White LED Lamp Research Articles

Photobiocidal Activity of TiO2/UHMWPE Composite Activated by Reduced Graphene Oxide under White Light.

Herein, we introduce a photobiocidal surface activated by white light. The photobiocidal surface was produced through thermocompressing a mixture of titanium dioxide (TiO2), ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) powders. A photobiocidal activity was not observed on UHMWPE-TiO2. However, UHMWPE-TiO2@rGO exhibited potent photobiocidal activity (>3-log reduction) against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli bacteria after a 12 h exposure to white light. The activity was even more potent against the phage phi 6 virus, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate, with a >5-log reduction after 6 h exposure to white light. Our mechanistic studies showed that the UHMWPE-TiO2@rGO was activated only by UV light, which accounts for 0.31% of the light emitted by the white LED lamp, producing reactive oxygen species that are lethal to microbes. This indicates that adding rGO to UHMWPE-TiO2 triggered intense photobiocidal activity even at shallow UV flux levels.

How different daily light integrals and spectral treatments influence the development of Valerianella locusta plants grown in an indoor vertical farm

Light plays a crucial role in the development and growth rate of crops by impacting their physiology, morphology as well as the electricity cost for the system's operation which can significantly jeopardize the viability of a commercial-scale system. Different crops have different lighting demands in terms of quality (spectrum), quantity (intensity) and duration (photoperiod). At the same time only a little information is available in the literature concerning the minimum lighting requirements for indoor horticulture. This research aims to define the optimal combination of photoperiod, photosynthetically photon flux density (PPFD) and spectrum for indoor cultivation of Valerianella locusta plants by linking light and energy use efficiency to physiological responses of chlorophyll content and biomass production under different daily light integrals (DLI). Plants were cultivated in two growing towers with three layers of cultivation area under white LED lamps (WHITE) and two identical growing towers with three layers of cultivation area under blue/green/red/far-red lamps (BGRFR). The experimental setup is comprised of three different photoperiods (16, 14, 12 h · d−1) and three different PPFD (150, 250 and 350 μmol/m2s1), resulting in five daily light integrals (8.6, 10.8, 12.6, 14.4, 20.2 mol· m−2 · d−1). All growing towers and layers were equipped with a close-loop Ebb & Flow hydroponic system. Based on data analysis, spectra selection seems to have a significant impact on chlorophyll content, while lower DLIs did not correlate with lower chlorophyll content. The chlorophyll content was found to be similar either the plants received longer daily light hours or/and higher light intensity. Additionally, plants that grew under DLI 10.8 and 12.6 mol/m2d1 resulted in significantly higher fresh and dry biomass while at the same time required significantly lower electricity requirements due to the reduced hours of artificial lighting (14 and 12 h· d−1 respectively). Accordingly, light operation for Valerianella locusta plants under PPFD of 250 μmol/m2s1, 14 h of photoperiod and BGRFR spectra selection could be characterized as optimal for indoor cultivation to optimize the use of resources and ensure high-yield production, considering the specific setup of the cultivation system.

Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna Design and Analysis with White LED Lamp, Red and Infra-red LEDs

Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna Design and Analysis with White LED Lamp, Red and Infra-red LEDs

Light pre-conditioning at the seedling stage affected root growth behavior and enhanced the thermotolerance of Petunia × hybrida

An investigation studied the impact of spectral composition on plant responses to heat stress. Petunia × hybrida seedlings were grown under nine different light qualities, including the modifying and constant compositions of blue and red LEDs light, as well as Fluorescent and white LED lamps. After 28 days, the seedlings were exposed to hyperthermia (40 °C / 35 °C, 4 days). The results showed that the highest survival rate (100 %), and the lowest leaf chlorotic area (14 %) were observed among seedlings grown under modifying spectral compositions with a gradual increase in red light, which also showed the highest change rate of increased Chl a/ b ratio (262 %) and lowest change rate of increased total Chl/ Car ratio (45 %). Furthermore, seedlings grown under a gradual increase in red light showed the highest relative water content (82 %) and the lowest change rate of root water content (1.2 %). Moreover, the highest proline and lignin contents, along with the lowest electrolyte leakage, 7.22 µg g−1 FW, 104 mg g−1 FW, and 25 %, respectively, were observed in seedlings exposed to a gradual increase in red light after heat stress compared to other lighting treatments. Also, after heat stress, seedlings grown under a gradual increase in red light showed the highest contents of studied enzymatic antioxidants. Our investigation highlighted a link between spectral composition during the seedling stage and heat stress tolerance of examined plants. This method can potentially prepare plant material during the propagation stage against extreme temperatures.

