Studying the Drug Delivery Kinetics of Nanosponges Using a MIP-Based Thermal Sensing Platform

The implementation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) into sensing systems has been demonstrated abundantly over the past few decades. In this article, a novel application for an MIP-based thermal sensing platform is introduced by using the sensor to characterize the drug release kinetics of a nanoporous silver-organic framework. This Ag nanoporous matrix was loaded with acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) which was used as a model drug compound in this study. The drug elution properties were studied by placing the nanoporous matrix in phosphate buffered saline solution for two days and measuring the drug concentration at regular time intervals. To this extent, an acrylamide-based MIP was synthesized that was able to detect aspirin in a specific and selective manner. Rebinding of the template to the MIP was analyzed using a thermal sensor platform. The results illustrate that the addition of aspirin into the sensing chamber leads to a concentration-dependent increase in the phase shift of a thermal wave that propagates through the MIP-coated sensor chip. After constructing a dose-response curve, this system was used to study the drug release kinetics of the nanoporous matrix, clearly demonstrating that the metalorganic framework releases the drug steadily over the course of the first hour, after which the concentration reaches a plateau. These findings were further confirmed by UV–Visible spectroscopy, illustrating a similar time-dependent release in the same concentration range, which demonstrates that the MIP-based platform can indeed be used as a low-cost straightforward tool to assess the efficacy of drug delivery systems in a lab environmen

Waterjet cutting system

A waterjet cutting system (1) comprising a source of water (2), a cylinder piston pump (3), and a water delivery tube (4) with a jet nozzle (5) which can be directed to an ob- ject which is to be cut, wherein the piston (6) of the cylin- 5 der piston pump (3) is connected to a spring (7), and that the pump (3) is embodied as a one-stroke pump, wherein the piston (6) has a first position wherein the spring (7) is loaded and a second position wherein the spring (7) is relaxed, and that relaxing the spring (7) when the spring (7) is loaded drives 10 the piston (6) from the first position to the second position

Steerable Mechanical Joint for High Load Transmission in Minimally Invasive Instruments

As minimally invasive operations are performed through small portals, the limited manipulation capability of straight surgical instruments is an issue. Access to the pathology site can be challenging, especially in confined anatomic areas with few available portals, such as the knee joint. The goal in this paper is to present and evaluate a new sideways-steerable instrument joint that fits within a small diameter and enables transmission of relative high forces (e. g., for cutting of tough tissue). Meniscectomy was selected as a target procedure for which quantitative design criteria were formulated. The steering mechanism consists of a crossed configuration of a compliant rolling-contact element that forms the instrument joint, which is rotated by flexural steering beams that are configured in a parallelogram mechanism. The actuation of cutting is performed by steel wire that runs through the center of rotation of the instrument joint. A prototype of the concept was fabricated and evaluated technically. The prototype demonstrated a range of motion between -22 degrees and 25 degrees with a steering stiffness of 17.6 Nmm/rad (min 16.9 - max 18.2 Nmm/rad). Mechanical tests confirmed that the prototype can transmit an axial load of 200 N on the tip with a maximum parasitic deflection of 4.4 degrees. A new sideways steerable mechanical instrument joint was designed to improve sideways range of motion while enabling the cutting of strong tissues in a minimally invasive procedure. Proof of principle was achieved for the main criteria, which encourages the future development of a complete instrument.[DOI: 10.1115/1.4004649

