University of Florida Research Foundation Inc

Other

Gloria Jean Wiens

Troy Benjamin Rippere

Koustubh Jayaprakash Rao

James Joe Allen

Patrick Joseph Antonelli

Jessica R Bronson

Embodiments generally relate to fixturing devices for supporting a workpiece, the devices including modularized cantilevered and fixed beam fixing elements. Each module includes a compliant beam and an interface element in contact with the workpiece and a portion of the compliant beam for transmitting a contact force between the workpiece and the beam. Dynamic adaptability of the beam is configured by selectively varying beam stiffness by varying either beam length or beam width. Varying a width can include varying a beam width, and/or breadth. In a further embodiment, the compliant beam fixed at both ends is slidable in a longitudinal direction of the beam such that a portion of the interface element slides along the beam, thus dynamically adapting the beam stiffness according to a force applied to a workpiece.

Active fixturing for micro/mesoscale, machine tool systems

Embodiments provide a middle ear prosthesis that can be adjusted in situ. The middle ear prosthesis can be inserted into the middle ear of a patient and then, after surgery, the length of, or distance between the end resting on the malleus and the end resting on the stapes, can be adjusted without the need to touch the prosthesis through a surgical intervention. A middle ear prosthesis can include a first element having a first interconnecting end and a malleus end, for resting on a malleus or tympanic membrane, and a second element having a second interconnecting end and a stapes end, for resting on a stapes, where the first and second interconnecting ends interconnect with each other. External forces can be applied to a clamp to actuate release of the clamp and allow for adjustment of the length of the prosthesis in situ.

Method and apparatus for in-situ adjustability of a middle ear prosthesis

A tiltable micromirror device is disclosed in which a micromirror is suspended by a progressive linkage with an electrostatic actuator (e.g. a vertical comb actuator or a capacitive plate electrostatic actuator) being located beneath the micromirror. The progressive linkage includes a pair of torsion springs which are connected together to operate similar to a four-bar linkage with spring joints. The progressive linkage provides a non-linear spring constant which can allow the micromirror to be tilted at any angle within its range substantially free from any electrostatic instability or hysteretic behavior.

Growing community of inventors

Newberry, FL, United States of America

Gloria Jean Wiens