Biomechanical Engineering Commons^™

A Novel Fiber Jamming Theory And Experimental Verification, Jared Richard Chafetz

Master's Theses

This thesis developed a novel theory of fiber jamming and experimentally verified it. The theory relates the performance, which is the ratio between the stiff and soft states of a fiber jamming chamber, to three relative design parameters: the ratio of the wall thickness to the membrane inner diameter, the ratio of the fiber diameter to membrane inner diameter, and the number of fibers. These three parameters, when held constant across different chamber sizes, hold the performance constant. To test the theory, three different types of fiber jamming chambers were built in three different sizes. Each chamber was set up …

System Integration Of C-Arm Robotic Prototype Using Motion Capture Guidance For Accurate Repositioning, Alireza Yazdanshenas

Mechanical Engineering Theses

One of the important surgical tools in spinal surgery is the C-Arm X-ray System. The C-Arm is a large “C” shaped and manually maneuvered arm that provides surgeons and X-ray technicians the ability to take quick quality X-rays during surgery. Because of its five degrees of freedom, the C-Arm can be manually maneuvered around the patient to provide many angles and perspectives, ensuring surgical success.

This system works fine for most surgical procedures but falls short when the C-Arm must be moved out of the way for complicated surgical procedures.

The aim of this thesis is to develop an accurate …

Investigation Of Fundamental Principles Of Rigid Body Impact Mechanics, Khalid Alluhydan

Mechanical Engineering Research Theses and Dissertations

In impact mechanics, the collision between two or more bodies is a common, yet a very challenging problem. Producing analytical solutions that can predict the post-collision motion of the colliding bodies require consistent modeling of the dynamics of the colliding bodies. This dissertation presents a new method for solving the two and multibody impact problems that can be used to predict the post-collision motion of the colliding bodies. Also, we solve the rigid body collision problem of planar kinematic chains with multiple contacts with external surfaces.

In the first part of this dissertation, we study planar collisions of Balls and …

Computational Analysis And Design Optimization Of Convective Pcr Devices, Jung Il Shu

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a relatively novel technique to amplify a few copies of DNA to a detectable level. PCR has already become common in biomedical research, criminal forensics, molecular archaeology, and so on. Many have attempted to develop PCR devices in numerous types for the purpose of the lab-on-chip (LOC) or point-of-care (POC). To use PCR devices for POC lab testing, the price must be lower, and the performance should be comparable to the lab devices. For current practices with the existing methods, the price is pushed up higher partially due to too much dependence on numerous developmental …

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 …

A Soft-Robotic Harbor Porpoise Pectoral Fin Driven By Coiled Polymer Actuators As Artificial Muscles, Robert Hunt, Sarah Trabia, Zakai Olsen, Kwang Kim

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Biomimicry is an approach in science and engineering to overcome human challenges by designing materials and systems modeled after nature. Selected applications of biomimicry include catheters, hearing devices, and artificial appendages such as arms, legs, and fingers. The inspiration for this study is the hydrofoil-like structured pectoral fin of the harbor porpoise whale that is ultimately useful for studying fluid-structure interactions, drag, lift, and laminar-to-turbulent transitions. The pectoral fin is fabricated by manipulating computed tomography (CT) scans into 3D models using Simpleware ScanIP and post-processed in Autodesk for printing. An array of thermally driven coiled polymer actuators (CPA) fabricated from …

Cooking Hand Multi-Tool, Amanda D. Meares, Amy H. Wilson, Ethan G. Littlejohn, Duania A. Evans

Biomedical Engineering

The purpose of this project was to devise a solution for Jorge Segura, a US Marine who was wounded in Afghanistan and had to have his non-dominant arm amputated above the elbow. His current prosthetic attachments are not suited to cooking tasks, so he needed a way to cook more effectively with either prosthetic attachments or accessibility devices. The main tasks that he needed help with was holding down food on cutting boards and stabilizing pots, pans, and bowls especially when stirring. After background research, exploring commercially available devices, and talking with our challenger, our solution was to design three …

Adapted Trailer Hitching System, Joseph Neil Hearn, Maxwell M. Selna, Maximilian D. Cossalter, Eric B. Ringsrud

Mechanical Engineering

This report highlights the entire design process of an adapted trailer hitching system for Taylor Morris: a navy veteran and quadruple amputee. This begins with problem definition through customer and product research. Objectives are generated after the problem is defined and the boundary of the project is set. This outcome of the project focuses on modifications/improvements to the vehicle side of the problem and leaves the trailers untouched. Engineering specifications are developed to constrain the concept design direction, which ultimately dictates the outcome of the final design. The final design is used as a basis to manufacture a structural prototype …

Sand Foot: A Prosthesis For Walking On Sand, Samantha A. Galicinao, John Dewing, Daniel Dugan Dotson, Christopher Urasaki

Biomedical Engineering

This critical design report describes the product development of a prosthesis for use on sand. Quality of Life Plus (QL+), a national non-profit organization aimed to develop prostheses for veterans and people with disabilities, introduced this project and its accompanying challenger, Sgt. Brady, to Cal Poly’s Interdisciplinary Senior Project class in September 2018. After consulting with Sgt. Brady and QL+ and performing extensive research, the Sand Foot team defined customer requirements and engineering specifications to meet these requirements. Comfortability, durability, and sandproof were key customer requirements. Several conceptual models were brainstormed and a final design was selected based on the …

Development Of A Sonically Powered Biodegradable Nanogenerator For Bone Regeneration, Avi S. Patel

University Scholar Projects

Background: Reconstruction of bone fractures and defects remains a big challenge in orthopedic surgery. While regenerative engineering has advanced the field greatly using a combination of biomaterial scaffolds and stem cells, one matter of difficulty is inducing osteogenesis in these cells. Recent works have shown electricity’s ability to promote osteogenesis in stem cell lines when seeded in bone scaffolds; however, typical electrical stimulators are either (a) externally housed and require overcomplex percutaneous wires be connected to the implanted scaffold or (b) implanted non-degradable devices which contain toxic batteries and require invasive removal surgeries.

