Prediction and optimisation of the acoustic performance of mufflers for sleep apnea devices. ResMed is a world leader in the technology of developing products for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). ResMed provided the first successful non-invasive treatment of OSA with their sleep apnea device. Noise reduction is an important issue in the development of this product, since these devices operate on a bedside table. This project will enable the acoustic performance of these small irregularly ....Prediction and optimisation of the acoustic performance of mufflers for sleep apnea devices. ResMed is a world leader in the technology of developing products for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). ResMed provided the first successful non-invasive treatment of OSA with their sleep apnea device. Noise reduction is an important issue in the development of this product, since these devices operate on a bedside table. This project will enable the acoustic performance of these small irregularly shaped mufflers to be reliably predicted and optimised. The successful outcomes will improve the quality of the well-being of the user. This research also has relevance to the design of mufflers for use in broader applications such as locomotives and ferries.Read moreRead less
Intelligent training (iTraining) for the human Achilles tendon. The project aims to improve understanding of the mechanical environment of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon plays a crucial role in human motor function and is also a structure that is commonly injured and notoriously difficult to treat. A major barrier to improving Achilles tendon function, preventing tendon injury and enhancing tendon repair is a poor understanding of the mechanical environment of the Achilles tendon durin ....Intelligent training (iTraining) for the human Achilles tendon. The project aims to improve understanding of the mechanical environment of the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon plays a crucial role in human motor function and is also a structure that is commonly injured and notoriously difficult to treat. A major barrier to improving Achilles tendon function, preventing tendon injury and enhancing tendon repair is a poor understanding of the mechanical environment of the Achilles tendon during training and rehabilitation. The project aims to develop a better understanding of the loading conditions that optimise tendon metabolism. Based on this, it then intends to develop new technologies to estimate the mechanical behaviour of the human Achilles tendon in real time based on integrated use of wearable technology, and new training guidelines that will optimise human tendon adaptation.Read moreRead less
Pedal and motor cycle helmet performance study. Cycling is a form of recreation and transport. Both pedal and motor cyclists are exposed to risks of head and neck injury. These injuries occur in young people and can have substantial health and economic impacts on the individuals and society. It is believed that injury rates can be reduced and an active lifestyle encouraged by improving helmet performance and understanding factors that lead to non-use. As helmet use is mandatory it is importa ....Pedal and motor cycle helmet performance study. Cycling is a form of recreation and transport. Both pedal and motor cyclists are exposed to risks of head and neck injury. These injuries occur in young people and can have substantial health and economic impacts on the individuals and society. It is believed that injury rates can be reduced and an active lifestyle encouraged by improving helmet performance and understanding factors that lead to non-use. As helmet use is mandatory it is important that Australians are provided with optimal helmets. The specification of product standards is also relevant for international trade agreements. Read moreRead less
Effectiveness and appropriateness of child restraints. This project aims to provide a definitive picture of the use, misuse and inappropriate use of child restraints in motor vehicles. It will evaluate the biomechanical and size deficiencies of current child restraints for the current population of children, and the implications for increased injury associated with these factors. This will provide a solid evidence base for improved child restraint design, education, and legislative changes.
