An Inverse Method to Determine Mechanical Parameters of Porcine Vitreous Bodies Based on the Indentation Test.

The vitreous body keeps the lens and retina in place and protects these tissues from physical insults. Existing studies have reported that the mechanical properties of vitreous body varied after liquefaction, suggesting mechanical properties could be effective parameters to identify vitreous liquefaction process. Thus, in this work, we aimed to propose a method to determine the mechanical properties of vitreous bodies. Fresh porcine eyes were divided into three groups, including the untreated group, the 24 h liquefaction group and the 48 h liquefaction group, which was injected collagenase and then kept for 24 h or 48 h. The indentation tests were carried out on the vitreous body in its natural location while the posterior segment of the eye was fixed in the container. A finite element model of a specimen undertaking indentation was constructed to simulate the indentation test with surface tension of vitreous body considered. Using the inverse method, the mechanical parameters of the vitreous body and the surface tension coefficient were determined. For the same parameter, values were highest in the untreated group, followed by the 24 h liquefaction group and the lowest in the 48 h liquefaction group. For C10 in the neo-Hookean model, the significant differences were found between the untreated group and liquefaction groups. This work quantified vitreous body mechanical properties successfully using inverse method, which provides a new method for identifying vitreous liquefactions related studies.

An in vivo and in vitro study on the force degradation and surface morphology of the orthodontic elastic ligatures.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of force degradation and surface morphology of 9 brands of elastic ligatures over 6 weeks, both in vivo and in vitro, to provide some reference for clinical selection of appropriate elastic ligatures and determination of appropriate follow-up visit time. METHODS: Choosing 9 kinds of brands of elastic ligatures (American Orthodontics, Ormco, 3M Grey, TP Orthodontics, Xihu, Yahong, Creative, Protect, 3M dusty blue), which are common in the market. For the in vivo study, 9 volunteers (5 males, 4 females, aged 22-26 years) were chosen to wear elastic ligature fixators, which were made to fix the elastic ligature in the mouth without bonding brackets on the teeth. The residual force and percentage of force degradation of elastic ligatures were estimated after 0, 1 hour, 2 hours, 8 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks processed in vivo and in vitro (25°C dry air condition, 37°C artificial saliva, pH = 6.7 and oral environment); A 1-way analysis of variance and t test were used to identify statistical significance (P <0.05). The surface morphology of the initial state and after a 6-week process in vivo and in vitro were observed separately. RESULTS: The characteristics of force degradation and surface morphology of 9 brands of elastic ligatures were different over 6 weeks; With the extension of time, the tensile force declined, and the percentage of force degradation of all groups decreased sharply by about 9.1%-32.3% in the first day, then the rate reduced steadily. In addition, during the first day, the percentage of force degradation declined most sharply in the first hour (4.4%-16.5%). The percentage of force degradation of 9 elastic ligatures was reduced by about 11.3%-37.3% over 6 weeks in all groups. At the same time, the characteristics of force degradation in the same brand are that in vivo > artificial saliva > air (P <0.05). After a 6-week process, the surface morphologic defects were aggravated under a scanning electron microscope, corresponding to the change of mechanical properties in each brand. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanical properties of elastic ligatures are reduced with time extension and decreased greater in vivo than in vitro; According to the characteristics of force degradation of different brands of elastic ligatures, clinicians can choose the proper elastic ligatures at different stages of treatment, and adjust the follow-up visit time appropriately. For example, in alignment and leveling, the elastic ligatures with slow force degradation, such as Ormco, TP, and so on, maybe more suitable to ensure close contact between the archwire and the bracket. In the space-closing stage, the elastic ligatures with fast force degradation may be more appropriate to reduce the friction between the archwire and the bracket, such as 3M Grey, Yahong, Protect, and so on.

Effects of Ultrasonic Removal of Fractured Files from the Middle Third of Root Canals on the Resistance to Vertical Root Fracture.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to analyze the effects of ultrasonic removal of fractured files from the middle third of root canals on the vertical root fracture resistance. METHODS: This study was an extension of a previous study assessing the effects of fractured file removal on dentinal microcracks. It included 18 bilaterally matched pairs of human mandibular incisors prepared and analyzed in the previous study. Briefly, 1 member of each pair was assigned to an ultrasonic or a control group. In the ultrasonic group, K-files were fractured in the middle third of canals followed by ultrasonic file removal and canal preparation. In the control group, the root canals were simply prepared. Micro-computed tomographic imaging was performed before and after treatment, and the cross-sectional root images were screened for microcracks. For the present study, 3-dimensional reconstruction was performed for volumetric assessments. The fracture resistance was measured using a universal testing machine. All data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Fracture loads were significantly smaller in the ultrasonic group (P < .05). The percentage increase in the canal volume significantly influenced the root fracture resistance (P < .05), whereas microcracks had no significant effect (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonic removal of fractured instruments from the middle third of root canals lowers the vertical root fracture resistance, with increased dentin removal being the primary cause.

Three-dimensional Hessian matrix-based quantitative vascular imaging of rat iris with optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy in vivo.