Objective: Here, we establish a biodegradable, piezoelectric …

Development Of A Sonically Powered Biodegradable Nanogenerator For Bone Regeneration, Avi Patel

Honors Scholar Theses

Background: Reconstruction of bone fractures and defects remains a big challenge in orthopedic surgery. While regenerative engineering has advanced the field greatly using a combination of biomaterial scaffolds and stem cells, one matter of difficulty is inducing osteogenesis in these cells. Recent works have shown electricity’s ability to promote osteogenesis in stem cell lines when seeded in bone scaffolds; however, typical electrical stimulators are either (a) externally housed and require overcomplex percutaneous wires be connected to the implanted scaffold or (b) implanted non-degradable devices which contain toxic batteries and require invasive removal surgeries.

Objective: Here, we establish a biodegradable, piezoelectric …

How Infant Positioning Impacts Hip Motion And The Associated Implications For Babies With Hip Dysplasia, Lauren Buchele

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) refers to a group of disorders, ranging from slight instability (Grades 1-3) to a severe dislocation (Grade 4) of the femoral head from the acetabulum [1]. In order to treat DDH in infants, a reduction procedure and the use of a lower body harness to secure the hip joint as the bones and ligaments re-form properly is typically prescribed. The Pavlik Harness is currently the “gold-standard” orthopedic device used to place hips in proper positioning. However, little research has been reported on the biomechanical affects during use of these device types.

Although the Pavlik …

Danny’S Recumbent Bike Accessibility Device Final Design Report, Joseph J. Lee, Huy Nguyen, Jack Mcatee, John Kulick

Mechanical Engineering

The purpose of this document is to fully define our design solution and explain our manufacturing and testing results. Our project’s goal is to find a way to allow Danny Knutson, a retired Navy pilot and incomplete quadriplegic with limited use of his arms and an impaired sense of balance, to enter and exit his recumbent tricycle without any discomfort for him or his aide. We completed multiple interviews with Danny, patent research, existing product research, and other technical literature research in order to fully understand the problem. We synthesized this information to create a concrete list of customer wants …

Factors Affecting Patellar Mechanics And Bone Strain In Patients With Crouch Gait, Erika Ramirez

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Crouch gait is a musculoskeletal impairment that results in higher than normal stresses at the patellofemoral (PF) joint that can lead to instances of anterior knee pain and loss of ambulation. The impact of commonly implemented surgical procedures to correct for crouch gait can be quantified by evaluating stresses and underlying patellar bone strain during a gait cycle. The aims of this thesis work were (1) to analyze changes in PF mechanics and patellar bone strain between pre- and postoperative conditions; (2) to quantify the variability of predicted patellar strain due to different kinematic/loading profiles or patellar material properties; and …

The Effects Of Bone Morphogenic Protein 2 On The Viability And Proliferation Of Dental Pulp Stem Cell Isolates, Joseph Cinelli

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Growth factor is an umbrella term used to describe a signaling molecule present in organisms that serves the purpose of influencing a stimulatory or inhibitory response from the target cell it acts on. Growth factors are categorized and classified by the types of tissues they act on and the cellular responses they illicit. For example, there are growth factors that act primarily in connective tissue on fibroblasts and they are aptly classified as the fibroblast growth factor family. Similarly, there is another family of growth factors that act on bone forming cells, among others, and they are known as bone …

The Affective Perceptual Model: Enhancing Communication Quality For Persons With Pimd, Jadin Tredup

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Methods for prolonged compassionate care for persons with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities (PIMD) require a rotating cast of import people in the subjects life in order to facilitate interaction with the external environment. As subjects continue to age, dependency on these people increases with complexity of communications while the quality of communication decreases. It is theorized that a machine learning (ML) system could replicate the attuning process and replace these people to promote independence. This thesis extends this idea to develop a conceptual and formal model and system prototype.

The main contributions of this thesis are: (1) proposal of …

Mechanical And Tribological Behaviour Of Treated And Untreated Moringa Oleifera Pods Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Polymer Composite For Packaging Applications, Prakash Sampath, Senthil Kumar V.S Dr

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Researchers now focus on the use of natural fiber polymer composites materials for packing applications. This attention is due to their low cost and renewable characteristics. Fabrication of composites with the use of renewable resources has many benefits of alternating from an appropriate management and reduction in industrial wastages, ecofriendly behaviour to cost effectiveness. The artificial fibers in packing industries can be replaced by natural fibers in the areas where stiffness and high strength are not the primary requirement. In the last decade the use of Natural fibers in the place of artificial fibers for reinforcements in epoxy resin matrix …

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 …

Efficacy Of Assistive Devices Produced With Additive Manufacturing, James Pierce

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Despite the frequency of musculoskeletal injuries such as sprains, broken bones and torn ligaments¹, treatment options are often costly, time-consuming and ill-fitted.^2,3 Additive manufacturing (“3D-printing) allows for the production of highly-customized and inexpensive assistive devices⁴, which suggests potential efficacy in the prescription of splints and casts for musculoskeletal injury.³ In the present study, a parametric, customizable splint/cast was created using a computer-aided design (CAD) package (Fusion 360, Autodesk, San Rafael, CA, USA) and produced with low-cost, desktop 3D printing (Ultimaker 2+ Extended, Ultimaker, Geldermalsen, Netherlands). Fitting of the devices was performed on five healthy …