Design Optimisation for Fabrication of Ceramic Prosthetic Devices. The project aims to develop computer aided design and fabrication for ceramic prosthesis. It will help establish a world-class biomedical instrumentation company having part of its research and development in Australia. The study will not only foster domestic research expertise, but also provide the local prosthetic community and biomedical industry with an opportunity to participate in further innovation of biomaterials, biomedi ....Design Optimisation for Fabrication of Ceramic Prosthetic Devices. The project aims to develop computer aided design and fabrication for ceramic prosthesis. It will help establish a world-class biomedical instrumentation company having part of its research and development in Australia. The study will not only foster domestic research expertise, but also provide the local prosthetic community and biomedical industry with an opportunity to participate in further innovation of biomaterials, biomedical software and equipment. The outcomes will directly benefit the Australian prosthetic profession. Improvement in prosthesis restorative longevity for our increasing ageing population will support the national research goal of ageing well, ageing productively.Read moreRead less
Optimising protection for motor vehicle rear seat occupants. Road trauma is a leading cause of death and disability for Australians under 45 years of age. Recent technological advances in vehicle safety have focussed on drivers and front seat passengers, leaving the rear seat lagging behind. This project will adress gaps in protection for rear seat passengers, including increasing correct use of child restraints for young passengers from non-English speaking families, and evaluating new and exis ....Optimising protection for motor vehicle rear seat occupants. Road trauma is a leading cause of death and disability for Australians under 45 years of age. Recent technological advances in vehicle safety have focussed on drivers and front seat passengers, leaving the rear seat lagging behind. This project will adress gaps in protection for rear seat passengers, including increasing correct use of child restraints for young passengers from non-English speaking families, and evaluating new and existing technologies for older passengers.Read moreRead less
Virtual testing of orthopaedic devices as part of the design and development process: strategies to account for patient and surgical variability. Novel computational tools will be developed through this project to help account for patient and surgical variability in the design of orthopaedic implants, such as hip and knee replacements and spinal products. These tools will reduce the design time, give greater insight in implant performance and ultimately lead to safer implants with improved longe ....Virtual testing of orthopaedic devices as part of the design and development process: strategies to account for patient and surgical variability. Novel computational tools will be developed through this project to help account for patient and surgical variability in the design of orthopaedic implants, such as hip and knee replacements and spinal products. These tools will reduce the design time, give greater insight in implant performance and ultimately lead to safer implants with improved longevity.Read moreRead less
Using 3D printing technology to develop architecturally-controlled synthetic bone substitutes. With the ageing population, there is increasing demand for synthetic materials that can regenerate bone. However, purely synthetic bone-substitute biomaterials cannot regenerate large bone defects in weight-bearing conditions due to their fragility. This project aims to develop a customisable, biodegradable, biocompatible and mechanically strong and tough scaffold that overcomes this long-standing prob ....Using 3D printing technology to develop architecturally-controlled synthetic bone substitutes. With the ageing population, there is increasing demand for synthetic materials that can regenerate bone. However, purely synthetic bone-substitute biomaterials cannot regenerate large bone defects in weight-bearing conditions due to their fragility. This project aims to develop a customisable, biodegradable, biocompatible and mechanically strong and tough scaffold that overcomes this long-standing problem. The project aims to achieve this by applying an innovative combination of cutting-edge 3D printing technology, advanced computational modelling and design techniques to produce a next-generation bioceramic scaffold with optimised architecture. This approach aims also to enable the possibility of producing custom-made implants for individual requirements.Read moreRead less
Optimising haemodynamics in complex stented arteries. This project aims to optimise the hemodynamics (blood flow) in coronary arteries with high curvatures and bifurcations. Experience has shown that the build-up of plaque — and the resulting occlusion of blood flow — tends to occur in these complex arterial regions. The most common therapeutic strategy is the insertion of a stent to prop open the artery. However, the nature of the geometry often leads to post-stenting complications such as rest ....Optimising haemodynamics in complex stented arteries. This project aims to optimise the hemodynamics (blood flow) in coronary arteries with high curvatures and bifurcations. Experience has shown that the build-up of plaque — and the resulting occlusion of blood flow — tends to occur in these complex arterial regions. The most common therapeutic strategy is the insertion of a stent to prop open the artery. However, the nature of the geometry often leads to post-stenting complications such as restenosis and thrombosis, ultimately resulting in negative outcomes. In this project, advanced research methods from fluid dynamics and optimisation and control will be used to potentially minimise these highly undesirable effects.Read moreRead less
A new biomechanical model for understanding aging of stored Red Blood Cells. This project plans to develop a novel modelling framework to accurately represent the biomechanical properties of red blood cells (RBCs) over time under stored conditions. Stored RBCs suffer ageing-related deformability changes which impede RBC functions. The framework aims to integrate models for RBC membrane, inside haemoglobin and outside storage solution, and accounts for ageing effects by embedding time-dependent c ....A new biomechanical model for understanding aging of stored Red Blood Cells. This project plans to develop a novel modelling framework to accurately represent the biomechanical properties of red blood cells (RBCs) over time under stored conditions. Stored RBCs suffer ageing-related deformability changes which impede RBC functions. The framework aims to integrate models for RBC membrane, inside haemoglobin and outside storage solution, and accounts for ageing effects by embedding time-dependent correlations. It should provide new insights and understanding of the mechanisms of deformability changes of RBCs during stored lifespan. Therefore, it should significantly improve blood storage industry practices in terms of improving RBC storage protocols with preventative ageing strategies.Read moreRead less