Engineering
Adapting Origami Principles to Improve Performance of Disposable Incontinence Products
Beatson, Bridget; Bolanos, Diana; Jackson, Corinne (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Vargis, Elizabeth (College of Engineering, Biological Engineering Department)
Origami, traditionally known as the art of paper folding, is not limited solely to paper media. The concepts used in folding paper can also apply to more pliable materials such as fabric. As with paper, different fabric-based origami designs exhibit properties such as shape compliance, increased surface area per unit volume, and selective stiffness. This study explores selected fold patterns in various incontinence product fabrics, aiming to increase fluid wicking performance and thus reduce sag due to saturation. The most suitable materials from various adult incontinence product brands were tested then utilized to develop new concepts for integration into an innovative and revolutionizing product. For the liquid dispersion layer, the concept of pleated fabric was incorporated into the design, mimicking the origami characteristics of peaks and valleys. Tests were performed on suitable materials to measure the spread of fluid in the modified layer as would be actuated by human urination. Final results from this testing indicated significantly broader dispersion of the synthetic urine utilized for testing as compared to that of the unmodified materials. When incorporated into a final product, this would allow for larger distribution of the fluid, thus increasing the product's holding capacity and enabling a more even distribution of the weight of the fluid, helping to reduce sag. This result could greatly increase the comfort and functionality of adult incontinence products.
Faculty Advisor: Vargis, Elizabeth (College of Engineering, Biological Engineering Department)
Origami, traditionally known as the art of paper folding, is not limited solely to paper media. The concepts used in folding paper can also apply to more pliable materials such as fabric. As with paper, different fabric-based origami designs exhibit properties such as shape compliance, increased surface area per unit volume, and selective stiffness. This study explores selected fold patterns in various incontinence product fabrics, aiming to increase fluid wicking performance and thus reduce sag due to saturation. The most suitable materials from various adult incontinence product brands were tested then utilized to develop new concepts for integration into an innovative and revolutionizing product. For the liquid dispersion layer, the concept of pleated fabric was incorporated into the design, mimicking the origami characteristics of peaks and valleys. Tests were performed on suitable materials to measure the spread of fluid in the modified layer as would be actuated by human urination. Final results from this testing indicated significantly broader dispersion of the synthetic urine utilized for testing as compared to that of the unmodified materials. When incorporated into a final product, this would allow for larger distribution of the fluid, thus increasing the product's holding capacity and enabling a more even distribution of the weight of the fluid, helping to reduce sag. This result could greatly increase the comfort and functionality of adult incontinence products.
Creating the Digital Pathologist
Boyce, Cassandra; Runyan, Josh (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Wingate, David (Brigham Young University, Computer Science)
India has the world's highest rate of mortality due to cervical cancer. Despite this variant's high treatability, there aren't enough pathologists to read the pap smear slides. In order to streamline this process, we developed a low-cost, digital pathologist using deep learning to read pap smear results as a form of preliminary testing in order to decrease mortality rates. Deep learning alone cannot provide a solution because a housing is required for the hardware. The industrial design aspect of this project is also important to create a medical device that is not only functional and robust but accessible and unintimidating for those in rural India.
Faculty Advisor: Wingate, David (Brigham Young University, Computer Science)
India has the world's highest rate of mortality due to cervical cancer. Despite this variant's high treatability, there aren't enough pathologists to read the pap smear slides. In order to streamline this process, we developed a low-cost, digital pathologist using deep learning to read pap smear results as a form of preliminary testing in order to decrease mortality rates. Deep learning alone cannot provide a solution because a housing is required for the hardware. The industrial design aspect of this project is also important to create a medical device that is not only functional and robust but accessible and unintimidating for those in rural India.
Benefits of Lyophilization of Cell Extract in Cell-Free Protein Synthesis
Bundy, Brad; Crop, Tyler (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Bundy, Brad (Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering)
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has proven to be a novel and effective method for recombinant protein production. However, one key disadvantage in this process is the need to store the requisite cell extract and energy source for the reaction at below-freezing temperatures. Our lab has developed a lyophilization-based system to overcome this problem. We have shown that lyophilization of the cell extract and energy system needed for the reaction are possible while still maintaining equivalent protein production capabilities of the reaction. This lyophilization-based system provides a solution to the high costs associated with the storage of these reagents, increases the shelf-life of the reagents, and, when mixed with water, allows for on-demand protein production in remote locations around the world.
