Novel methods for detecting changes in soft tissue microstructure and biomechanical properties using multi-modality MR imaging. This project will lead to novel methods for studying the internal structure of the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles and brain tissue, and how this is affected by mechanical loading and disease states. The project will thoroughly validate these new methods. This will not only provide new techniques for research use, but lead to improved diagnostic techniques in ....Novel methods for detecting changes in soft tissue microstructure and biomechanical properties using multi-modality MR imaging. This project will lead to novel methods for studying the internal structure of the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles and brain tissue, and how this is affected by mechanical loading and disease states. The project will thoroughly validate these new methods. This will not only provide new techniques for research use, but lead to improved diagnostic techniques in the future.Read moreRead less
Silk Fibroin Optofluidic Chips. Unlike any other material, even any other biologically occurring material, silk is unique in being very transparent, able to be shaped on a very small scale and can keep natural chemicals like proteins and enzymes active. This project will use silk to make optical devices and sensors. Optics made from silk will have all these properties, which means that they can be used as sensors and devices in biochemistry applications that have never been possible before. Thes ....Silk Fibroin Optofluidic Chips. Unlike any other material, even any other biologically occurring material, silk is unique in being very transparent, able to be shaped on a very small scale and can keep natural chemicals like proteins and enzymes active. This project will use silk to make optical devices and sensors. Optics made from silk will have all these properties, which means that they can be used as sensors and devices in biochemistry applications that have never been possible before. These cost-effective devices will have the potential to enhance healthcare, emergency medicine and assist early medical diagnosis.Read moreRead less
Biomolecular films on silicon substrates. Construction of hybrid carbon-silicon devices in which molecular organic molecular films are covalently linked to silicon wafers. Biomolecular nanostructures on silicon wafers can be studied using unique impedance spectroscopy instrumentation that we have developed as well as X-ray and neutron reflectometry. The system will be used to study a variety of molecular films as well as molecularly tethered lipid bilayer membranes that mimic aspects of cell mem ....Biomolecular films on silicon substrates. Construction of hybrid carbon-silicon devices in which molecular organic molecular films are covalently linked to silicon wafers. Biomolecular nanostructures on silicon wafers can be studied using unique impedance spectroscopy instrumentation that we have developed as well as X-ray and neutron reflectometry. The system will be used to study a variety of molecular films as well as molecularly tethered lipid bilayer membranes that mimic aspects of cell membranes and these will be used to investigate the effect of sterols on such membranes.Read moreRead less
Matched experimental observation and finite-element simulation of flow-induced oscillations in uniform and tapered-stiffness collapsible tubes. Flexible tubes that can be flattened are widespread in the body and can act to limit flow-rate. Limitation is usually associated with spontaneous oscillation (repetitive opening and closing). There are many candidate explanations, but none has been shown to correspond with a given experiment. Through computer models and matched experiments on this couple ....Matched experimental observation and finite-element simulation of flow-induced oscillations in uniform and tapered-stiffness collapsible tubes. Flexible tubes that can be flattened are widespread in the body and can act to limit flow-rate. Limitation is usually associated with spontaneous oscillation (repetitive opening and closing). There are many candidate explanations, but none has been shown to correspond with a given experiment. Through computer models and matched experiments on this coupled system (the fluid flow interacts with the tube shape), we seek to demonstrate for the first time that a given theory/computer model encompasses the physics controlling a given observed oscillation. The solution will find application in other flexible-structure design problems in engineering, and also potentially in medicine.Read moreRead less
Matched experiments and numerical simulations of flow-induced oscillations in uniform and tapered-stiffness collapsible tubes. Flexible tubes that can be flattened are widespread in the body and can act to limit flow-rate. Limitation is usually associated with spontaneous oscillation (repetitive opening and closing). There are many candidate explanations, but none has been shown to correspond with a given experiment. Through computer models and matched experiments on this coupled system (the ....Matched experiments and numerical simulations of flow-induced oscillations in uniform and tapered-stiffness collapsible tubes. Flexible tubes that can be flattened are widespread in the body and can act to limit flow-rate. Limitation is usually associated with spontaneous oscillation (repetitive opening and closing). There are many candidate explanations, but none has been shown to correspond with a given experiment. Through computer models and matched experiments on this coupled system (the fluid flow interacts with the tube shape), we seek to demonstrate for the first time that a given theory/computer model encompasses the physics controlling a given observed oscillation. The solution will find application in other flexible-structure design problems in engineering, and also potentially in medicine.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0221428