Multi-color luminescence of Sm3+ -doped Na2 YMg2 V3 O12 phosphor potentially applicable in white-LEDs.

A novel multi-color emitting Na2 YMg2 V3 O12 :Sm3+ phosphor was synthesized using a solid-state reaction, and its crystal structure, luminescence properties, and thermal stability were studied. Charge transfer within the (VO4 )3- groups in the Na2 YMg2 V3 O12 host led to a broad emission band between 400 and 700 nm, with a maximum at 530 nm. The Na2 Y1-x Mg2 V3 O12 :xSm3+ phosphors exhibited a multi-color emission band under 365 nm near-ultraviolet (near-UV) light, consisting of the green emission of the (VO4 )3- groups and sharp emission peaks at 570 nm (yellow), 618 nm (orange), 657 nm (red), and 714 nm (deep red) of Sm3+ ions. The optimal doping concentration of Sm3+ ions was found to be 0.05 mol%, and the dipole-dipole (d-d) interaction was primarily responsible for the concentration quenching phenomenon. Using the acquired Na2 YMg2 V3 O12 :Sm3+ phosphors, commercial BaMgAl10 O17 :Eu2+ blue phosphor, and a near-UV light-emitting diode (LED) chip, a white-LED lamp was designed and packaged. It produced bright neutral white light, manifesting a CIE coordinate of (0.314, 0.373), a color rendering index (CRI) of 84.9, and a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 6377 K. These findings indicate the potential of Na2 YMg2 V3 O12 :Sm3+ phosphor to be used as a multi-color component for solid-state illumination.

Visible Light-Mediated Inactivation of H1N1 Virus UsingPolymer-Based Heterojunction Photocatalyst.

It is well known that viruses cannot replicate on their own but only inside the cells of target tissues in the organism, resulting in the destruction of the cells or, in some cases, their transformation into cancer cells. While viruses have relatively low resistance in the environment, their ability to survive longer is based on environmental conditions and the type of substrate on which they are deposited. Recently, the potential for safe and efficient viral inactivation by photocatalysis has garnered increasing attention. In this study, the Phenyl carbon nitride/TiO2 heterojunction system, a hybrid organic-inorganic photocatalyst, was utilized to investigate its effectiveness in degrading the flu virus (H1N1). The system was activated by a white-LED lamp, and the process was tested on MDCK cells infected with the flu virus. The results of the study demonstrate the hybrid photocatalyst's ability to cause the virus to degrade, highlighting its effectiveness for safe and efficient viral inactivation in the visible light range. Additionally, the study underscores the advantages of using this hybrid photocatalyst over traditional inorganic photocatalysts, which typically only work in the ultraviolet range.

Ultra-small Stokes shift induced thermal robust efficient blue-emitting alkaline phosphate phosphors for LWUV WLEDs

