Find an Expert Witness

Forensic, General & Medical
Expert Witnesses

Biomechanics, Bioengineering & Product Development Specialist - Expert Witness

Al Vangura

Al Vangura

813 Whippoorwill Hill Road
Gibsonia, Pennsylvania 15044
(724) 255-7176

Website https://biomechanics-expert.com

► Contact Al Vangura

Expert WitnessForensic ExpertLitigation SupportSpeaker
Al Vangura is an engineering professional with nearly forty years of experience in product design, development, manufacturing, and testing with twenty-five of those years in medical devices. He has over 20 years of forensic biomechanics, bioengineering and product development experience. He has been accepted to provide expert testimony in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maryland, West Virginia, Texas, New Mexico, Mississippi and Tennessee in County, US State, and US Federal courts.

Mr. Vangura has extensive background in developing products including rescue products, manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, ventilators, heart pumps, sleep devices, military helicopters, the International Space Station, playgrounds and sports equipment. He has a deep understanding of the biomechanical and medical literature on automobile crashes and resulting occupant movements and injuries.

Mr. Al Vangura can testify as a biomechanics expert witness regarding these issues and subjects: Biomechanics, Mechanism of Injury, OSHA, Warnings & Labels, Brain Injury, Human Factors, Medical Devices, Slip Trip & Fall, Construction, Premises Liability, Safety, Accident Reconstruction, Engineering, Failure Analysis, and Products Liability.

Services

Mr. Al Vangura specializes in forensic biomechanics and analyzes human movements and personal injuries to determine consistency with physical evidence and testimony.

Slips, Trips & Falls
Slips occur when the foot slides along the walking surface. Trips are caused by the swing foot becoming obstructed. Falls can occur after slips, trips or from being at height and becoming unsupported. Regardless, the injuries can often tell the difference between a slip, trip or fall from height. A bio-mechanical analysis can determine the cause of the injury.

Sports & Recreation
There are a host of regulations, industry standards, guidelines and texts which manufacturers must use to assure that their product or play/recreation area is safe. When a Sport & Recreational injury occurs, it is important to understand which regulations and standards apply and how they may or may not be associated with a specific injury. A bio-mechanical evaluation can determine the mechanism of injury which can in-turn be used to determine if a product or a play area is defective.

Medical Devices
FDA has strict regulations and guidelines for medical devices. Blood or tissue contact devices have some of the most stringent requirements. Lower-level devices like wheelchairs, glucose monitors, and crutches all have specific regulations and guidelines for proper design, manufacture, and sales/marketing. The medical device manufacturer is required to manage the device at all stages of development, use and even disposal.

Product Liability
There are a host of federal regulations, industry standards and other authoritative texts which can be used to ensure product safety. 3rd-party certifications are used to ensure a given product meets those regulations and standards. However, a careful analysis of the design process along with close scrutiny of user manuals and training materials must be conducted to determine if a product is defective. Additionally, a bio-mechanical analysis can determine if a given injury could even occur with a product or with misuse.

Motor Vehicles
In the US, about 10,000,000 crashes/year occur. The greatest majority are minor however injuries can still occur under specific conditions. A bio-mechanical evaluation of a crash can determine if an injury can be associated with certain vehicle dynamics and kinematics. A bio-mechanical evaluation coupled with an accident reconstruction can determine if the injuries are associated with the crash or not.

Playground Safety
Since the 1970's, ASTM and US CPSC have promulgated industry standards and guidelines for manufacturers and owners to provide for a reasonable level of safety. However, about 200,000 injuries/year have occur with falls to the outstretched hand and falls from height being the most frequent injury pattern. Supervision, maintenance and proper equipment are often under great scrutiny when a child is injured and a court case proceeds. A bio-mechanical analysis of the injury can determine the mechanism of injury and how that may be associated with the equipment or lack of maintenance or supervision.

Playground Accidents And Injury
Search results of the National Institute of Health's PubMed database on June 8, 2008 using the keywords “playground injury” displayed 173 articles. Of the 173 articles, 102 were epidemiologic studies, 13 were review articles, 9 addressed behavior, 7 were case studies of uncommon playground injuries, 4 were editorials, 6 addressed general playground safety, 10 addressed testing of surfacing and impact biomechanics and 19 addressed other injury topics while mentioning playgrounds.


