Medical Apparatus Research Articles

Applying lessons from China's Wenchuan earthquake to medical rescue following the Yushu earthquake

AbstractA 7.1‐magnitude earthquake hit China's Qinghai province—4000 meters above sea level, on April 14, 2010, just 702 days after Wenchuan Earthquake. As of 12:00 on April 19, the death toll stood at 1706, with 256 missing and 12,128 injured. West China Hospital (WCH), a regional state‐level hospital of the Ministry of Health, sent a medical team with relief supplies within the first hour after Yushu earthquake and the team rushed to Yushu in the first day participating golden seventy‐two hours rescue effort. The second day after Yushu earthquake, medical apparatuses and drugs valued at 5 million RMB were delivered to the rescue site and the second batch of medical team were positioned. Within 33 hours of the earthquake, 102 people, including 93 with earthquake‐related injuries and 9 armed police with severe altitude sickness, were send to WCH by air in four batches. WCH organized its medical rescue efforts based on first‐hand experience with medical rescue following Wenchuan earthquake, a series of evidence‐based diagnosis and treatment standards, and “four concentration principles,” namely concentrating the wounded, experts, resources, and treatments. Of the 93 cases with earthquake‐related injuries, 54 were seriously wounded, and in the five days immediately following the earthquake, 58 underwent operations and none died. The experience learned from Wenchuan earthquake have been used, improved and sublimated more rapidly, appropriately, and effectively in the Yushu earthquake medical rescue.

Enhancement of keratinolytic activity of a thermophilic subtilase by improving its autolysis resistance and thermostability under reducing conditions

WF146 protease, a thermophilic subtilase from thermophile Bacillus sp. WF146, suffers excessive autolysis in the presence of reducing agents. In this report, two autolytic sites of WF146 protease were modified by site-directed mutagenesis. The introduction of prolines into the autolytic sites increased the autolysis resistance of the enzyme under reducing conditions. The double mutant N63P/A66P displayed a 2.8-fold longer half-life at 80 degrees C and higher hydrolytic activities than wild-type enzyme toward soluble (casein) and insoluble (keratin azure) substrates at high temperatures. In the presence of reducing agents, N63P/A66P was able to degrade feather at 80 degrees C ( approximately 3 h), with hydrolysis efficiency comparable to that of proteinase K at 50 degrees C ( approximately 24 h). Meanwhile, the mutant N63P/A66P had the ability to hydrolyze PrP(Sc)-like prion protein at high temperatures. In virtue of these properties, N63P/A66P is of great interest to be used in recycling of keratinous wastes, such as feather, and disinfection of medical apparatus. In addition, our study may provide useful information needed to explore keratinolytic potential of thermophilic subtilases, even if they are produced by non-keratinolytic microorganisms.

Genipin crosslinked preparation of new peripheral nerve tissue engineered scaffolds and comparison of their biological characteristics

