This study focuses on the drop foot case related to hyperthyroidism of the ankle joint resulting in the relaxation of the toes during walking. This condition requires treatment using an ankle-foot orthosis. Traditional orthosis techniques lack precision and depend on the skill of the fabricator. This research aims to make a bias in ankle-foot orthosis design and analysis methods, where a complete methodology of numerical design and testing has been proposed using advanced engineering software. A numerical model of the patient's foot was generated and used to design an ankle-foot orthosis model using SolidWorks. The designed model was mechanically analyzed by the finite element method using ANSYS Workbench 16.1 under different static and dynamic loading conditions. The ankle-foot orthosis model was numerically designed and analyzed before the manufacturing process. This is believed to reduce time and material loss and foster the use of numerical models in biomedical applications. This study suggests focusing on the design and analysis of orthoses according to the patient's measurements. This is expected to increase the comfort and raise the level of treatment. Numerical design methods also enable precise manufacturing using computerized devices such as three-dimensional printers.
- MeSH
- Finite Element Analysis MeSH
- Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
- Walking physiology MeSH
- Computer-Aided Design MeSH
- Equipment Design methods MeSH
- Ankle Joint physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Gait Disorders, Neurologic * etiology physiopathology therapy MeSH
- Foot Orthoses * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
During pregnancy, an array of changes occurs in women body to enable the growth and development of the future baby and the consequent delivery. These changes are reflected in the range of motion of trunk, pelvis, lower limbs and other body segments, affect the locomotion and some of these changes may persist to the postpartum period. The aim of this study was to describe the changes affecting the gait during pregnancy and to determine the effect of tested footwear on kinematic gait characteristics during pregnancy as previous studies indicate that special orthopaedic insoles and footwear might be useful in prevention of the common musculoskeletal pain and discomfort related to pregnancy. Participants from the control group (n = 18), without any intervention, and the experimental group (n = 23), which was wearing the tested shoes, were measured at their 14, 28 and 37 gestational weeks and 28 weeks postpartum to capture the complete pregnancy-related changes in gait. The gait 3D kinematic data were obtained using Simi Motion System. The differences between the control and experimental group at the first data collection session in most of the analysed variables, as well as relatively high standard deviations of analysed variables indicate large individual differences in the gait pattern. The effect of tested footwear on kinematic gait pattern changes may be explained by its preventive effect against the foot arches falling. In the control group, changes associated previously with the foot arches falling and hindfoot hyperpronation were observed during advanced phases of pregnancy and postpartum, e.g. increase in knee flexion or increase in spinal curvature. For the comprehensive evaluation of the tested footwear on pregnancy gait pattern, future studies combining the kinematic and dynamic plantographic methods are needed.
- MeSH
- Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
- Gait physiology MeSH
- Equipment Design methods MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Gestational Age MeSH
- Pregnancy Complications prevention & control MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Musculoskeletal Pain prevention & control MeSH
- Foot Orthoses MeSH
- Postpartum Period physiology MeSH
- Case-Control Studies MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Pregnancy MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
BACKGROUND: Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be vital to support patients in severe or rapidly progressing cardiogenic shock. In cases of left ventricular distension, left ventricular decompression during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be a crucial factor influencing the patient outcome. Application of a double lumen arterial cannula for a left ventricular unloading is an alternative, straightforward method for left ventricular decompression during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in a veno-arterial configuration. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to use a mathematical model of the human adult cardiovascular system to analyze the left ventricular function of a patient in cardiogenic shock supported by veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation with and without the application of left ventricular unloading using a novel double lumen arterial cannula. METHODS: A lumped model of cardiovascular system hydraulics has been coupled with models of non-pulsatile veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a standard venous cannula, and a drainage lumen of a double lumen arterial cannula. Cardiogenic shock has been induced by decreasing left ventricular contractility to 10% of baseline normal value. RESULTS: The simulation results indicate that applying double lumen arterial cannula during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is associated with reduction of left ventricular end-systolic volume, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic pressure, and end-diastolic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A double lumen arterial cannula is a viable alternative less invasive method for left ventricular decompression during veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. However, to allow for satisfactory extracorporeal membrane oxygenation flow, the cannula design has to be revisited.
- MeSH
- Decompression, Surgical instrumentation methods MeSH
- Equipment Design methods MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left surgery MeSH
- Cannula * MeSH
- Shock, Cardiogenic * physiopathology surgery MeSH
- Catheterization, Central Venous instrumentation methods MeSH
- Catheterization methods MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation * instrumentation methods MeSH
- Computer Simulation MeSH
- Reproducibility of Results MeSH
- Heart Ventricles physiopathology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy has emerged as a powerful platform for 3-D volumetric imaging in the life sciences. Here, we introduce an important step towards its use deep inside biological tissue. Our new technique, based on digital holography, enables delivery of the light-sheet through a multimode optical fibre--an optical element with extremely small footprint, yet permitting complex control of light transport processes within. We show that this approach supports some of the most advanced methods in light-sheet microscopy: by taking advantage of the cylindrical symmetry of the fibre, we facilitate the wavefront engineering methods for generation of both Bessel and structured Bessel beam plane illumination. Finally, we assess the quality of imaging on a sample of fluorescent beads fixed in agarose gel and we conclude with a proof-of-principle imaging of a biological sample, namely the regenerating operculum prongs of Spirobranchus lamarcki.
Rigid structural spine scoliosis of a child and even non progressive congenital scoliosis (e.g. isolated hemivertebra) can be treated by hypercorrective brace in full day regime. The article shows the new type of corrective brace with adjustable force effect. The brace consists of 3 stiff parts connected by joints and telescopes. The parts of brace are made from plastic according to plaster form of child trunk. The joints allow only mutual turning brace parts at frontal plane. The special telescopes were developed which operated with prescribed forces, it means the brace and trunk parts are mutually turned at prescribed moments. The article shows the algorithm for calculation of spine stress state, and spine curve correction for given brace with adjusted telescope forces. The second algorithm calculates the telescope forces for demanded spine curve correction. The computer program can be used for computer aid design of brace forces. The force effect of the new type of brace is demonstrated on a 14 months old boy with congenital scoliosis of lumbar spine (hemivertebra L1 and L3 on the right side). Curvature measured according to Coob was changed after application of this brace from 47.5° to 32.0°.
- MeSH
- Lumbar Vertebrae abnormalities physiopathology MeSH
- Models, Biological MeSH
- Equipment Design methods MeSH
- Infant MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Stress, Mechanical MeSH
- Scoliosis physiopathology therapy MeSH
- Braces standards trends MeSH
- Check Tag
- Infant MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- MeSH
- Color MeSH
- Technology, Dental MeSH
- Equipment Design methods instrumentation MeSH
- Esthetics, Dental MeSH
- Acid Etching, Dental MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Matrix Bands utilization MeSH
- Dental Cavity Preparation methods instrumentation MeSH
- Tooth Preparation methods instrumentation MeSH
- Dental Restoration, Permanent methods instrumentation MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Dental Caries therapy MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Case Reports MeSH