Litigation Support Services

Mr. Vangura has been accepted to provide expert testimony 29 times in county, state and US Federal courts in the following US States: Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maryland, West Virginia, Texas, New Mexico, and Tennessee.

Areas of Expertise

Additional Expertise:

Use of Force Incidents, Falls from Heights, Injury Analysis, Injury Causation, Punching or Kicking Injury, ATV Injuries, Backover/Runover Accidents, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Child Seat Related Injuries, Helmet/Restraint Issues, Eye Injury, Domestic Altercations, Diving Accidents, Aircraft Accidents, Personal Watercraft Accidents, Labels & Warnings, Low Speed Rear End Crash, Manual Wheelchair Ejection, Powered Wheelchair Accident, Medical Device Design and Development, Baby Seat Injury, Baby Swing Injury, Playground Injury, Vehicle Ejection, High Speed Rear End Crash, Trip and Fall, Ladder Fall, Sports Equipment Failures, Machine Design, Corn Husker Injury, Seat Belt Identification, Air Bag Identification, Ejection Portal Evaluation.

Profile

Mr. Vangura is an engineering professional with nearly forty years of experience in product design, development, manufacturing, and testing with twenty-five of those years in medical devices. Mr. Vangura has over 20 years of forensic biomechanics, bioengineering and product development experience. He has been accepted to provide expert testimony in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, New Hampshire, Maryland, West Virginia, Texas, New Mexico, Mississippi and Tennessee in County, US State, and US Federal courts.

Mr. Vangura has extensive background in developing products including: RHYNO Windshield Cutter products, medical devices for Aires, Respironics, Hill-Rom, Alung, Oberg and CardiacAssist, military aircraft for Sikorsky Aircraft, Boeing Defense and Space and the International Space Station at NASA, athletic products for Reebok, Adidas and the U.S. Olympic Biathlon team, childhood products for Velcro and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Mr. Vangura holds a Master of Science Degree in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise and Sports Science, and an Associate of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology, both from The Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Vangura grew up in a machine shop with more than three decades of hands-on experience developing and creating physical prototypes, parts, and assemblies. He holds multiple US and World Patents.

Areas Served

All States

Professional Experience

We Cut the Glass, LLC – Gibsonia, PA
President, Founder
May 2011 – Present
• Designed, developed, manufactured, and marketed the RHYNO Windshield Cutter™ - a novel battery-powered, hand tool used by rescue workers and law enforcement to cut laminated glass to gain access to injured motor vehicle occupants and buildings.
• RHYNO is patented in 27 countries – 120 distributors in 75+ countries.
• Developed products for manufacturability, usability, and safety using the latest in product development protocols and standards for design, human factors, lean manufacturing while meeting UL, CE, PSE, KC, and other safety certifications.
• Developed working prototypes, finished design, design documentation, test protocols and reports, manufacturing documentation and quality assurance/control documentation in support of regulatory body submissions. Sourced and managed suppliers, materials, and manufacturing. Developed CAPA procedures and managed complaint system.

Biomechanics / Bioengineering / Product Development Consultant
May 2003 – Present
• Specialist in impact biomechanics, injury biomechanics and the analysis of accidents involving: Medical Devices, Falls, Motor Vehicle Crashes, Machine Guarding, Human/machine Interface, Sports & Recreation Equipment, Manufacturability, Usability, Human Factors and Playgrounds.
• Provide industry consultations for product development, electro-mechanical test beds, biomechanics, manufacturing, usability, regulation & standards compliance.

Aires Medical, Inc. – Mooresville, NC
Director of Engineering
March 2021 – March 2022
• Lead a team to develop, manufacture, test and release to market novel, wearable non-invasive ventilators with portable oxygen concentrator and nebulizer.
• Develop the necessary testing for safety and efficacy for submittal and regulatory approval from FDA, CE and others for global expansion.
• Manage a diverse engineering team of 20+ Mechanical Designers, Human Factors Engineers, Hardware Engineers, Software Engineers, Regulatory and Quality Control/Assurance Engineers.
• Maintain financial accountability for budgeting and tracking.
• Apply and/or develop highly advanced technologies, scientific principles, theories and concepts that are new to the industry.
• Develop intellectual property towards Patent Applications in US and World.

