MEchanics GAthering –MEGA- Seminar: Mechanics of physical knots, an interplay of contact, material and knot topology
Event details
| Date | 23.05.2024 |
| Hour | 16:15 › 17:30 |
| Speaker | Javier Sabater Gazulla (FLEXLAB, EPFL) |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract:
While knots have been widely used in human applications for binding, their mechanical behavior remains a complex and incompletely understood field. Current knowledge of their behavior primarily relies on accumulated experience and empirical data, despite the well-developed field of mathematical knot theory. This lack of a mechanical understanding difficult advancements in fields like medical suturing, which are purely based on surgeon's experience in knot tying. To address this topic, we have experimentally evaluated the performance of two common sliding knots, the clove hitch and a single loop, for diverse materials. By combining these experiments with finite element method (FEM) simulations, we aim to derive the key factors governing the mechanical performance of surgical knots.
Biography:
Javier obtained his BSc and MSc in Industrial Technologies Engineering at Universitat Jaume I, Spain, and a MSc in Mechanical Engineering at INSA Lyon, France, as part of a dual international master’s program. During the master, he was also part of the Biomechanics and Ergonomics research group in the Department of Mechanics at the Universitat Jaume I, where he developed several soft robotic grippers and prosthetic hands. Now at fleXLab, he is interested in physical knots and their applications in the surgical domain.
While knots have been widely used in human applications for binding, their mechanical behavior remains a complex and incompletely understood field. Current knowledge of their behavior primarily relies on accumulated experience and empirical data, despite the well-developed field of mathematical knot theory. This lack of a mechanical understanding difficult advancements in fields like medical suturing, which are purely based on surgeon's experience in knot tying. To address this topic, we have experimentally evaluated the performance of two common sliding knots, the clove hitch and a single loop, for diverse materials. By combining these experiments with finite element method (FEM) simulations, we aim to derive the key factors governing the mechanical performance of surgical knots.
Biography:
Javier obtained his BSc and MSc in Industrial Technologies Engineering at Universitat Jaume I, Spain, and a MSc in Mechanical Engineering at INSA Lyon, France, as part of a dual international master’s program. During the master, he was also part of the Biomechanics and Ergonomics research group in the Department of Mechanics at the Universitat Jaume I, where he developed several soft robotic grippers and prosthetic hands. Now at fleXLab, he is interested in physical knots and their applications in the surgical domain.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- MEGA.Seminar Organizing Committee