Objective To compare biological properties of ehitosan composite artificial neural type Ⅰ collagen scaffold material cross-linked with ultraviolet rays (UV), genipin (GP) and glutaraldehyde (GTA) in aspects of uhrastrueture, porosity, swelling rate, degradation rate, crosslinking degree and cytotoxicity. Methods (1) According to different cross-linking methods, biomaterials were divided into three groups, ie, UV group, GP group and GTA group. (2)The mierostrueture of three groups was observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) to measure pore size, porosity rate and pore-size distribution. (3)Swelling rate and in vitro degradation rate:the biomaterials were weighed (W_0) after crosslinking and then immersed in culture medium containing 10 ml aseptic phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The samples were drawn from the culture medium after 24 hours, wiped with filter paper to remove excess liquid and weighed (W_1). Swelling rate(%) = W_1-W_0/W_0×100%. The remaining sampies from each group were weighed (W_2) at 4, 8, 12 weeks with the same procedure. Degradation rate (%) = W_1-W_2/W_1×100%. (4)Determination of cross-linking index: 10 samples were prepared from each group, five samples from which were reacted with trinitro-benzen-sulfonic acid(TNBS)and sodium bicarbonate and then were hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid. The absorbance of the diluted solution was measured at 346 nm. The other five samples were prepared by the same procedure, except for hydrochloric acid was added before addition of TNBS, when the absorbance was measured as control (A_(control)). The absorbance after crosslinking:A_(after)=ATNBS-A_(control). Another 10 samples without any crosslinking were detected with the same procedure to measure the absorbance before crosslinking (A_(before)). Crosslinkiag index = (A_(before)-A_(after))/A_(before)×100%. (5) Determination of cytotoxicity : two international standard experimental methods were adopted in the study according to experimental principle of GB/T 16886-ISO 10993 on medical apparatus. L929 fibroblasts of mouse were used for in vitro experimental study of cytotoxicity of modified scaffold. Results The biomaterials without any cross-linking were circular cylinder, with parallel arranged microscopic channel and uniform pore size of 30-120 μm. The pore size of UV group remained basically unchanged, while the pore size in GP group and GTA group was smaller than that in UV group. (2) The porosity rate in GP group and GTA group was higher than that in UV group, but there was no statistical difference between GP group and GTA group. The swelling rate of GP group was higher than that GTA group, which was higher than UV group. (3)The crosslinking index of GP group and GTA group were 55.3% and 82.5%. (4) No statistical difference was found in regard of in vitro degradation rate after GP group and GTA group were put in PBS for4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively. But in vitro degradation rate in UV group was significantly higher than that in GP group and GTA group. (5) Cell culture in GTA group presented partial necrosis, while cells cultured in GP group and UV group grew well. Conclusion Collagen/chitosan scaffolds cross-linked with GP have sound biostability and good biocompatibility and hence are potential alternatives for nerve tissue engineering. Key words: Peripheral nerves; Collagen ; Biocompatible materials; Genipin

Cuidados paliativos no domicílio: desafios aos cuidados de crianças dependentes de tecnologia

OBJETIVOS: Conceituar cuidados paliativos e suas indicacoes em Pediatria; descrever as dificuldades para operacionalizar esses cuidados em domicilio para criancas dependentes de tecnologia; e analisar, sob uma perspectiva bioetica, conflitos de natureza moral com esta modalidade assistencial. FONTES DOS DADOS: Revisao da literatura sobre cuidados paliativos para criancas dependentes de tecnologia e analise bioetica dos conflitos de natureza moral. SINTESE DOS DADOS: Ha varios obstaculos aos cuidados paliativos para criancas dependentes de tecnologia: dificuldades estruturais dos domicilios; isolamento social da crianca e da familia; atitude de descrenca dos profissionais de saude em relacao a este tipo de cuidado; excessiva medicalizacao do domicilio; incerteza do prognostico de terminalidade; sobrecarga fisica, emocional, social, material e financeira dos pais e dos demais familiares; mudancas na organizacao familiar para a convivencia com estas criancas; relacoes paternalistas entre os profissionais da equipe e a familia; redefinicao dos papeis familiares, com reconfiguracao do papel do cuidador. CONCLUSOES: E fundamental a construcao de uma agenda que tenha como premissa que o suporte tecnologico para criancas dependentes ira transformar o domicilio, e que essa transformacao podera fazer parte dos problemas a serem enfrentados pelos que nele convivem. E a partir deste pressuposto que acoes em uma geografia distinta da hospitalar poderao ter um carater de fato protetor a crianca e a sua familia, amparando-os nas suas variadas necessidades e construindo um modelo de cuidados que proponha intervencoes nos distintos niveis de sobrecarga a estes atores vulnerados e desprotegidos.

