Devices In Direct Contact Research Articles

Experimental investigation of mass transfer characteristics in centrifugal humidifier

It is proposed to use humidification-dehumidification technology (HDH) for water recovery in space flight conditions, in conditions of weightlessness, the processes of humidification and drying are realized in centrifugal direct contact devices. The process of heat and mass transfer in a centrifugal direct contact air humidifier is experimentally investigated. The effect of the gravity factor (G=40–650), air velocity (Reair = 5–40), water flow rate (Rew = 28000–94000), geometric parameters of the mesh on the intensity of air humidification was investigated. Experimental studies were carried out on a laboratory stand with an automated system for measuring the main parameters. The parameters of the humidifier will allow the development of a distillation system with a productivity of 1.3 kg per hour, which is enough for a crew of two people. The results of the experimental studies are summarized by new correlations suitable for engineering calculations, which make it possible to calculate the geometric parameters of a centrifugal humidifier for a water recovery system with different productivity.

Thermoresponsive and Photocrosslinkable Poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) Toolbox - Customizable Ultralow-Fouling Hydrogel Coatings for Blood Plasma Environments.

This study focuses on developing surface coatings with excellent antifouling properties, crucial for applications in the medical, biological, and technical fields, for materials and devices in direct contact with living tissues and bodily fluids such as blood. This approach combines thermoresponsive poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline)s, known for their inherent protein-repellent characteristics, with established antifouling motifs based on betaines. The polymer framework is constructed from various monomer types, including a novel benzophenone-modified 2-oxazoline for photocrosslinking and an azide-functionalized 2-oxazoline, allowing subsequent modification with alkyne-substituted antifouling motifs through copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. From these polymers surface-attached networks are created on benzophenone-modified gold substrates via photocrosslinking, resulting in hydrogel coatings with several micrometers thickness when swollen with aqueous media. Given that poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline)s can exhibit a lower critical solution temperature in water, their temperature-dependent solubility is compared to the swelling behavior of the surface-attached hydrogels upon thermal stimulation. The antifouling performance of these hydrogel coatings in contact with human blood plasma is further evaluated by surface plasmon resonance and optical waveguide spectroscopy. All surfaces demonstrate extremely low retention of blood plasma components, even with undiluted plasma. Notably, hydrogel layers with sulfobetaine moieties allow efficient penetration by plasma components, which can then be easily removed by rinsing with buffer.

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE DIRECT CONTACT HUMIDIFIER FOR THERMAL DESALINATION SYSTEM

The aim of the work is to increase the efficiency of thermal desalination systems with a humidification-dehumidification air cycle due to the reduction of electricity consumption. The most common designs of heat exchangers for air humidification have significant aerodynamic and hydraulic drops. To eliminate this disadvantage, it is proposed to use the internal volume of the vertical tube as an active heat and mass transfer zone during moisture evaporation from salt water to air. The operation of such desalination system has been mathematically modeled and its energy characteristics were determined. A special feature of the mathematical model is the consideration of heat and mass transfer equations for the humidifier and dehumidifier. The effective air velocity in the tube is 3 m/s. Effective operation of thermal unit with a film humidifier is possible then air mass flow is equal to the salt water flow. In this case, the geometric dimensions of the tube must be within the following limits: diameter 20...30 mm, height 2...2.5 m. The conducted mathematical modeling and obtained results give reasons to assert, that for the same rate of evaporation, the film heat exchanger has the lowest aerodynamic and hydrodynamic drops compared to other types of humidifiers. The use of such direct contact device will lead to a decrease in the electricity consumption necessary for salt water and air circulation in the humidification-dehumidification thermal installation.

角膜直接接触设备对角膜适配性的近轴光学成像分析

角膜直接接触设备对角膜适配性的近轴光学成像分析

Aluminium release by coated and uncoated fluid-warming devices.