For the diagnosis and evaluation of ophthalmic diseases, imaging and quantitative characterization of vasculature in the iris are very important. The recently developed photoacoustic imaging, which is ultrasensitive in imaging endogenous hemoglobin molecules, provides a highly efficient label-free method for imaging blood vasculature in the iris. However, the development of advanced vascular quantification algorithms is still needed to enable accurate characterization of the underlying vasculature. We have developed a vascular information quantification algorithm by adopting a three-dimensional (3-D) Hessian matrix and applied for processing iris vasculature images obtained with a custom-built optical-resolution photoacoustic imaging system (OR-PAM). For the first time, we demonstrate in vivo 3-D vascular structures of a rat iris with a the label-free imaging method and also accurately extract quantitative vascular information, such as vessel diameter, vascular density, and vascular tortuosity. Our results indicate that the developed algorithm is capable of quantifying the vasculature in the 3-D photoacoustic images of the iris in-vivo, thus enhancing the diagnostic capability of the OR-PAM system for vascular-related ophthalmic diseases in vivo.

A method to determine the mechanical properties of the retina based on an experiment in vivo.

A method is proposed to determine the mechanical properties of retina based on in vivo experiments and numerical simulations. First, saline water was injected into the anterior chamber of the right eye of a cat to cause acute high intraocular pressure. After the eye was scanned using optical coherence tomography under different acute high intraocular pressures, the images of the retina in vivo were obtained and the thickness of the retina was calculated. Then, the three-dimensional structure of the optic nerve head including the retina and the choroid were reconstructed using image processing technology. Three different material models for the retina and the choroid were taken and the finite element models of the optic nerve head were constructed. Finally, an inverse method was proposed to determine the parameters of a constitutive model of the retina and of the choroid simultaneously. The results showed that the deformation of the retina can be properly simulated taking into consideration the nonlinear elastic properties of the retina and of the choroid.

An inverse method to determine the mechanical properties of the iris in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the mechanical properties of the iris can help to have an insight into the eye diseases with abnormalities of the iris morphology. Material parameters of the iris were simply calculated relying on the ex vivo experiment. However, the mechanical response of the iris in vivo is different from that ex vivo, therefore, a method was put forward to determine the material parameters of the iris using the optimization method in combination with the finite element method based on the in vivo experiment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ocular hypertension was induced by rapid perfusion to the anterior chamber, during perfusion intraocular pressures in the anterior and posterior chamber were record by sensors, images of the anterior segment were captured by the ultrasonic system. The displacement of the characteristic points on the surface of the iris was calculated. A finite element model of the anterior chamber was developed using the ultrasonic image before perfusion, the multi-island genetic algorithm was employed to determine the material parameters of the iris by minimizing the difference between the finite element simulation and the experimental measurements. RESULTS: Material parameters of the iris in vivo were identified as the iris was taken as a nearly incompressible second-order Ogden solid. Values of the parameters µ1, α1, µ2 and α2 were 0.0861 ± 0.0080 MPa, 54.2546 ± 12.7180, 0.0754 ± 0.0200 MPa, and 48.0716 ± 15.7796 respectively. The stability of the inverse finite element method was verified, the sensitivity of the model parameters was investigated. CONCLUSION: Material properties of the iris in vivo could be determined using the multi-island genetic algorithm coupled with the finite element method based on the experiment.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of blood vessels in the rabbit eye by X-ray phase contrast imaging.

BACKGROUND: A clear understanding of the blood vessels in the eye is helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmic diseases, such as glaucoma. Conventional techniques such as micro-CT imaging and histology are not sufficiently accurate to identify the vessels in the eye, because their diameter is just a few microns. The newly developed medical imaging technology, X-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCI), is able to distinguish the structure of the vessels in the eye. In this study, XPCI was used to identify the internal structure of the blood vessels in the eye. METHODS: After injection with barium sulfate via the ear border artery, an anesthetized rabbit was killed and its eye was fixed in vitro in 10% formalin solution. We acquired images using XPCI at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility. The datasets were converted into slices by filtered back-projection (FBP). An angiographic score was obtained as a parameter to quantify the density of the blood vessels. A three-dimensional (3D) model of the blood vessels was then established using Amira 5.2 software. RESULTS: With XPCI, blood vessels in the rabbit eye as small as 18 µm in diameter and a sixth of the long posterior ciliary artery could be clearly distinguished. In the 3D model, we obtained the level 4 branch structure of vessels in the fundus. The diameters of the arteria centralis retinae and its branches are about 200 µm, 110 µm, 95 µm, 80 µm and 40 µm. The diameters of the circulus arteriosus iridis major and its branches are about 210 µm, 70 µm and 30 µm. Analysis of vessel density using the angiographic score showed that the blood vessels had maximum density in the fundus and minimum density in the area anterior to the equator (scores 0.27 ± 0.029 and 0.16 ± 0.032, respectively). We performed quantitative angiographic analysis of the blood vessels to further investigate the density of the vessels. CONCLUSIONS: XPCI provided a feasible means to determine the structure of the blood vessels in the eye. We were able to determine the diameters and morphological characteristics of the vessels from both 2D images and the 3D model. By analyzing the images, we obtained measurements of the density distribution of the microvasculature, and this approach may provide valuable reference information prior to glaucoma filtration surgery.

[Mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanical properties of various brands of thermoplastic materials under different test conditions so as to analyze their influencing factors so as to provide a reference for improving the effect of invisible orthodontics. METHODS: Three brands of thermoplastic materials, DR, Biolon and Erkodent, were selected. They were tested by Instron testing machine to measure their maximal stress and modulus under different processing modes, including pre-thermoforming, post-thermoforming and dipped in artificial saliva for two weeks after thermoforming. The data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5. Analyzed the mechanical properties change-trend under each test condition. RESULTS: The modulus (MPa) and maximum stress (MPa) of control group were significantly higher than those of thermoforming group (DR: 9.63±0.68 vs 7.85±0.61, 267±8 vs 199±6; Erkodent: 8.28±0.28 vs 7.59±0.45, 226±6 vs 199±6; Biolon: 8.85±0.41 vs 7.07±0.22, 237±6 vs 169±7, all P<0.05). The modulus (MPa) and maximum stress (MPa) of thermoforming group were significantly lower than those of saliva immersion group (DR: 7.85±0.61 vs 9.14±0.41, 199±6 vs 243±7; Erkodent: 7.59 ± 0.45 vs 8.38±0.29, 199±6 vs 212±7; Biolon: 7.07±0.22 vs 7.90±0.31, 169±7 vs 197±5, all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The different brands of thermoplastic materials have different mechanical properties. The different processing modes influence the mechanical properties of thermoplastic materials. The mechanical properties decrease after thermoforming and increase after saliva immersion.

Hemodynamic effects of stenting on wide-necked intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Stent placement has been widely used to assist coiling in cerebral aneurysm treatments. The present study aimed to investigate the hemodynamic effects of stenting on wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Three idealized plexiglass aneurismal models with different geometries before and after stenting were created, and their three-dimensional computational models were constructed. Flow dynamics in stented and unstented aneurismal models were studied using in vitro flow visualization and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. In addition, effects of stenting on flow dynamics in a patient-specific aneurysm model were also analyzed by CFD. RESULTS: The results of flow visualization were consistent with those obtained with CFD simulations. Stent deployment reduced vortex inside the aneurysm and its impact on the aneurysm sac, and decreased wall shear stress on the sac. Different aneurysm geometries dictated fundamentally different hemodynamic patterns and outcomes of stenting. CONCLUSIONS: Stenting across the neck of aneurysms improves local blood flow profiles. This may facilitate thrombus formation in aneurysms and decrease the chance of recanalization.

[Study on the thickness-change of different thickness thermoplastic materials after thermoforming and saliva immersion].

OBJECTIVE: To survey and compare the thickness-change of different thickness thermoplastic materials under different test condition and make sure the relationship between the thickness-change and the material initial thickness in order to provide a guide in selecting the suitable thickness thermoplastic in practice. METHODS: To choose Biolon, the thickness include 1.0 mm, 0.75 mm, 0.5 mm. Used Electron Vernier caliper to measure the thickness-change of different thickness thermoplastic materials under different processing mode. The data was analyzed by SPSS 10.0. RESULTS: After thermoforming the thickness of thermoplastic became thinner, the thickness of Biolon 0.75 mm decreased by 0.14 mm, Biolon 1.0 mm decreased by 0.22 mm and Biolon 0.5 mm decreased by 0.14 mm. After saliva immersion the thickness became thicker. The thickness of Biolon 0.75 mm increased by 0.02 mm, Biolon 1.0 mm increased by 0.03 mm and Biolon 0.5 mm increased by 0.02 mm. CONCLUSION: 1)The influence of different processing mode to the thickness-change had relation to the material initial thickness. 2)The Biolon 0.75 mm had certain superiority in thickness stability compared to the homogeneous brand through the above research.

Experimental research on the mechanical properties of porcine iris.

Quantification of the mechanical properties of the iris is necessary to assess the clinical significance of passive iris deformation, which has been suggested as a mechanism for angle closure glaucoma. The animal model simulating the total pupillary block was developed to simulate angle closure glaucoma, and experiments were performed on isolated porcine irises, deformation of the iris was captured when changing the pressure difference between the posterior and anterior chamber. A simple mechanical model was used to account for the geometry of the experiment. The relationship between the area strain (delta) and the pressure differences between the posterior and anterior chamber (P') is described as delta=b(0)+b(1)LnP'. Furthermore the radial 2D elastic mechanics parameter was calculated. The average 2D elastic mechanics parameter of porcine iris was found to be 5.3N/m in the radial direction and 24.7N/m in azimuthal direction. Experimental results provide reliable theoretical and experimental base for explanation of the blindness caused by Glaucoma.

Experimental research on the biomechanical properties of the rabbit iris.

OBJECTIVE: To qualify the mechanical properties of the iris during its passive deformation under the condition of glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Experiments simulating the total pupillary block was performed on isolated rabbit irises to determine the passive mechanical behavior of the intact iris. RESULTS: The relationship between the area strain(delta) and the pressure of posterior chamber relative to the anterior chamber(P') was obtained: (P1) was obtained P'+b eb1 delta.