Browse Technologies

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most important and versatile tools in the repertoire of diagnostics and medical imaging. Vanderbilt researchers have developed a novel, geometry independent, self-decoupling radiofrequency (RF) coil design that will allow MRI machines to generate images at a faster rate and with greater image quality.

Various widespread diseases associated with airway constriction can be combatted using airway stents. However, such stents are either prone to clogging themselves or tend to invade neighboring tissue. Vanderbilt engineers have developed a technology that avoids both of these pitfalls by combining the use of tissue-friendly silicone with active cilia for mucus clearing.

Optical tweezers have been used to study microscopic biological materials, but their application on the nanoscale has thus far been limited by technical constraints. To enable their use on the nanoscale, researchers at Vanderbilt have developed an optical trapping platform for targeting these nanoscale materials without destroying the sample.

Vanderbilt researchers have developed an eyeglass-compatible liquid lens that changes shape and focal depth on-demand. The wearer can adjust it to rapidly match 99% of focus corrections (-6D to +10D) by modulating a minute voltage provided by the small, built-in battery. The user can also adjust the lens' neutral, zero-voltage shape/focus in a matter of minutes. By tracking eye vergence, these lenses can even automatically change focus based on the distance of the wearer's viewing target.