Using high-resolution imaging to study the impact of the Kalogon wheelchair cushion on blood flow in the gluteal area.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated how the air-bladder offloading mode of the Orbiter by Kalogon wheelchair cushion (Orbiter) affected blood flow in the gluteal region of non-disabled subjects. The hypothesis was that the cushion's offloading mode would improve blood flow, resulting in reduced reactive hyperemia when compared to the static setting, or Loaded Control (LC). Furthermore, the study proposed a technique using a high-resolution image laser speckle contrast system to measure blood flow in the gluteal area. METHODS: Two procedures were carried out, one with the participant sitting on a cushion in LC, and the second, the cushion was set to offloading mode. Blood flow was measured through data imaging after each procedure. Three trials were performed, starting and ending in different cushion bladders. Customized algorithms were used to select regions of interest on the images for calculations. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was conducted to compare the offloads and loaded control values of each region of interest. Results were considered significant at α = 0.05. RESULTS: Ten healthy, non-disabled adults participated in the study, seven females and three males. There were no significant differences among the participants. However, results showed that seven subjects tended to decrease reactive hyperemia in the offload sequence of trial when the last two bladders offloaded were the sacrum followed by the right ischial tuberosity. CONCLUSIONS: The high-resolution imager showed that the Orbiter Offloads helped reduce reactive hyperemia in seven subjects, potentially improving blood flow. More research is necessary to comprehend the mechanisms of these effects fully.

Development of ergo-refined operator's workplace and biophysically actual cost-benefit analysis of riding type self-propelled machines with special reference for female operators.

BACKGROUND: Female agricultural workers contribute to 37% of the total agricultural workforce in India, however, most self-propelled machinery is designed for male agricultural workers. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to determine the impact of the ergo-refined operator's workplace on various aspects of operator performance and comfort, including actuating force, posture, and physiological parameters. METHODS: Experiments were carried out in real field conditions using a full factorial randomized design. Twelve female operators participated in the study, and measurements were taken for control lever actuating force, operator posture, heart rate, and other relevant parameters. RESULTS: The ergo-refined operator's workplace intervention resulted in significant reductions in actuating force for various control levers, angles of joints, working heart rate (WHR), oxygen consumption rate (OCR), muscle load, and whole-body vibration (WBV) acceleration. These reductions were observed under different operating conditions. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the ergo-refined operator's workplace is effective in enhancing operator comfort and reducing physical strain during the operation of riding type self-propelled machines. It contributes to improved safety, comfort, and operational efficiency for operators working in field conditions. ANOVA and MANOVA analyses confirmed the positive impact of operating conditions and engine speed on the measured parameters when using the ergo-refined operator's workplace.

Comparison of five single-file systems in the preparation of severely curved root canals: an ex vivo study.

BACKGROUND: The ex vivo study is to compare the root canal preparation outcomes achieved by five nickel-titanium single-file instrumentation systems (M3-L, Reciproc Blue, V-Taper 2H, WaveOne Gold, XP-endo Shaper) in severely curved molar root canals. METHODS: A total of 60 root canals were selected from extracted human molar teeth with curvatures ranging from 25° to 50° and divided into five groups based on the instrumentation system employed (n = 12). Before and after root canal preparation, a Micro-CT scan was taken, and pre- and post-operative data were analyzed to evaluate the following parameters: volume increment of root canals (VI), untouched root canal areas (UTA), and canal transportation (CT). Apically extruded debris (AD) was collected during preparation. After that, all samples were separated into two parts and examined respectively by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to assess cleaning ability. Data were statistically analyzed with ANOVA (UTA, AD, VI) or Kruskal-Wallis test (CT, SEM-score), the level of significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the five systems regarding the AD, VI, and UTA parameters (P > 0.05). In terms of CT, no significant difference was noted at the straight section of canal and apical levels, while XP-endo Shaper showed less canal transportation than M3-L at the level of curved vertex (P < 0.05), and the centering ability of V-Taper 2H was significantly better than WaveOne Gold at the initial point of bending (P < 0.05). Debris and smear layers were present on the canal walls of all specimens, the apical thirds of the canal presented higher SEM scores than the coronal thirds in all groups (P < 0.05). Reciproc Blue and XP-endo Shaper showed fewer smear scores than WaveOne Gold in the apical thirds (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively), and no statistical difference was found between other groups in the middle and coronal thirds. CONCLUSION: The five single-file systems evaluated performed equally in apically debris extrusion, dentin removal, and untouched root canal areas, while XP-endo Shaper and V-Taper 2H resulted in less canal transportation compared to M3-L and WaveOne Gold. Regarding cleaning ability, Reciproc Blue and XP-endo Shaper were associated with less smear layer than WaveOne Gold in the apical thirds.

