University of Michigan

Dow Silicones Corporation

Matthew Hildner

Bizhong Zhu

Jeffrey Stephen Plott

Albert J Shih

Hitinder S Gurm

Yihao Zheng

Robert Chisena

Stanley Yee

A static mixer is disclosed. The static mixer comprises a housing () defining an internal mixing cavity () that longitudinally extends along a central axis between an inlet () and an outlet () and is adapted for axial flow of a fluid therethrough. The static mixer also comprises a mixing element () disposed within the mixing cavity (). The mixing element () is configured to be free from an impingement surface oriented substantially perpendicular to a main direction of fluid flow through the internal mixing cavity (). The mixing element () comprises an elongated mixing blade that is oriented longitudinally within the mixing cavity () and comprises a nose axially oriented toward the inlet (). The static mixer may comprise a heat-exchanging jacket integrally formed with the housing (). An additive manufacturing system comprising the static mixer, and methods of making and using the same, are also disclosed.

Static mixer

A dynamic balloon angioplasty system for applying a dynamic pressure to fracture hardened materials embedded within an elastic conduit. The system having a pressure source system outputting at least a first predetermined pressure from a pressure source outlet, and an angioplasty unit fluidly coupled to the pressure source outlet receiving at least the first predetermined pressure. The angioplasty unit having an angioplasty inflation device, an angioplasty balloon connector, and an oscillating mechanism selectively actuated to output a plurality of pressure pulses to the angioplasty balloon via a fluid communication path. A control system is configured to determine an optimal hydraulic pressure oscillation frequency and amplitude for a given procedure and output a control signal to the oscillating mechanism, and monitor a pressure signal to detect fracture of the hardened material within the elastic conduit or system failure or leakage.

System for effecting and controlling oscillatory pressure within balloon catheters for fatigue fracture of calculi

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Matthew Hildner