his knowledge in evaluating issues related to injury causation and product liability concerning: 

  – Power tools (portable and stationary) 
  – Fall protection, firefighting, and rescue equipment 
  – Amusement park rides 
  – Industrial and construction equipment 
  – Automobiles and heavy trucks

Dr. Cargill’s active interests include the conceptualization, design, analysis, and evaluation of tissue engineered products and related devices, and the investigation of traumatic human injury related to machine design and failure that require knowledge of power tools, hand tools, industrial and construction machinery, and firefighting and rescue equipment.

Dr. Cargill has performed research in the area of traumatic brain injury and cell and tissue biomechanics since 1989; investigating traumatic brain injury at the cell and tissue level; urinary bladder research at the cell, tissue, and organ level; and research on podiatric surgical techniques. Dr. Cargill’s expertise in these areas include the culture of mammalian primary cells and cell lines; the design of cell culture equipment and devices to apply well defined mechanical environments to cells; the design, construction, and management of a cellular biomechanical test facility; and the development of computer control programs and mathematical models.

Dr. Cargill is an active firefighter in New Jersey with extensive firefighter and rescue training and experience. He had previously been certified as an Emergency Medical Technician in the States of New York and Connecticut.

Dr. Cargill has also lectured in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Princeton University and the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Orthopaedics at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Cargill was on the academic faculty at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology prior to joining Exponent. He supervised graduate students, directed a research program, and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in mechanical engineering and bioengineering. He has been a Research Associate and Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania.

LaPlaca MC, Cullen DK, McLoughlin JJ, Cargill II RS. High rate shear strain of three-dimensional neural cell cultures: A new in vitro traumatic brain injury model. Journal of Biomechanics 2005; 38:5:1093–1105.

Geddes DM, Cargill II RS, LaPlaca MC. Mechanical stretch to neurons results in a strain rate and magnitude dependent increase in plasma membrane permeability. Journal of Neurotrauma 2003; 20(10):1039–1049.

Geddes DM, LaPlaca MC, Cargill II RS. Susceptibility of hippocampal neurons to mechanically-induced injury. Experimental Neurology 2003; 184:420–427.

Geddes DM, Cargill II RS. An in vitro model for neural injury: Device characterization and calcium response to mechanical injury. ASME Transactions: Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 2001; 123:247–255.

Cargill II RS, Dee KC, Malcolm S. An assessment of the strength of NG108-15 cell adhesion to chemically modified surfaces. Biomaterials 1999; 20:2417–2425.

Dean GE, Cargill II RS, Macarak EJ, Snyder HM, Duckett JW, Levin R. Active and passive compliance of the fetal bovine bladder. Journal of Urology 1997; 158(3/2):1094–1099.

Banks AS, Cargill II RS, Carter S, Ruch JA. Shortening of the first metatarsal following closing base wedge osteotomy. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 1997; 87(5):199–208.

Cargill II RS, Thibault LE. Acute aterations in [Ca2+]i in NG108-15 cells subjected to high strain rate deformation and chemical hypoxia: An in vitro model for neural trauma. Journal of Neurotrauma 1996; 13(7):395–407.

Landsman AS, Meaney DF, Cargill II RS, Thibault LE, Macarak EJ. High strain rate tissue deformation: A theory on the mechanical etiology of diabetic foot ulcerations. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association 1995; 85(10):519–527.

Conference Proceedings

Bove RT, Fisher JL, Ciccarelli L, Cargill II RS, Moore TLA. The effects of anthropometry on driver position and clearance measures. Paper 2006-01-0454 presented at the 2006 SAE World Congress, April 3–6, 2006.

Vijayakumar V, Scher I, Gloeckner DC, Pierce J, Bove R, Young D, Cargill II RS. Head kinematics and upper neck loading during simulated low-speed rear-end collisions: A comparison with vigorous activities of daily living. Paper 2006-01-0247 presented at the 2006 SAE World Congress, April 3-6, 2006.

Yamaguchi GT, Richards D, Larson RE, Carhart MR, Cargill II RS, Lai W, Corrigan CF. Development of a computational method to predict occupant motions and neck loads during rollovers. Paper 2005-01-0300 presented at the 2005 SAE World Congress, April 11, 2005.

Arndt SR, Hammoud SA, Cargill RS. Head accelerations experienced during everyday activities and while riding roller coasters. Proceedings, 48th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, New Orleans, LA, 2004.

Arndt SR, Cargill RS. Everyday life accelerations. Injury Insights, Publication of the National Safety Council, p. 6–7, June/July 2003.