An assessment of introducers used for airway management.

Different introducers are available to assist with tracheal intubation. Subtle differences in the design of introducers can have a marked effect on safety and performance. The Difficult Airway Society's Airway Device Evaluation Project Team proposal states that devices should only be purchased for which there is at least a case-control study on patients assessing airway devices. However, resources are not currently available to carry out a case-control study on all introducers available on the market. This study comprised a laboratory and manikin-based investigation to identify introducers that could be suitable for clinical investigation. We included six different introducers in laboratory-based assessments (design characteristics) and manikin-based assessments involving the participation of 30 anaesthetists. Each anaesthetist attempted placement in the manikin's trachea with each of the six introducers in a random order. Outcomes included first-time insertion success rate; insertion success rate; number of attempts; time to placement; and distance placed. Each anaesthetist also completed a questionnaire. First-time insertion success rate depended significantly on the introducer used (p = 0.0016) and varied from 47% (Armstrong and P3) to 77% (Intersurgical and Frova). Median time to placement (including oesophageal placement) varied from 10 s (Eschmann and Frova) to 20 s (P3) (p = 0.0025). Median time to successful placement in the trachea varied from 9 s (Frova) to 22 s (Armstrong) (p = 0.037). We found that the Armstrong and P3 devices were not as acceptable as other introducers and, without significant improvements to their design and characteristics, the use of these devices in studies on patients is questionable. The study protocol is suitable for differentiating between different introducers and could be used as a basis for assessing other types of devices.

The Influence of Different Injection Hole Designs of Augmented Pedicle Screws on Bone Cement Leakage and Distribution Patterns in Osteoporotic Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare cement distribution and leakage for 2 bone cement-augmented screws with different designs of injection holes in patients and the impact of screw locations and bone mineral density (BMD) on the results. METHODS: This study recruited 40 patients who underwent instrumentation with cement-augmented screws. Screw holes of group A were 4 holes located in the distal one third of screws, while screw holes of group B were 6 holes located in distal, middle, and proximal sites. Postoperative computed tomography images were obtained to evaluate the rate and type of cement leakage and the distribution pattern of cement. The lateral or center position of screw tip, BMD, and T-score were also analyzed for their influence on the results. RESULTS: Of 192 screws, 80 (41.7%) exhibited cement leakage on postoperative computed tomography. The incidence of cement distribution in the posterior half and type B leakage in group B was significantly higher compared with group A. In group A, the probability of cement distribution in the posterior half was significantly increased when the screw was laterally inserted. For both groups, the higher incidence of cement distribution in the posterior half was correlated with lower BMD and T-score. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that screws with injection holes closer to the screw tip had higher incidences of distribution in the anterior half of the body and lower incidences of type B leakage. Patients with lower BMD and T-scores should be closely monitored, and a more centered position is recommended for screw insertion.

Elastomeric Respirators for COVID-19 and the Next Respiratory Virus Pandemic: Essential Design Elements.

Respiratory viruses are transmitted via respiratory particles that are emitted when people breath, speak, cough, or sneeze. These particles span the size spectrum from visible droplets to airborne particles of hundreds of nanometers. Barrier face coverings ("cloth masks") and surgical masks are loose-fitting and provide limited protection from airborne particles since air passes around the edges of the mask as well as through the filtering material. Respirators, which fit tightly to the face, provide more effective respiratory protection. Although healthcare workers have relied primarily on disposable filtering facepiece respirators (such as N95) during the COVID-19 pandemic, reusable elastomeric respirators have significant potential advantages for the COVID-19 and future respiratory virus pandemics. However, currently available elastomeric respirators were not designed primarily for healthcare or pandemic use and require further development to improve their suitability for this application. The authors believe that the development, implementation, and stockpiling of improved elastomeric respirators should be an international public health priority.