The use of fluid-warming systems is recommended for infusion rates >500ml.h-1 to avoid peri-operative hypothermia. Some fluid-warming devices use disposable aluminium-heated plates for heat transfer, but there is no protective coating to separate the fluid from the heated aluminium surface. It is unknown if this could promote release of aluminium into infusion fluids. We investigated a coated (Fluido compact) and an uncoated (enFlow) fluid-warming device using normal saline or balanced electrolyte solution as infusion fluids, pumped through the heated disposables at flow rates of 2, 4 and 8ml.min-1 for 60min each. Aluminium concentrations in the fluid samples were analysed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. With saline the coated and uncoated devices yielded aluminium concentrations below the level of quantification (<128μg.l-1 ). Similarly, balanced electrolyte solution in the coated device yielded aluminium concentrations <128μg.l-1 . However, balanced electrolyte solution in the uncoated device yielded aluminium concentrations of up to 6794 (3465-8002 [1868-7421]) μg.l-1 . Repeating this last study at a flow rate of 2ml.min-1 resulted in quite high aluminium concentrations when the uncoated device was not heated (~1000μg.l-1 ) and higher concentrations after the device was heated. We conclude that using uncoated aluminium plates in fluid-warming systems can lead to a risk of administering potentially harmful concentrations of aluminium when balanced crystalloid solutions are used. The mechanism is unclear, but heat is in part involved. Coating for aluminium within medical devices in direct contact with infusion fluids should be recommended.

Measurement method and influencing factors of temperature and humidity of condensed flue gas based on in situ flue gas heat tracing

Condensing boilers are efficient for the utilization of natural gas. However, condensed droplets in flue gas are supercooled after condensation heat transfer, and direct contact devices cannot accurately measure the temperature of flue gas containing such droplets. Therefore, an in situ heating interlayer pumping device was designed. Experimental results showed that in situ heating interlayer pumping device can effectively filtered out the influence of supercooled droplets, the temperature of flue gas measured by the proposed device was about 3 °C higher than that measured by direct contact temperature measuring device; the device optimum flow rate was 0.35 L/min, optimum heat tracing temperature was in the range 100–140 °C; the effective reliability of the device was verified experimentally using the positive balance efficiency and the counter balance efficiency of 30-kW gas-fired condensing heat-transfer test platform.

Fibrinogen adsorption on zinc oxide nanoparticles: A Micro-Differential Scanning Calorimetry analysis

Understanding the interactions between proteins and surfaces (nanoparticles or films) is crucial for the fabrication and improvement of biomedical devices in direct contact with human blood. The aim of this work is the study of the interaction of fibrinogen (Fib) with zinc oxide nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were either synthesized chemically or were commercially available, having different size. Zinc oxide nanoparticles are known for their antibacterial properties, and Fib adsorption is studied in view of combining the antibacterial and desirable clotting behavior of a single material. The thermal properties of the Fib solution were studied by Micro-Differential Scanning Calorimetry. For the consideration of the compositional and structural properties of the nanoparticles, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy were employed, respectively. Through the changes of the thermal properties of Fib upon adsorption that were observed by microDSC, the mechanisms of the protein adsorption were revealed. It seems that electrostatic (for the D and E domains) and hydrophobic interactions (for the aC chains) were responsible for the adsorption and the protein structural changes caused by it. The discrepancy between the Fib adsorption percentages on homemade and commercially available zinc oxide nanoparticles can be attributed to their different size.

Cytocompatibility of titanium metal injection molding with various anodic oxidation post-treatments

Metal injection molding (MIM) is a near net shape manufacturing method that allows for the production of components of small to moderate size and complex shape. MIM is a cost-effective and flexible manufacturing technique that provides a large innovative potential over existing methods for the industry of implantable devices. Commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) samples were machined to the same shape as a composite feedstock with titanium and polyoxymethylene, and these metals were injected, debinded and sintered to assess comparative biological properties. Moreover, we treated MIM-Ti parts with BIOCOAT®, BIODIZE® and BIOCER®, three different anodic oxidation techniques that treat titanium using acid, alkaline and anion enriched electrolytes, respectively. Cytocompatibility as well as morphological and chemical features of surfaces was comparatively assessed on each sample, and the results revealed that MIM-Ti compared to CP-Ti demonstrated a specific surface topography with a higher roughness. MIM-Ti and BIOCER® samples significantly enhanced cell proliferation, cell adhesion and cell differentiation compared to CP-Ti. Interestingly, in the anodization post-treatment established in this study, we demonstrated the ability to improve osseointegration through anionic modification treatment. The excellent biological response we observed with MIM parts using the injection molding process represents a promising manufacturing method for the future implantable devices in direct contact with bones.

In Vitro and Computational Thrombosis on Artificial Surfaces With Shear Stress

Implantable devices in direct contact with flowing blood are associated with the risk of thromboembolic events. This study addresses the need to improve our understanding of the thrombosis mechanism and to identify areas on artificial surfaces susceptible to thrombus deposition. Thrombus deposits on artificial blood step transitions are quantified experimentally and compared with shear stress and shear rate distributions using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. Larger steps, and negative (expanding) steps result in larger thrombus deposits. Fitting CFD results to experimental deposit locations reveals a specific shear stress threshold of 0.41 Pa or a shear rate threshold of 54 s(-1) using a shear thinning blood viscosity model. Thrombosis will occur below this threshold, which is specific to solvent-polished polycarbonate surfaces under in vitro coagulation conditions with activated clotting time levels of 200-220 s. The experimental and computational models are valuable tools for thrombosis prediction and assessment that may be used before proceeding to clinical trials and to better understand existing clinical problems with thrombosis.