In vitro secretion of TNF-α from bone marrow mononuclear cells incubated on amino group modified TiO2 nano-composite under ultrasound irradiation

Abstract It is recently known that titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) can be excited by ultrasound and release of OH radicals on the surface. In this study, secretion of an indirect angiogenic factor, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), from bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) incubated on amino group modified TiO 2 nano-particles covalently coated on polyester fabric (TiO 2 /PET) under ultrasonic irradiation was examined in vitro . The cell viability and TNF-α secretion were measured under ultrasound irradiation condition with 255 mW/cm 2 of intensity, which is below the highest output (1 W/cm 2 ) specified in the safety standard for a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. The living cell number on the TiO 2 /PET and original PET with/without continuous ultrasound irradiation was unchanged statistically by ANOVA test. TNF-α secretion level from BM-MNC remarkably increased on the TiO 2 /PET under ultrasonic irradiation without cell damage. It was, therefore, thought that the high level of TNF-α secretion on the TiO 2 nano-composite by ultrasound irradiation was due to oxidative stress induced from OH radicals on TiO 2 .

A New Measurement Method of a Radial Pulse Wave Using Multiple Hall Array Devices

This study investigated the radial pulse waveform obtained by a medical pulsimeter sensor. A pulse-sensing part array consisting of multiple Hall devices was located over a skin-contacting part with a hard magnetic material. The periodic movement of the magnetic material of the skin-contacting part affected the magnetic field in the pulse-sensing part array and was detected by multiple Hall devices. The analysis of a radial pulse waveform that is measured noninvasively by detecting the changes of the magnetic field can be used to develop a new diagnostic algorithm of oriental medical apparatus.

New developments of scientific and medical apparatus at S A Zverev Krasnogorsk Factory

The scientific and analytical apparatus developed and produced at the FNPTs OAO S. A. Zverev Krasnogorsk Factory is intended for studies in various areas of science, engineering, and industry. These include electron microscopes, x-ray microanalyzers, apparatus for recording fast processes, and laser elemental analyzers. The factory has also developed and produced various optical items for medical purposes: floor-type binocular colposcopes, sets of medical devices for proctology, rectoscopy, and pediatric gynecology, and solid-state laser noncontact perforators. Devices have been developed for ophthalmology, slit lamps with digital recording, binocular magnifiers for microsurgery, and other products for medical purposes.

Taking a look at the characteristics of the diagnostic methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) from the periodical literature in the republican period of China

Compiling 198 pieces of literature related to TCM diagnostic method in 210 kinds of medical periodicals during the republican period of China, they can be divided into three categories by different characteristics: theoretical research, popular common sense, works and lectures etc. Taking a look at the contents of the articles, there were 74 pieces of comprehensive literature (37%) 20 pieces of inspection literatures (10%) 6 pieces of auscultation and olefaction literature (3%) 11 pieces of inquiry literature (6%) 87 pieces of palpation literature (44%) Pulse diagnosis is a traditional distinguishing diagnostic method which involves much research. The literature on pulse diagnosis was in the majority The articles about theoretical research mostly explained the TCM principles with western medical knowledge and advocated diagnosing the disease with western medical apparatus, which was the characteristic of that time.

Cytocompatibility of modified a-C:H film deposited on complicated polymeric medical apparatus

In this study, in order to biologically evaluate the surface condition of the a-C:H film which was deposited on a complicated polymeric medical apparatus by using rf plasma chemical vapor deposition technique with a special three-dimensional-type electrode, we have investigated the cytocompatibility to the a-C:H film with and without plasma post-treatment. The a-C:H film surface was modified with argon (Ar) and oxygen (O2) plasma post-treatment to change the surface condition of the a-C:H film. The effects of the plasma post-treatment of a-C:H film deposited on a complicated object were estimated by using an Ar-laser Raman microscopy (Raman), a wettability measurement, a x-ray photoelectron spectrometer, and an atomic force microscopy. Additionally, the cellular adhesions of a-C:H film with and without plasma post-treatments were carried out under cell culture by in vitro studies. As results, The surface properties of a-C:H film on a complicated polymeric medical apparatus were controlled by surface modifications with Ar and O2 plasma post-treatment. Additionally, the cell cultures by in vitro studies have shown good cell growth on all the a-C:H film surface. Moreover, it was observed that cellular growth/adhesion was controlled by surface conditions of the a-C:H film with and without plasma post-treatments.

Prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma complicating chronic hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection accounts for most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Japan and is the second major cause in many other countries. Development of HCC takes a considerable time after onset of HCV infection, between 20-40 years in most cases, and usually develops after cirrhosis is established. Although only a minority of HCV infections reach this stage, the high prevalence of chronic HCV infection in many countries (1-3%) is such that HCC related to HCV infection poses a significant public health issue 20-50 years after the onset of HCV epidemics. Due to advances in testing, and accessibility of clean, disposable medical apparatus including syringes and needles, and particularly screening of donor blood for anti-HCV and by nucleic acid testing, new cases of HCV infection have decreased in most countries, except for continued transmission by injection drug users (IDU). A key difference between HBV and HCV infection is that HCV can be eradicated by effective antiviral treatment. Sustained eradication of HCV reverses hepatic fibrosis, thereby preventing progression to cirrhosis and risk of HCC. Further, it has been well demonstrated that interferon-based antiviral therapy suppresses development of HCC in high-risk patients, particularly when sustained viral response (SVR) is obtained. In summary, the two key approaches to prevent development of HCV-related HCC are primary prevention of HCV infection (adequate programs to screen donor blood, universal precautions to stop medical transmission of blood-borne viruses, curbing transmission by IDU) and potent antiviral therapy of chronic HCV infection.

An Automatic Device for Testing Medical Electrodes

The resolution of medical electrographic apparatus� es depends on the human biopotential electrode noise and noise of the monitoring system. Noise of the monitoring system within certain fre� quency ranges is reduced to 10�100 nV. This reduction is due to reduction of electronic circuitry noise. Human biopotential electrode noise should also meet stringent requirements. In ideal case, the monitoring system noise is negligi�

Calibration of medical x-ray apparatus with deformation

Calibration of the x-ray apparatus is necessary for many applications. Most of the literature on the calibration of x-ray apparatus seem to ignore the imaging deformation. Our main concern is how to apply Tsai's nonlinear camera calibration technique to the calibration of a medical x-ray apparatus with deformation. In order to achieve this goal, two key problems should be solved: The first is how to calibrate some key intrinsic parameters, namely, the imaging center and sampling step of the detector, which are usually provided by the camera manufacturer but are unknown for the x-ray apparatus. The second is how to model the serious imaging deformation. Some practical schema are designed to solve these two problems, and the whole calibration procedure and experimental results are presented.

Asymptotic flow profiles for incompressible flows with a periodic pressure gradient

Understanding stress variations in pulsating flows due to periodic pressure gradients is fundamentally significant for the design and optimization of various medical apparatuses and for understanding biological phenomena. Oscillating flows have been dealt analytically and experimentally in great detail in the past. In this paper, a three-dimensional lattice boltzmann model is used to simulate the pulsating flows in a rectangular duct due to low, moderate, and high periodic pressure gradients. Asymptotic forms for velocity (valid for high frequencies) valid in different regions of the channel have been matched with the analytical results. The evolution of annular effects in the flow along with the Stokesian layer characteristics have been followed. Stress analysis at different points of the wall of the duct has been carried out to show regions of high stress and stress rates.

Proposal of switching power amplifier using small‐capacity linear amplifier and LC filter

AbstractHigh efficiency and low noise in output voltage and current are required in audio‐video equipment, medical apparatus, and many other applications. This paper proposes a power amplifier in which a PWM inverter is used as the main circuit. In the proposed power amplifier, a hybrid filter consisting of a simple conventional type LC filter and a small‐capacity linear amplifier is connected to the inverter output. The linear amplifier is inserted in series to the filter capacitor to improve the filtering effect of the LC filter. Switching ripples and LC resonances are considerably suppressed by controlling the amplifier using the proposed method, thus implementing a low‐distortion switching power amplifier. The effects of the proposal circuit are verified by simulation and experiments. As a result, the proposed circuit achieves low noise about THD=0.68% in simulation and THD=1.5% in experiment. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 91(10): 1–10, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10161

Development of Micro Forceps and Implementation for Medical Apparatus

Laparoscopic forceps and catheters enabling minimally invasive surgery (MIS) require microscopic tools. The microforceps we designed using a minimum number of parts use metal injection molding (MIM) to realize strong mass production. Microforceps installed in the tip of a catheter. Stress analysis verified its capability to grasp, bend and turn within the confines of a blood vessels model.