A randomized crossover pilot study comparing the efficacy of an auto-demand oxygen delivery system with that of a conventional demand oxygen delivery system in patients with chronic respiratory failure.

INTRODUCTION: : When using portable oxygen, a demand oxygen delivery system (DODS), which senses the beginning of inhalation and delivers a bolus of oxygen, is often used. However, conventional DODS may not supply sufficient oxygen when reduced tidal flow fails to trigger the flow sensor. Recently, "auto-DODS," which detects the negative pressure of inhalation and switches among 3 trigger sensitivity levels (standard, high, and extra high), has been developed to improve the efficacy of oxygenation. An auto-DODS can also supply pulsed-flow oxygen when it detects apnea, whereas a conventional DODS has only standard sensitivity. This randomized, open-label, crossover pilot study compared the performance of an auto-DODS with that of a conventional DODS. METHODS: : We recruited patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial pneumonia receiving long-term oxygen therapy. Interventions were performed on 2 different days for each participant. On each day, an auto-DODS or a conventional DODS were tested at rest for 30 minutes and during the 6-minute walk test. The primary outcome was mean oxygen saturation (SpO2). Secondary outcomes were the ratios of time for each sensitivity level and pulsed-flow oxygen when using the auto-DODS, total time desaturated below SpO2 90%, percentage of time desaturated below SpO2 90%, minimum SpO2, mean and maximum pulse rate, six-minute walk distance, recovery time after 6-minute walk test, modified Borg scale, comfort, and discomfort index. RESULTS: : When using the auto-DODS at rest, a high or extra high sensitivity level was observed in addition to standard sensitivity in 6 of 8 participants. During the 6-minute walk test, only standard sensitivity was observed in 6 participants. Mean SpO2 differences between the auto-DODS and conventional DODS at rest and during the 6-minute walk test were -0.6 [-4.5, 3.4] and 0.0 [-2.5, 2.5] ([95% confidence interval]), respectively, neither of which were significant (P = .73 and P = .99). There were no significant differences in secondary outcomes. There were no adverse events when using the auto-DODS. CONCLUSIONS: : This study showed that the auto-DODS did not show superiority in oxygenation either at rest or during exercise compared to a conventional DODS. The auto-DODS was shown to supply oxygen safely and detect inhalations with various trigger sensitivities.

The assessment of usability of pain medical device by physiatrists and physiotherapists: A Delphi survey.

ABSTRACT: When developing a new medical device, it is essential to assess the usability of such a device through various stakeholders.This study assessed the usability of pain medical devices through a Delphi survey administered to physiatrists and physiotherapists.A Delphi survey was conducted on the problems and improvements in hardware and software for a panel consisting of 10 physiatrists and 10 physiotherapists. A total of 3 rounds of surveys were conducted, and the third round of survey was confirmed through a Likert scale (1 = strongly agree to 5 = strongly disagree).The 2 groups generally had a common perception of the problems and improvements in pain medical devices. However, the physiatrist group mostly identified problems such as linking patient information, whereas the physiotherapist group deemed hardware problems such as device weight or connection cables as being more important (mean [standard deviation]; physiatrist, hardware 2.90 [0.93], software 2.28 [0.91] / physiotherapist, hardware 3.04 [0.84], software 3.03 [1.13]).To date, analysis has not been conducted by dividing the focus of various stakeholders using pain medical devices. The difference in view of the usability of these 2 stakeholder groups should be considered when improving the hardware or software of pain medical devices in the future. Further research is warranted to investigate other stakeholders such as patients and device developers to improve the devices.

An overview on the advantages and limitations of 3D printing of microneedles.

The use of 3D printing (3DP) technology, which has been continuously evolving since the 1980s, has recently become common in healthcare services. The introduction of 3DP into the pharmaceutical industry particularly aims at the development of patient-centered dosage forms based on structure design. It is still a new research direction with potential to create the targeted release of drug delivery systems in freeform geometries. Although the use of 3DP technology for solid oral dosage forms is more preferable, studies on transdermal applications of the technology are also increasing. Microneedle sequences are one of the transdermal drug delivery (TDD) methods which are used to bypass the minimally invasive stratum corneum with novel delivery methods for small molecule drugs and vaccines. Microneedle arrays have advantages over many traditional methods. It is attractive with features such as ease of application, controlled release of active substances and patient compliance. Recently, 3D printers have been used for the production of microneedle patches. After giving a brief overview of 3DP technology, this article includes the materials necessary for the preparation of microneedles and microneedle patches specifically for penetration enhancement, preparation methods, quality parameters, and their application to TDD. In addition, the applicability of 3D microneedles in the pharmaceutical industry has been evaluated.

