Abstract: A cooking vessel includes a base having a flat bottom and a sidewall connected to and surrounding the base, thereby defining an interior space configured for containing food. The base comprises a layered composite material that includes a first layer of the composite material has a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR) and a second layer of the composite material is disposed in contact with the first layer. The cooking vessel includes a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR).

Abstract: An assembly includes an elongated, cylindrical pipe; a plumbing connector attached to an end of the pipe, in which an opening is defined through a length of the plumbing connector; and a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) coating disposed on an interior surface of the plumbing connector that defines the opening, in which the NPR coating on the plumbing connector is configured to exhibit an auxetic behavior in response to application of a force to the NPR coating, in which the end of the pipe is disposed concentrically within the opening of the plumbing connector such that the NPR coating of the plumbing connector contacts an outer surface of the pipe, and in which a portion of the plumbing connector extends beyond the end of the pipe.

Abstract: An impact protection device includes a cushion formed from a first material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) and a second material having a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR). The first material and the second material can be layered or can be formed as a matrix of cells. The impact protection device can be an airbag with the cushion coupled to an inflation source or an expulsion source for deploying the airbag in response to an impact. The impact protection device can also be an impact vest with the cushions positioned on the vest body for absorbing impact forces to the vest body. The combination of the NPR and PPR materials improve the impact absorption of the impact protection devices compared to conventional materials.

Abstract: A gas storage apparatus includes a foam body having a negative Poisson's ratio, and a gas impregnated in closed cells of the foam body, the gas having a pressure above atmospheric pressure. A method of making a gas storage apparatus includes providing a first body comprising a precursor material, and, while the first body is in an atmosphere including a gas, applying a stimulus to the precursor material, the stimulus causing the precursor material to form a closed-cell porous foam structure having a negative Poisson's ratio. Cells of the closed-cell porous foam structure encapsulate the gas at a pressure above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A door includes a rectangular panel having a first face, a second face, and two pairs of opposing edges, in which the edges of each pair of edges are parallel and in which a first pair of edges is longer than a second pair of edges. The rectangular panel includes a layered composite material, in which a first layer of the composite material has a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR) and a second layer of the composite material is disposed in contact with the first layer and that includes a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR). The door includes a hinge including plates joined together by a joint, in which a first one of the plates is attached to a first one of the edges of the first pair of edges and in which a second one of the plates extends beyond the first one of the edges. The door also includes a handle opening defined through a thickness of the rectangular panel.

Abstract: A drug delivery device includes a foam body having a negative Poisson's ratio, the foam body formed of a material configured to dissolve in a biological fluid; and a liquid drug contained in cells of the foam body, the drug exerting a pressure on walls of the cells that is above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A cooking vessel includes a base having a flat bottom and a sidewall connected to and surrounding the base, thereby defining an interior space configured for containing food. The base comprises a layered composite material that includes a first layer of the composite material has a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR) and a second layer of the composite material is disposed in contact with the first layer. The cooking vessel includes a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR).

Abstract: A brick includes outer walls defining a hollow interior space, the outer walls including: substantially flat top and bottom walls; and side walls angled inwards toward a central portion of the NPR brick, such that application of a compressive force between the top and bottom walls causes a lateral dimension of the brick between opposite side walls to decrease. At least some of the outer walls of the brick include a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR).

Abstract: A propeller includes a rotatable hub and at least two propeller blades coupled to the rotatable hub. Each of the propeller blades is formed from a combination of a first material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) and a second material having a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR). The first material and the second material can be layered or can be formed as a matrix with one of the first or second material embedded in the other. In a layered configuration, a layer of the first material is positioned between adjacent layers of the second material, and the layers can be connected by tabs of NPR material. The combination of the NPR and PPR materials improve the strength and impact resilience of the propeller blades compared to conventional materials.

Abstract: An artificial heart valve includes a frame, one or more struts attached to the frame, and a leaflet configured to open and close a fluid flow path through the frame by moving in response to heartbeats. Movement of the leaflet is restricted by the one or more struts. The leaflet includes an inner leaflet body having a negative Poisson's ratio, and an outer leaflet body at least partially surrounding the inner leaflet body, the outer leaflet body having a positive Poisson's ratio.

