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Mechanical Devices (mechanical + device)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	71%
Chemistry	14%

Selected Abstracts

Mechanical Devices for Recording Maxillomandibular Relations: A Historical Review

JOURNAL OF PROSTHODONTICS, Issue 3 2000
Yung-Shen Huang DDS
[source]

Implants, Mechanical Devices, and Vascular Surgery for Erectile Dysfunction

THE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 1pt2 2010
Wayne J.G. Hellstrom MD
ABSTRACT Introduction., The field of erectile dysfunction (ED) is evolving and there is a need for state-of-the-art information in the area of treatment. Aim., To develop an evidence-based, state-of-the-art consensus report on the treatment of erectile dysfunction by implants, mechanical devices, and vascular surgery. Methods., To provide state-of-the-art knowledge concerning treatment of erectile dysfunction by implant, mechanical device, and vascular surgery, representing the opinions of 7 experts from 5 countries developed in a consensus process over a 2-year period. Main Outcome Measure., Expert opinion was based on the grading of evidence-based medical literature, widespread internal committee discussion, public presentation, and debate. Results., The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) is indicated for the treatment of organic erectile dysfunction after failure or rejection of other treatment options. Comparisons between the IPP and other forms of ED therapy generally reveal a higher satisfaction rate in men with ED who chose the prosthesis. Organic ED responds well to vacuum erection device (VED) therapy, especially among men with a suboptimal response to intracavernosal pharmacotherapy. After radical prostatectomy, VED therapy combined with phosphodiesterase type 5 therapy improved sexual satisfaction in patients dissatisfied with VED alone. Penile revascularization surgery seems most successful in young men with absence of venous leakage and isolated stenosis of the internal pudendal artery following perineal or pelvic trauma. Currently, surgery to limit venous leakage is not recommended. Conclusions., It is important for the future of the field that patients be made aware of all treatment options for erectile dysfunction in order to make an informed decision. The treating physician should be aware of the patient's medical and sexual history in helping to guide the decision. More research is needed in the area of revascularization surgery, in particular, venous outflow surgery. Hellstrom WJG, Montague DK, Moncada I, Carson C, Minhas S, Faria G, and Krishnamurti S. Implants, mechanical devices, and vascular surgery for erectile dysfunction. J Sex Med 2010;7:501,523. [source]

Chest physiotherapy with positive expiratory pressure breathing after abdominal and thoracic surgery: a systematic review

ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2010
J. ÖRMAN
A variety of chest physiotherapy techniques are used following abdominal and thoracic surgery to prevent or reduce post-operative complications. Breathing techniques with a positive expiratory pressure (PEP) are used to increase airway pressure and improve pulmonary function. No systematic review of the effects of PEP in surgery patients has been performed previously. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the effect of PEP breathing after an open upper abdominal or thoracic surgery. A literature search of randomised-controlled trials (RCT) was performed in five databases. The trials included were systematically reviewed by two independent observers and critically assessed for methodological quality. We selected six RCT evaluating the PEP technique performed with a mechanical device in spontaneously breathing adult patients after abdominal or thoracic surgery via thoracotomy. The methodological quality score varied between 4 and 6 on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database score. The studies were published between 1979 and 1993. Only one of the included trials showed any positive effects of PEP compared to other breathing techniques. Today, there is scarce scientific evidence that PEP treatment is better than other physiotherapy breathing techniques in patients undergoing abdominal or thoracic surgery. There is a lack of studies investigating the effect of PEP over placebo or no physiotherapy treatment. [source]

Chemical shift imaging (CSI) by precise object displacement,,

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2006
Sebastien Leclerc
Abstract A mechanical device (NMR lift) has been built to displace vertically an object (typically an NMR sample tube) inside the NMR probe with an accuracy of 1 µm. A series of single pulse experiments are performed for incremented vertical positions of the sample. With a sufficiently spatially selective radio-frequency (r.f.) field, one obtains chemical shift information along the displacement direction (one-dimensional chemical shift imaging (CSI)). Knowing the vertical r.f. field profile (the amplitude of the r.f. field along the vertical direction), one can reconstruct the spectrum associated with all the slices corresponding to consecutive sample positions and improve the spatial resolution, which is simply related to the accuracy of the displacement device. Beside tests performed on phantoms, the method has been applied to solvent penetration in polymers and to benzene diffusion in a heterogeneous zeolite medium. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Model reduction of interconnected linear systems