Philips/Respironics – Monroeville, PA
Design Quality Engineer / Senior Consultant
Apr 2019 – March 2021
• Review designs, documents, records, for compliance to internal Quality Management Systems (QMS) procedures and regulations. Using SAP for document control for PDM/PLM.
• Ensure proper justification of statistical analysis and hypothesis testing.
• Participate in device risk management activities in accordance with ISO13485 and ISO 14971, support in establishing proper statistical controls in development and transfer to manufacturing processes, verity data integrity, electronic data storage and data sheet validations.
• Review and coordinate with Validation for all test method and design validation, review activities related to Design Verification and Design Transfer of Medical Devices.
• Ensure work product meets regulations.
• Support scientific, complaint, and test failure investigations.
• Participate in phase reviews, write Quality Procedures.

Respironics – Monroeville, PA
Systems Engineer / Senior Consultant
Oct 2018 – Dec 2018
• Review, evaluate and mitigate EU- MDR gap assessments.
• Develop written rationale for EU-MDR and FDA requirements.

Sikorsky Aircraft – Stratford, CT
Lead Test Engineer / Senior Consultant
Feb 2010 – Mar 2011
• Project and systems engineering, manufacturing and planning, preparation and execution of the CH-53K Static Test Article, Drop Test Article and Fatigue Test Article qualification tests.
• Test loads development, fixture design and development.
• Prepared test plans.
• Documentation control using DOORS.
• Coordinated design and construction of a complex electro-mechanical test program using dozens of hydraulic actuators, hundreds of strain gages and string potentiometers to apply simulated flight, ground, handling, taxi and take-off loading scenarios for envelope expansion and 1st Flight.
• Prepared presentation materials for the US Navy (NAVAIR).
• Prepared formal internal and government reports and presentations.

Oberg Industries – Pittsburgh, PA
Consultant - Senior Bioengineer
2007 – 2008
• Coordinated the design and development of a series of electro-mechanical machine cells used to manufacture proprietary aerospace and medical device products.
• Developed the manufacturing validation and verification protocols for diabetic pumps and associated needles (IQ, OQ, PQ).

ALung Technologies, Inc. – Pittsburgh, PA
Project Manager / Senior Bioengineer / Consultant.
2007
• Packaging design, development, and manufacturing for a novel electro-mechanical extracorporeal blood oxygenation device.
• Assisted with product development, verification and validation, biocompatibility testing, human factors, usability, packaging of a novel, proprietary disposable hemodynamic oxygen exchange device.

Respironics, Inc. – Pittsburgh, PA
Project Manager / Senior Bioengineer/ Systems Engineer
2002 – 2003
• Developed wearable medical devices to treat sleep disorders.
• Developed working prototypes for human factors and marketing comparisons.
• Worked inside cross-functional teams to define the specifications for mechanical packaging, electronics, software, materials, human factors, disposables, user manuals, regulatory submittals, clinical trials, usability, quality control/assurance, manufacturing, and shelf packaging.

CardiacAssist, Inc. – Pittsburgh, PA
Project Manager/Senior Bioengineer/Systems Engineer
1999 – 2002
• Designed and developed transcutaneous and implantable heart pumps.
• Directed development of mechanical specifications for electro-mechanical drive mechanisms, blood contacting materials, manufacturing processes, human factors, quality processes and clinical applications.
• Assisted with preparation of documents in support of regulatory submissions and quality system compliance.

Marshall Space Flight Center – Huntsville, AL
Structural Test Engineer
1999
• Project planning, preparation of the International Space Station Static Test Article qualification tests.
• Test loads development, electro-mechanical test fixture design and development.
• Prepared test plans.
• Coordinated design and construction of a complex electro-mechanical test program using 37 hydraulic actuators, hundreds of strain gages and string potentiometers to apply simulated flight, ground, handling, taxi and take-off loading scenarios for envelope expansion and 1st Flight.