Dean GE, Cargill RS, Snyder HM, Duckett JW, Levin R. Bladder contraction following stretch stimulation: The myogenic response. Presentation to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 1996.

Cargill RS, Thibault LE. The use of in vitro models for neural injury with superimposed hypoxia in the development of new head injury tolerance criteria. 1992 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impacts, Verona, Italy, p. 203–212, September 9–11, 1992.

Conference Presentations/Abstracts

Cargill II RS, Heller MF. Injury biomechanics: Evaluating the evidence to determine causation. SBC2008-193123. Podium presentation at the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Marco Island, FL, June 26, 2008.

Cargill II RS, Toosi KK, Macarak EJ. Mechanical properties of the fetal bovine bladder lamina propria and their correlation with changes in extracellular matrix. SBC2008-193131. Poster presentation at the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Marco Island, FL, June 26, 2008.

Cargill II RS, Scher I, Bussone W, Heller M. Current trends in amusement industry biomechanics. Oral presentation, International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Attractions Expo 2006 Annual Conference and Trade Show, Atlanta, GA, November 16, 2006.

Steffey D, Bove R, Fisher J, Ciccarelli L, Cargill II RS, Moore T. Characterization of occupant anthropometry and clearance measures in passenger cars. Oral presentation, Session 244 Risk Assessment: Disease, Health, and Harm, Joint Statistical Meetings, Seattle, WA, August 8, 2006.

Scher I, Cargill II RS, Vijayakumar V, Richards D, Kuzel M. Examining bumper cars as a surrogate for low-speed rear-end and frontal collisions. Oral presentation, Track 5. Occupational and Impact Injury Biomechanics, 5th World Congress of Biomechanics, Munich, Germany, July 31, 2006.

Geddes DM, LaPlaca MC, Cargill II RS. Hippocampal neurons are more susceptible to mechanical stretch than cortical neurons. Poster presentation at the Neurotrauma Symposium: Annual Meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society, 2001.

Geddes DM, LaPlaca MC, Cargill II RS. Neural stretch results in a transient permeability change that depends on strain rate and magnitude. Podium presentation at the Annual Fall Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society. Durham, NC, 2001.

Murnyack, R.M., Cargill II RS, LaPlaca MC. Development of a three-dimensional finite element model of lateral cortical impact injury in rat with geometry generated from MR images. Podium presentation at the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Snowbird, UT, 2001.

Watts R, Hoover J, Geddes DM, Garcia A, Cargill II RS. Surface treatment to enhance neuronal adhesion to a silicon-based elastic substrate. Presented at the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Snowbird, UT, 2001.

Malcolm SG, Geddes DM, Cargill RS. Progesterone attenuates mitochondrial injury in an in vitro model of TBI. Presented at the ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Snowbird, UT, 2001.

Geddes DM, Cargill RS. Calcium protects neurons from lysing after experimental TBI. Presented at the Neurotrauma Symposium: Annual Meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society, New Orleans, LA, 2000.

Malcolm SG, Cargill RS. Progesterone protects neurons from mitochondrial damage after in vitro TBI. Presented at Neurotrauma Symposium, Annual Meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society, New Orleans, LA, 2000. Finalist: Student Poster Competition.

Davis NP, Cargill II RS. Cyclic mechanical strain inhibits proliferation of bovine bladder smooth muscle cells. Presented at the International Bladder Symposium, Washington, D.C. November 4–7, 1999.

Cargill II RS, Geddes DM, Malcolm S, Hoffman SW. Progesterone is protective at the cellular level in an in vitro model of TBI. Presented at the 1999 Neurotrauma Symposium: Annual Meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society, Miami, FL, 1999.

Goss CW, Hoffman SW, Cargill II RS, Chambers M, Epstein O, Stein DG. The progesterone receptor antagonist, RU486, does not block progesterone's ameliorative effects on recovery following bilateral medial frontal cortex contusions in the rat. Presented at the 1999 Neurotrauma Symposium: Annual Meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society, Miami, FL, 1999.

Geddes DM, Cargill. Calcium alterations in mechanically injured neural-like cells. Presented at the 1999 Neurotrauma Symposium: Annual Meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society, Miami, FL, 1999.

McLoughlin JJ, Cargill RS, LaPlaca MC. A novel in vitro shear device for high strain rate injury of three-dimensional neural cultures. Presented at the 1999 Neurotrauma Symposium: Annual Meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society, Miami, FL, 1999.

Geddes DM, Cargill RS. Calcium alterations in mechanically injured neural-like cells. Presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Atlanta, GA, 1999.

