Velcro Straps Research Articles

A surface mold using iridium-192 seeds

A radioactive mold for treating skin was constructed by embedding ribbons of iridium-192 seeds in bolus material. The mold was designed to match the treatment area outlined on the patient's skin. Computer-assisted pre-planning was performed to optimize the seed strength, number of seeds, and spacing of ribbons. An outline of the treatment area was transferred to the surface of a uniform slab of tissue-equivalent bolus material 13 to 1.4 cm thick and planned locations for the ribbons were marked. Seeds were loaded into the bolus material at a depth to place the sources approximately 1.0 cm from the skin. The resulting mold was flexible enough to conform to the patient's skin and the seeds were so tightly confined within the bolus that there was no possibility of loss. Isodose distributions for the mold on a flat surface agreed well with preplans. A velcro strap and neck collar were used to attach the mold to the anterior portion of the patient's neck. For situations in which radioactive surface applicators are desirable, the use of iridium-192 seeds offers uniform dose within a highly individualized treatment area.

Increasing accuracy of coronal tongue imaging using ultrasound

Coronal tongue images made using ultrasound have been limited by lack of precision in transducer placement. To improve precision and accuracy of data collection, especially in the coronal plane, a transducer holder and a head holder have been developed. The transducer holder maintains the transducer at a specified submental location in either the sagittal or coronal plane. Beam angulation is determined relative to the mandibular rami. An acoustic standoff prevents transducer interference with mandibular movement. The head holder consists of three cup‐shaped cushions attached to the back of a dental chair which form a triangular support against the posterior head. A Velcro strap, placed around the head, is tightened by means of an eccentric. The head holder also contains a removable arm which can hold up to three strain gauge transducers allowing simultaneous lip and jaw measurements to be made. With increased instrumental accuracy, more subtle tongue shape comparisons can be made. The effects of coarticulation on midsagittal tongue groove, as seen coronally in /sVs/ and /pVp/ context will be presented at several transducer angles.

Brief or new: two pronation splints.

For two years we have made pronation splints to assist quadriplegic patients who lack adequate forearm pronation but who have enough upper extremity strength to feed themselves and perform other self-care or functional activities. We have found the splints to be an appropriate alternative to the MAS. The first pronation splint fits underneath the arm, is simple in design and fabrication, and is hidden. However, occasionally the lever of the splint hangs up in the shirt, catches on the post of the wheelchair, or slips out from underneath the arm when the patient reaches away from the body. To eliminate these problems, we designed a second splint. But, this splint requires more time to make and adjust, has two parts to put on instead of one, and is more noticeable because it is worn on top of the arm rather than underneath it. When a patient uses either splint, the degree of pronation may be adjusted according to the activity by slightly rotating the splint either way when strapping it on. For example, full pronation may be required for feeding, but only half the range is necessary to operate the keyboard of a computer or typewriter. Once the Velcro straps are applied, the splints do not slip. The splints are not interchangeable from left to right and assistance is always needed to put them on. For patients with "weak" or "absent" wrist extensors, a wrist support and cuff splint may be used along with the pronation splint or a universal cuff, if wrist extension is adequate. The pronation splints are appropriate for those patients whose forearms supinate when they reach their hand to or near their mouth.

Capacitive transducer for continuous measurement of vertical foot force.

A capacitive transducer is developed which continuously measures the vertical component of foot forces during walking. The transducer is shaped like an insole and consists of two subtransducer units, the front and rear. The outputs of the two units are summed to give the total force exerted by the foot. Each unit has a multilayered structure. The basic layer is a 2 mm Neoprene sponge sheet sandwiched by two 50 μm copper foils. They as a whole form a capacitor. The other two layers are a driving shield and static shield, which minimise the effect of stray capacitance and power-line noise, respectively. The transducer is thin (3·8 mm), light (90 g) and flexible and so does not hinder the natural gait pattern. It can be attached to the sale of the shoe easily by elastic bands and Velcro straps. The accuracy of the transducer is well within ±10 per cent of the full scale. An error analysis is made to clarify the change in sensitivity owing to a localised foad. The results are used to compensate for the inherent nonlinearity of the transducer units.

Motion-induced alterations in 2-deoxyglucose uptake in brainstem nuclei of squirrel monkeys: autoradiographic and liquid scintillation studies.

Each of 8 young adult female squirrel monkeys were injected via a femoral vein cannula with 167 microCi/100 g body weight of 2-(1,2-3H)-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) (New England Nuclear, 37.3 Ci/mmol) in 0.5 ml sterile saline. 4 additional female squirrel monkeys were injected in the same manner with 100 microCi/100 g body weight of the (3H)-2-DG. 2 h after this initial injection the original 8 animals were injected with 16.7 microCi/100 g body weight of 2-(1-14C)-deoxy-D-glucose (51.3 mCi/mmol) in 0.5 ml sterile saline. The 4 additional animals were injected with 25 microCi/100 g body weight of the (14C)-2-DG. Half of the animals each dose level were restrained in the upright position with Velcro straps and a nontraumatic moulded plastic head holder on a modified animal restraint board [Withrow and Devine, 1972] with the head in the sagittal plane but tilted forward about 20 degrees. They were then subjected to horizontal rotary motion at 25 rpm together with a vertical movement of 6 inches at 0.5 Hz for 1 h in a lighted room. The other half of the animals at each dose were restrained in the same manner and maintained in a quiescent state. At the end of this period each animal was anesthetized with ketamine, and the brain was quickly dissected out and frozen in isopentane cooled to -60 degrees C with dry ice. Transverse cryostat sections (-15 degrees C) of the brainstem were cut alternately at 200 and 20 microns from the nucleus gracilis caudally through the superior vestibular nucleus rostrally. Micropunch samples of the individual vestibular nuclei, and other brainstem nuclei and areas were obtained from the 200-microns sections with a modification of the method of Eik-Nes and Brizzee with a small stainless steel punch measuring 850 microns in diameter. The frozen punch samples were prepared for liquid scintillation counting (Beckman LS7500 system). Differential (3H) and (14C) counts (cpm) were made employing external standards. The 20-microns sections were prepared for 14C autoradiography by standard methods employing Kodak SB-5 X-ray film. The (14C) autoradiographs from the motion-stimulated animals revealed a selectively high uptake of 2-DG in all of the vestibular nuclei, the lateral cuneate nucleus and the lateral reticular nucleus as compared with the corresponding structures in the control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

New concept in backboard design

Many commercial backboards have design flaws that make them difficult to use in vertical lifting and when bucket seats are present. Some also have a chin strap that permits aspiration of vomitus. A tapered board with Velcro straps and a new head immobilization design was developed to resolve these difficulties. It has been used successfully for six years at automobile race tracks and two years in the field by ambulance personnel.