Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for determining strain within a material includes a magnetostrictive sensor configured to be embedded within the material, a sensing unit configured to apply an excitation magnetic field to the material and the embedded sensor and to receive a response magnetic field that has passed through the material and the embedded sensor, wherein the sensing unit does not contact the material, and a device configured to determine a difference between the excitation magnetic field and the response magnetic field and to determine the strain within the material based upon that difference.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for determining strain within a material includes a magnetostrictive sensor configured to be embedded within the material, a sensing unit configured to apply an excitation magnetic field to the material and the embedded sensor and to receive a response magnetic field that has passed through the material and the embedded sensor, wherein the sensing unit does not contact the material, and a device configured to determine a difference between the excitation magnetic field and the response magnetic field and to determine the strain within the material based upon that difference.

Abstract: A joint comprises a first structural element, a second structural element and a seal intermediate between the first structural element and the second structural element. The seal comprises a first porous ceramic film disposed on the first structural element, a second porous ceramic film disposed on the second structural element and adjacent to the first porous ceramic film, and a filler material, wherein the filler material is interposed between the first porous ceramic film and the second porous ceramic film and/or impregnated into at least a portion of pores of the first porous ceramic film and the second porous ceramic film.

Abstract: Orthopedic device of biocompatible polymer with oriented fiber reinforcement. There is provided a device such as a hip stem which has a longitudinally curved body. The reinforcing fibers are continuous filament fiber plies with parallel orienated fibers in each ply. The plies are curved longitudinally to approximately correspond to the curve of the body. In one embodiment, there are longitudinally oriented fiber plies at or near the surfaces of the device and plies with fibers offset at 5.degree.-40.degree. from the longitudinal axis between the surface layers. The fiber orientation is balanced by providing a ply of negatively angled offset fibers of a similar angle for each positively angled offset ply. The device is made by molding plies preimpregnated with polymer (prepregs) simultaneously, by molding a plurality of prepregs into segments which are then molded together, or by molding a segment and incrementally molding additional layers of prepregs thereto in a series of progressively larger molds.

Abstract: Orthopedic device of biocompatible polymer with oriented fiber reinforcement. There is provided a device such as a hip stem which has a longitudinally curved body. The reinforcing fibers are continuous filament fiber plies with parallel oriented fibers in each ply. The plies are curved longitudinally to approximately correspond to the curve of the body. In one embodiment, there are longitudinally oriented fiber plies at or near the surfaces of the device and plies with fibers offset at 5.degree.-40.degree. from the longitudinal axis between the surface layers. The fiber orientation is balanced by providing a ply of negatively angled offset fibers of a similar angle for each positively angled offset ply. The device is made by molding plies preimpregnated with polymer (prepregs) simultaneously, by molding a plurality of prepregs into segments which are then molded together, or by molding a segment and incrementally molding additional layers of prepregs thereto in a series of progressively larger molds.