Formability of curved multilayer laminates via 3D printing using twisted continuous fiber composites.

3D printers can print free-form 3D shapes; however, their mechanical properties are unsatisfactory. 3D printers can print 3D shapes freely but the resulting products exhibit unsatisfactory mechanical properties. 3D printing using CFRTP enables the formation of 3D structures with improved mechanical properties. When molding a structure with curved parts using a continuous carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) 3D printer, the difference in the inner and outer paths of the filament width during arc printing causes the CFRTP filament to become twisted, resulting in poor molding accuracy. In this study, we evaluated the formability of laminates via 3D printing with twisted CFRTP filaments to reduce the inner and outer path differences. And the maximum change in the filament width, which is defined as the maximum width minus the minimum width in one round of fibers, was defined as the forming accuracy. In the case of single-layer printing, the filament width decreased as the twist angle increased, and the forming accuracy (variation in the filament width) decreased. However, when stacking multiple layers, the maximum change in the filament width was the least when the twist angle was 6°. The discovery of the optimum twist angle at 1 K is the most significant aspect of this study and indicates the possibility of an optimum twist angle for various values of K.

Blood flow evaluation using PINPOINT® in a case of incarcerated inguinal hernia: A case report.

Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence for intestinal blood flow has been reported, but application during laparoscopic surgery for incarcerated inguinal hernia has not been reported. Here, we report the case of a patient with an incarcerated inguinal hernia in whom the bowel was preserved after evaluation of intestinal blood flow with ICG fluorescence using PINPOINT®, a brightfield full-color, near-infrared fluorescence camera. A man in his 80s was diagnosed with incarcerated inguinal hernia and underwent laparoscopic surgery. The ascending colon and mesentery showed deep red discoloration on gross evaluation. However, intravenous injection of ICG revealed uniform fluorescence of the mesentery and bowel wall, indicating the absence of irreversible ischemic changes of the bowel. As such, no resection was performed, and transabdominal preperitoneal patch plasty was completed. The patient had a good postoperative course. In this case, ICG fluorescence with the PINPOINT was useful to avoid bowel resection during laparoscopic surgery.

A case of incarcerated femoral hernia with intestinal blood flow assessment by brightfield full-color near-infrared fluorescence camera: Report of a case.

INTRODUCTION: Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence has been reported for examining intestinal blood flow (IBF), but not in the case of bowel released from entrapment in a femoral hernia. We report the case of a patient with incarcerated obturator femoral hernia in whom the bowel was preserved after evaluation of IBF with ICG fluorescence using a brightfield full-color near-infrared fluorescence camera. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A woman in her 60s was diagnosed with incarcerated femoral hernia and underwent surgery. Laparotomy was performed to reduce bowel incarceration via an anterior approach. The small bowel showed deep-red discoloration on gross evaluation, but intravenous injection of ICG revealed uniform fluorescence of the mesentery and bowel wall. This indicated an absence of irreversible ischemic changes to the bowel, so resection was not performed and a modified Kugel herniorrhaphy was performed. The patient showed a good postoperative course. CONCLUSION: In herniorrhaphy with mesh, minimization of bowel resection is important for preventing postoperative infection of the mesh. In this case, ICG fluorescence with a near-infrared fluorescence camera was central to reducing bowel resection. ICG fluorescence may be useful for evaluating IBF in surgery for incarcerated femoral hernias.

Intraoperative ICG fluorescence contrast imaging of the main artery watershed area in colorectal cancer surgery: Report of a case.

INTRODUCTION: Visualization of the main artery watershed area may be useful for determining the area that should be resected in colorectal cancer surgery. Resection of the main artery watershed area may result in complete resection of lymph nodes along the main artery and area of potential ischemia. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A man in his 60s with a chief complaint of hematochezia visited our hospital, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and underwent surgery. A case that underwent colorectal resection with intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography from the resection-side of the superior rectal artery (SRA) in order to confirm the watershed area is reported. Observation was performed using a PINPOINT(®) bright-field, color, near-infrared fluorescence camera, and the watershed area of the SRA fluoresced 33s after the intra-arterial injection of ICG. After observation resection and anastomosis was performed. The patient's postoperative course was good. DISCUSSION: The method is simple and can be performed within a short time, and it enables visual evaluation of the blood flow in the intestinal tract before anastomosis. CONCLUSION: This method can be expected to provide useful information for complete resection of lymph nodes along the main artery and area of potential ischemia.

Intestinal blood flow assessment by indocyanine green fluorescence imaging in a patient with the incarcerated umbilical hernia: Report of a case.

After reduction of the incarceration during surgery for incarcerated hernia, intestinal blood flow (IBF) and the need for bowel resection must be evaluated. We report the case of a patient with incarcerated umbilical hernia in whom the bowel was preserved after evaluating IBF using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence. A woman in her 40s with a chief complaint of abdominal pain visited our hospital, was diagnosed with incarcerated umbilical hernia and underwent surgery. Laparotomy was performed to reduce bowel incarceration. After reducing the incarceration, IBF was observed using ICG fluorescence detected using a brightfield full-color fluorescence camera. The small bowel that had been incarcerated showed deep-red discoloration on gross evaluation, but intravenous injection of ICG revealed uniform fluorescence of the mesentery and bowel wall. This indicated an absence of irreversible ischemic changes of the bowel, so no resection was performed. The patient showed a good postoperative course, including resumption of eating on day 4 and discharge on day 11. In surgery for incarcerated hernia, ICG fluorescence may offer a useful method to evaluate IBF after reducing the incarceration. This case implied that PINPOINT could be used in open conventional surgery.