Similarity of coupled heat and mass transfer between air–water and air–liquid desiccant direct-contact systems

Packed-bed heat and mass transfer devices are widely used in air-conditioning systems, such as cooling tower, evaporative cooler of air–water direct-contact devices, dehumidifier and regenerator of air–liquid desiccant direct-contact devices. Similarities of heat and mass transfer characteristics between air–water and air–liquid desiccant devices are considered and investigated in this paper. Same reachable handling region of outlet air can be obtained for both air–water and air–liquid desiccant devices, which is among three boundary lines, isenthalpic line of inlet air, iso-relative humidity line of inlet fluid (water or desiccant), and the connecting line of inlet statuses of air and fluid. Inlet conditions of air and fluid affect heat and mass transfer characteristics to some extent, so that a zonal method is proposed only according to the relative statuses of inlet air to inlet fluid. Four zones, dehumidification zones A, D and regeneration zones B, C, are divided for air-desiccant direct-contact devices. The first three zones A, B and C are divided for air–water direct-contact devices, with the same zonal properties as those of air-desiccant devices. In order to obtain better humidification performance, fluid should be heated (in zone C) rather than air (in zone B). And fluid should be cooled (in zone A) rather than air (in zone D) to obtain better dehumidification performance. Counter-flow pattern should be applied for best mass transfer performance in the same conditions within the recommended zone A or C, while parallel-flow pattern is the best in zone B or D.

Characteristics of direct-contact, skin-surface temperature sensors

Numerical simulations have been performed to determine the performance characteristics of direct-contact devices for the measurement of skin-surface temperature. Such devices consist of a thin metallic foil which serves as a heat spreader backed by a foam insulation pad. The sensor, either a miniature thermocouple or thermistor, is adhered to the heat-spreading foil. In practice, such devices operate in the transient mode, and the numerical simulations were performed in that mode. Special focus was given to three relevant parameters which contribute significantly to the accuracy of the temperature measurements: (a) the thickness of the foam pad, (b) the thermal conductivity of the pad material, and (c) the contact resistance between the device and the skin surface. It was found that the presence of the foam pad significantly degraded the accuracy of the measured temperature. Diminishing the thickness or, in the limit, elimination of the pad is believed necessary to enable the device to provide temperatures of acceptable accuracy. An alternative and suitable approach to the achievement of satisfactory accuracy is to use pad materials of higher thermal conductivity than those presently being utilized. With regard to contact resistance, the presence of an air gap between the device and the skin surface of the thickness of a sheet of paper did not cause a significant error in the temperature indicated by the device.

Uterus and endometrium: The effect of local intrauterine levonorgestrel administration on endometrial thickness and uterine blood circulation

To evaluate non-invasively the role of levonorgestrel releasing devices in direct contact with the endometrium on menstrual spotting and endometrium inactivation, we inserted levonorgestrel releasing devices (20 micrograms/24 h) either into the cervical canal or the uterine cavity of 30 fertile women. Both before insertion and over the following 3 months, we used transvaginal sonography to measure the endometrial thickness in 20 of the women and Doppler flow to measure the uterine blood flow in the remaining 10 women. The women were asked to keep records of menstrual bleeding and they gave blood samples for the measurement of serum oestradiol, progesterone and levonorgestrel. By 10 weeks after insertion there was a significant decrease in endometrial thickness in both groups. Intracervical levonorgestrel release allowed the endometrium to maintain cyclic changes, whereas direct intrauterine levonorgestrel release eliminated the cyclical changes. The total number of spotting days was significantly less (P = 0.0249) in the intracervical release group at 3 months; 1.2 +/- 0.6 versus 8.1 +/- 1.8 (mean +/- SE). There were no significant differences in hormone concentrations between the groups. The pulsatility index did not change significantly during the study. We concluded that the inactivation process of the endometrium can be monitored by transvaginal sonography and that locally administered levonorgestrel does not change circulatory conditions detectable by Doppler flow. Our results also suggest that the inactivation process of the endometrium is different between intracervical and intrauterine levonorgestrel administration and may explain the difference in the number of spotting days.