Ultra-conformal skin electrodes with synergistically enhanced conductivity for long-time and low-motion artifact epidermal electrophysiology.

Accurate and imperceptible monitoring of electrophysiological signals is of primary importance for wearable healthcare. Stiff and bulky pregelled electrodes are now commonly used in clinical diagnosis, causing severe discomfort to users for long-time using as well as artifact signals in motion. Here, we report a ~100 nm ultra-thin dry epidermal electrode that is able to conformably adhere to skin and accurately measure electrophysiological signals. It showed low sheet resistance (~24 Ω/sq, 4142 S/cm), high transparency, and mechano-electrical stability. The enhanced optoelectronic performance was due to the synergistic effect between graphene and poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), which induced a high degree of molecular ordering on PEDOT and charge transfer on graphene by strong π-π interaction. Together with ultra-thin nature, this dry epidermal electrode is able to accurately monitor electrophysiological signals such as facial skin and brain activity with low-motion artifact, enabling human-machine interfacing and long-time mental/physical health monitoring.

Improving mandibular reconstruction by using topology optimization, patient specific design and additive manufacturing?-A biomechanical comparison against miniplates on human specimen.

In this study, topology optimized, patient specific osteosynthesis plates (TOPOS-implants) are evaluated for the mandibular reconstruction using fibula segments. These shape optimized implants are compared to a standard treatment with miniplates (thickness: 1.0 mm, titanium grade 4) in biomechanical testing using human cadaveric specimen. Mandible and fibula of 21 body donors were used. Geometrical models were created based on automated segmentation of CT-scans of all specimens. All reconstructions, including cutting guides for osteotomy as well as TOPOS-implants, were planned using a custom-made software tool. The TOPOS-implants were produced by electron beam melting (thickness: 1.0 mm, titanium grade 5). The fibula-reconstructed mandibles were tested in static and dynamic testing in a multi-axial test system, which can adapt to the donor anatomy and apply side-specific loads. Static testing was used to confirm mechanical similarity between the reconstruction groups. Force-controlled dynamic testing was performed with a sinusoidal loading between 60 and 240 N (reconstructed side: 30% reduction to consider resected muscles) at 5 Hz for up to 5 · 105 cycles. There was a significant difference between the groups for dynamic testing: All TOPOS-implants stayed intact during all cycles, while miniplate failure occurred after 26.4% of the planned loading (1.32 · 105 ± 1.46 · 105 cycles). Bone fracture occurred in both groups (miniplates: n = 3, TOPOS-implants: n = 2). A correlation between bone failure and cortical bone thickness in mandible angle as well as the number of bicortical screws used was demonstrated. For both groups no screw failure was detected. In conclusion, the topology optimized, patient specific implants showed superior fatigue properties compared to miniplates in mandibular reconstruction. Additionally, the patient specific shape comes with intrinsic guiding properties to support the reconstruction process during surgery. This demonstrates that the combination of additive manufacturing and topology optimization can be beneficial for future maxillofacial surgery.

Root cause analysis to identify contributing factors for the development of hospital acquired pressure injuries.

