Abstract: A biofouling monitor is described which has a column having an inlet and an outlet; a microorganism nutrient feed line located upstream of the inlet; and a first pressure sensor located upstream of the inlet for measuring flow pressure and a second pressure system located downstream of the outlet for measuring flow pressure. Also described is a biofouling monitor which further has a recirculation system and optionally inert packing material located in the column. A method to monitor or detect biofouling ahead of time in an aqueous system is further described.

Abstract: A method and equipment for assessing the suitability of support surfaces such as mattresses and chairs is disclosed. The method comprises applying a load to each of two such support surfaces with a first indenter having a given profile and a substantially rigid form and measuring the interface pressure, applying the same load to each said surface with a second indenter having substantially the same profile as said first indenter, but having a viscoelastic form and measuring the interface pressure and deriving information as to the characteristics of the supporting surfaces by comparing said measurements.

Abstract: Vibration dummy apparatus adapted to sit on and be supported by a vehicle seat to accurately simulate human vibration response at an interface between the apparatus and seat cushions of the vehicle seat is disclosed. The apparatus includes a relatively hard and stiff skeletal frame structure having a pelvic girdle, a pair of femurs, and a pair of ball-and-socket joints for connecting their respective femurs to the pelvic girdle. Elastomeric plastic is formed over the skeletal frame structure. The elastomeric plastic has a substantially anatomically-correct, surface geometry. The elastomeric plastic formed over the pelvic girdle and the pair of femurs has mechanical properties including human-like, soft tissue spring and damping characteristics. A mass-spring system is connected to the pelvic girdle to at least partially simulate vibration response of an upper section of a human.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods for modeling human blood vessels. Including panels of anatomically accurate vascular phantoms, such as carotid artery phantoms, comprising a range of stenotic conditions and other geometric variations; methods of making anatomically accurate vascular phantoms using stereolithography with an input data set representation of a natural vascular lumenal surface to construct an anatomically accurate vascular phantom comprising a physical representation of the surface; and methods of using the subject phantoms and panels of phantoms, such as methods of measuring a parameter of fluid flow through a panel of anatomically accurate vascular phantoms comprising a range of stenotic conditions.

Abstract: An improved ultrasound phantom includes a container having a window covered by an ultrasound transmitting window cover that seals and protects a water based tissue mimicking material within the container. The window cover includes a multi-layer film formed of at least a layer of metal adhered to a layer of plastic. The metal layer is essentially impervious to moisture and air molecules, preventing both desiccation of the water based material within the phantom and oxidation or contamination of the tissue mimicking material. Multiple windows may be formed in the container which are closed with the multi-layer film cover, and the container may be formed entirely or partially as a flexible sack of multi-layer film.