Resume

Laust G. Pedersen
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 563-4402

Engineering / Marketing Management

Proven record of innovation, design as seen from a customer perspective and within regulatory constraint. Providing direction and foundation for technological trends relevant for company goals. Multi-lingual (English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, German).

Innovation

System Integration

Cost-efficient Design

Market Assessment

FDA Approval (510k)

Fault Analysis

WORK EXPERIENCE:

1999-Present

Mentor Corporation, Santa Barbara, CA.
R&D Program Director.

	Maintain and develop present and future Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction devices.
	Maintain and develop prostate Brachytherapy technology.

1997-1999

Consulting for Cardiovascular Dynamics, Irvine, CA.

Designed, set up qualification process, etc. for next generation handheld PD-Access system based on ultrasound CW-Doppler and probes of 250mm diameter.

1992-1997

Philips Ultrasound Intl., Irvine, CA.
Sr. Acoustic Staff Engineer.

	Structured acoustic output measurements and reporting for FDA 510k approval to the extend that data was not questioned by FDA.
	Advocated, got budget for, designed and implemented an industry leading acoustic measurement system for measuring acoustic output and transducer characterization, based on a computer controlled 7 axis stepper-motor design involving Lab-Windows.
	Optimized focusing algorithms on already designed ultrasound system (P700)
	Conceived industry leading, cost-efficient, programmable beamformer and championed its implementation, resulting in a 75% board count reduction.
	Specified beam control algorithms, with important image quality enhancing aspects.
	Designed algorithms for control of acoustic output to be optimized for any user setting.
	Designed, specified and acquired OEM linear and curved array transducers optimized for image quality and application with many inputs from Marketing.
	End (technological) result was three prototypes of outstanding image quality as judged by various doctors (Dr. Merritt, Oschner, New Orleans; Dr. Weskott, Siloa Hannover, Ger., Dr. Vestra, UCLA Med.Center; and most of our Country Managers).
	Started design for next generation digital beamformer.

1989-1992

Siemens Quantum, Inc., San Ramon, CA.
Sr. Acoustic Engineer

	Set up acoustic measurement lab on minimal budget.
	Wrote software for motor control, data acquisition, manipulation and presentation for the purpose of characterizing ultrasound transducers and measuring acoustic output of FDA reporting.
	Specified transducers of old and new design.
	Formally and informally interacted with colleagues to set up specifications for a very high performance ultrasound system including adding some innovative ideas.
	Provided "can do" atmosphere at grassroots level to make company competitive in a larger market segment.

1985-1989

Diasonics Inc., Milpitas, CA.
Acoustic Engineer

	Introduced Annular Array probe technology including some unique calibration techniques.
	Specified and designed linear and annular arrays. Characterized materials.
	Set up quality control procedures for manufacturing after conferring with vendors.
	Set up procedures, designed equipment measured and reported acoustic output for FDA reporting and contributed to measurement improvement at meetings with FDA.
	Provided "can do" atmosphere at grassroots level to make company competitive at an international level.

1984-1985

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, PA.
Researcher

Conducted research on Ultrasound tissue characterization under Dr.Arger (former AIUM president).

1978-1982

Bruel and Kjaer, Naerum, Denmark.
Designer Engineer

	Designed and fabricated single element transducers for scanning arm systems.
	Contributed to design of endocavity probes and sector scanners.
	Evaluated and characterized new designs.
	Designed internal test equipment.

FORMAL EDUCATION:

	Completed courses toward a Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University, Philadelphia.
	Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
	Thesis in Underwater Acoustics ("Parameteric Acoustic Arrays") with honors.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

	Numerous scientific conferences and exhibitions related to medical ultrasound.
	One patent # 5,782,213 "Internal Combustion Engine", July 21, 1998.
	Computers used: IBM 360, VAX 11/780, Macintosh, IBM PC compatibles.
	Software used: FORTRAN, ALGOL W, BASIC and various prepackaged software such as Windows, MS-Word, EXCEL, Table-Curve, Mat-Lab, Stanford Graphics, Engine Analyzer Pro, AutoSketch and QuickBooks.

AFFILIATIONS:

	Former member of American Institute of Ultrasound In Medicine (AIUM). Former member of the Commonwealth Club of California.
	Member of the Lamborghini Club of USA.
	Member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).