High power phosphor converted light emitting diodes (pc-LED) are thought to be the next generation technology for lighting and high-tech electronics applications. To achieve optimal luminous efficiency, maximal color gamut and stable color reproducibility, the discovery of high efficient phosphor materials with suitable excitation matching, narrow band emission and robust thermal stability is essential. Herein, we design and construct a new family of alkaline phosphate phosphors ANa3Mg7(PO4)6:Eu2+ (ANMP:Eu2+, A = K, Rb and Cs) with rigid diamond-like chain structure. The results indicates that ANMP:Eu2+(A = K, Rb and Cs) phosphors exhibit ultra-small Stokes shift and efficient blue emission (λmax = 444–465 nm) with high internal quantum efficiency (IQE = 83.2%, 90.6% and 93.4% for A = K, Rb and Cs), narrow full width at half maximum (FWHM∼50 nm) and low thermal quenching (87.5%, 96.5% and 84.2%@140 °C for A = K, Rb and Cs), which demonstrate to have higher colorful purity, wider color gamut and better wavelength applicability for using in long-wavelength near ultraviolet (LWUV) LEDs, compared with the traditional commercially available blue phosphor BaMgAl10O17:Eu2+ (BAM:Eu2+). The Eu2+ site preferences and thermal quenching mechanism are studied in detail. Moreover, the in situ temperature dependent Raman spectra and density function theory (DFT) are employed to get better comprehensions of the relationship between crystal-electronic structures and luminescent properties from experiment and calculation, which will provide a good guidance for develop new phosphors with high QE and excellent thermal stability. Finally, utilizing the title phosphors, white LED lamps are fabricated with high color rendering index and an appropriate correlated color temperature. Therefore, all the results demonstrate that the blue-emitting phosphor ANMP:Eu2+ (A = Cs, K, Rb) has great potential for applications in high power LWUV pumped pc-LEDs.

Применение освещения различного спектрального диапазона при клональном микроразмножении лесных ягодных растений

Creation of plantations of the most popular species of forest berry plants with high nutritional and medicinal value is advisable in connection with the reduction of such natural resources and the increased demand for berry products, as well as for the biological reclamation of depleted peat deposits. The paper shows the research results of clonal micropropagation of forest berry plants (cranberry, American cranberry, half-high blueberry, Arctic bramble, lingonberry, Kamchatka bilberry) of promising cultivars and forms using various types of lighting (white LED lamps, LED lamps with a combination of white, red and blue spectra, as well as white fluorescent lamps). Plants were cultivated using WPM and MS nutrient media with the addition of cytokinins 2-iP and 6-BAP in various concentrations. The largest number (3.3–16.9 pcs) and the maximum total length (13.8–251.1 cm) of microshoots of cranberry (Dar Kostromy cultivar, hybrid form 1-15-635), American cranberry (Ben Lear cultivar, hybrid form 1-23-3), Arctic bramble (Anna cultivar, hybrid form K-1), lingonberry (Kostromskaya rozovaya and Rubin cultivars) and Kamchatka bilberry (Sakhalinskaya and Kurilskaya forms) were observed under lighting by LED lamps with a combination of white, red and blue spectra at the “proper micropropagation” stage. The formation of the largest number (13.1 pcs) and the maximum length (98.7 cm) of microshoots of half-high blueberry (Northblue cultivar, hybrid form 23-1-11) was observed under lighting by white fluorescent lamps. There were no significant differences in biometric parameters of plants under different types of lighting depending on cultivars and forms. The use of LED lamps with a combination of white, red and blue spectra has a significant effect on the formation of microshoots of forest berry plants during clonal micropropagation. For citation: Makarov S.S., Upadyshev M.T., Kuznetsova I.B., Zaushintsena A.V., Kulikova E.I., Surina E.A. The Use of Lighting of Various Spectral Ranges for Clonal Micropropagation of Forest Berry Plants. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2022, no. 6, pp. 82–93. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2022-6-82-93

Energy-efficient production of vaccine protein against porcine edema disease from transgenic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

The development of functional protein production systems using transgenic plants as hosts has been rapidly progressing in recent years. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) has been studied as one such host, and it has been reported that the biomass of lettuce per area and target protein expression level can be increased by optimizing the cultivation conditions. Therefore, we investigated methods to minimize the input light energy per target protein to reduce production costs. Herein, we examined the yield of a nontoxic B subunit of Stx2e (Stx2eB) from transgenic lettuce under various cultivation conditions. Stx2eB acts as a vaccine against swine edema disease. The effects of photon flux densities (PPFDs), photoperiod, and light source on Stx2eB production were examined and the findings suggested that 400 μmol m−2 s−1, 24 h, and white LED lamps, respectively, contributed to energy-efficient Stx2eB production. In addition, Stx2eB was produced 1.4 times more efficiently per unit area time using a high plant density (228.5 plants m−2) than a common density (30.4 plants m−2). The findings of the present study can facilitate the development of energy-efficient and low-cost production processes for vaccine protein production, considering temporal and spatial perspectives.

