IMECE2003-41572 Design and Fabrication of Microtacks for Retinal Implant Applications

ABSTRACT To adhere an artificial retinal implant onto the epiretinal surface of the eye, our group has designed retinal microtacks. The microtacks were fabricated using two different micromachining techniques: 1) deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) and 2) ultrahigh precision micromilling. The DRIE process consisted of machining a double-sided polished three-inch silicon wafer using ICP with the Bosch process. For the ultra-high precision micromilling technique, titanium foil was bonded to a silicon wafer and precision machined with a 150-µm end-mill using PMAC code interfaced to a machine motion controller. Due to fabrication limitations, the tip of the DRIE fabricated Si tack was chisel-shaped, whereas versatility of the micromilling technique allowed a partially conical, tapered tip to be added to the Ti tack, which created a sharper point. For the Si tacks, the average overall length and width were measured to be within 7% and 2%, respectively, of the design while the Ti tacks were found to be within 1% and 6%, respectively. Additionally, the grip width, stop thickness, and the tip taper angle of the Ti tacks were within 3%, 9%, and 4%, respectively, of the design

The Amphibian Research in Sierra Norte Natural Park, sw. Spain

A nivel mundial, los anfibios están desapareciendo por causas muy diversas, algunas poco conocidas, como los efectos del cambio climático. Son, en general, especies muy sensibles a los cambios en el medio y, por tanto, resultan especialmente interesantes tanto para los investigadores como para todo aquel interesado en la conservación de la biodiversidad. Desde hace años, investigadores del CSIC y otros centros españoles (Universidad de Sevilla y Granada) y extranjeros (Universidad de Lisboa, Portugal, Universidad de Chile y la Universidad de Western Kentucky, USA) están realizando estudios sobre bioacústica, biología de la reproducción, variación geográfi ca y adaptaciones locales, morfología y dinámica poblacional de algunas especies presentes en el Parque Natural de la Sierra Norte. Los resultados más relevantes de tales estudios se resumen en estas páginas, incluyendo resultados preliminares de un proyecto nacional I+D+i, actualmente en marcha. Además, sus observaciones han permitido detectar y sugerir acciones que están permitiendo mejorar la conservación de algunas de estas poblaciones. Con ello esperamos contribuir a un mejor conocimiento y conservación de estas especies y su medio.Currently, there is a global decline of amphibians due to an array of different factors, including global warming. Amphibians are among the more sensitive vertebrate species to changes in the environment, what target them both for research and for anyone interested in biodiversity conservation. During the last decade, researchers from diff erent institutions, including CSIC, the University of Seville, the University of Granada, the University of Lisbon, the University of Chile, and Western Kentucky University, have conducted studies on population divergence and local adaptations, bioacoustics, reproductive biology, morphology, and population dynamics of some of the anuran species occurring in the Natural Park of Sierra Norte. In this paper, we summarize relevant results from these studies, including preliminary results from an ongoing I+D+i national project. These studies have already help us to detect and suggest some conservation actions for amphibians, which once implemented, will improve the conservation status of some of these amphibian populations. Our hope is to contribute to increase the knowledge and conservation of these species and their habitats

International Olympic Committee consensus statement on pain management in elite athletes

Pain is a common problem among elite athletes and is frequently associated with sport injury. Both pain and injury interfere with the performance of elite athletes. There are currently no evidence-based or consensus-based guidelines for the management of pain in elite athletes. Typically, pain management consists of the provision of analgesics, rest and physical therapy. More appropriately, a treatment strategy should address all contributors to pain including underlying pathophysiology, biomechanical abnormalities and psychosocial issues, and should employ therapies providing optimal benefit and minimal harm. To advance the development of a more standardised, evidence-informed approach to pain management in elite athletes, an IOC Consensus Group critically evaluated the current state of the science and practice of pain management in sport and prepared recommendations for a more unified approach to this important topic

Feeding the Physically Challenged Using Cooperative Robots

This paper describes a robotic system for feeding the physically challenged. A prototype intelligent robotic aid system called the ISAC (Intelligent Soft Arm Control) is being developed for the service sector. Recently we have begun to integrate a HERO 2000 mobile robot with ISAC to extend the system capabilities. BACKGROUND Rehabilitation engineering is dedicated to providing life-enhancing equipment for the disabled. Many rehabilitation robots have been developed. For example, the MANUS wheelchair-borne manipulator [1] was developed for persons with severe disabilities of all four limbs. This manipulator is controlled by the user through teleoperation. Teleoperated manipulators are those whose joints motions are in direct, real-time control by the user. Teleoperation has traditionally been the way by which such systems perform desired actions. However, users tend to find teleoperation very tiring and prefer to substitute them with high level commands [2]. To achieve this, the syste..