Engineering Commons^™

Nonlinear Observer For Visual-Inertial Navigation Using Intermittent Landmark Measurements, Miaomiao Wang

Western Research Forum

The development of reliable orientation, position and linear velocity estimation algorithms for the 3D visual-inertial navigation system (VINS) is instrumental in many applications, such as autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is extremely important when the global position system (GPS) is not available in GPS-denied environments. Recently, observers design for VINS using landmark position measurements from Kinect sensors or stereo cameras has been increasingly investigated in the literature.

The aim of this work is to design a nonlinear observer for VINS under the assumption that landmark position measurements are intermittent. In practice, the landmark measurements are …

A Ph-Sensitive Delivery System For The Prevention Of Dental Caries Using Salivary Protein, Yi Zhu, Yizhi Xiao, Elizabeth Gillies, Walter L. Siqueira

Western Research Forum

Dental caries remains one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. In previous studies, salivary proteins (e.g. histatin 3, statherin) have demonstrated biological functions including the inhibition of crystal growth, antibacterial activities, which are directly related to tooth homeostasis and prevention of dental caries. However, proteins are susceptible to the high proteolytic activities in the oral environment. Therefore, pH-sensitive chitosan nanoparticles (CNs) have been proposed as potential carriers to protect proteins against enzymatic degradation at physiological salivary pH, in addition to swell selectively at lower pH conditions to facilitate the release of the encapsulated proteins, as major oral complications occur …

The Effect Of Radial Head Hemiarthroplasty Stem Fit On Radiocapitellar Contact Mechanics: Is Loose Fit Better Than Rigidly Fixed?, Jakub Szmit, Graham J.W. King, James A. Johnson, G. Daniel G. Langohr

Western Research Forum

Background/Methods: Radial head hemiarthroplasty is commonly employed to manage comminuted displaced fractures. With regards to implant fixation, current designs vary with some prostheses aiming to achieve a tight 'fixed' fit, and others utilizing a smooth stem with an over reamed 'loose' fit. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of radial head hemiarthroplasty stem fit on radiocapitellar contact using a finite element model which simulated both fixed (size-for-size) and loose (1, 2 & 3mm over reamed) stem fits.

Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that a loose stem fit would improve radiocapitellar contact mechanics, with increased contact area …

Investigating The Effect Of Stiffness In Hemiarthroplasty Implants, Carolyn Berkmortel, Daniel Langohr, Graham King, James Johnson

Western Research Forum

Background: Hemiarthroplasty is an attractive alternative to total arthroplasty because it conserves tissue, allows for quicker recovery, and has a lower cost. However, likely due to the high stiffness of the implant, hemiarthroplasties often lead to accelerated wear of the opposing native cartilage.

Hypothesis and Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate the maximum contact stress on the capitellum for different currently available biomaterials in radial head hemiarthroplasty and compare them to the native radial head. A finite element model was developed in ABAQUS (Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp., RI, USA). An axial load of 100N was applied to …

Multifunctional Hybrid Sol-Gel Implant Coatings On Anodized Titanium Substrates To Improve Osseointegration And Antimicrobial Effectiveness, Zach Gouveia

Western Research Forum

To improve patient outcomes in orthopedic and dental implantation procedures, the development of multifunctional implant coatings that can inhibit microbial cell proliferation while promoting osseointegration have been sought out by clinicians. While recent developments in material science and cell biology have seen the development of such coatings, many proposed systems lack clinical translatability. For example, to reach the clinic, modern coating systems must be highly adherent to their substrate (to avoid delamination upon implantation), have sufficient wettability (to promote the fixation of cells), and facilitate the controlled and sustained release of antimicrobial factors (falling within the therapeutic window to prevent …

Seismic Landslide Hazard Mapping For Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Ali Fallah Yeznabad, Sheri E. Molnar, Hesham M. El Naggar

Western Research Forum

The lower Mainland of southwest British Columbia (BC) hosts about 3.5 million people and significant infrastructures of national importance. Southwestern BC has the highest seismic risk in Canada with significant potential to cause earthquake-induced hazards including tsunamis, liquefaction and landslides. A Cascadia mega-thrust (M_W 9) earthquake is predicted to generate $75 billion Canadian dollars in losses. This damage can be resulted from ground shaking or its secondary phenomena like landslides; ground shaking during earthquakes may trigger landslides that can damage or destroy buildings, bury roads and highways and kill and injure people. In Canada, during the past century and …

Graduate Keynote. Golf Grip Force Evaluation In Individuals With And Without Hand Arthritis Using A New Wearable Sensor Technology, Sara Frances Holland, Emily Lalone, Louis M. Ferreira, James P. Dickey

Western Research Forum

BACKGROUND

Hand osteoarthritis (H-OA) is the most common type of osteoarthritis largely affecting individuals over 45. H-OA involves pain, loss of grip strength and limiting participation in recreational activities such as golf. Currently, a number of ‘arthritic’ grips are designed using joint protection principles to ‘reduce hand forces and tight gripping’. However, no comprehensive examinations in their effectiveness have been conducted.

HYPOTHESIS

The purpose of this study is to systematically analyse the hand forces produced from various golf grips and arthritis grips at the distal-phalanges of the hand-grip interface in individuals with and without hand arthritis using new wearable sensor …