Biological/metal oxide composite transport layers cast from green solvents for boosting light harvesting response of organic photovoltaic cells indoors

Organic solar cells with biological/metal–oxide electron transport layers (ETLs), consisting of a ZnO compact layer covered by a thin DNA layer, both of which deposited with green solvents (water or water/alcohols mixtures) are presented for application under low intensity indoor lighting. Under white LED lamp (200, 400 lx), photovoltaic cells with P3HT:PC70BM polymer semiconductor blends delivered an average maximum power density (MPD) of 8.7 μW cm−2, corresponding to a power conversion efficiency, PCE, of = 8.56% (PCE of best cell was 8.74%). The ZnO/DNA bilayer boosted efficiency by 68% and 13% in relative terms compared to cells made with DNA-only and ZnO-only ETLs at 400 lx. Photovoltaic cells with ZnO/DNA composite ETLs based on PTB7:PC70BM blends, that absorb a broader range of the indoor lighting spectrum, delivered MPDs of 16.2 μW cm−2 with an estimated average PCE of 14.3% (best cell efficiency of 15.8%) at 400 lx. The best efficiencies for cells fabricated on flexible plastic substrates were 11.9% at 400 lx. This is the first report in which polymer photovoltaics incorporating biological materials have shown to increment performance at these low light levels and work very efficiently under indoor artificial light illumination. The finding can be useful for the production of more bio-compatible photovoltaics as well as bio-sensing devices based on organic semiconductors.

Led enhance the growth characteristics and affects the ex vitro aclimatization of sugarcane

The proper selection and optimization of light and gas-permeable membranes in the culture flasks, can benefit plant quality and improve ex vitro acclimatization capacity. The objective was to compare the morpho-physiological responses of in vitro sugarcane plants in different LEDs and sealing flask types and their impact in ex vitro acclimatization. Plants previously established in vitro were used and inoculated in flasks sealed with rigid caps with or without gas-porous membranes, and maintained in growth room (25 ± 2 ºC, 16 h photoperiod, and 72 μmol m-2s-1 irradiance from LEDs (white, blue/red, blue or red). At 62 days of in vitro cultivation growth and physiological parameters were evaluated. Blue/red LEDs and flasks without gas-porous membranes provided a higher number of shoots and blue LEDs a higher plant height. We observed greater number of leaves per clump in blue/red LED, and length of the largest root in flasks without gas-porous membranes. Red LEDs provided higher shoot fresh mass and the plants under blue and white LEDs had higher root fresh mass, being the same performance observed in shoot and root dry mass. The highest content of chlorophyll a and carotenoids was observed in plants kept in flasks without membranes and blue and red LEDs. The highest percentage of plant acclimatization were cultured under white LEDs (85%), and blue/red LEDs (70%).For this, to produce sugarcane in vitro, we suggest the use of culture flasks whitout membranes and blue/red or white LED lamps, as they provide more hardening plants standing out in excellent acclimatization of cultures. Index terms: Light-emitting diodes; Saccharum officinarum; gas-permeable membranes; natural ventilation.

Time-Course of Changes in Photosynthesis and Secondary Metabolites in Canola (Brassica napus) Under Different UV-B Irradiation Levels in a Plant Factory With Artificial Light.

