Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

The University of Queensland

James Cook University

Oventus Medical Limited

Future Titanium Technology Pty Ltd

Stefan Gulizia

Mahnaz Zehtab Jahedi

Chull Hee Oh

Saden Zahiri

Peter Christopher King

Vu Thua Nguyen

Caixian Tang

Neil Lawrence Anderson

Andrew Joseph Urban

Christopher Patrick Hart

Ivan Stuart Cole

Rocky De Nys

John Edward Barnes

Enzo Luccio Stefano Salvatore Gulizia

Omid Bafkar

Gary Rosengarten

Bill Tiganis

Mary Giannos

William Bardsley

Kevin Hooper

Andrew James Poole

Michael Leigh Slater

Darren Fraser

Saden Heshmatollah Zahiri

Described herein are systems and methods for the simulation of the upper airway of a subject. One embodiments provides a method () including the initial step () of receiving one or more tomographic images of the subject. At step () a three dimensional geometric model of the upper airway is generated from the one or more tomographic images. The geometric model includes a network of interconnected deformable mesh elements collectively defining a fluid domain () and a solid domain (). The solid domain () defining a single unitary model of the entire upper airway region segmented into a plurality of predefined geometric regions, each being defined by one or more common anatomical parameters. At step (), a computer simulation is performed on the geometric model to simulate behaviour of the upper airway when the subject is positioned in a predefined position. The computer simulation includes () performing a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis on the fluid domain and then () performing a Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis between the fluid and solid domains under the influence of an applied gravity effect. Finally, at step (), subject-specific parameters are output which are indicative of the behaviour of the upper airway.

Prediction and intervention of obstructive sleep apnoea

A process and apparatus of producing a product having a wrought structure. The process comprises the step of: applying heat and a compressive load simultaneously to an application area of a cold spray deposition preform to transform the comprising consolidated particle structure into a wrought structure, the compressive load being applied laterally to the application area. The application of compressive load and heat to the application area raises the temperature of the material of the preform in the application area to between the recrystallisation temperature and the melting point of the material.

Process for forming wrought structures using cold spray

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a pipe, which method comprises cold-gas dynamic spraying of particles onto a suitable support member thereby producing a pipe, and separating the pipe from the support member.

Manufacture of pipes

A method of producing a powder suitable for additive manufacturing and/or powder metallurgy applications from a precursor particulate material comprising: subjecting the precursor particulate material to at least one high shear milling process, thereby producing a powder product having a reduced average particle size and a selected particle morphology.

Method of producing a powder product

A composite lay up tool comprising a metal faceplate () on a support member (), wherein the faceplate has been formed by cold-gas dynamic spraying of particles of the metal onto a substrate and wherein the support member is compatible with the faceplate and comprises a casting of a ceramic composition. A process for forming the tool is disclosed. In one aspect, a castable ceramic composition comprises a binder and an aggregate component mixable with water to form a slurry ready for casting, wherein the aggregate component is one of, or a mixture of, fused silica and a particulate metal alloy, and the binder and aggregate component are present in the proportions 10-50 wt % and 90-50 wt % based on the dry weight of the composition. Also disclosed is a process for producing a faceplate for a lay up tool, which process comprises cold-gas dynamic spraying of particles of a nickel-iron alloy onto a substrate to form a faceplate of the nickel-iron alloy on the substrate, the faceplate being of a thickness in the range 2 to 10 mm. Further disclosed is a process for depositing a metal on a faceplate of a lay up tool in which the faceplate is formed of a nickel-iron alloy, which process comprises preparing an area of a surface of the faceplate to effect cleaning and conditioning of the area to accept and adhere to cold-gas dynamic sprayed particles, and cold-gas dynamic spraying particles of the metal onto the cleaned and conditioned area, wherein the metal is a nickel-iron alloy selected to be compatible with the faceplate.

Formation, repair and modification of lay up tools

A process for producing a preform by cold spray deposition, the process comprising: providing a starter substrate about a preform axis of rotation, the starter substrate having at least one axial end having a substantially flat deposition surface; rotating the starter substrate about the preform axis of rotation; depositing material onto the deposition surface of the starter substrate using cold spray deposition to form a product deposition surface, the cold spray deposition process including a cold spray applicator through which the material is sprayed onto the deposition surface; successively depositing material onto a respective top product deposition surface using cold spray deposition to form successive deposition layers of the material; and moving at least one of: the cold spray applicator; or the starter substrate and preform product, relative to the other in an axial direction along the preform axis of rotation to maintain a constant distance between the cold spray applicator and the top product deposition surface, thereby forming a preform product of a selected length, wherein the cold spray applicator is moved in a plane perpendicular to the preform axis of rotation so as to deposit material as a substantially flat surface on each respective deposition surface of the starter substrate or product deposition surface of the preform product.

Process for producing a preform using cold spray

An apparatus is provided for breathing assistance that includes a body for positioning within an oral cavity of a user, the body defining at least one first opening for allowing airflow between lips of the user. Two second openings are provided in the oral cavity to allow air flow into and out of a posterior region of the oral cavity and two channels, each channel connecting a respective second opening to the at least one first opening and each channel passing at least one of at least partially along the buccal cavity and at least partially between the teeth to thereby provide an airway for the user. The airway at least partially bypasses the nasal passage and acts to replicate a healthy nasal passage and pharyngeal space.

Breathing assist device

A method of protecting a polymer surface against fouling, which method comprises embedding in the polymer surface particles having antifouling properties, wherein the particles are embedded in the polymer surface by a spray mechanism in which the particles are accelerated and sprayed onto the polymer surface with a suitable velocity such that the particles become embedded in the polymer surface, wherein the particles are embedded in the polymer surface without an adhesive or binder and wherein the particles do not form a continuous layer on the polymer surface.

Surface treatment

This invention relates to a method of forming sections of seamless titanium or titanium alloy pipe. The method involves providing a substrate for forming pipe and a sleeve of a section of pipe on the substrate. The pipe section has an end from which the substrate projects. The pipe is formed by spraying particles of titanium or titanium alloy generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the substrate to impact a face of the end and to cause particles to bond to and to accumulate on the pipe end to form pipe. The method further involves moving formed pipe longitudinally relative to the substrate to remove formed pipe from the pipe-forming substrate and continuing to spray titanium or titanium alloy particles onto the end face to cause further pipe to form continuously and integrally with the formed pipe. This enables a seamless titanium or titanium alloy pipe to be formed of any desired length.

Method of forming seamless pipe of titanium and/or titanium alloys

A die coating for use on the surface of a metal mold or die component contacted by molten metal in low pressure or gravity die casting, and a method for its production. The die coating includes a porous layer of ceramic material produced by co-deposition, using a thermal spraying procedure, of a powder of said ceramic material and a powder of an organic polymer material. After the co-deposition, the co-deposited layer is heated to remove the polymer material, and provide the porous layer of ceramic material.

Growing community of inventors

Werribee, Australia

Stefan Gulizia