Engineering Commons^™

Wear Resistant And Biocompatible Coatings For Medical Devices And Method Of Fabrication, Mary Gilliam, Susan Farhat, Ali Zand

Chemical Engineering Patents

Abstract: A method of forming a biocompatible or biologically inert article for use in an application in which the article will make contact with at least one tissue, organ, or fluid within a human or animal body is provided. The method generally comprises providing an article having an external sur face; selecting chemical precursors; using a means to direct one or more chemical precursors towards or to apply such chemical precursors to the ex ternal surface; activating the chemical precursors by exposing said precursors to atmospheric pressure plasma; and grafting and/or cross-linking the chem ical precursors to form a solid …

Apparatus And Method For Remote Assessment And Therapy Management In Medical Devices Via Interface Systems, Jeffrey Hargrove, Robert M. Ford, Thomas B. Johnson

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A remote medical assessment and therapy management apparatus comprising a center user interface, a center computer coupleable with the center user interface. The center computer displays information via the center user interface for use in developing a therapeutic prescription and receives therapeutic control inputs from a user. A remote device includes a medical diagnostic instrument for acquiring biophysical data from a patient, a medical therapeutic instrument that provides a therapy to the patient, and a remote computer that receives diagnostic signals from the diagnostic instrument and transmits therapeutic control signals to the therapeutic instrument. A network interface is connected between …

Cutaneous Electrode Positioning, Jeffrey Hargrove, Susan R. Briggs

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A device and method for positioning a cutaneous electrode for delivery of electrical stimulation to a subject's head. A harness is worn on a subject's head with a first band of the harness worn in a closed loop around the subject's head and around a desired contact location on the subject's head. A tensioning strap of the harness is worn across the desired contact location and connected at spaced-apart attachment locations of the strap to spaced-apart attachment locations of the harness such that an electrode disposed over the desired contact location on the subject's head is held in place by …

Method And Apparatus For Surface Chemical Functionalization Of Powders And Nanoparticles, Mary Gilliam, Susan Farhat, Graham Garner, Michael Magyar

Chemical Engineering Patents

A method and apparatus is provided for the modification of the surface chemistry of solid nano- and micro-particles in order to tailor the properties and functions of these particles. The method generally involves the generation of an atmospheric plasma glow discharge and energetic species that undergo chemical reaction with the surface of the primary particles. The process includes the generation of energetic species to initiate reaction, optional delivery of a precursor fluid, optional delivery of chemical species for grafting, and delivery of separated and de-agglomerated particles into the plasma discharge exiting the plasma generation chamber.

Easily Implantable And Stable Nail-Fastener For Skeletal Fixation And Method, David Lecronier, Patrick Atkinson

Mechanical Engineering Patents

An intramedullary nail (20) defining a bore (34) is inserted into a medullary canal (26) of a bone (24). A threaded fastener (22) has a compression portion (48) presenting a compression portion diameter (DCP) and a threaded portion (50) presenting a threaded portion diameter (DTP). The fastener (22) extends through a near cortex hole (40) and/or a far cortex hole (42), and the threaded portion (22) threadedly engages the bore (34). A compression transmission device (54) is disposed between a head (44) of the fastener (22) and the intramedullary nail (20) for transmitting the compressional load of the threaded fastener …

A Neural Network Structure For Prediction Of Chemical Agent Fate, Homayun K. Navaz, N. Kehtarnavaz, Zoran Jovic

Mechanical Engineering Presentations And Conference Materials

This work presents the development of a multi-input, multi-output neural network structure to predict the time dependent concentration of chemical agents as they participate in chemical reaction with environmental substrates or moisture content within these substrates. The neural network prediction is based on a computationally or experimentally produced database that includes the concentration of all chemicals presents (reactants and products) as a function of the chemical agent droplet size, wind speed, temperature, and turbulence. The utilization of this prediction structure is made userfriendly via an easy-to-use graphical user interface. Furthermore, upon the knowledge of the time-varying environmental parameters (wind speed …

Fate Of Sessile Droplet Chemical Agents In Environmental Substrates In The Presence Of Physiochemical Processes, Homayun K. Navaz, A. L. Dang, Theresa Atkinson, Ali Zand, A. Nowakowski, K. Kamensky

Mechanical Engineering Presentations And Conference Materials

A general-purpose multi-phase and multi-component computer model capable of solving the complex problems encountered in the agent substrate interaction is developed. The model solves the transient and time-accurate mass and momentum governing equations in a three dimensional space. The provisions for considering all the inter-phase activities (solidification, evaporation, condensation, etc.) are included in the model. The chemical reactions among all phases are allowed and the products of the existing chemical reactions in all three phases are possible. The impact of chemical reaction products on the transport properties in porous media such as porosity, capillary pressure, and permeability is considered. Numerous …

Development Of Nhtsa’S Side Impact Test Procedure For Child Restraint Systems Using A Deceleration Sled : Part 2, Janet Brelin-Fornari, Sheryl Janca

Crash Safety Center Publications

This report presents the results of the continued research and development of child seat side impact tests using the deceleration sled at Kettering University’s Crash Safety Center. The objective of this test series was to gain further insight into the sensitivity of the side impact test fixture response. Test variations included speed of impact, weight of the fixture, and impact characteristics. Additionally, 20 child restraint system (CRS) specific tests were conducted using a fixed set of test parameters.

