Micro and nano–manufacturing process chains: maturity assessment and bulk metallic glass enabled manufacturing routes

The utilisation of process chains is considered as a way forward to achieve cost effective and high throughput production of miniaturised devices. However there are no methodologies to analyse systematically process chains and thus to inform their development and design new ones for microfabrication. Thus, this research first proposes a methodology for assessing the maturity of micro and nano- manufacturing (MNM) technologies and their interfaces in process chains. The applicability and benefits of using it as a tool for assessing the maturity levels of individual processes and chains is demonstrated on existing and emerging MNM platforms. Then, to address the growing requirements for function and length scale integration (FLSI) in devices, two bulk metallic glass (BMG) enabled master-making process chains were designed and validated for serial replication of polymer components with sub-micron and micro size functional features. The empirical research proved that the use of BMG workpieces with their intrinsic atomic level homogeneity enables the integration of complementary MNM technologies for achieving FLSI in replication inserts. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that such process chains can be successfully employed for producing inserts incorporating both micro and nano- scale features that can be utilised for serial production of polymerbased FLSI devices

Usage de technologies d'interaction par des personnes âgées atteintes d'une maladie d'Alzheimer

National audienceL'objectif de ce papier est de montrer comment adapter des techniques d'interaction à la souris pour favoriser l’accessibilité des technologies aux personnes atteintes de troubles cognitifs. Le laboratoire de Gérontechnologie du Gérontopôle de Toulouse vise à concevoir des exercices numériques de rééducation cognitive pour des personnes atteintes de la maladie d’Alzheimer. L’efficacité de ces exercices nécessite une Interaction Homme-Machine (IHM) utilisable et efficiente. Pour cela, nous avons réalisé une étude sur trois techniques d’interaction à base de pointage (Clic à clic, Drag and drop et Clic et aimantation). 97 personnes âgées avec (68) ou sans (28) maladie d’Alzheimer mesurée par le MMSE ont été recrutées. Les résultats (extra clic et temps de la tâche) montrent que la technique Clic et aimantation est la plus adaptée aux personnes atteintes de la maladie d’Alzheimer

Modular Boxes for a Modular Architecture

The competitive market of micro and mini satellites opens the space industry to Commercial Of The Shelf (COTS) electronic components. The power electronics used in the Power Conditioning and Distribution Unit was so far designed for a mission and re-used in other missions even though it wasn’t fitted to the new mission need. The use of COTS in the design of new a PCDU allow us to re-think completely the design based on a double aspect: modularity and distribution

Limestone surfaces in built-up environment as indicators of atmospheric pollution

The concentration of sulphate on limestone surfaces of the external walls of churches in Malta is shown to be related to their position and distance from a power station, the main local point source of sulphur dioxide pollution. Limestone powder collected from these surfaces was examined for the presence of particles which, under low-power optical microscopy, appear as shiny black amorphous bodies which were interpreted as soot particles; the abundance of these bodies was expressed as a 'black particle count' (BPC). The degree of sulphation and BPC were shown to be correlated with each other and both appeared to be strongly dependent on the prevailing wind. The BPC contour map indicated an important contribution to the parameter from vehicular traffic. It is suggested that the degree of sulphation and BPC of limestone surfaces from the built environment should function as environmental indicators of the relative air quality with respect to S02 and soot pollution. This data is possibly more accurately representative of the relative long-term air-quality status of different areas of habitation than that deduced from single or episodic measurements of atmospheric pollutant levels.peer-reviewe

Particularismes de la recherche technologique au profit des personnes présentant une maladie d'Alzheimer ou un syndrome apparenté

National audienceTechnological research for those suffering Alzheimer disease or related syndromes is different both from regular technological and medical research. We are studying both the user its tool as one only topic. The cognitive disease has an impact on the structure of the study as well as on how the user will interact with the tool. i.e.: it will modify the participation of the user (consent, difficulties to adapt, tiredness...), cause the irruption of the caregivers in the user’s way of life. This com-plex environment requires a multidimensional, multidisciplinary approach framed in a common research goal. The researchers must share an embedded ethical part in their research. The iterative user-centred approach, in our lab, develops in four steps: brain-storming, focus groups, living lab and true-life lab. L’approche itérative centrée utilisateur qui va, pour notre laboratoire, comporter quatre étapes, du plus amont au plus proche de la mise en service : brain-storming, focus groups, living lab puis true-life lab (« vie vraie »).Iterations may imply a compleat step down to the previous step or apply only to a partial hypothesis we could not verify. The true-life lab is a survey of the deployment of the tool in the prospect, uncontroled, use envi-ronment (as opoosed to a controled living lab environment); it will show acceptance and use issues as well as technical robustness. The true-life has four steps: election of the ecosystem, technical deployment, scenario based tests and assessed free use. Success of the true-life lab step will allow clinical trials with the tool.La recherche technologique au profit des personnes présentant une maladie d’Alzheimer ou un syndrome apparenté présente des particularités qui la distinguent tant de la recherche technologique que de la recherche médicale classiques. Le sujet d’étude implique un couple outil, usager ; il doit donc prendre en compte les particularités de la maladie neurodégénérative qui vont avoir une influence tant sur la structuration de l’étude que sur l’interaction entre l’homme et le dispositif. Ces particularités sont les répercussions de la maladie elle-même sur la participation de l’usager (capacité à consentir, trouble de l’adaptation, fatigabilité…) mais également l’intrusion des aidants dans son mode de vie. La prise en compte de cet environnement de recherche complexe implique une approche pluridimensionnelle et multidisciplinaire dans le cadre d’un objectif de recherche. Les acteurs partagent une réflexion éthique continue intégrée au projet. L’approche itérative centrée utilisateur va, pour notre laboratoire, comporter quatre étapes, du plus amont au plus proche de la mise en service : brain-storming, focus groups, living lab puis true-life lab (« vie vraie »). Lors des itérations, un retour complet ou ponctuel aux étapes précédentes pourra être réalisé devant des hypothèses qui ne se seront pas vérifiées. Le true-life lab est le déploiement sous surveillance, dans des conditions d’usage et dans un environnement d’usage qui n’est pas contrôlé (par opposition au living lab) ; il permet de mettre en évidence des éléments d’acceptabilité et d’usage mais également des aspects techniques de robustesse. Le true-life lab se décline en quatre phases : choix de l’écosystème de déploiement, déploiement technique, usage scénarisé et enfin usage libre évalué. Le succès du true-life lab permet le passage à une évaluation clinique

