An apparatus for producing an electrosensory sensation to a body member (120) The apparatus comprises one or more conducting electrodes (106), each of which is provided with an insulator (108) When the body member (120) is proximate to the conducting electrode, the insulator prevents flow of direct current from the conducting electrode to the body member A capacitive coupling over the insulator (108) is formed between the conducting electrode (106) and the body member (120) The conducting electrodes are driven by an electrical input which comprises a low-frequency component (114) in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 500 Hz The capacitive coupling and electrical input are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation The apparatus is capable of producing the electrosensory sensation independently of any mechanical vibration of the one or more conducting electrodes (106) or insulators (108)

Method and apparatus for sensory stimulation

A bone cement delivery device (16,16a,16b,16c,16d,16e,16f) including a syringe body (58), a plunger (60), and a driving system (62) connected to the plunger (60) and sliding the plunger (60) within the syringe body (58) in a displacement-controlled and continuous manner to produce a steady flow of bone cement out of the syringe body (58). Also, a bone cement delivery device (16,16a,16b,16c,16d,16e,16f) including at least one sensor (18,18a,18b,18c,18d, 18e) for measuring a physical parameter of the bone cement within the body (58), the at least one parameter being indicative of a viscosity of the bone cement, and a display unit (22) receiving data from the sensor (18,18a,18b,18c,18d,18e) and displaying at least one of the physical parameter and the viscosity of the bone cement. Improved medical cannulae (12,12a,12b), an improved control system (102) for a bone cement delivery device (16,16a,16b,16c,16d,16e,16f), an improved cement delivery system (10) and related methods are also described.

Integrated cement delivery system for bone augmentation procedures and methods

Embodiments of tactile stimulation apparatuses and components of such apparatuses are generally described herein. For example, in one embodiment, a tactile stimulation apparatus is provided. This tactile stimulation apparatus has a composite section comprising an insulation region and a semiconducting region that is proximate to the insulation region. This insulation region is touchable by a body member. Additionally included is a voltage source proximate to the semiconducting region. Here, the voltage source is configured to charge the semiconducting region to an electric potential, which produces an electrosensory sensation on the body member.

Tactile stimulation apparatus having a composite section comprising a semiconducting material

A method is disclosed for processing, optimization, calibration, and display of measured dielectrometry signals. A property estimator is coupled by way of instrumentation to an electrode structure and translates sensed electromagnetic responses into estimates of one or more preselected properties or dimensions of the material, such as dielectric permittivity and ohmic conductivity, layer thickness, or other physical properties that affect dielectric properties, or presence of other lossy dielectric or metallic objects. A dielectrometry sensor is disclosed which can be connected in various ways to have different effective penetration depths of electric fields but with all configurations having the same air-gap, fluid gap, or shim lift-off height, thereby greatly improving the performance of the property estimators by decreasing the number of unknowns. The sensor geometry consist of a periodic structure with, at any one time, a single sensing element that provides for multiple wavelength within the same sensor footprint.

Methods for processing, optimization, calibration and display of measured dielectrometry signals using property estimation grids

An interface apparatus (1600A) comprises a surface (1642) touchable by a finger (120). The surface has a touch-sensitive area with a predetermined position (1646), to which a function is assigned. The finger's presence at the predetermined position (1646) is detected. An electrosensory stimulus is generated to the finger by applying an alternating electrical drive to one or more electrodes (1662). Each electrode is provided with an insulator, which prevents DC flow from the electrode to the finger and a capacitive coupling over the insulator is formed between the electrode (1662) and the finger (120). The capacitive coupling and electrical drive are dimensioned to produce an electrosensory sensation, independently of mechanical vibration of the electrode. The electrosensory stimulus is varied temporally based on the detected presence or absence of the of the finger (120) near the at least one touch-sensitive area having the predetermined position (1646).

Interface apparatus for touch input and tactile output communication

Conductive measuring electrodes, of a capacitive probe having a grounded rd electrode positioned therebetween shield a probe circuit, provides mutual capacitance measurements which way as a function of changes in impedance of dielectric material being monitored as it undergoes a curing process. The probe is positioned in non-embedded relation to the dielectric material to form a sensitivity region therein through which an electric field extends between the conductive measuring electrodes of the probe to establish said variable mutual capacitance measurements without extraneous influences.

https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1372&context=qnde

Non-contacting capacitance probe for dielectric cure monitoring

Acoustic emission (AE) makes use of the ultrasonic signals which result from the release of energy within a sample or structure as it is subjected to stress. The physical source of these signals and their amplitudes is determined by the condition of the material and structure and the manner of stress application. AE is routinely used as an inspection technique to detect crack growth in metal structures subjected to pressurization or mechanical forces. It is also routinely used to detect fiber breakage in composite structures such as filament wound pressure vessels and utility bucket trucks [1,2,3]. A technique to quantify prior impact damage using the AE generated by low level heating in polymer-based composites previously damaged by mechanical deformation has been investigated by the NSWC team [4] and by others [5,6]. The studies presented here address the use of AE to characterize the condition of the bondlines between materials.

https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2623&context=qnde

New Applications of Acoustic Emission to Materials Testing

The objective of this work was to provide a means of assessing the integrity of the bond between an elastomer and a metal when access is restricted to the metal side. Since the acoustic impedance of the metal was high, the acoustic reflectivity of the bond interface was nearly unity and varied but slightly between a good bond and a complete disbond. Consequently any acoustic inspection technique must accurately measure small changes in the acoustic signal. In addition extraneous variables such as transducer coupling and incidence angle must be either distinguished or eliminated. When an echo train from multiple backwall reflections was observed, the logarithmic decrement decreased but slightly when a disbond was encountered. Use of this signature for routine inspections would be very tedious and a more definitive indication is required.

https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2204&context=qnde

Ultrasonic Evaluation of Bonding of an Elastomer to a High Impedance Material

Thermally induced acoustic emission (AE) in brittle materials like firebricks and ceramics has long been noticed in the materials industry. Indeed, it has been suggested that the characteristics of such “clicking” sound might be related to the thermal shock response of ceramics.1

Paul M. Gammell

Papers

Non-contacting capacitance probe for dielectric cure monitoring

New Applications of Acoustic Emission to Materials Testing

Ultrasonic Evaluation of Bonding of an Elastomer to a High Impedance Material

Thermally Induced Acoustic Emission in Damaged Composite Plates