Risk Analysis & Management

Ram Consulting, Inc.

Other

Daniel K Stool

Scott M Milkovich

Eugene D Rider

John Owens

Brian Rider

Milton P Chernack

Xiao Chen

Eugene Rider

Tao Xu

Merrill Zavod

Erick Ramos

Robert Altkorn

Patrick Doherty

Therese Santoro

An apparatus and method for assessing a hazard associated with an object are disclosed. The apparatus includes a haptic input/output device coupled to a computer with haptic modeling software and a display device. A virtual object and a virtual passageway are displayed on the display device. The virtual passageway includes a haptic layer along a surface thereof. Force applied by a user to the haptic input/output device causes a cursor on the display device to move the virtual object into the virtual passageway. An interaction of the virtual object with the haptic layer generates a virtual contact force which may be determined by the user sensing a corresponding tactile feedback force generated by the haptic input/output device and/or by the computer processor. The magnitude of the virtual contact force may be used to assess a hazard associated with the virtual object.

Haptic response system and method of use

A manikin system is provided for testing product safety, and a method of making the manikin system is also provided. The manikin system includes a trunk portion and a plurality of body portions. The plurality of body portions includes a neck portion detachably connected to the trunk portion, a pair of arm portions detachably connected to the trunk portion, a hand portion detachably connected to each arm portion, a pair of leg portions detachably connected to the trunk portion, and a foot portion detachably connected to each leg portion. The body portions and trunk portion are formed of a bio-simulating material. Each of the body portions has selected characteristics and is removable and replaceable with another body portion having different characteristics. The manikin may provide accurate measurement of physical effects of hazardous conditions on a child and flexible and offer flexibility to change manikin test fixtures easily. The manikin may also accurately simulate the size, weight, a range of possible movement, and other physical characteristics of real children.

Manikin having a bio-simulating material and a method of making the same

An apparatus is provided for simulating and monitoring a respiration pattern of a human. The apparatus generally includes a reservoir having an outlet, and actuator disposed in the reservoir for moving fluid in and out of the reservoir, and a control unit coupled to the actuator for controlling the actuator to simulate and monitor a respiration pattern of a human. Also, a method is provided for simulating and monitoring a respiration pattern of a human. The method includes steps of generating a waveform defining the respiration pattern and controlling an actuator to move fluid in and out of a reservoir based on the waveform. The apparatus and method can accurately simulate and monitor a respiration pattern of a human, especially an infant and a young child, and offer a flexibility to stimulate variety of respiration patterns.

Mechanical lungs

An apparatus for assessing burn injury to underlying tissue from a flammable material. The apparatus includes an artificial human tissue and a plurality of temperature sensors located at predetermined locations in the artificial human tissue to measure temperature of the artificial human tissue during a flammability test. The apparatus further includes a heat sink device for simulating the heat sink properties of a human body. The apparatus further includes a heat exchange tank for maintaining the artificial human tissue at a regulated temperature, the heat exchange tank being filled with a fluid. The apparatus further includes a heat exchanger for exchanging heat with the fluid in the heat exchange tank. The apparatus further includes a water supply device for supplying water to the interior of the heat exchanger. The apparatus also includes a data acquisition system attached to the plurality of temperature sensors for recording the temperature of the artificial human tissue. The invention also includes a method for assessing burn injury to underlying tissue from a flammable material during a flammability test.

Apparatus and method for assessing burn injury from flammable materials

An apparatus for measuring the effect of strangulation. The apparatus includes a model of a human having an artificial neck, and at least one sensor for measuring physical characteristics of the artificial neck during application of an applied force on the artificial neck. In one aspect, the model further includes a circulation system for circulating a fluid, and the at least one sensor includes a plurality of flow sensors to measure a flow of the fluid in the circulation system at predetermined locations and a plurality of pressure sensors to measure a pressure of the fluid in the circulation system at predetermined locations. In another aspect of the invention, the model includes a closed tube, and the at least one sensor includes a pressure sensor to measure the pressure of the air in the closed tube. The invention also includes a method for measuring the effect of strangulation on a model of a human. The method includes the steps of imparting an applied force on a neck portion of a model of a human, and measuring the physical characteristics of the neck portion during the application of the applied force.

Apparatus and method for measuring strangulation effect

Children, particularly those younger than 4 years, frequently place foreign objects such as toys and small parts of consumer products in their mouths, nasal cavities and ear canals. These actions not infrequently lead to injury or death. To asses the risk of injury or death in children at the critical stages of child development, accurate computerized and physical models of anatomical areas including the oral cavity, orbit, ear canal and nasal passages that are most often severely injured by foreign body impaction are created. These computer and physical anatomical models are used in combination with computer and physical models of products to assess the possible hazards inherent in a product design and to communicate the risks associated with product design to manufacturers and marketing groups.

Method and apparatus for assessing risks of injury

A pediatric biomechanics model provides accurate information regarding the types and magnitudes of forces that children can apply to products such as toys. The model is used to obtain measurements of the actual forces that children can generate, which permits product designers to design products that will not be easily broken by children. Based on these measurements, manufacturers can design their products to reduce the risk of injury a product may pose to a child as well as to keep the product from breaking.

Method and apparatus for measuring pediatric biomechanics

An anatomical display apparatus includes a three-dimensional model simulating at least a portion of a human or animal body and within which is located a body part, region, tissue and/or organ of interest. A plurality of images of the body part, each showing the body part in a different state or condition such, for example, as before, during and/or after a therapeutic treatment, are carried on a movable support disposed within the model. The support is selectively movable under user manipulation or control so as to transport a selected one of the plural images into suitable juxtaposition with an opening or passageway defined in and through the model and thereby permit an observer located externally of the model to view the selected image within the model through the passageway. The images are disposed in the model, and the passageway is therein defined, so that each selected image is viewable by the observer in substantially that location in the model in which the body part of interest is correspondingly located in a living body.

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Addison, IL, United States of America

Daniel K Stool