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Articles 1 - 9 of 9
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Manual Material Handling Lift-Assist System For Occupational Exoskeleton, Erik Goes, Daniel Guthrie, Trevor Ward
Manual Material Handling Lift-Assist System For Occupational Exoskeleton, Erik Goes, Daniel Guthrie, Trevor Ward
Honors Capstones
It is no secret that lifting heavy objects is one of the premier causes of workplace injury, and the modern worker needs help to remain healthy. Workers need something they always have with them that makes their work safer as well as easier; our solution is an active lift-assist exoskeleton. The proposed exoskeleton design includes a military backpack exoskeleton frame, on which two actuators pull cables attached to end effectors that the operator will be holding. This system can adjust to conform to a wide variety of operator sizes, without restricting any of their range of motion. This leads to …
New Force Transducer For Mitral Valve Chordae Tendinea, Joseph Berryman
New Force Transducer For Mitral Valve Chordae Tendinea, Joseph Berryman
Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
In order to inform the future of mitral valve repair and replacement, more investigation into the mechanics of the sub-valvular structure is needed. Understanding the roles of each chord during valve closure requires a sensor capable of detecting these small forces with enough sensitivity to determine the characteristics of each of the chordal types. The focus of the cantilever force transducer is to maximize this sensitivity while also minimizing the invasiveness of the sensor on the overall function of the chord. The design utilizes flexible yet strong 3D printed resin and cantilever arms to improve the strain exerted on a …
Upper Extremity Mobility Device, Timothy J. Grassi, Jacob R. Miller
Upper Extremity Mobility Device, Timothy J. Grassi, Jacob R. Miller
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
The goal of this project was to evaluate a clinical problem, explore possible solutions, and produce a functioning prototype that would conform to all the established guidelines and requirements. The project focused on developing an upper extremity mobility device for a singular client with limited muscle activity in his arms due to childhood polio. Our design process was governed by an adapted form of the FDA Design Control Process, 21 CFR 820.30 [1]. The outcome of this project was a functioning prototype that utilized the concept of a motorized pulley system remote controlled using a key fob. This research project …
Uncoupling Shear And Uniaxial Elastic Moduli Of Semiflexible Biopolymer Networks: Compression-Softening And Stretch-Stiffening., Anne S G Van Oosten, Mahsa Vahabi, Albert J Licup, Abhinav Sharma, Peter Galie, Fred C Mackintosh, Paul A Janmey
Uncoupling Shear And Uniaxial Elastic Moduli Of Semiflexible Biopolymer Networks: Compression-Softening And Stretch-Stiffening., Anne S G Van Oosten, Mahsa Vahabi, Albert J Licup, Abhinav Sharma, Peter Galie, Fred C Mackintosh, Paul A Janmey
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Faculty Scholarship
Gels formed by semiflexible filaments such as most biopolymers exhibit non-linear behavior in their response to shear deformation, e.g., with a pronounced strain stiffening and negative normal stress. These negative normal stresses suggest that networks would collapse axially when subject to shear stress. This coupling of axial and shear deformations can have particularly important consequences for extracellular matrices and collagenous tissues. Although measurements of uniaxial moduli have been made on biopolymer gels, these have not directly been related to the shear response. Here, we report measurements and simulations of axial and shear stresses exerted by a range of hydrogels subjected …
Mechanical Characterization Of Carbon Fiber And Thermoplastic Ankle Foot Orthoses, Amanda Wach
Mechanical Characterization Of Carbon Fiber And Thermoplastic Ankle Foot Orthoses, Amanda Wach
Master's Theses (2009 -)
The needs of an increasingly young and active orthotic patient population has led to advancements in ankle foot orthosis (AFO) design and materials to enable higher function. The Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO) is a custom energy-storing carbon fiber AFO that has demonstrated improved clinical function, allowing patients to return to high-intensity activities such as sports and military service. An improved understanding of AFO mechanical function will aid prescription and fitting, as well as assist in design modifications for different patient populations. This study investigated the mechanical properties of AFOs, specifically structural stiffness, rotational motion, and strut deflection, to discern …
Interface Stress In Socket/Residual Limb With Transtibial Prosthetic Suspension Systems During Locomotion On Slopes And Stairs
Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of different suspension methods on the interface stress inside the prosthetic sockets of transtibial amputees when negotiating ramps and stairs. DESIGN: Three transtibial prostheses, with a pin/lock system, a Seal-In system, and a magnetic suspension system, were created for the participants in a prospective study. Interface stress was measured as the peak pressure by using the F-socket transducers during stairs and ramp negotiation. RESULTS: Twelve individuals with transtibial amputation managed to complete the experiments. During the stair ascent and descent, the greatest peak pressure was observed in the prosthesis with the Seal-In …
Scratch Damage Evolution On Metals In Total Joint Replacements, Caleb Eljach
Scratch Damage Evolution On Metals In Total Joint Replacements, Caleb Eljach
All Theses
The goal of total joint replacement (TJR) is to replace nonfunctioning joint components and relieve pain, improve quality of life, and to improve joint function. Although TJR is a successful procedure, more than 54,000 knee revisions occur each year due to factors, such as wear, loosening, infection, fracture, instability, and patient related factors (Ranawat, 2010). TJRs consist of components typically composed of polyethylene and a metallic counterface (Navarro, 2008). The sliding contact that occurs between the metal and polyethylene components has been well studied and is shown to produce both surface damage and wear of the implant components (Barbour, 1997; …
Fluoride And Mineralized Tissues, Debbie Chachra, Anya Vieira, Marc Grynpas
Fluoride And Mineralized Tissues, Debbie Chachra, Anya Vieira, Marc Grynpas
Debbie Chachra
This review focuses on the interaction of fluoride with the material properties of bone and teeth, which is of clinical, scientific, and public health interest. These tissues are composed primarily of collagen (protein) and hydroxyapatite (mineral), and their mechanical function depends on the properties of the constituents, their proportions, the interface, and the three-dimensional structure. Changing any of these may have clinical consequences. Fluoride interacts with mineralized tissues in a number of ways. At low doses, the fluoride may be passively incorporated into the mineral, stabilizing it against dissolution; this is one of the mechanisms by which municipally fluoridated water …
Design And Validation Of A Bi-Axial Loading Bioreactor For Mechanical Stimulation Of Engineered Cartilage, Noor Azuan
Design And Validation Of A Bi-Axial Loading Bioreactor For Mechanical Stimulation Of Engineered Cartilage, Noor Azuan
Noor Azuan
A mechanical-conditioning bioreactor has been developed to provide bi-axial loading to three-dimensional (3D) tissue constructs within a highly controlled environment. The computer-controlled bioreactor is capable of applying axial compressive and shear deformations, individually or simultaneously at various regimes of strain and frequency. The reliability and reproducibility of the system were verified through validation of the spatial and temporal accuracy of platen movement, which was maintained over the operating length of the system. In the presence of actual specimens, the system was verified to be able to deliver precise bi-axial load to the specimens, in which the deformation of every specimen …