Meniscal shear stress for punching

Aim: Experimental determination of the shear stress for punching meniscal tissue. Methods: Meniscectomy (surgical treatment of a lesion of one of the menisci) is the most frequently performed arthroscopic procedure. The performance of a meniscectomy is not optimal with the currently available instruments. To design new instruments, the punching force of meniscal tissue is an important parameter. Quantitative data are unavailable. The meniscal punching process was simulated by pushing a rod through meniscal tissue at constant speed. Three punching rods were tested: a solid rod of Oslash; 3.00 mm, and two hollow tubes (Oslash; 3.00-2.60 mm) with sharpened cutting edges of 0.15 mm and 0.125 mm thick, respectively. Nineteen menisci acquired from 10 human cadaveric knee joints were punched (30 tests). The force and displacement were recorded from which the maximum shear stress was determined (average added with three times the standard deviation). Results: The maximum shear stress for the solid rod was determined at 10.2 N/mm2. This rod required a significantly lower punch force in comparison with the hollow tube having a 0.15 mm cutting edge (plt;0.01). Conclusions: The maximum shear stress for punching can be applied to design instruments, and virtual reality training environments. This type of experiment is suitable to form a database with material properties of human tissue similar to databases for the manufacturing industr

How do jet time, pressure and bone volume fraction influence the drilling depth when waterjet drilling in porcine bone?

Using water jets for orthopedic procedures that require bone drilling can be beneficial due to the absence of thermal damage and the always sharp cut. Previously, the influence of the water jet diameter and bone architectural properties on the drilling depth have been determined. To develop water jet instruments that can safely drill in orthopedic surgery, the impact of the two remaining primary factors were determined: the jet time (tjet [s]) and pressure (P [MPa]). To this end, 84 holes were drilled in porcine tali and femora with water jets using Ø 0.4mm nozzle. tjet was varied between 1, 3 and 5s and P between 50 and 70MPa. Drilling depths Lhole (mm), diameters Dhole (mm) and the volume of mineralized bone per unit volume (BV/TV) were determined with microCT scans. A non-linear regression analysis resulted in the predictive equation: Lhole= 0.22 * tjet(0.18) * (1.2-BV/TV) * (P-29) (R(2)=0.904). The established relation between the machine settings and drilling depth allows surgeons to adjust jet time and pressure for the patient׳s BV/TV to drill holes at a predetermined depth. For developers, the relation allows design decisions to be made that influence the dimensions, flexibility and accuracy of water jet instruments. For a pressure of 50MPa, the potential hole depth spread indicated by the 95% confidence interval is <1.6mm for all tested jet times. This maximum variance is smaller than the accuracy required for bone debridement treatments (2-4mm deep), which confirms that water jet drilling can be applied in orthopedic surgery to drill holes in bone with controlled dept

Measuring alignment of the hindfoot

In subtalar arthrodesis operations, correction of the hindfoot alignment is performed in about half of the cases. To improve the quality of the operation, a measurement system was developed which reliably measures the hindfoot angle pre-, per-, and postoperatively This device was evaluated by measuring subjects in standing weightbearing position and in prone nonweightbearing position. The results were compared with hindfoot angles constructed on posterior photographic images. The results are similar to other studies (all maximum values): intratester accuracy 1.4degrees, intertester accuracy 2.2degrees, intratester reliability 0.9, and intertester reliability 0.74. The proposed device will improve the quality of correction, because it enables peroperative measurement of hindfoot alignmen

Waterjet cutting of periprosthetic interface tissue in loosened hip prostheses: an in vitro feasibility study

Waterjet cutting technology is considered a promising technology to be used for minimally invasive removal of interface tissue surrounding aseptically loose hip prostheses. The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility of waterjet cutting of interface tissue membrane. Waterjets with 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm diameter, a stand-off distance of 5 mm, and a traverse speed of 0.5 mm/s were used to cut interface tissue samples in half. The water flow through the nozzle was controlled by means of a valve. By changing the flow, the resulting waterjet pressure was regulated. Tissue sample thickness and the required waterjet pressures were measured. Mean thickness of the samples tested within the 0.2 mm nozzle group was 2.3 mm (SD 0.7 mm) and within the 0.6 mm nozzle group 2.6 mm (SD 0.9 mm). The required waterjet pressure to cut samples was between 10 and 12 MPa for the 0.2 mm nozzle and between 5 and 10 MPa for the 0.6 mm nozzle. Cutting bone or bone cement requires about 3 times higher waterjet pressure (30-50 MPa, depending on used nozzle diameter) and therefore we consider waterjet cutting as a safe technique to be used for minimally invasive interface tissue remova