Musculoskeletal Research Center – Pittsburgh, PA
Research Associate
1999 - 2000
• Soft-tissue Biomechanics.
• Developed and executed soft-tissue and joint biomechanical studies to evaluate and characterize the mechanical/structural properties and kinetics/kinematics.
• Designed and developed electro-mechanical test systems and utilized tensile test machines and electro-mechanical test beds.
• Cadaver dissection.
• Prepared manuscripts for publishing in peer-review journals, technical book chapters and national conferences.

Human Engineering Research Laboratories / VA Medical Center – Pittsburgh, PA
Research Associate
1998
• Developed and executed biomechanical wheelchair studies, wheelchair performance and reliability testing of wheelchairs utilizing electro-mechanical test systems including ergometers, specially-designed test fixtures.
• Incorporated biomechanical and human factors principles for usability and human/machine interface. Prepared grant proposals.

Hill-Rom Company – Batesville, IN
Mechanical Test Engineer
1997
• Developed electro-mechanical test fixtures to perform reliability testing of critical care hospital beds and equipment.
• Analyzed human factors, usability/performance, and developed test mannequins.
• Test program planning.
• Investment proposal writing.

Boeing Defense & Space Group / Rotorcraft Division – Ridley Park, PA
Structural Test Engineer
1993 – 1997
• Project planning, preparation and execution of the V-22 Static Test Article, Drop Test Article and Fatigue Test Article qualification tests.
• Test loads development, fixture design, development and manufacturing.
• Prepared test plans.
• Coordinated design and construction of a complex electro-mechanical test program using 72 hydraulic actuators, 1,200 strain gages and over 500 string potentiometers to apply simulated flight, ground, handling, taxi and take-off loading scenarios for envelope expansion and 1st Flight.
• Prepared presentation materials for the US Navy (NAVAIR).
• Prepared formal internal and government reports and presentations.

Reebok International – Randolph, MA
Biomechanical Test Engineer
1993 - 1994
• Developed three electro-mechanical test machines to evaluate torsion, rotation and flexion characteristics of athletic shoe performance.
• Planned, prepared and executed tests on athletic shoes.
• Performed materials testing, data acquisition and statistical analysis.

Leonard Associates – Mohnton, PA
Biomechanical Test Engineer
1993 - 1994
• Developed a carbon fiber, road-racing bicycle front fork.
• Prepared a line-item cost analysis for a start-up, developmental machine shop.

Exeter Research – Brentwood, NH
Biomechanical Test Engineer
1992
• Developed electro-mechanical test machines.
• Prepared and executed sports equipment component tests.
• Material properties testing for athletic equipment.
• Report and technical documentation preparation.
• Supported a computer-based, foot-impact evaluation system in nine retail sporting good stores for Adidas.

Vangura Tool Incorporated – Clairton, PA
Machinist
1982 - 1992
• Tool design, fixture design, quality assurance, milling (CNC, manual), turning, welding, sawing, drilling, grinding, EDM, and benchwork.

Biomechanics Laboratory / Pennsylvania State University – University Park, PA
Research and Teaching Assistant / Mechanical Engineering Aide
1990 - 1992
• Prepared and executed biomechanical and sports equipment studies in baseball, golf, hockey, football, tennis, boxing, volleyball, cross-country skiing.
• Material properties testing.
• Assisted in development of electro-mechanical, computer-based test systems.
• Coordinated, instructed a biomechanics seminar.

Patents
• A Hand-held Tool For Breeching Laminated Glass, Tempered Glass and Film-covered Glass and Method For Using Same. Serial #: 62/333,389 Filed: 5/9/2016
• A Hand-held Tool for Cutting Laminated Glass and Film-covered Glass and Method for Using Same, U.S. Patent: 9,409,813. Inventors: A. Vangura.
• Wheelchair Hand Rim, Patent #: 6,276,705 Issued August 21, 2001. Inventors: Mark Baldwin, MS, Rory A. Cooper, Ph.D., Michael L. Boninger, MD, Albert Vangura, MS, and James Ster


Seminars & Training

“Ergonomics in Slip, Trip, & Falls: Perceptual & Biomechanical Issues” National Association of Subrogation Professionals, Annual Conference, Colorado Springs, CO, November 3, 2009 Invited Speaker