OPTIMAL CONTROL APPLICATIONS AND METHODS, Issue 3 2009
H. Sandberg
Abstract The problem of model reduction of linear systems with certain interconnection structure is considered in this paper. To preserve the interconnection structure between subsystems in the reduction, special care needs to be taken. This problem is important and timely because of the recent focus on complex networked systems in control engineering. Two different model reduction methods are introduced and compared in this paper. Both methods are extensions to the well-known balanced truncation method. Compared with earlier work in the area these methods use a more general linear fractional transformation framework, and utilize linear matrix inequalities. Furthermore, new approximation error bounds that reduce to classical bounds in special cases are derived. The so-called structured Hankel singular values are used in the methods, and indicate how important states in the subsystems are with respect to a chosen input,output map for the entire interconnected system. It is shown how these structured Hankel singular values can be used to select an approximation order. Finally, the two methods are applied to a model of a mechanical device. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Implants, Mechanical Devices, and Vascular Surgery for Erectile Dysfunction

Terminator or Super Mario: Human/Computer Hybrids, Actual and Virtual

DIALOG, Issue 4 2005
By Noreen Herzfeld
Abstract:, Is a human/computer hybrid feasible: If so, in what ways would such hybridization affect our concept of what it means to be human? There are two forms of such hybridization, the actual and the virtual. Actual hybridization involves the implantation of mechanical devices in the human body. In actual hybridization the computer comes to us and to our body to enhance our functioning in our world. In virtual hybridization we go to the computer, projecting our minds into the world of cyberspace and being formed there. Perhaps the most common form of virtual hybridization is the immersion our children experience in the world of video games. Both forms of hybridization encourage us to think of ourselves only in terms of function, just when most of our theologians find that humans reflect the image of God through our relationships. This emphasis on function best serves the military, but leaves us in the theological community with a dissatisfying concept of what it means to be human. [source]

Application of devices for safe laparoscopic hepatectomy

HPB, Issue 4 2008
H. KANEKO
Abstract The continuing evolution of a variety of laparoscopic instrument and device has been gradually applied to the laparoscopic hepatectomy in many countries. Recent experience has persuaded us that there are great potential benefits derived from laparoscopic hepatectomy and much has been learned about patient selection, the grade of surgical difficulty with respect to tumor location, and the required instrumentation. Among these efforts, various ways of hepatic parenchymal transection with mechanical devices have been attempted and continuing to innovate to perform safe laparoscopic hepatectomy Important technologic developments and improved endoscopic procedures are being established equipment modifications. For safe laparoscopic hepatectomy, it is important to have all necessary equipment. The intraoperative laparoscopic ultrasonography, microwave coagulators, ultrasonic dissection, argon beam coagulators, laparoscopic coagulation shears, endolinear staplers and TissueLink monopolar sealer are essential. This procedure is in need that well experienced endoscopic surgeon and well-experienced liver surgeon should be collaborated in laparoscopic hepatectomy and the indications are strictly followed based upon the location and size of tumors. Finally critical determinant for success and safe laparoscopic hepatectomy is through familiarity with the relevant laparoscopic instruments and equipments. Laparoscopic hepatectomy is expected to develop further in the future as a new surgical instrument, equipment and method, which improves patients' quality of life. [source]

Bridge to Transplant with the HeartMate Device

JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 4 2001
William Piccione Jr.
The incidence and prevalence of chronic heart failure continues to increase, with an estimated 400,000 new cases per year in the United States. Cardiac transplantation is an effective therapy but is severely limited to approximately 2300 patients per year due to the donor shortage. With ever increasing waiting times, a significant number of patients become severely debilitated or expire prior to transplantation. A mechanical circulatory support device was first used as a "bridge to transplantation" in 1969. Since then, mechanical devices have increased tremendously in reliability and efficaciousness. The HeartMate left ventricular assist device (LVAD) has been utilized extensively in a bridge to transplant application with excellent results. Patients refractory to aggressive medical management can be sustained reliably until transplantation. In addition, bridging allows for the correction of physiologic and metabolic dearrangements often seen in these severely ill patients prior to transplantation. Nutritional, economic, and quality-of-life issues also favor earlier LVAD placement in refractory patients. This report summarizes the overall bridging experience with the HeartMate LVAD and focuses on our experience with this device at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. [source]