Abstract: A propeller includes a rotatable hub and at least two propeller blades coupled to the rotatable hub. Each of the propeller blades is formed from a combination of a first material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) and a second material having a positive Poisson's ratio (PPR). The first material and the second material can be layered or can be formed as a matrix with one of the first or second material embedded in the other. In a layered configuration, a layer of the first material is positioned between adjacent layers of the second material, and the layers can be connected by tabs of NPR material. The combination of the NPR and PPR materials improve the strength and impact resilience of the propeller blades compared to conventional materials.

Abstract: An eye implant includes a plurality of photodetectors and a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the plurality of photodetectors. The plurality of electrodes are configured to electrically couple each photodetector of the plurality of photodetectors to one or more neurons, and the electrical coupling between each photodetector and the one or more neurons is entirely passive.

Abstract: A brick includes outer walls defining a hollow interior space, the outer walls including: substantially flat top and bottom walls; and side walls angled inwards toward a central portion of the NPR brick, such that application of a compressive force between the top and bottom walls causes a lateral dimension of the brick between opposite side walls to decrease. At least some of the outer walls of the brick include a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR).

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a belt including an annular base extending around a circumference of the belt, in which the annular base defines an interior space of the belt that is sized to receive an internal organ of a patient. The annular base includes a biocompatible negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) foam material having a Poisson's ratio of between 0 and ?1. In some cases, the annular base is configured to be inductively heated to thereby deliver thermal therapy to the organ. In some cases, the belt is a belt for brachytherapy that includes a radioactive material.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a zipper including two rows of zipper teeth, in which at least some of the zipper teeth include a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) foam material having a Poisson's ratio of between 0 and ?1, and a slider movably attached to one of the rows of the zipper teeth and configured to connect the two rows of zipper teeth when the slider is moved in a first direction and to disconnect the two rows of zipper teeth when the slider is moved in an opposite direction.

Abstract: Corrugated paper includes first and second sheets of paper; and a layer of structured paper disposed between the first and second sheets of paper. The layer of structured paper includes cells, in which at least some of the cells are negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) cells. Each NPR cell includes top and bottom walls, and side walls angled inwards toward a central portion of the NPR cell, such that application of a compressive force between the top and bottom walls of the NPR cell causes a lateral dimension of the NPR cell between opposite side walls to decrease. The NPR cells exhibit a Poisson's ratio of between 0 and ?1.

Abstract: A zipper includes two rows of zipper teeth, in which at least one of the zipper teeth includes a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) foam material having a Poisson's ratio of between 0 and ?1, and a slider movably attached to one of the rows of the zipper teeth and configured to connect the two rows of zipper teeth when the slider is moved in a first direction and to disconnect the two rows of zipper teeth when the slider is moved in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A gas storage apparatus includes a foam body having a negative Poisson's ratio, and a gas impregnated in closed cells of the foam body, the gas having a pressure above atmospheric pressure. A method of making a gas storage apparatus includes providing a first body comprising a precursor material, and, while the first body is in an atmosphere including a gas, applying a stimulus to the precursor material, the stimulus causing the precursor material to form a closed-cell porous foam structure having a negative Poisson's ratio. Cells of the closed-cell porous foam structure encapsulate the gas at a pressure above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A brick includes outer walls defining a hollow interior space, the outer walls including: substantially flat top and bottom walls; and side walls angled inwards toward a central portion of the NPR brick, such that application of a compressive force between the top and bottom walls causes a lateral dimension of the brick between opposite side walls to decrease. At least some of the outer walls of the brick include a material having a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR).

Abstract: Some tissue adhesives include a solid having bio-absorbable fibers and at least one of nano-spheres, micro-spheres, nano-tubules, or micro-tubules. A first layer of the solid has a positive Poisson's ratio and a second layer of the solid has a negative Poisson's ratio. In some cases, the second layer has been transformed from a positive Poisson's ratio material to a negative Poisson's ratio material. In some cases, an entire face of the first layer is in contact with an entire face of the second layer. In some cases, the second layer includes one or more pores, at least a portion of the one or more pores containing a secretion from one or more barnacles. In some cases, the secretion is configured to adhere the tissue adhesive to one or more layers of tissue to at least partially close a wound.