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$530,000.00
Summary
A Transportable Optical Frequency Counter, Synthesizer and Super-Continuum Generator (OFCSSG). The generation of ultra-short light pulses of just a few femtoseconds (one thousand-trillionth of a second) in duration has enabled applications in a wide range of fields, but complexity and cost has limited availability. This project will employ recently developed optical fibre and solid-state laser technology to create a cost-effective compact transportable facility of highly coherent, ultra-broadba ....A Transportable Optical Frequency Counter, Synthesizer and Super-Continuum Generator (OFCSSG). The generation of ultra-short light pulses of just a few femtoseconds (one thousand-trillionth of a second) in duration has enabled applications in a wide range of fields, but complexity and cost has limited availability. This project will employ recently developed optical fibre and solid-state laser technology to create a cost-effective compact transportable facility of highly coherent, ultra-broadband radiation. The source will enable new research and substantially enrich existing research in optical time standards and metrology, in-vivo biological imaging, and ultrafast spectroscopy. No such facility is presently available in AustraliaRead moreRead less
Optical fibre devices for sideways delivery of laser light during keyhole surgery. Mulitmode optical fibres are typically used to deliver high power laser light which is emitted from the end of the fibre to irradiate tissue during surgery. For intravenous delivery of laser light in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation (heart flutter) we require a sideways-directed illuminating beam. However reliable methods of delivering high power laser light in a sideways-directed beam are not currently avai ....Optical fibre devices for sideways delivery of laser light during keyhole surgery. Mulitmode optical fibres are typically used to deliver high power laser light which is emitted from the end of the fibre to irradiate tissue during surgery. For intravenous delivery of laser light in the treatment of cardiac fibrillation (heart flutter) we require a sideways-directed illuminating beam. However reliable methods of delivering high power laser light in a sideways-directed beam are not currently available. Using the ultraviolet laser fibre processing expertise already developed at Macquarie University, we propose to develop and characterise novel fibre-based devices which would allow controllable delivery of light sideways.Read moreRead less
Flow-induced oscillation in flexible tubes: experimental and numerical investigation of mechanism and onset. We seek to understand when instability arises in flow over very deformable structures. This will help us to design highly flexible structures specifically either to avoid the danger of flow-induced oscillations, which may be damaging (cardiac surgery, sails, parachutes), or in other circumstances to take advantage of them as an innovative way involving no sliding-parts mechanisms to crea ....Flow-induced oscillation in flexible tubes: experimental and numerical investigation of mechanism and onset. We seek to understand when instability arises in flow over very deformable structures. This will help us to design highly flexible structures specifically either to avoid the danger of flow-induced oscillations, which may be damaging (cardiac surgery, sails, parachutes), or in other circumstances to take advantage of them as an innovative way involving no sliding-parts mechanisms to create vibration, or flow pulsation, or sound, or motion (as in swimming-pool cleaners). Confidence in designing with highly flexible tubes will allow minimal resource consumption in manufacture of products to transport fluids, and will allow design use of the flow limitation property, whereby such a tube can control flow-rate.Read moreRead less
Highly efficient X-ray storage phosphor for medical and scientific imaging. X-rays are invaluable in medical diagnostics. For example, they are widely used in breast screening programs. However,they can cause cancer even at low doses. Consequently there is a global effort to reduce the X-ray dose by exploring more efficient imaging technologies. The present proposal seeks to exploit our recent discovery of a highly efficient storage phosphor that has the potential to facilitate substantial X-r ....Highly efficient X-ray storage phosphor for medical and scientific imaging. X-rays are invaluable in medical diagnostics. For example, they are widely used in breast screening programs. However,they can cause cancer even at low doses. Consequently there is a global effort to reduce the X-ray dose by exploring more efficient imaging technologies. The present proposal seeks to exploit our recent discovery of a highly efficient storage phosphor that has the potential to facilitate substantial X-ray dose reduction; this is of greatest significance to the general population. Also, the phosphor facilitates higher resolution images, a feature that is highly important in scientific imaging. This project may lead to substantial revenue streams for the nation because it taps into a global multibillion dollar industry.Read moreRead less