Dr. Max Jordon (left), Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu and mechantronics major Austin McDade demonstrate the pneumatically powered balance board
photo by Angela Foster/UTC
Dr. Erkan Kaplanoglu, department head of Engineering Management and Technology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has earned his first U.S. design patent for a pneumatically powered balance board aimed at helping patients recover from lower back injuries or surgery.
The balance board is designed to aid physical therapy and is now available for licensing through the UT Research Foundation (UTRF), which supports faculty across the UT System with technology transfer.
“Erkan develops innovations that solve problems and help people,” said Gregory Sechrist, a technology manager with UTRF.
“He’s a serial inventor, and I’m glad to see him get his first patent issued at UTC.”
Built from off-the-shelf parts and powered by a standard compressor, the board’s pneumatic “muscles” create controlled motion to improve balance and recovery. Dr.Kaplanoglu worked with physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons to refine the design.
“We built the first version, then fine-tuned it with feedback,” Dr. Kaplanoglu said. “They helped us dial in the movement, data tracking and safety settings to make it truly usable.”
The project received support from UTC’s MOCS Innovate! and Fly! Pitch competitions, and the Biomedical Research Innovation Center (BRIC)—a partnership between UTC, Erlanger and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine – Chattanooga.
“This is a great example of how we empower researchers not just to protect their ideas, but to take them further,” said Jennifer Skjellum, UTC’s commercialization counselor.
Since joining UTC in 2019, Dr. Kaplanoglu has launched the Biomechatronics and Assistive Technology Lab and secured $450,000 in research funding. His projects span rehabilitation technology, wearable devices and industrial automation—bridging disciplines and creating student-driven solutions.
“We listened to what therapists needed and developed something flexible, accurate and ready for the clinic,” Dr. Kaplanoglu said.