Faculty Advisor: Bundy, Brad (Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering)
Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has proven to be a novel and effective method for recombinant protein production. However, one key disadvantage in this process is the need to store the requisite cell extract and energy source for the reaction at below-freezing temperatures. Our lab has developed a lyophilization-based system to overcome this problem. We have shown that lyophilization of the cell extract and energy system needed for the reaction are possible while still maintaining equivalent protein production capabilities of the reaction. This lyophilization-based system provides a solution to the high costs associated with the storage of these reagents, increases the shelf-life of the reagents, and, when mixed with water, allows for on-demand protein production in remote locations around the world.
Design of Modular Dynamic Charging Primary Coils Compatible with SAE J2954 Secondary Coils
Zane, Regan; Kamineni, Abhilash; Nimri, Reebal (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kamineni, Abhilash (College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department); Zane, Regan (College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department)
Transportation electrification will bring a positive effect on sustainable environments and robust economies. Electric Vehicles (EV) are emerging in today's market as a solution. However, the battery technologies on EV cannot compete with fuel and diesel cars in terms of energy storage capacity, and time needed to recharge (equivalently refuel). These limitations directly reflect on the consumers' convenience, the max miles the Vehicle can perform for, and hence EV adoption. Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are seen as a solution to ease consumers' transition to EV. A high-level diagram of WPT is shown in Figure (**).
Major advancements in WPT technology has enabled the commercialization of stationary WPT solutions — materials technology has been a major impediment. Hence, academia and industry are jointly considering more advanced solutions in WPT, namely Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT). Implementing DWPT systems will permit on the go charging for EV the upper hand over present charging (equivalently fueling) methods and encourage EV adoption. This document reflects on some of the challenges of realizing an effective DWPT that maintains power transfer between the primary pad and secondary pad, and a proposed solution to allow dynamic charging. Also, the proposed DWPT offers compatibility with SAE J2954 (Wireless Power Transfer for Light-Duty Plug-in/Electric Vehicles and Alignment Methodology) WPT3Z3 pad.
A comprehensive approach was taken in the design of the primary pad to validate the power transfer requirements for the designed pads. The proposed solution consists of a custom primary pad and a custom secondary pad for dynamic charging. This document will refer to the custom primary pad and a custom secondary pad as DGA and DVA, respectively. DGA offers compatibility with WPT2Z3 for dynamic charging and DVA offers compatibility with the Universal Ground Assembly (UGA) for stationary charging.
Faculty Advisor: Kamineni, Abhilash (College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department); Zane, Regan (College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department)
Transportation electrification will bring a positive effect on sustainable environments and robust economies. Electric Vehicles (EV) are emerging in today's market as a solution. However, the battery technologies on EV cannot compete with fuel and diesel cars in terms of energy storage capacity, and time needed to recharge (equivalently refuel). These limitations directly reflect on the consumers' convenience, the max miles the Vehicle can perform for, and hence EV adoption. Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are seen as a solution to ease consumers' transition to EV. A high-level diagram of WPT is shown in Figure (**).
Major advancements in WPT technology has enabled the commercialization of stationary WPT solutions — materials technology has been a major impediment. Hence, academia and industry are jointly considering more advanced solutions in WPT, namely Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT). Implementing DWPT systems will permit on the go charging for EV the upper hand over present charging (equivalently fueling) methods and encourage EV adoption. This document reflects on some of the challenges of realizing an effective DWPT that maintains power transfer between the primary pad and secondary pad, and a proposed solution to allow dynamic charging. Also, the proposed DWPT offers compatibility with SAE J2954 (Wireless Power Transfer for Light-Duty Plug-in/Electric Vehicles and Alignment Methodology) WPT3Z3 pad.
A comprehensive approach was taken in the design of the primary pad to validate the power transfer requirements for the designed pads. The proposed solution consists of a custom primary pad and a custom secondary pad for dynamic charging. This document will refer to the custom primary pad and a custom secondary pad as DGA and DVA, respectively. DGA offers compatibility with WPT2Z3 for dynamic charging and DVA offers compatibility with the Universal Ground Assembly (UGA) for stationary charging.