We hope you had a meaningful Memorial Day. As we close out the short week, we're reflecting on the contributions of those who have served our Nation. The bravery of the men and women who have sacrificed for our country inspires our work with DOD and VA labs. We are proud to play a role in supporting Armed Forces and Veterans and in improving the lives of all Americans.
Keep reading for a look at the latest technology opportunities from the DOD and VA, including a safety device to improve oxygen therapy, a structural steel coating to address the growing issue of bridge disrepair, and much more.
One in five U.S. adults has arthritis, a leading cause of disability and significant contributor to U.S. healthcare costs. VA researchers are working to improve outcomes for those with arthritis, using techniques that replace cartilage and bone with materials that match the complexity of the human hand.
The VA researchers’ new invention combines 3D printing with traditional molding to create replacement bone and cartilage. This process creates a functional, anatomically correct, load-bearing implant that may reduce common issues for people with arthritis, such as repeated stress from the grasping motion of the hand.
If brought to market, this technology could make a difference in the lives of 50 million Americans. Read the full story to learn more about the licensing opportunity.
With more than 1.5 million Americans on oxygen therapy, misuse of oxygen tanks can lead to property damage, injury, and fatality. To prevent these incidents, VA scientists have invented the Smart Bolo, a device designed to detect non-compliant behavior that puts patients and others around them at risk of fire.
Interested in developing this technology for widespread use? Get details on the licensing opportunity below.
More than 600,000 Americans have undergone a major lower limb amputation, but prosthetic feet don't offer the "coupled motion" that enables painless human gait - until now, that is. VA researchers have developed the Pivot-Flex Foot, an easy-to-manufacture prosthetic that more closely mimics the human foot.
If brought to market, the Pivot-Flex Foot could offer greater comfort and reduce injuries in lower-limb amputees. Reach out for licensing support below.
Air Force Institute of Technology researchers have invented a system that makes it easy for humans and AI to collaborate in monitoring scenarios, such as vehicle control, environmental and public safety surveillance, and disaster response. If commercialized, the technology could dramatically improve efficiency without removing human judgment from the equation.
Want to bring this technology to market? Find more information below.
The tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland highlights the frailty of the nation’s infrastructure — especially bridges. An Associated Press analysis found that about 42,400 U.S. bridges are in poor condition, much of it caused by steel corrosion.
Solutions to this corrosion problem are hard to find. Alternatives such as epoxy-coated and zinc-plated rebar have been found ineffective at holding off corrosion, while materials like stainless steel and fiber-reinforced polymer are too risky and expensive.
The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center is mobilizing to fix this issue. They've developed a new structural steel coating that more than triples the bond strength between concrete and steel, preventing corrosion.