McLoughlin JJ, Cargill RS, LaPlaca MC. A novel in vitro shear device for high strain rate injury of three-dimensional co-cultures of neurons and astrocytes. Presented at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Atlanta, GA, 1999.

Cargill RS, Chitre Y, Springer HK, Geddes DM. A high strain rate, equibiaxial deformation device for studying the functional sequelae of traumatic brain injury at the cellular level. Presented with abstract at the 3rd World Congress of Biomechanics, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan, August 2–8, 1998.

Cargill RS. An in vitro model of the isolated neural cell in traumatic brain injury. Presented with abstract in Cellular Deformation: Mechanics and Mechanisms of Physiological Response, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, October 23–24, 1997.

Chitre Y, Springer HK, Cargill RS. Response of neural cells to an acute mechanical deformation. 1997 Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, San Diego, CA, October 2–5, 1997. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 25( Suppl. 1):S-49.

Davis NP, Cargill RS. A device for the application of equibiaxial strain to cultured bovine bladder smooth muscle cells. 1997 Annual Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, San Diego, CA, October 2–5, 1997. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 25( Suppl. 1):S 47.

Cargill RS, Kucich U, Macarak EJ. Collagen composition of fetal bovine bladder lamina propria determines mechanical properties. 91st Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association, Orlando, FL, May 4–9, 1996.

Dean GE, Cargill RS, Snyder III HM, Duckett JW, Levin R. The extracellular matrix contributes little to stiffness in the fetal bovine bladder. 1st International Bladder Symposium, Boston, MA, March 29–31, 1996.

Landsman AS, Cargill RS, Meaney DF, Macarak EJ, Thibault LE. Changes in intracellular calcium concentration in young and senescent endothelial cells injured with dynamic mechanical loads. FASEB Experimental Biology 1995; 95.

Koo HP, Chang SL, Howard PS, Cargill RS, Levin RM, Macarak EJ. Changes in the ratio of lamina propria to detrusor thickness during bladder filling may be developmentally regulated. 90th Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association, Las Vegas, NV, April 23–28, 1995.

Cargill RS, Thibault LE. Strain and strain rate dependence of the mechanically induced increase in cytosolic free calcium of neural-like cells. Abstracts of the 2nd World Congress of Biomechanics, II:208b, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1994.

LaPlaca MC, Cargill RS, Thibault LE. Intracellular free calcium shifts in cultured neurons in response to mechanical injury. 11th Annual Neurotrauma Symposium, Washington, D.C., 1993.

Landsman AS, Thibault LE, Meaney DF, Cargill RS. A new system to study mechanical deformation and the resultant calcium transients in endothelial cells. Advances in Bioengineering, ASME, Anaheim, CA, 1992.

Cargill RS, Thibault LE. In vitro model for neural trauma. Abstracts of the 1st World Congress of Biomechanics, II:319, La Jolla, CA, 1990.

Bizios R, Holleran LA, Iveson RD, Cargill RS, Fenton II JW. Albumin transport across cultured endothelial monolayers under acute anoxic conditions. Thrombosis and Haemostasis 1989; 62(1):580.

Cargill RS, Iveson RD, Holleran LA, Bizios R . Effect of temperature on albumin transport across cultured endothelial monolayers. The FASEB Journal, Abstracts 2:A727, 1988.

Iveson RD, Holleran LA, Cargill RS, Bizios R, Fenton II JW. Effect of thrombin on albumin transport across cultured endothelial monolayers under acute hyperoxic conditions. The FASEB Journal, Abstracts 2:A823, 1988.

Holleran LA, Iveson RD, Cargill RS, Bizios R, Fenton II JW. Albumin transport across cultured endothelial monolayers under acute hypoxic conditions. The FASEB Journal: Abstracts 2, A1158, 1988.

Bizios R, Holleran LA, Iveson RD, Cargill RS. Decreased albumin transport across cultured endothelial monolayers in the presence of antioxidants under acute hyperoxia. The FASEB Journal, Abstracts 2:A823, 1988.

Bizios R, Cargill RS, Iveson RD, Holleran LA. Cultured endothelial monolayers: a model for transport studies. Physics in Medicine and Biology 1988; 33(Suppl. 1):249.

Invited Presentations/Seminars

Cargill RS. Skull and face injury, brain injury, and head protection. University of British Columbia, guest lecture for Injury Biomechanics, October 5, 2005.

Cargill RS. Skull and face injury, brain injury, and head protection. University of British Columbia, guest lecture for Injury Biomechanics, October 20, 2004.

Cargill RS. From cells to tissues and organs. guest lecture for MAE 344, Princeton University, April 14, 2004.

