Gordon Paul

A Smart Textile Based Facial EMG and EOG Computer Interface

This paper investigates a wearable approach to facial electromyography and electrooculography. The aim is to reduce discomfort and setup time in electromyographic research, rehabilitation, and computer control. A screen and stencil printed passive electrode network is fabricated on a textile headband. When this headband is worn, an array of stencil printed electrodes makes contact with the skin. The electrodes are connected to external electronics by screen printed flexible conductive tracks. The printed electrode headband is used in a facial electromyographic control system to evaluate performance. The system can be used to control a mouse cursor or simulate keyboard functions. It was found that 50 Hz noise levels in the printed textile electrodes were similar to commercial disposable electroencephalography electrodes. The effect of a wearable approach on pressure variations and motion artefact is examined. The way in which this influences the design and performance of the control system is discussed.

An investigation into the durability of screen-printed conductive tracks on textiles

This paper examines the durability of screen-printed conductive tracks on textiles. These tracks are composed of a silver polymer paste as a conductive layer, which is fully encapsulated with polyurethane. The polyurethane materials and layer structures used to encapsulate the textile are varied and each structure is tested in a cyclic mandrel machine to simulate the effects of normal wear and tear. These results are compared to a MATLAB model of the strain in the conductive track, relating the predicted strain on the conductive layer to the measured resistance change. From these results, a batch of structures with high durability are fabricated and these are machine washed. It was found that 97.1% of the conductive tracks remained conductive after ten domestic machine washes with a 1 kg load at 40 °C and 1000 rpm spin speed. This compares with 8.9% which remained conductive before optimization. This optimization process has therefore led to over ten times improvement in durability for screen-printed conductive tracks on textiles.

Experimental study of surface curvature effects on aerodynamic performance of a low Reynolds number airfoil for use in small wind turbines

This paper presents the wind tunnel experimental results to investigate the effects of surface gradient-of-curvature on aerodynamic performance of a low Reynolds number airfoil Eppler 387 for use in small-scale wind turbines. The prescribed surface curvature distribution blade design method is applied to the airfoil E387 to remove the gradient-of-curvature discontinuities and the redesigned airfoil is denoted as A7. Both airfoils are manufactured with high precision to reflect the design. Low-speed wind tunnel experiments are conducted to both airfoils at chord based Reynolds numbers 100 000, 200 000, and 300 000. Surface pressure measurements are used to calculate the lift and pitching-moment data, and the wake survey method is applied to obtain the drag data. The experimental results of E387 are compared with NASA Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel (LTPT) results for validation. The gradient-of-curvature discontinuities of E387 result in a larger laminar separation bubble which causes higher drag at lower a...

Optimization of Centrifugal Pump Characteristic Dimensions for Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices

The application of artificial mechanical pumps as heart assist devices impose power and size limitations on the pumping mechanism, and therefore requires careful optimization of pump characteristics. Typically new pumps are designed by relying on the performance of other previously designed pumps of known performance using concepts of fluid dynamic similarity. Such data are readily available for industrial pumps, which operate in Reynolds numbers region of 108. Heart assist pumps operate in Reynolds numbers of 105. There are few data available for the design of centrifugal pumps in this characteristic range. This article develops specific speed versus specific diameter graphs suitable for the design and optimization of these smaller centrifugal pumps concentrating in dimensions suitable for ventricular assist devices (VADs) and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices. A combination of experimental and numerical techniques was used to measure and analyze the performance of 100 optimized pumps designed for this application. The data are presented in the traditional Cordier diagram of nondimensional specific speed versus specific diameter. Using these data, nine efficient designs were selected to be manufactured and tested in different operating conditions of flow, pressure, and rotational speed. The nondimensional results presented in this article enable preliminary design of centrifugal pumps for VADs and MCS devices.

The Effect of Geometry on the Efficiency and Hemolysis of Centrifugal Implantable Blood Pumps

The application of centrifugal pumps as heart assist devices imposes design limitations on the impeller geometry. Geometry and operating parameters will affect the performance and the hemocompatibility of the device. Among all the parameters affecting the hemocompatibility, pressure, rotational speed, blade numbers, angle, and width have significant impact on the blood trauma. These parameters directly (pressure, speed) and indirectly (geometry) affect the efficiency of the pump as well. This study describes the experimental investigation on geometric parameters and their effect on the performance of small centrifugal pumps suitable for Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) devices. Experimental and numerical techniques were implemented to analyze the performance of 15 centrifugal impellers with different characteristics. The effect of each parameter on the pump performance and hemolysis was studied by calculating the normalized index of hemolysis (NIH) and the shear stress induced in each pump. The results show five and six blades, 15–35° outlet angle, and the lowest outlet width that meets the required pressure rise are optimum values for an efficient hemocompatible pump.

In-vitro investigation of cerebral-perfusion effects of a rotary blood pump installed in the descending aorta.