This study aimed to evaluate short-duration (24 h) UV-B irradiation as a preharvest abiotic stressor in canola plants. Moreover, we quantified the expression levels of genes related to bioactive compounds synthesis in response to UV-B radiation. Canola seedlings were cultivated in a plant factory under artificial light (200 μmol m–2 s–1 photosynthetic photon flux density; white LED lamps; 16 h on/8 h off), 25°C/20°C daytime/nighttime air temperature, and 70% relative humidity. Eighteen days after sowing, the seedlings were subjected to supplemental UV-B treatment. The control plants received no UV-B irradiation. The plants were exposed to 3, 5, or 7 W m–2 UV-B irradiation. There were no significant differences in shoot fresh weight between the UV-B-irradiated and control plants. With increasing UV-B irradiation intensity and exposure time, the H2O2 content gradually increased, the expression levels of genes related to photosynthesis downregulated, and phenylpropanoid and flavonoid production, and also total phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant, and anthocyanin concentrations were significantly enhanced. The genes related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis were immediately upregulated after UV-B irradiation. The relative gene expression patterns identified using qRT-PCR corroborated the variations in gene expression that were revealed using microarray analysis. The time point at which the genes were induced varied with the gene location along the biosynthetic pathway. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a temporal difference between the accumulation of antioxidants and the induction of genes related to the synthesis of this compound in UV-B-treated canola plants. Our results demonstrated that short-term UV-B irradiation could augment antioxidant biosynthesis in canola without sacrificing crop yield or quality.

One-Pot Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped TiO2 with Supported Copper Nanocrystalline for Photocatalytic Environment Purification under Household White LED Lamp.

Developing efficient and cheap photocatalysts that are sensitive to indoor light is promising for the practical application of photocatalysis technology. Here, N-doped TiO2 photocatalyst with loaded Cu crystalline cocatalyst is synthesized by a simple one-pot method. The structure is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, which exhibit that Cu metal nanocrystalline is uniformly deposited on the surface of N-doped TiO2 material. UV-Vis absorption spectra illustrate that the modified samples possess favorable visible light absorption properties and suppressed-electron hole separation. The as-fabricated Cu-loaded N-TiO2 materials show high activity in photocatalytic decomposing isopropanol and inactivating E. coli under the irradiation of a household white LED lamp. The developed synthetic strategy and photocatalytic materials reported here are promising for indoor environment purification.

Nutrient removal efficiency using microalgae in different photoperiod cycles, combined with constructed wetland in a wastewater treatment plant

This research evaluates the removal of nutrients by microalgae in different photoperiod cycles, combined with constructed wetland in the wastewater treatment plant of the University of Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil. The treatment used took place between July and December 2018 and consisted of the following steps: preliminary treatment, secondary treatment with an anaerobic reactor, microalgae tank (MT), sand filter and constructed wetland, using the macrophyte Chrysopogon zizanioides. In the microalgae tank, three light cycles were considered: 12h/12h, 24h and 18h/06h, whose lighting was powered by a white LED lamp of 9 Watts and 6000 Kelvin, regulated by a light controller. The results indicated that there were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the values of soluble phosphorus, ammoniacal nitrogen, COD and BOD for MT comparing the three photoperiod cycles (12h/12h, 24h and 18h/06h). However, the system setup removed 100% of total coliforms, E. coli and TSS in the three light cycles. Regarding the removal of nutrients and organic matter, the light cycle with the best performance was the 24-hour cycle, considering a removal of 67.6% for soluble phosphorus, 94.0% for ammoniacal nitrogen, 63.7% for COD and 42, 7% for BOD, at the end of the treatment process. These results demonstrate that the use of microalgae in combination with constructed wetland has greater efficiency in the removal of nutrients, mainly phosphorus and nitrogen, in addition to reducing physical-chemical parameters and eliminating effluent toxicity.
 Keywords: light cycles, microalgae tank, wastewater treatment plant.

