ABSTRACT
This paper reports the design, construction, and testing of a replica of the human arm, which aims to be dynamically as well as kinematically accurate. The arm model is actuated with McKibben pneumatic artificial muscles, and controlled by a special purpose digital signal processing system designed to simulate spinal neural networks in real time. An artificial muscle spindle has also been designed and tested. Design and test data are reviewed, and the paper describes how we hope to use the system to improve our understanding of the reflexive control of human movement and posture.
Subject(s)
Arm , Artificial Limbs , Robotics , Spinal Cord/physiology , Arm/innervation , Arm/physiology , Biomechanical Phenomena , Computer Simulation , Elbow Joint/physiology , Equipment Design , Humans , Models, Biological , Models, Structural , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Posture/physiology , Shoulder Joint/physiologyABSTRACT
After recalling the principles and general basis of ultrasounds, the authors consider the various modes of medical echographic exploration. A. mode, T.M. mode (time-motion); B. mode (bidimensional); D. mode (dynamic or in real time); Döppler mode. The technique of the examination, and the required preparation of the patients, are briefly reported. The basic echographic semiology is studied, considering the echos given by four main structures: 1) purely liquid with non echo, 2) non purely liquid with variable echos, 3) parenchymatous with many mixed echos (non perfect and non homogenous echos), 4) solid structures (bones, calculi) having complete impermeability to ultrasounds. Both parasitological and tropical medicine offer many and good opportunities for the use of echography in various controls: --liver: primitive tumors or parasitic abcesses, cysts, --gall ducts and bladder, --pancreas: pancreatitis, pseudocysts, --splenomegalies and cases of portal hypertension, --large vessels: ectasy, thrombosis, --kidneys: enlargement and cases of deceiving urography, --genital duct: sterility and pelvic tumors, --pregnancy: surveillance of pregnancy, hemorrhage, placenta praevia, foetal malformations, --heart: this chapter will not be considered in this paper. With regard to such a wide range of indications and to be low cost of its use, echography might be very useful in both tropical and parasitological medicine, when correctly applied and interpreted.
Subject(s)
Parasitic Diseases/diagnosis , Tropical Medicine , Ultrasonography , Diagnosis, Differential , Echocardiography/methods , Female , Humans , Male , PregnancyABSTRACT
The authors have dosed gamma glutamyl transpeptidase in 42 patients with primary bronchopulmonary cancer, of whom 14 had liver metastases. In these 14 patients the level of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase was always high, except in 1 case; while in the remaining lot, a moderate and mostly belated increase was noticed in only 32 percent of cases. The dosing of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase present some interest in the detection of liver metastases in primary bronchopulmonary cancers, specially when coupled with the dosing of alcaline phosphatase. Interpretation of results should take into account the existence of an associated liver-gall bladder involvement and of a recent surgical operation; both factors being capable of raising the level of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase.