Successful Double Percutaneous Alcohol and Coil Embolization of Bilateral Coronary-to-Pulmonary Artery Fistulas

JOURNAL OF INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
GIUSEPPE SANGIORGI M.D.
We report the case of a 70-year-old man with recent myocardial infarction who was admitted for further evaluation of his effort angina. Cardiac catheterization and selective coronary angiography excluded significant coronary atherosclerotic disease of the coronary arteries. Double coronary-to-pulmonary artery fistulas, one originating from the proximal right, the other from the left anterior descending coronary arteries, and draining into the right and left branch of the pulmonary artery, respectively, were observed. A left-to-right shunt was visualized at angiography. The patient was successfully treated with percutaneous alcohol and coil embolization of both coronary artery fistulas with total resolution of clinical symptoms. At 6-month follow-up a coronary angiography confirmed complete disappearance of the fistulas. We conclude that a "coronary steal" phenomenon caused by the fistulas induced myocardial ischemia in this patient and that percutaneous transcatheter exclusion with chemical and mechanical devices is a safe. effective, and reasonable alternative to traditional cardiac surgery. [source]

From iron gaze to nursing care: mental health nursing in the era of panopticism

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 1 2001
D. Holmes RN CPMHN MSc PhD (cand)
The purpose of this paper is to question the utilization of mechanical devices (cameras and microphones) to ensure the surveillance of hospitalized patients on psychiatric wards. The works of French philosopher, Michel Foucault, and those of nursing theorist, Jean Watson, are used to support this analysis. A growing number of Canadian psychiatric health care institutions are using mechanical devices for surveillance. The security of staff and patients as well as therapeutic purposes are stated as rationale for these practices. However, a Foucauldian perspective leads us to think otherwise. The metaphor of the panopticon is then used to uncover another reality: a disciplinary one. Within the scope of this paper, the question of surveillance, disciplinary power, caring philosophy, and mental health nursing will be examined. [source]

Implants, Mechanical Devices, and Vascular Surgery for Erectile Dysfunction

Is It Possible to Create a "Mechanical" Arteriovenous Fistula in Hemodialysis Patients?

ARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 3 2010
Attilio Ignazio Lo Monte
Abstract Manual suturing still remains the best technique for the creation of vascular anastomoses on uremic patients with excellent results, despite being time consuming, difficult to perform with small vessels, and associated with a significant learning curve. We created a full mechanical arteriovenous fistula on a 65-year-old uremic patient with a new device already used in cardiac bypass surgery. The fistula was created automatically and rapidly, without the need for temporary occlusion of the artery, reducing the risk of blood clotting. We believe that mechanical devices may be useful to produce precise and fast anastomoses requiring minimal training for the surgeon. [source]

Ion-Triggered Multistate Molecular Switching Device Based on Regioselective Coordination-Controlled Ion Binding

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 23 2005
Anne Petitjean Dr.
Abstract Molecular devices capable of accessing different controlled conformational states, while optically signaling the occupied state, are attractive tools for nanotechnology since they relate to both areas of molecular mechanical devices and logic gates. We report here a simple molecular system that allows access to four distinct conformational and optical states. It is based on the regioselective complexation of metal ions to a heterocyclic ligand triad, which is dictated by the accessible coordination geometry and electrostatic properties of two distinct binding subunits. Thus, local conformational switching is brought about by tetrahedral coordination (of CuI) or octahedral coordination (of M2+ ions) to bidentate and tridentate binding subunits, respectively. The shape modifications undergone represent an ion-controlled nanomechanical device. They give controlled access to four different states that display different physico-chemical (e.g. optical) properties and provide a basis for logic gate operations. [source]