Nutrient removal efficiency using microalgae in different photoperiod cycles, combined with constructed wetland in a wastewater treatment plant

This research evaluates the removal of nutrients by microalgae in different photoperiod cycles, combined with constructed wetland in the wastewater treatment plant of the University of Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil. The treatment used took place between July and December 2018 and consisted of the following steps: preliminary treatment, secondary treatment with an anaerobic reactor, microalgae tank (MT), sand filter and constructed wetland, using the macrophyte Chrysopogon zizanioides. In the microalgae tank, three light cycles were considered: 12h/12h, 24h and 18h/06h, whose lighting was powered by a white LED lamp of 9 Watts and 6000 Kelvin, regulated by a light controller. The results indicated that there were no significant differences (p>0.05) between the values of soluble phosphorus, ammoniacal nitrogen, COD and BOD for MT comparing the three photoperiod cycles (12h/12h, 24h and 18h/06h). However, the system setup removed 100% of total coliforms, E. coli and TSS in the three light cycles. Regarding the removal of nutrients and organic matter, the light cycle with the best performance was the 24-hour cycle, considering a removal of 67.6% for soluble phosphorus, 94.0% for ammoniacal nitrogen, 63.7% for COD and 42, 7% for BOD, at the end of the treatment process. These results demonstrate that the use of microalgae in combination with constructed wetland has greater efficiency in the removal of nutrients, mainly phosphorus and nitrogen, in addition to reducing physical-chemical parameters and eliminating effluent toxicity.
 Keywords: light cycles, microalgae tank, wastewater treatment plant.

Microwave-assisted synthesized and characterization of BiFeO3(CTAB/PEG/PVA) nanocomposites by the auto-combustion method with efficient visible-light photocatalytic dye degradation

A simple green route of bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3) was prepared by a reaction an auto-combustion method with the addition of CTAB, PVA, and PEG surfactant. The microwave irradiation was operated by 900 W power under 2 min. The characterization of BiFeO3 and BiFeO3(CTAB/PVA/PEG) nanocomposites has been performed by the XRD, FT-IR, PL, VSM, DRS, FE-SEM, CV, EIS, and UV–Vis spectroscopy analysis, respectively. The XRD analysis was displayed that highly crystallization nanocomposites with rhombohedral structure is obtained magnetization with Ms = 0.68 emu g−1 that has been found in VSM measurement analysis. The electrochemical measurements of the synthesized nanocomposites displayed a good performance at 100 mV.s−1 scan rate. Also, the optical properties indicated that the bandgap of samples was around ~ 2 in the visible range. Moreover, the photocatalytic performances of the BiFeO3(CTAB/PVA/PEG) nanocomposites have illustrated the degradation of methyl orange (MO) as typical organic dye pollution under visible-light irradiation of 10 W white LED lamp. Moreover, the experimental results showed that the BiFeO3-CTAB nanocomposite has the highest degradation of MO dye pollution was in aqueous solution increased to 97%.

Artificial light at night may increase the predation pressure in a salt marsh keystone species

Artificial light at night (ALAN) has the potential to alter ecological processes such as the natural dynamics of predator-prey interactions. Although understanding of ALAN effect on faunal groups has increased in recent years, few studies have explicitly tested for direct consequences of ALAN on predator-prey systems. Here, we evaluated the effect of ALAN on juvenile mortality due to cannibalism and general predation of the South American intertidal burrowing crab Neohelice granulata, a key ecosystem engineer of salt marshes. For this, we conducted tethering and crab enclosure experiments for both night and day periods during successive tidal floods in a semidiurnal tidal regime. Both experimental approaches were deployed simultaneously in the field and they lasted four consecutive days during new moon nights. ALAN was simulated by a white LED lamp (30W) with a solar panel as a source of power in five separated areas selected as replicates. For general predation, juvenile survival under ALAN was 44% lower than during the daytime and 61% lower than under natural dark conditions. For cannibalism, juvenile survival under ALAN and during the daytime was similar and about 30% lower than under natural dark conditions. We also found that the abundance of adult male crabs (cannibals) under ALAN was nearly five times higher than at natural dark conditions. Our field experiments provide evidence that ALAN can increase the mortality of juvenile crabs and is at least partially driven by cannibalistic interactions.