Development Of Nhtsa’S Side Impact Test Procedure For Child Restraint Systems Using A Deceleration Sled : Part 2, Janet Brelin-Fornari, Sheryl Janca

Mechanical Engineering Grants

This report presents the results of the continued research and development of child seat side impact tests using the deceleration sled at Kettering University’s Crash Safety Center. The objective of this test series was to gain further insight into the sensitivity of the side impact test fixture response. Test variations included speed of impact, weight of the fixture, and impact characteristics. Additionally, 20 child restraint system (CRS) specific tests were conducted using a fixed set of test parameters.

In Vitro Immersion Behavior Of Cold Sprayed Hydroxyapatite/Titanium Composite Coatings, Lin Lu, Xuan Joe Zhou, Pravansu Mohanty

Electrical & Computer Engineering Publications

In previous study, dense and homogenous 20wt% HAP/Ti composite coatings were successfully deposited on Ti substrates by cold gas dynamic spray technique. The results revealed that the phase composition of the HAP in the deposit is identical to that of the precursor powder and the bonding strength of the deposit is comparable/better to that of the plasma sprayed HAP. A relatively higher corrosion current of HAP/Ti composite than that of pure Ti coating in simulated body fluid indicates a good bioactivity for composite coating. In the present study, in vitro immersion test is carried out for various period of time …

Development Of Nhtsa’S Side Impact Test Procedure For Child Restraint Systems Using A Deceleration Sled : Part 1, Janet Brelin-Fornari, Sheryl Janca

Crash Safety Center Publications

This report presents the results of the research and development of the child seat side impact tests performed at Kettering University’s Crash Safety Center for NHTSA. The tests were conducted using a deceleration sled. The objective of this testing was to obtain data for the development of a side impact test procedure for child restraint systems.

Development Of Nhtsa’S Side Impact Test Procedure For Child Restraint Systems Using A Deceleration Sled : Part 1, Janet Brelin-Fornari, Sheryl Janca

Mechanical Engineering Grants

This report presents the results of the research and development of the child seat side impact tests performed at Kettering University’s Crash Safety Center for NHTSA. The tests were conducted using a deceleration sled. The objective of this testing was to obtain data for the development of a side impact test procedure for child restraint systems.

Biomechanical Performance Of Variable And Fixed Angle Locked Volar Plates For The Dorsally Comminuted Distal Radius, Patrick Atkinson, D. Martineau, J. Shorez, C. Beran, A. G. Dass

Mechanical Engineering Publications

Background

The ideal treatment strategy for the dorsally comminuted distal radius fracture continues to evolve. Newer plate designs allow for variable axis screw placement while maintaining the advantages of locked technology. The purpose of this study is to compare the biomechanical properties of one variable axis plate with two traditional locked constructs.

Methods

Simulated fractures were created via a distal 1 cm dorsal wedge osteotomy in radius bone analogs. The analogs were of low stiffness and rigidity to create a worst-case strength condition for the subject radius plates. This fracture-gap model was fixated using one of three different locked volar …

Assembly Of Bifurcation And Trifurcation Bipolar Plate To Design Fuel Cell Stack, Susanta K. Das, Jayesh Kavathe, Kingsley Joel Berry

Mechanical Engineering Patents

A current producing cell has anode flow plates 22 and cathode flow plates 20. Each of the flow plates 20, 22 defines a membrane face 26, a collector face 24, and a center axis C perpendicular to the membrane face 26 and the collector face 24. Each of the collector faces 24 define a plurality of cooling channels 74, 76, 78 and a plurality of transport channels 62, 64. The cooling channels 74, 76, 78 of the cathode flow plates 20 extend radially relative to the center axis C thereof to overlap the transport channels 62, 64 of the anode …

A Method To Modify Angle-Stable Intramedullary Nail Construct Compliance, Patrick Atkinson, B. P. Flanagan, D. Lecronier, M. R. Kubacki, P. Telehowski

Mechanical Engineering Publications

Traditional interlocked intramedullary (IM) nails have recently been modified to provide enhanced angular stability. These so-called ‘angle-stable’ IM nails are designed to eliminate construct toggle and also provide increased axial, bending, and torsional stiffness. While this added stability is needed for small fracture gaps to heal, angle-stable nails may be too stiff for large fracture gaps to unite. Even though relative stability is recommended for large fracture gaps, recent in vivo data indicates that traditional nails may allow for too much motion for healing to occur. The current study evaluated a modified technique for implanting an angle-stable nail which allows …