Cargill RS. Understanding mechanisms of injury. Saint Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, PA, January 24, 2004 (Continuing Medical Education Seminar as part of Education Day).

Cargill RS. Understanding mechanisms of injury. Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital, December 2, 2003 (Seminar to 60-75 pre-hospital care providers).

Cargill RS. Injury analysis: falls to motor vehicle collisions. Symposium on Specialized Trauma Patients, Medical College of Pennsylvania Hospital, June 11, 2003 (Continuing Medical Education).

Cargill RS. From cells to tissues and organs. Guest lecture in MAE 344, Princeton University, April 15, 2003.

Cargill RS. From cells to tissues and organs. Guest lecture for MAE 435, Princeton University, April 22, 2002.

Cargill RS. TBI at the level of the cell: What is the value in cellular research?” Exponent, Failure Analysis Group, Philadelphia Office, December 21, 2000; University of Kentucky, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, October 23, 2000.

Cargill RS. The Role of mechanical environment in normal and abnormal bladder physiology. Pediatric Urology Group Seminar Georgia Urology, Atlanta, GA, January 1999.

Cargill RS. Neural injury and repair. Annual Spring Symposium of the Atlanta Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, “Changes in Membrane Potential in Neural-Like Cells Exposed to Mechanical Deformation. Emory University, Atlanta, GA, April 1998.

Cargill RS. The mechanical environment at the cellular level and its role in cellular development and homeostasis. Emory University Physiology Department Seminar, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, September 1996.

Presentations/Seminars

Cargill RS. A cell culture model for traumatic brain injury. Student Seminar, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, December 1991.

Cargill RS. In vitro models of neural injury. Central Nervous System Injury Journal Club University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, February 1993.

Cargill RS. Ion fluxes in mechanically injured neural-like cells. Central Nervous System Injury Research Conference, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, April 1993.

Cargill RS. In vitro studies of ion transport in neural cells. Central Nervous System Injury Research Conference, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, December 1993.

Cargill RS. Development of an autologous bladder augmentation device. NIH/A.F.U.D. Physician and Scientist in Training Program Research Presentation, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, July 1995. (Presentation delivered by Dr. Robert Levin in my absence).

Cargill RS. Cellular and tissue biomechanics. Engineering of Living Tissues, Educational Partners Meeting Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, January 1996.

Cargill RS. Cell and tissue biomechanics. Student Chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, January 1996.

Cargill RS. Neural injury and bladder development: Cellular mechanical environment as a factor in pathophysiology. Bioengineering Educational Partners Symposium Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, September 1997.

• Assistant Professor, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, 1995–2001
• Research Associate and Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Pennsylvania, 1989–1995
• Volunteer Firefighter, Stepney Volunteer Fire Company in Monroe, Connecticut, 1981–1989
• Emergency Medical Technician, States of New York and Connecticut, 1986–1990
  

Participated in the design review, testing, evaluation, and implementation of the Fire Department City of New York (FDNY) Personal Safety System (PSS). Directed the dynamic testing and biomechanical evaluation of the system. The PSS is a compact, lightweight escape system intended for use by firefighters for quick escape from burning buildings. This device was named the best safety invention of 2006 by TIME Magazine. In December of 2007, this device was successfully used by an FDNY member to save his own life after he became entrapped in a burning building.

Performed biomechanical reconstructions and analyses of the causation of injuries from accidents involving stationary and portable power tools, including power miter saws, angle grinders, and bandsaws. Utilized medical records, physical evidence, and testimony to reconstruct the accident and determine how the injuries were caused. Performed demonstrative testing to illustrate the mechanism of the injury.

Evaluated the biomechanical requirements for a human allogeneic graft material and developed a test protocol for the supplier. The project centered on evaluating the creep characteristics of the client’s processed materials against the competitor’s.

Directed the technical development of a second-generation prototype of a non-invasive medical device to evaluate flow in a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. The project included the complete redesign of the hardware, the development of an instructional video, and the development of a training surrogate.

Performed a biomechanical analysis of an incident involving a roller compactor in order to assess the relationship between the compactor motion and the claimed injuries. The project included field testing to determine the range of forces and motions experienced by the operator.

Conducted analyses of amusement park rides to examine the rider kinematics and the potential for injuries associated with the ride and compared forces experienced on rides with activities of daily living.

Analyzed a variety of elevator incidents to evaluate injury causation. Analysis included inspections of elevators and measurement of the elevators’ accelerations to evaluate the elevator motion and determine the corresponding motions of and forces acting on the elevator occupants.

• ASME International (member)
• ASTM International (member)
• NFPA International (member)
• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (member)