Dr. Alex zur Linden

Meet Dr. Alex zur Linden

Current Positions:

• Associate Professor (Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College) 
• Cofounder of 3DVETMED, University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College: a consortium for 3D printing in veterinary medicine.
• Cofounder of OVC RaPPID, University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College: working group for 3D printing use in veterinary medicine.

Seeking Partnerships in the Areas of:

• Computed tomography (small and large animal) and applications 
• Interventional procedures (vascular procedures, stent placement) 

Education:

• Diplomate American College of Veterinary Radiology, 2011 to present
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon
• BSc (Animal Physiology and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry) Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia

Research Themes & Interests:

1. Current research includes investigation of novel interventional procedures for dogs
2. 3D printing in veterinary medicine for clinical use and student teaching
3. investigation of student procedural learning through assessment of visuospatial and dexterity skills

Recent Research Focuses and Partnerships:

• Sterility assessment of 3D printed plastics via stereolithography.
• Validation of novel 3D printed equine cervical spine for ultrasound guided needle arthrocentesis of facet joints.
• Assessment of visuospatial and dexterity skills and correlation to class rank of veterinary students.

Select Publications:

• ACVR Conference presentation October 2012: Comparison of the Accuracy, Timing and Ergonomics of a Wiimote to a Standard Computer Mouse for Image Interpretation. A zur Linden, R Stone.
• ACVR Conference poster presentation October 2012: Multi-dector Computed Tomography (MDCT) Urography Protocol Design and Optimization in the Canine. A zur Linden, E Riedesel, K Alexander.

• The accuracy of computed tomography scans for rapid prototyping of canine skulls.
• Comrie ML, Monteith G, Zur Linden A, Oblak M, Phillips J, James FMK; Ontario Veterinary College Rapid Prototyping of Patient-specific Implants for Dogs (RaPPID) group. PLoS One. 2019 Mar 25;14(3):e0214123. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214123. eCollection 2019.
• Manual polishing of 3D printed metals produced by laser powder bed fusion reduces biofilm formation.
• McGaffey M, Zur Linden A, Bachynski N, Oblak M, James F, Weese JS. PLoS One. 2019 Feb 27;14(2):e0212995. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212995. eCollection 2019.
• Effects of repeated use and resterilization on structural and functional integrity of microwave ablation antennas.
• Finck CA, Zur Linden AR, Singh A, Foster RA, Nykamp SG, Sears WC. Am J Vet Res. 2017 Apr;78(4):508-516. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.78.4.508.
• Schedule feasibility and workflow for additive manufacturing of titanium plates for cranioplasty in canine skull tumors.
• James J, Oblak ML, Zur Linden AR, James FMK, Phillips J, Parkes M.BMC Vet Res. 2020 Jun 6;16(1):180. doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02343-1.
• Various 3D printed materials mimic bone ultrasonographically: 3D printed models of the equine cervical articular process joints as a simulator for ultrasound guided intra-articular injections.
• Beaulieu A, Linden AZ, Phillips J, Arroyo LG, Koenig J, Monteith G. PLoS One. 2019 Aug 6;14(8):e0220332. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220332. eCollection 2019.

Highlights:

• Technology gives vets a better view inside animals. (University of Guelph News, 2013)
• 3D-Printing at the Ontario Veterinary College
• Developing treatments, care plans and new diagnostic techniques through the use of 3-D print. (OVC Bulletin, 2019)

• Cofounder of 3DVETMED (a consortium for 3D printing in veterinary medicine) and OVC RaPPID (working group for 3D printing use in veterinary medicine).

Contact:

Email: azurlind@uoguelph.ca
Office: CS 2151 

Ontario Veterinary College
University of Guelph
50 Stone Road E.,
Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1