This study describes use of a cardiovascular simulator to replicate the hemodynamic responses of the cerebrovascular system with a mechanical circulatory support device operating in the descending aorta. To do so, a cerebral autoregulation unit was developed which replicates the dilation and constriction of the native cerebrovascular resistance system and thereby regulates the cerebral flow rate within defined limits. The efficacy of the replicated autoregulation mechanism was investigated by introducing a number of step alterations in mean aortic pressure and monitoring the cerebral flow. The steady responses of the cerebral flow to changes in mean aortic pressure were in good agreement with clinical data. Next, a rotary pump, modeling a mechanical circulatory support device, was installed in the descending aorta and the hemodynamic responses of the cerebral system were investigated over a wide range of pump operating conditions. Insertion of a mechanical circulatory support device in the descending aorta presented an improved cardiac output as a result of afterload reduction. It was observed that the primary drop in cerebral flow, caused by the pump in the descending aorta, was compensated over the course of five seconds due to a gradual decrease in cerebrovascular resistance. The experimental results suggest that the implantation of a mechanical circulatory support device in the descending aorta, a less invasive procedure than typical mechanical circulatory support implantation, will not have an adverse effect on the cognitive function, provided that the cerebral autoregulation is largely unimpaired.

Wearable EEG headband using printed electrodes and powered by energy harvesting for emotion monitoring in ambient assisted living

Globally, human life expectancy is steadily increasing causing an increase in the elderly population and consequently increased costs of supporting them. Ambient assisted living is an active research area aimed at supporting elderly people to live independently in their preferred living environment. This paper presents the design and testing of a self-powered wearable headband for electroencephalogram (EEG) based detection of emotions allowing the evaluation of the quality of life of assisted people. Printed active electrode fabrication and testing is discussed followed by the design of an energy harvester for powering the headband. The results show that the fabricated electrodes have similar performance to commercial electrodes and that the electronics embedded into the headband, as well as the wireless sensor node used for processing the EEG, can be powered by energy harvested from solar panels integrated on the headband. An average real time emotion classification accuracy of 90 (±9) % was obtained from 12 subjects. The results show that the self-powered wearable headband presented in this paper can be used to measure the wellbeing of assisted people with good accuracy.

The Effects of Ambulatory Accelerations on the Stability of a Magnetically Suspended Impeller for an Implantable Blood Pump.

This article describes the effects of ambulatory accelerations on the stability of a magnetically suspended impeller for use in implantable blood pumps. A magnetic suspension system is developed to control the radial position of a magnetic impeller using coils in the pump casing. The magnitude and periodicity of ambulatory accelerations at the torso are measured. A test rig is then designed to apply appropriate accelerations to the suspension system. Accelerations from 0 to 1 g are applied to the suspended impeller with ambulatory periodicity while the radial position of the impeller and power consumption of the suspension system are monitored. The test is carried out with the impeller suspended in air, water, and a glycerol solution to simulate the viscosity of blood. A model is developed to investigate the effects of the radial magnetic suspension system and fluid damping during ambulatory accelerations. The suspension system reduces the average displacement of the impeller suspended in aqueous solutions within its casing to 100 µm with a power consumption of below 2 W during higher magnitude ambulatory accelerations (RMS magnitude 0.3 g). The damping effect of the fluid is also examined and it is shown that buoyancy, rather than drag, is the primary cause of the damping at the low displacement oscillations that occur during the application of ambulatory accelerations to such a suspension system.

Computational methods for investigation of surface curvature effects on airfoil boundary layer behavior

This article presents computational algorithms for the design, analysis, and optimization of airfoil aerodynamic performance. The prescribed surface curvature distribution blade design (CIRCLE) method is applied to a symmetrical airfoil NACA0012 and a non-symmetrical airfoil E387 to remove their surface curvature and slope-of-curvature discontinuities. Computational fluid dynamics analysis is used to investigate the effects of curvature distribution on aerodynamic performance of the original and modified airfoils. An inviscid–viscid interaction scheme is introduced to predict the positions of laminar separation bubbles. The results are compared with experimental data obtained from tests on the original airfoil geometry. The computed aerodynamic advantages of the modified airfoils are analyzed in different operating conditions. The leading edge singularity of NACA0012 is removed and it is shown that the surface curvature discontinuity affects aerodynamic performance near the stalling angle of attack. The discontinuous slope-of-curvature distribution of E387 results in a larger laminar separation bubble at lower angles of attack and lower Reynolds numbers. It also affects the inherent performance of the airfoil at higher Reynolds numbers. It is shown that at relatively high angles of attack, a continuous slope-of-curvature distribution reduces the skin friction by suppressing both laminar and turbulent separation, and by delaying laminar-turbulent transition. It is concluded that the surface curvature distribution has significant effects on the boundary layer behavior and consequently an improved curvature distribution will lead to higher aerodynamic efficiency.

Optimization of Axial Pump Characteristic Dimensions and Induced Hemolysis for Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices.

The application of axial pumps as ventricular assist devices (VADs) requires significant modifications to the size and characteristics of industrial pumps due to the difference in flow fields of industrial and medical pumps. Industrial pumps operate in the region of Reynolds number Re = 108, whereas axial blood pumps operate in Re < 106. The common pump design technique is to rely on the performance of previously designed pumps using the concept of fluid dynamic similarity. Such data are available for industrial pumps as specific speed-specific diameter (ns–ds) graphs. The difference between the flow fields of industrial and medical pumps makes the industrial ns–ds graphs unsuitable for medical pumps and consequently several clinically available axial blood pumps operate with low efficiencies. In this article, numerical and experimental techniques were used to design 62 axial pump impellers with different design characteristics suitable for VADs and mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs). The impellers were manufactured and experimentally tested in various operating conditions of flow, pressure, and rotational speed. The hemocompatibility of the impellers was numerically investigated by modeling shear stress and hemolysis. The highest efficiency of each pump impeller was plotted on an ns–ds diagram. The nondimensional results presented in this article enable preliminary design of efficient and hemocompatible axial flow pumps for VADs and MCSDs.