Apparatus for screening and diagnosing by dual stethoscopic and Doppler detection

The invention concerns an apparatus for early screening of cardiovascular diseases through dual stethoscopic and Doppler detection with means ensuring coherence between the two types of detection. According the invention, the medical screening and diagnosis apparatus comprises a sound transmitting linking conduit (3, 33) connected, on one end, to a housing (100) forming at least partly an ear trumpet (1') provided with a membrane (2), and, on the other end, at least an earphone (4) for listening to a stethoscopic signal from the ear trumpet (1'). The invention is characterized in that the housing (100) of the apparatus contains at least an ultrasound probe (8) designed to enable convergence of reception of the ultrasonic and stethoscopic signals. The probe is connected to a transducer processing circuit (37) capable of supplying, from a Doppler signal, an audio signal by coupling the processing circuit to a loudspeaker (34) in contact with the ear trumpet for stethoscopic-type listening, and a video signal by coupling the processing circuit (37) to display means (39) to provide visual information.

LED 광원이 Rat의 피부 창상 치유에 미치는 영향

We developed the 4-channel Light Medical Therapy Apparatus for Skin Injury Cure using a high brightness LED. This equipment was fabricated using a micro-controller and a high brightness LED, and designed to enable us to control light irradiation time, intensity and reservation. In this paper, the designed device was used to find out how high brightness LED light affects the skin injury of SD-Rat(Sprague-Dawley Rat). In the experiment, <TEX>$1\;cm^2$</TEX> wounds on the skin injury of SD-Rat(Sprague-Dawley Rat) were made. Light irradiation group and none light irradiation group divided, each group was irradiated one hour a day for 14 days. In result, compared with none light irradiation group, the lower incidence of inflammation and faster recovery was shown in light irradiation group.

Medical apparatuses based on gas lasers

Medical laser apparatuses available from Plasma, Ltd., are reviewed. The effects of therapeutic physical factors provided by these apparatuses on the pathological processes in human body are concisely described. Technical characteristics of the apparatuses are specified.

Adhesion Behavior of WC Coating Deposited on Titanium Alloy by Electrospark Deposition

Electro-spark deposition process is widely applied in many fields, such as aviation industry, space technology, energy industry, nuclear reactor and medical apparatus and instruments industry due to its low-heat input, little distortion in base, and easy operation. At present time, a lot of investigations have been done and a lot of results obtained, but there are still a lot of things to be done in the theoretical investigation. For this reason, the forming principle of spot and the adhesion of electrode and the interface behavior have been investigated in this article. When WC electrode was used to deposit TC1 substrate, the adhesion of electrode, which affects the transferring process, was investigated and analyzed. Adhesion, which often produces a thin layer of mixture on the surface of the WC electrode, in the adhesion layer metallurgy reaction occurs and TiC new phase forms.

Évaluation des interactions d’une personne avec des dispositifs pour le suivi autonome de sa santé à domicile

With the development of telemedicine, new medical devices – smaller, autonomous, easier to use in residence by the patients themselves – appear on the market. But, in residence, the users generally have less precise gestures and limited amplitudes of movements. Consequently the devices must be designed to be simple, ergonomic, and their use “instinctive”, without long and tiresome training. The classical tests of precision and safety of the medical apparatuses must thus include additional tests, taking into account the human component and highlighting all the details and mechanisms envisaged for this purpose. This paper proposes a protocol for the data acquisition and the analysis of the results in the evaluation of the interactions of a person with devices intended for automeasurement of health parameters in residence. It consists in the observation of the user in field trial, followed by a semi-directed interview. A concrete case is analysed, with the evaluation of a blood pressure sensor intended for a use in telemedicine.