10 YEARS AGO — JUNE 17, 1999 Stent redesign relies on CAD: A company that manufactures stents — small tubular devices that keep arteries open after surgery — needed an updated design. They turned to DEKA Research and Development Corp. of Manchester, N.H. for help. Surgeons wanted the stent to be soft and flexible for easy insertion. But once expanded in place, it needed to be stiff enough to keep the artery open.
Using Multiphysics software from Ansys, Cannonsburg, Pa., the DEKA team modeled and tested stent loading and physical properties, letting them take advantage of the stent material’s elongation capability. The software also let them life-cycle test the stent though millions of cardiac cycles (the equivalent of 10 years).
30 YEARS AGO — JUNE 21, 1979 Business Machines – Harnessing the information explosion: MACHINE DESIGN takes a look at changes over the past 50 years in the world of business machines. Information is the life-blood of enterprise. To be useful, information must be recorded, processed, and communicated. The offices that handle this information are the hubs that link the functions of an entire operation together. Today’s offices are designed for productivity — one office worker today can outperform an entire staff of 50 years ago. Business machines have been transformed into a myriad of sophisticated equipment that has automated many office, bank, and accounting functions.
50 YEARS AGO — JUNE 25, 1959 Catalysts and coolers upgrade lifttruck exhausts: Exhaust-flow directed against the radiator and into the fan airstream dissipates backfire sparks and flame in a new exhaust system for lift trucks. Towmotor Corp., Cleveland, developed the Cool-Flow exhaust, left, for its own line of vehicles. Further improvement is provided by catalytic purifiers, right, developed by Oxy- Catalyst Inc., Wayne, Pa. They eliminate most of the carbon monoxide and other impurities in gasoline, LPG, and diesel-engine exhaust.