Elastomeric spring actuator using nylon wires

Medical devices are designed for collaboration with the human body, which makes the steps to create them increasingly more complex if the device is to be implanted. Soft robots have the unique potential of meeting both the mechanical compliance with the interacting tissues and the controlled functionality needed for a repair or replacement. Soft devices that fulfill fundamental mechanical roles are needed as parts of soft robots in order to carry out desired tasks. As the medical devices become increasingly low-profile, soft devices must feature multi-functionality that is embedded in the structure. A device embedded with nylon actuators allows for the controlled collapsing of an elastomeric spring by compression alone or compression and twisting. In this paper we present the concept of a novel elastomeric spring, its fabrication and mechanical characterization

Fundoplication in Patients with Esophageal Atresia : Patient Selection, Indications, and Outcomes

Patients with esophageal atresia (EA) suffer from abnormal and permanent esophageal intrinsic and extrinsic innervation that affects severely esophageal motility. The repair of EA also results in esophageal shortening that affects distal esophageal sphincter mechanism. Consequently, gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in these patients, overall approximately half of them suffer from symptomatic reflux. GER in EA patients often resists medical therapy and anti-reflux surgery in the form of fundoplication is required. In patients with pure and long gap EA, the barrier mechanisms against reflux are even more damaged, therefore, most of these patients undergo fundoplication during first year of life. Other indications for anti-reflux surgery include recalcitrant anastomotic stenoses and apparent life-threatening episodes. In short term, fundoplication alleviates symptoms in most patients but recurrences are common occurring in at least one third of the patients. Patients with fundoplication wrap failure often require redo surgery, which may be complicated and associated with significant morbidity. A safe option in a subset of patients with failed anti-reflux surgery appears to be long-term medical treatment with proton pump inhibitors.Peer reviewe

Selection and evaluation of telephone hotline volunteers

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of four instruments in terms of predicting the capability of telephone hotline volunteers. The four components of the evaluation package included values, listening skills, personality trait type, and telephone behaviors. The instruments to measure these components were the Rokeach Value Survey, the Jones-Mohr Listening Test, the Myers-Briggs Trait Type Indicator, and the Crisis Call Behavior Checklist. The subjects used in this study came from the COPE Hotline located in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. The 25 subjects were all volunteers to the hotline, primarily female, who had undergone a 26-hour training program. The subjects first ranked 36 values on the Rokeach Value Survey. Secondly, they completed the 126-item Myers-Briggs Trait Type Indicator. Third, they took the Jones-Mohr Listening Test, which is a 30-item tape-recorded test in which the volunteer must listen to a statement and then select a phrase from a written list of four which best represents the intended meaning of the statement. The dependent variable was the Crisis Call Behavior Checklist. In this case, the volunteer was evaluated on the basis of an actual phone call to the hotline by the director of the hotline. The results of the study were evaluated on the basis of correlation and multiple regression. The question to be answered was: Do the three instruments serve as good predictors of success for telephone hotline volunteers? No significant difference was found as to one\u27s values, Myers-Briggs Trait Type, or listening skills in terms of the subject\u27s Crisis Call Behavior Checklist score. Hence, neither the Rokeach Value Survey, the Myers-Briggs Trait Type Indicator, nor the Jones-Mohr Listening Test served as good predictors of effective telephone volunteers. Further study as to effective methods for the selection and evaluation of telephone volunteers is recommended

ПРОЦЕДУРА FOKER - СТРАТЕГИЯ ИНДУКЦИИ РОСТА ПИЩЕВОДА ПУТЕМ ЕГО ВЫТЯЖЕНИЯ

The scientific review is devoted to study of treatment of long gap esophageal atresia with use of traction elongation. This surgical method is rather new and unknown for readers from the Russian Federation. From first-hand authors first-hand showed versatile aspects of extension of esophagus.Научный обзор посвящен изучению лечения атрезии пищевода с большим диастазом и использованием тракционной элонгации. Этот хирургический метод достаточно новый, он пока не известен широкому кругу читателей из Российской Федерации. Авторы широко осветили разносторонние аспекты вытяжения пищевода