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Joseph
Seale
Education
Harvard College, B.A.,
Physics, 1968
College concentration: classical
physics, physical chemistry, fluid dynamics, applied mathematics, computer
simulation.
Most significant accomplishments
(from
recent past to present):
- Co-founder of FluidSense
Corporation , which contracts to provide, operate, and maintain
hospital-wide medical intravenous infusion systems. A patented (U.S.,
5,624,409) control approach by Seale gives a single pump an infusion
rate range from 0.1 to 1000 milliliters/hour, replacing several specialty
pumps. Three disposable designs, fitting the same pump, are for neonatal,
PCA, and general purpose infusions. The small, lightweight pump operates
entirely from a rechargeable battery pack. With each recharging, this
“smart” battery receives patient data and drug data for
the coming infusion, including allowable dosage rates and contraindications
for adverse drug combinations. The programmed battery pack is reliably
matched with the drug container and the patient. Infrared communications
among pumps assure that unsafe dosages or drug combinations do not reach
a patient. The nurse-friendly, patient-friendly design keeps noise and
“nuisance” alarms to a minimum.
- Developer (in progress)
of a comprehensive computational model of dissipative, temperature-dependent
stress/strain/creep in solid materials, including metals, polymer
plastics, and rubbers. One pending patent. Rooted in statistical mechanics
and generalizing from existing specialized theories, the model prescribes
a set of mechanical tests, whereby mechanical properties of a material
sample can be reduced to about six parameters, characterizing temperature-
and time-dependent properties within failure limits. The macroscopic
parameters imply microscopic statistical properties of the material:
the strengths and groupings of molecular bonds that are broken and rearranged
(reversibly and irreversibly) by the combined effects of thermal agitation
and stress. The model in its early form was applied to the simulation
and subsequent design (1992) of an elastomer-driven intravenous infusion
system for IMED Corporation. Expected applications are in materials
testing and characterization, and improving on existing finite element
analysis models.
- Co-inventor and
developer, (with Gary Bergstrom, SBE, LLC), of three significant
technologies for engine valve solenoids, leading to Magnesense
LLC, 7 pending patents:
- Solenoid controller
that will cause most conventional solenoids, without modification,
to close without impact, using minimum energy both to close and
to stay latched. All control information is obtained by interpretation
of current/voltage characteristics measurable in the two wires that
power the solenoid.
- Engine valve solenoid
design with superior electrical conversion efficiency in small package,
overcoming large energy losses especially in exhaust valves.
- New automotive valve
spring, fabrication by Peterson Spring, offering improved ratio
of stored energy/mass at infinite endurance, using spring with no
preload bias.
Areas of professional
concentration
(from past to present):
- Aircraft aeromechanics (computer
simulation team, Bell Helicopter, 1966)
- Video systems & visual
perception (projection TV color receiver, Advent Corp.)
- Audio systems & aural
perception (noise reduction, DBX Corp.; 1 U.S. Patent)
- Aerodynamics (wind energy
conversion systems, hang gliders, race cars)
- Hydraulics (hydraulic wind
energy conversion system, New Alchemy Inst.)
- Wind energy system simulation
(New Alchemy Inst. & U.S. Dept. of Energy)
- Dynamic thermal performance
in solar architecture (New Alchemy Inst.)
- Wind powered refrigeration
system (New Alchemy Inst., 1 U.S. Patent)
- Fluid dynamics (modeling
arterial dynamics; medical infusion device design)
- Ultrasound acoustics (monitoring
arterial dynamics)
- Vibrations in mechanical
systems coupled to fluids (arteries, the eye)
(Above 3 items used in research to monitor blood pressure under Critikon,
Inc., & to monitor intraocular pressure under a U.S. SBIR grant;
2 U.S. Patents)
- Acoustic measurement of
fluid volume (DEKA R&D Corp.; 4 U.S. Patents)
- Fluid pumping using audio
frequency vibrations (P.D. Coop, 1 U.S. Patent)
- Fluid volume measurement
using fluid-coupled resonant disk (P.D. Coop. & FluidSense Corp.,
1 U.S. Patent)
- Dynamic fluid flow control
(P.D. Coop & FluidSense Corp., 1 U.S. Patent)
- Magnetic levitating ultrasound
rotor (P.D. Coop, Nicolet/EME, 2 U.S. Patents)
- Servo control in solenoids
& maglev (P.D. Coop, 2 patents pending)
- High performance automotive
valve spring (1 patent pending)
- Statistical mechanics model
of stress relaxation in polymers, rubber (applied in elastomer infusion
pump for IMED Corp; software in progress, patent pending)
- Electromagnetic engine valve
actuator designs (4 patents pending)
- Developed & tested new
automotive valve spring design (1 patent pending)
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