University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated

Concept, Inc.

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Resesarch Foundation, Inc.

David A Jenkins

Kirk S Schanze

David E Clark

John J Hren

Paul F Johnson, Iii

Anthony B Brennan

Bruce I Carroll

Peter G Ifju

Howead E Degler, Jr

James P Hubner

Liu He

Wissam El-Ratal

Shujun Jiang

James Hubner

Yibling Shen

Yingsheng Wang

Yao Liu

Peter Ifju

Howard E Degler, Jr

A method and apparatus for measuring strain on a surface of a substrate utilizes a substrate surface coated with at least one coating layer. The coating layer provides both luminescence and photoelasticity. The coating layer is illuminated with excitation light, wherein longer wavelength light is emitted having a polarization dependent upon stress or strain in the coating. At least one characteristic of the emitted light is measured, and strain (if present) on the substrate is determined from the measured characteristic.

Method and apparatus for measuring strain using a luminescent photoelastic coating

An archery bow with elastic limbs extending outwardly from the handle, constructed so that portions of these limbs twist around the limb axis to a lower moment of inertia configuration during the draw, storing additional torsional strain energy and also altering the force-draw characteristic of the bow in a favorable way.

Archery bow

The subject invention relates to a strain-sensitive coating, a strain measurement system, and a method to determine strains on substrate materials. In a preferred embodiment of the subject invention, the system includes a luminescent strain-sensitive coating and a strain field mapping system which can be used to create a strain map of the mechanical strain on a substrate material. The luminescent strain-sensitive coating of the subject invention is preferably a polymer-based coating, and can incorporate one or more luminescent compounds. The subject coating can be applied to produce a thin film on a substrate material, such as aluminum, steel, polymer, or composite. One or more characteristics of the luminescence emanating from the coating can then vary in relation to the strain on the substrate material. In a preferred embodiment, the change in the morphology of cracks in the coating can vary one or more characteristics of the luminescence emanating from the coating such that the strain on the substrate material can be determined by measuring the luminescence emanating from the coating.

System, method, and coating for strain analysis

An electrosurgical instrument comprising a handle which holds a blade assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes and insulation members positioned between the electrodes. The blade assembly comprises a center electrode of specified thickness, insulation members secured to the center electrode and a plurality of side electrodes secured to the insulation members. The center electrode and insulation members are cut to form a cutting edge having a composite angle of less than 120.degree. thus allowing easier electrosurgical performance. The electrodes are connected inside the nonconductive handle to a circuit whose output consists of a high frequency electrical current which forms a circuit through tissue intervening between and in contact with the electrodes when the instrument is used.

Bipolar electrosurgical knife

An electrosurgical instrument for cutting, spot coagulation and point coagulation comprising a nonconductive handle which holds a blade assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes and an insulation member separating the electrodes. The blade assembly comprises an active center electrode of specified thickness with a recessed tip and is mounted to an extruded insulation member so that it extends outwardly from the insulation member to form a cutting edge. Split side return electrodes are symmetrically mounted to the insulation member and separated from the center electrode by the insulation member. The electrode area ratio of the return electrode area to the active electrode area falls between 0.70 and 2.0 allowing consistent bipolar operation. The electrodes are connected inside the nonconductive handle to a circuit whose output consists of a high frequency electrical current which forms a circuit through tissue intervening between and in contact with the electrodes when the instrument is used.

Growing community of inventors

Gainesville, FL, United States of America

David A Jenkins