Ian M. Zeller, Ph.D., ACTAR
Dr. Zeller is an accomplished engineer with more than 10 years of experience in biomechanics and computational dynamics fields. He has investigated hundreds of cases ranging from motor vehicle accidents, recreational incidents, medical device designs, as well as injuries from product liability all across the United States. Dr. Zeller has graduate level experience in computational dynamics and orthopedic biomechanics with a specific emphasis in dynamics, vibrations, joint contact mechanics, and muscle control during static and dynamic loading applications. Dr. Zeller’s past research includes clinical and computational analysis of the human body with respect to the design and implantation of orthopedic devices for the knee, hip, and spine. He has published in peer-reviewed journals and presented research at both technical and surgical conferences in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Dr. Zeller has an extensive background in biomechanics including the development, validation, and application of mechanical models of the human body using statistical modeling and prediction techniques coupled with motions captured from live human subjects. These models are parameterized for anatomy and physiology and are capable of simulating and predicting joint mechanics for healthy, diseased, and surgically-repaired knees in living subjects of varying demographic groups, facilitating improved targeting of interventional strategies and techniques. Dr. Zeller also worked with surgeons across the United States in the design and assessment of knee replacement devices, including personalized and prototype devices to optimize for efficacy and safety.
Dr. Zeller Additionally is accredited as a traffic accident reconstructionist and continues to conduct research as well as maintain a current knowledge of developing trends and best practices in the biomechanics and engineering fields. Dr. Zeller has published to various organizations on topics ranging from knee replacement design, forward solution modeling, joint mechanics, personalized joint replacements, material structures and properties as well as biological modeling of disease distributions. He also has an extensive testifying history including depositions, trials, and arbitrations.
- Accident Reconstruction
- Biomechanics
- Materials
- Playground Safety
- Products Liability
- Slip, Trip & Fall
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering (Biomechanics) University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 2018
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 2014
B.S., Materials Science and Engineering Clemson University, Clemson SC, 2012
Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (ACTAR) Number 3713
Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI #47727-1222)
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: National Safety Council (NSC)
- Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: Zeller, Ian Michael, The Role of Biomechanics in the Evaluation of Injury Claims, Insurance Business Magazine April 2020
Zeller, Ian Michael, "Parameterization of a Next Generation In-Vivo Forward Solution Physiological Model of the Human Lower Limb to Simulate and Predict Demographic and Pathology Specific Knee Mechanics" PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2018.
Ian Zeller; Trevor Grieco; Bradley Meccia; Adrija Sharma; Douglas Dennis; Richard Komistek; “Mathematical Modeling of the Knee: Kinematic Analysis of Implant Design, Surgical Technique and Abnormal Pathology” (Scientific Exhibit) American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting 2018 New Orleans, LA
IM Zeller, A Sharma, WB Kurtz, MR Anderle, RD Komistek. “Customized Versus Patient Matched Cruciate Retaining Total Knee Arthroplasty: An In Vivo Kinematics Study Using Mobile Fluoroscopy” Journal of Arthroplasty, Volume 32, Issue 4, Pages 1344–1350.
I Zeller, G Dessinger, A Sharma, TK Fehring, R Komistek: “In Vivo Kinematics for Subjects Having a Posterior Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty with Gradually Reducing Curved Condylar Geometry”Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery Orthopaedic Proceedings, Volume 100 Supplemental Issue 5 Page 23, 2018.
I Zeller, T Grieco, B Meccia, A Sharma, R Komistek: “Development of a Mathematical Model to Successfully Predict Normal Knee Kinematics” Orthopaedic Proceedings, Volume 100 Supplemental Issue 5, Page 24, 2018.
Grieco, T., LaCour, M., Zeller, I., Sharma, A., Cates, H., Hamel, W., & Komistek, R "Kinematic Comparison of a First and Second Generation BCS TKA during a Deep knee Bend" Orthopaedic Proceedings. Vol. 99. No. SUPP_4. Bone & Joint, 2017.
IM Zeller, WB Kurtz, MD Ta, GM Dessinger, A Sharma, RD Komistek: “In-Vivo Kinematics for Patients Implanted with a Customized, Patient Specific Posterior Stabilized Total Knee Arthroplasty Vs a Traditional Patient Sized Off the Shelf TKA During Activities of Daily Living.” The Knee Volume 24 Issue 6, Page VIII, 2017.
Ian Zeller; Trevor Grieco; Bradley Meccia; Adrija Sharma; Richard Komistek; “Development and Implementation of a Mathematical Model to Successfully Predict Normal Knee Kinematics” International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty Annual Meeting 2017, Seoul South Korea
Ian Zeller “In Vivo Mechanics and Vibration of the Knee Joint.” Insall & Scott Surgery of the Knee, 6th Ed, Edited by W. Norman Scott, Textbook Chapter, 2016.
Grieco, T; Komistek, R; Sharma, A; Hamel, W; Zeller, I; “In Vivo Mobile Fluoroscopic Analysis: Traditional
and More Challenging Activities for subjects having a TKA”, Orthopaedic Proceedings 98 SUPP_8 118-118 2016 Bone & Joint
Reza Abiri; Ian Michael Zeller; Xiopeng Zhao “Parametric Analysis of Cancer Dynamics: An Evaluation of Environmental Contributing Factors” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting 2015, Tampa, Florida
R Komistek, W Hamel, M Young, I Zeller, T Grieco, A Sharma: “In Vivo Kinematics of the Knee Using Both Stationary and Mobile Fluoroscopy” Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Volume 95 Supplemental Issue 34, pages 211-211, 2013.
Viktorova, M. Scruggs, I. Zeller and K. Fairchild, "An Analysis of Heat Explosion for Thermally Insulated and Conducting Systems." Applied Mathematics, Vol. 3 No. 6, 2012, pp. 535-540.
Zeller, IM; Seeber, MJ; Luzinov I “Modification of PVDF Fibers Containing PNIPAM Containing Nanogels” Material Science and Technology Annual Meeting 2011 Columbus, OH - Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Numerous
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Biomechanical Analysis
Accident Reconstruction
Injury Consistency
Mechanism of Injury Analysis
Vehicle Occupant Kinematics
Falling Object Mechanics and Analysis
Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrian Accidents
Amusement Park and Playground Accidents
Crash Data Retrieval and Analysis
Product Failure Analysis
Seat Belt Analysis
Restraint System
Occupant Position Determination
Sequential Events Analysis
Speed Analysis
Vehicle Damage Consistency
Collision Avoidance
Material Fracture Analysis - Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: $425
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: $425
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: $425
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: $425
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: Portal to portal travel
Out of pocket expenses
Available Upon Request