Award Data

The use of dedicated pulsatile ventricular support devices (VAD) for circulatory support is becoming an accepted treatment modality for adult patients requiring support due to post-cardiotomy pump failure or post-AMI cariogenic shock; the VAD could also be used as a bridge to transplant. Although temporary circulatory support in pediatric patients is being performed with ECMO or centrifugal pumps, ...

Periodontal disease is a common problem affecting many Americans today. Earliest indicationof periodontal disease in change in bone and tissue mass. Both assessment of bone support and thedetection and measurement of small changes in bone and soft tissues are fundamental tot he intraoralexamination. The need for improved image resolution with minimal patient exposure has long beenrecognized. In co ...

Despite advances in other techniques, standard X-ray transmission film mammography is by farthe most common clinical diagnostic tool for detecting breast cancer. Unfortunately, the spatialresolution of mammograms taken with existing systems is still below that needed to allow visualizationof the very small tumors associated with incipient cancer. The fundamental factor limiting the spatialresoluti ...

A batteryless and wireless sensor for intrusion detection and assessment of threats which requires no battery, external power or wiring is proposed. These types of sensors derive energy from passing vehicles or persons, and indicate their presence, location, speed, etc., via a self-generated short-range radio signal. These sensors require no maintenance, and can be inconspicuously placed in window ...

Tactiling is the name given to a method of tactually supplementing speechreading. According to this method a deaf speechreader places his hand on a talker's shoulder with his fingers lightly against the neck; thus, the talker will obtain clues relating to voicing and dynamic speech intensity. The method was invented by a postlingually deaf Swedish male and has been studied since 1986 by several in ...

The primary goal in Phase I is to perform the concept development and system analysis tasks necessary to design the software. A core concept of the software is the ability to construct graphical displays of clinical data that permit rapid and convenient scanning of information across patients, across variables, and along time. The software also includes the ability to use the advanced graphics cap ...

The goal of this research is to develop a next-generation software tool to assist the biostatistician in performing meta-analyses that combine summary information from multiple clinical or epidemiological studies. In Phase I, we plan to collaborate with statisticians experienced in meta-analysis to select appropriate data management, quality evaluation, statistics and graphics techniques from thei ...

The primary goal is to develop a specialized software tool to help the clinical investigator explore complex, time-oriented clinical data. In Phase I, we plan to collaborate with investigators from the Developmental Epidemiology Network to select data analysis, summarization, and display techniques appropriate to their research. We also plan to implement these techniques in prototype form and eval ...

The overall objective of this research program is to develop implantable microreactors containingislets for treatment of diabetic patients. We will focus on development of technology required tofabricate these microreactors, and on in vitro studies of islet viability and function. These sphericalmicroreactors will consist of a core which contains the islets, surrounded by a permselective shell. Th ...

A novel means of maintaining the sterility of ophthalmic solutions will be created wherein amembrane type dispenser is employed to provide sterile preservative free solutions. The device protectsa sterile solution through the use of a specially treated membrane that prevents the growth of microorganisms from the septic side of the bottle. The dispenser maintains sterility by employing two distinct ...