A concurrent engineering approach to develop BioMEMS employed in a deep brain stimulator integrated with a drug delivery system

This paper presents an Integrated Product Development (IPD) based model to specifically develop bio-medical micro-electro-mechanical-systems (BioMEMS). The concurrent engineering model is based on the IPD model phases, which are presented and formulated by the Integration DEFinition (IDEF) model- ling language. To evaluate the IPD model, a case study concerning the development of a BioMEMS device for a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system was investigated. By following the relevant mechanisms and controls in the model, a design concept of a wireless head-mounted DBS implant integrated with a drug delivery system (DDS) was conceived. The contribution of this paper is the IDEF model, which provides a road map to the product development team members in order to take a concurrent engineering approach to develop Bio-MEMS. The qualitative feedback received from the identified stakeholders, together with the quality of the case study employed, namely, an integrated DBS and DDS solution, indicate a degree of evidence that the model provides a sound basis in this direction.peer-reviewe

Preliminary study of human interactions during entertainment by a facilitator using a cognitive stimulation medium (Mémoire-RED) in a nursing-home setting

International audienceAccording to the literature and our practice, most of the cognitive stimulation based on technological tools are designed for individual, « face to face »use and are a transposition of regular neuropsychological tests and rehabilitation exercises (Tarraga et al. 2006). A different approach is proposed to fulfil the needs for entertainment; such as reminding memories with the help of souvenirs of the patients own life. (Damianakis et al. 2010) could show it was possible, first with the help of a research assistant, then with that of the family or even by personal use, to stimulate remembrance through old souvenirs presented on a digital medium.The difficulty is the high cost in term of manpower to get the relevant information from the family. Other teams have proposed solutions that would limit that preliminary work : using data from the social media (Cosley et al. 2009) and/or wearing a camera to save daily activities (Lee and Key, 2007) et (Sellen et al. 2007). In any case, those tools are based upon individual customization and so limiting the number of patients who could attend a same session. Could use general tools developed for entertainment in nursing-home as a cognitive stimulation alternative? In a preliminary study we have observed the adoption of the Mémoire-red™ tool by the facilitator and the interaction with and between the residents during a regular entertainment session with cognitively impaired residents in a nursing-home. This session was part of a structured animation program where the residents regularly take part

Combining 3D printing and injection moulding for the fabrication of polymer micro-components with internal hollow features

There is a need to cost-effectively produce polymer components with meso/micro-scale internal geometries with high replication accuracy without the use of post-processing steps. A possible process chain to produce such polymer components with internal hollow features is by combining the 3D printing (3DP) and micro-injection moulding (MIM) processes. To date, no studies were carried out to explore the feasibility of such a process chain. Consequently, this experimental study investigated the use of the 3DP lost-cores that are over-moulded using the MIM process. The first step involved the production of lost-core from a soluble polymer material where three different materials were studied: two filament-based materials (Xioneer VXL130 and AquaSys180) and one resin-based material (IM-HDT-WS). The filament-based materials were printed on an Ultimaker S5 (filament fused fabrication) and the resin-based material was printed using an Asiga Max X27 (digital light processing). In the second step, the lost core was then over-moulded with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) using the MIM process. After demoulding, the internal core was then dissolved using the respective dissolution method of each material to achieve a part with meso/micro scale internal features. Investigations carried out at the different stages of the process chain revealed that the best dimensional accuracy was achieved when using the IM-HDT-WS material in the 3DP of the lost-cores and their subsequent over-moulding to form the case study part internal geometry. In particular, the dimensional analysis of the replicated IM-HDT-WS lost-core geometries onto the over-moulded PMMA revealed a difference of 0% in diameter and − 3.17% in bifurcation angle of the Y1.6 channel and a difference of + 4.88% in diameter and + 11.48% in bifurcation angle of the Y0.8 channels when compared to the respective 3DP core dimensional values prior to encapsulation. However, dissolution tests revealed that the filament-based material, the Xioneer VXL130, achieved a dissolution rate of 3.5 and 4.5 h for the Y1.6 and Y0.8 channel, respectively, which was marginally faster than that of the IM-HDT-WS.peer-reviewe