Fixin internal fixator: concept and technique.

This report describes the Fixin internal fixator system(a), a fracture fixation device characterised by a locking conical coupling between screw heads and titanium alloy inserts that are screwed into a stainless steel plate construct. The mechanical principles, implants, instruments and surgical technique are discussed.

Pressure-enhanced dynamic heterogeneity in block copolymers of poly(methyl vinyl ether) and poly(isobutyl vinyl ether).

The static structure factor and associated dynamics have been investigated in a series of block copolymers of poly(methyl vinyl ether) (PMVE) and poly(isobutyl vinyl ether) (PiBVE) using x-ray scattering and dielectric spectroscopy (DS). The origin of the dynamic arrest at the glass temperature (T(g)) of PiBVE has been explored by temperature- and pressure-dependent DS and pressure-volume-temperature measurements. Both temperature and volume are responsible for the segmental dynamics but temperature has a stronger effect. The copolymers display a minimal dynamic asymmetry (Delta T(g) approximately 7 K), nevertheless, are spatially and dynamically heterogeneous. Increasing pressure, unlike temperature, enhances the dynamic heterogeneity. This effect originates from the distinctly different pressure sensitivities of the homopolymers and can be traced back to differences in local packing.

3D reconstruction of the encapsulating contour of arteriovenous malformations for radiosurgery using digital subtraction angiography.

PURPOSE: Treatment planning for radiosurgery depends on the precise definition of radiation target volumes. For vascular pathologies such as arteriovenous malformations (AVM), the most usual technique remains standard X-ray projection imaging, most often carried out under stereotactic conditions. To further benefit from the advantages of two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (DSA), the authors have developed a method for determining the three-dimensional shape of arteriovenous malformations from two views. METHODS AND MATERIALS: After correction of image intensifier distortion and calibration of both views, the 3D shape of the AVM was determined from two DSA projections using epipolarity geometry. The AVM-encapsulating contour was modeled by triangulation of a stack of almost parallel ellipses. The method was technically validated using artificial targets in a skull phantom. Clinical validation was carried out on 10 patients who were examined using both conventional angiography under stereotactic conditions (SX-ray) and DSA. RESULTS: There was excellent agreement between the artificial target volumes measured with SX-ray and with DSA. The correspondence between AVM volumes found for patients was not as good as with the phantom. CONCLUSIONS: The different image characteristics of the two modalities lead to some differences in AVM estimations. However, the results were sufficiently satisfactory to justify routine use of this AVM modeling technique for radiosurgery planning.