“Can't Guard Against That!” National Association of Subrogation Professionals, Annual Conference, Hollywood, FL, November 5, 2008, Invited Speaker

“Biomechanical Consultations During Forensic Matters” American Society of Mechanical Engineers – Summer Bioengineering Conference, Marco Island, FL, June 26, 2008, Invited Speaker

“Biomechanical Consultations During Fraud Investigations” Association of Certified Fraud Investigators - Pittsburgh Chapter, Pittsburgh, PA, January 10, 2007, Invited Speaker

“Unlocking the Mystery of Proximate Cause Through Biomechanical Analysis” National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, November 14, 2006, Invited Speaker

“Personal Injury and Causation”, Pittsburgh Claims Association, Monroeville, PA, November 3, 2003, Guest Speaker

HPRED 1044 Biomechanics - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, February 1-2, Guest Speaker

Summer Biomechanics Seminar - Penn State Biomechanics Laboratory, University Park, PA, Lecturer

KINES 384 BIOMECHANICS – Undergraduate course, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Teaching Assistant


Publications

· Vangura, A. Glass Dust Confusion: How the Rescue Community Has Been Left in a Cloud. Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine, Pennwell Publications Dec 2013

· Costic, RS, Vangura, A, et al. Viscoelastic behavior and structural properties of the coracoclavicular ligaments. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. 13(5) Oct 2003

· Debski, RE, Fenwick, JA, Vangura, A, et al. Effect of arthroscopic procedures on the acromioclavicular joint. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research. (406):89-96 Jan 2003

· Debski, RE, Vangura, A, et al. Role of the coraco-clavicular ligaments in AC joint stability: A validated computational approach. ASME Bioengineering Conference, pp. 47-48 2001

· Woo, SL-Y, Debski, RE, Vangura, A, et al. Use of robotic technology to study the biomechanics of ligaments and their replacements. Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics. 10(1):87-91 Jan 2000

· Vangura, A. Biomechanics of the acromioclavicular joint: an experimental and computational approach. University of Pittsburgh Master's Thesis 2000

· Fenwick, J.A., Vangura, A., Jr., et al. The effect of acromioplasty and distal clavicle resection on acromioclavicular joint mechanics. Trans Orthopaedic Research Society 25: 394 2000

· Vangura A, et al. Morphological, viscoelastic and structural properties of the coracoclavicular ligaments. Trans Orthopaedic Research Society 25:394 2000

· Debski RE. Parsons IM 3rd. Fenwick J. Vangura A. Ligament mechanics during three degree-of-freedom motion at the acromioclavicular joint. Annals of Biomedical Engineering. 28(6):612-8 June 2000

· Baldwin, MA, Cooper, RA, Vangura A, et al. Design of an ergonomic dual-surface manual wheelchair pushrim, Proceedings 22nd Annual RESNA Conference – Long Beach, California, pp. 299-301 1999

· Vangura, A., Bauer, J. Do Those Radar Guns Really Work? FastPitchUSA Online, 2 (1) 1999

· Cooper, R., Vangura, A, Spruill, L.: Evaluation of the Yamaha JWII electric-powered, add-on unit for manual wheelchairs VA R&D Progress Report 1998


Professional References

Michael W. Calder, Esquire
Rosen & Perry, P.C.
437 Grant Street, Suite 200
The Frick Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Telephone: (412) 281-4200
[email protected]
www.caringlawyers.com

James L. Forde, Esquire
488 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
(212) 714-1515
[email protected]
www.omranitaub.com

Joe N. Tatum, Esquire
Tatum & Wade, PLLC
P.O. Box 22688
Jackson, MS 39225-2688
(601) 948-7770 - Phone
(601) 948-1551 - Fax
www.tatumandwadepllc.com


Education

University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA inactive
Doctoral Student in Bioengineering (finished coursework)

University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA 2000
Master of Science in Bioengineering

The Pennsylvania State University – University Park, PA 1992
Bachelor of Science, Exercise and Sports Science: Biomechanics

The Pennsylvania State University – University Park, PA 1991
Associate of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology




Find an Expert Witness