Interrelation between Colorimetric and Spectral Parameters of White Led Lamps

The interrelation between colorimetric (correlated color temperature) and spectral (intensity ratio of spectral emission bands) parameters of white LED lamps for general lighting has been established based on an analysis of test results for a set of lamps during aging. Deconvolution of the lamp radiation spectra is used to show that the change in color temperature is mainly due to a change in the intensity ratio of the 450-nm band originating from the diode heterostructure and the long-wavelength component of the nonelementary yellow band of the phosphor radiation with a maximum at 580 nm. However, the shorter-wavelength component with a maximum of 530 nm manifests itself mainly in the change of the total luminous flux. A possible cause of the change in the intensity of the spectral components of the nonelementary phosphor radiation band may be both thermal effects and structural changes in the phosphor material.

An Affordable Knee Arthroscopy Simulator

Abstract: Introduction: The objective of this study is to describe a model of knee arthroscopy simulator that is affordable, low-cost and easily reproducible, aiming to enable the diffusion of more effective active teaching and training methodologies. Methods: For the creation of the arthroscopic camera, an endoscopic camera for mobile phones and computers model SXT-5.0M manufactured by KKMOON were used. The camera was introduced in a metal tube, which was coupled to a set of three 20 mm PVC hydraulic connectors to simulate the handle and sleeve of the arthroscope. The camera has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and is equipped with six built-in white LED lamps, simulating and eliminating the need to use an additional light source. The knee model was developed using a PVC pipe fixed on a wooden support, to which synthetic femur and tibia models were affixed. Four three-centimeter diameter holes, compatible with the standard arthroscopic portals, were made in the body of the PVC pipe. For the menisci, a model was made out of modeling clay (Corfix®), until the anatomical structures were close to the real ones. The model consists of both menisci and the intercondylar eminence, simulating the proximal tibial articular surface. The model made out of modeling clay was the basis for the production of a thin Crystal Polyester Resin mold. Using the resin mold, the meniscal models were made of Silicone Rubber Type II, widely used in industry and crafts. Results: A functional and reproducible simulator was obtained, consisting of a knee model and an arthroscopic camera. The simulator works adequately adapted to a TV, monitor or computer, and allows the simulation of diagnostic procedures, meniscectomy and meniscoplasty. Conclusion: It is possible to develop a knee arthroscopy simulator, with components available in local and electronic commerce, at a cost of approximately R$ 300.

An Affordable Knee Arthroscopy Simulator

Abstract: Introduction: The objective of this study is to describe a model of knee arthroscopy simulator that is affordable, low-cost and easily reproducible, aiming to enable the diffusion of more effective active teaching and training methodologies. Methods: For the creation of the arthroscopic camera, an endoscopic camera for mobile phones and computers model SXT-5.0M manufactured by KKMOON were used. The camera was introduced in a metal tube, which was coupled to a set of three 20 mm PVC hydraulic connectors to simulate the handle and sleeve of the arthroscope. The camera has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and is equipped with six built-in white LED lamps, simulating and eliminating the need to use an additional light source. The knee model was developed using a PVC pipe fixed on a wooden support, to which synthetic femur and tibia models were affixed. Four three-centimeter diameter holes, compatible with the standard arthroscopic portals, were made in the body of the PVC pipe. For the menisci, a model was made out of modeling clay (Corfix®), until the anatomical structures were close to the real ones. The model consists of both menisci and the intercondylar eminence, simulating the proximal tibial articular surface. The model made out of modeling clay was the basis for the production of a thin Crystal Polyester Resin mold. Using the resin mold, the meniscal models were made of Silicone Rubber Type II, widely used in industry and crafts. Results: A functional and reproducible simulator was obtained, consisting of a knee model and an arthroscopic camera. The simulator works adequately adapted to a TV, monitor or computer, and allows the simulation of diagnostic procedures, meniscectomy and meniscoplasty. Conclusion: It is possible to develop a knee arthroscopy simulator, with components available in local and electronic commerce, at a cost of approximately R$ 300.