INTRODUCTION: Many hospital settings are adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards pressure injury (PI) development; this requires good planning and the implementation of care, as the incidence of PIs reflects the quality of care given in a hospital or facility. AIM: To identify common contributing factors towards the development of PIs in a geriatric rehabilitation hospital and improve patient safety through the reduction of hospital-acquired PIs. METHOD: This was done using root cause analysis (RCA). All patients who developed a Stage 3 or 4 deep tissue injuries or unstageable hospital-acquired PI between December 2017 and April 2018 PIs were investigated using RCA. The RCA was facilitated through the use of a contributing framework developed by the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel which guides investigations of different areas of care. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected from several sources and placed in a timeline to reconstruct the series of events. The investigator then identified if the PI was avoidable or not by comparing the evidence with pre-set criteria. Content analysis was further used to analyse the themes retrieved. RESULTS: A variety of root causes were common amongst all the cases. These included both flaws in the system, such as poor equipment and inadequate educational programmes, as well as human factors such as a lack of basic routine care. No skin assessment was being performed (n = 0) apart from the assessment done on admission. Documentation of action planning when it comes to PI prevention was also missing (n = 0). It was identified that 7 patients were mobilized on admission while the others (n = 3) had a delay in mobilisation, due to some fragmentation in care. There was no documentation of patient and relative education on the prevention of PIs (n = 0). All the patients were provided with the right pressure redistributing mattress however, some mattresses were bottoming out. Some causes overlapped, with system defects like lack of protocols, equipment and tools pushing human errors to occur. This created a series of events leading to the adverse event. The identification of these factors helped to provide an understanding of the changes that are needed to reduce future harm and improve patient safety. CONCLUSION: Recommendations were proposed to reduce contributing factors to the development of hospital-acquired PIs. These include audits to reinforce adherence to hospital guidelines, streamlining of the documentation system, investment in new equipment and improvements to educational programmes. The recommendations implemented resulted in a decreased incidence rate of HAPIs.

Improving Tolerance to Snorkel Mask Use as Alternative Personal Protective Equipment.

Snorkel masks have become an option for personal protective equipment (PPE) due to the shortage of air filtration at least 95% of airborne particle (N95) masks as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We developed a 3D design of a triheaded adapter that connects a snorkel mask to 3 different National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved air filtration at least 99% of airborne particles (N99) filters with the aim of improving wearer comfort. We measured the resistance of the new triheaded adapter to be one-third the resistance of the single adapter. Interdepartmental survey of anesthesiologists showed an improvement in perceived comfort when using the triheaded adapter as compared to the single adapter.

Detailed comparison of the da Vinci Xi and S surgical systems for transaxillary thyroidectomy.

ABSTRACT: Robotic surgical systems have evolved over time. The da Vinci Xi system was developed in 2014 and was expected to solve the shortcomings of the previous S system. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare these 2 systems and identify if the Xi system truly improves surgical outcomes.In this retrospective study, a total of 86 patients with unilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma without central lymph node involvement underwent gasless transaxillary hemithyroidectomy using 2 robotic systems, the da Vinci S and Xi. Forty patients were in the da Vinci S group and 46 patients were in the da Vinci Xi group. All surgeries were performed by 1 surgeon (YWC). All surgery video files were analyzed to compare the duration of each surgical step.The total operation time was significantly shorter in the Xi group than in the S group (153.0 minutes vs 105.7 minutes, P < .01). Time for robot docking was shorter in the Xi group (19.8 minutes vs 10.6 minutes, P < .01), and all procedures performed in the console also required a shorter time in this group. The overall complication rate did not differ significantly (P = .464).The da Vinci Xi system made robotic thyroidectomy easier and faster without increasing the complication rate. It is a safe and valuable system for robotic thyroidectomy.

Multi-Sectoral Participatory Design of a BabyWASH Playspace for Rural Ethiopian Households.

Growing evidence suggests current water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions do not improve domestic hygiene sufficiently to improve infant health, nor consider the age-specific behaviors which increase infection risk. A household playspace (HPS) is described as one critical intervention to reduce direct fecal-oral transmission within formative growth periods. This article details both the design and development (materials and methods), and testing (results) of a HPS for rural Ethiopian households. Design and testing followed a multi-sectoral, multistep participatory process. This included a focus group discussion (FGD), two user-centered and participatory design workshops in the United Kingdom and Ethiopia, discussions with local manufacturers, and a Trials by Improved Practices (TIPs) leading to a final prototype design. Testing included the FGD and TIPs study and a subsequent randomized controlled feasibility trial in Ethiopian households. This multi-sectoral, multistage development process demonstrated a HPS is an acceptable and feasible intervention in these low-income, rural subsistence Ethiopian households. A HPS may help reduce fecal-oral transmission and infection-particularly in settings where free-range domestic livestock present an increased risk. With the need to better tailor interventions to improve infant health, this article also provides a framework for future groups developing similar material inputs and highlights the value of participatory design in this field.