Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

New Adjustable Unloader Knee Brace and Its Effectiveness
Unloader knee braces are prescribed for patients with unicompartmental osteoarthritis of the knee. These braces aim to reduce pain in patients by applying a coronal moment to the knee to unload the symptomatic knee compartment. However, existing unloading mechanisms use straps that go directly behind the knee joint, to apply the needed moment. This can impinge on the popliteal artery and peroneal nerves thereby causing discomfort to the patient. Hence, these braces cannot be worn for prolonged periods of time. This research focused on developing a new knee brace to improve comfort while unloading the osteoarthritic knee. A...
Source: Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME - November 22, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Source Type: research

Design and Functional Testing of a Novel Blood Pulse Wave Velocity Sensor
The multiphotodiode array (MPA) is a novel transmission photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor to measure pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the finger. To validate the MPA, a setup was built to generate a red laser dot traveling over the MPA with known and constant scanning velocities. These scanning velocities were chosen to include speeds at least twice as high as those found in the normal range of PWV in healthy populations and were set at 12.9, 25.8, 36, or 46.7 m/s. The aim of this study was to verify the functionality of the MPA: performing local noninvasive PWV measurements. To illustrate the applicability of the MPA in clini...
Source: Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME - November 22, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Source Type: research

Development and Feasibility of a Robotic Laparoscopic Clipping Tool for Wound Closure and Anastomosis
This paper reports the design, development, and initial evaluation of a robotic laparoscopic clipping tool for single manipulator wound closure and anastomosis (tubular reconnection). The tool deploys biodegradable clips and clasps with the goal of (i) integrating grasping and suturing into a single device for single hand or manipulator use, (ii) applying the equivalent of interrupted sutures without the need of managing suture thread, and (iii) allowing for full six degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) laparoscopic control when mounted on a robot arm. The specifications, workflow, and detailed design of the robotic laparoscopic tool...
Source: Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME - November 22, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Source Type: research

A Novel Graft Fixation Technique for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Hamstring Tendon Grafts
This study evaluated the biomechanical efficacy of single-tunnel double-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction technique. The graft construct is achieved using a novel fixation device that splits an ACL (SPACL) graft into two bundles, recreating the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) bundles for ACL reconstruction. A pullout strength test of the SPACL was performed using a 7-mm bovine digital extensor tendon graft. The capability in restoration of knee kinematics after SPACL reconstruction was investigated using cadaveric human knees on a robotic testing system under an anterior tibial load of 134 N ...
Source: Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME - November 22, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Source Type: research

Design and Experimental Validation of an Active Catheter for Endovascular Navigation
We describe here the development of an active and efficient catheter based on shape memory alloys (SMA) actuators. We first established the specifications of our device considering anatomical constraints. We then present a new method for building active SMA-based catheters. The proposed method relies on the use of a core body made of three parallel metallic beams and integrates wire-shaped SMA actuators. The complete device is encapsulated into a standard 6F catheter for safety purposes. A trial-and-error campaign comparing 70 different prototypes was conducted to determine the best dimensions of the core structure and of ...
Source: Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME - November 22, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Source Type: research

Design and Evaluation of a Mechanically Driven Artificial Speech Device
This paper presents the design of a mechanically driven artificial speech device to be used by laryngectomees as an affordable alternative to an electrolarynx (EL). Design objectives were based on feedback from potential end users. The device implements a mainspring powered gear train that drives a striker. The striker impacts a suspended drum-like head, producing sound. When pressed against the neck, the head transmits sound into the oral cavity, allowing the user to produce intelligible speech. The dynamics of the vibrating head and sound pressure levels (SPLs) produced at the mouth were measured to compare performance b...
Source: Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME - November 9, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Source Type: research

Preliminary Design and Testing of a Cavo-Arterial Pump Utilizing Axial Magnetic Couplings
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction has limited the effectiveness of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) therapy in some heart failure (HF) patients. Intravascular pumps can provide adequate circulatory support without the need for extensive operations. The development of an intravascular right ventricular assist device (RVAD), called the cavo-arterial pump (CAP), is presented. Two prototypes of the CAP were developed to demonstrate the feasibility of providing adequate pulmonary support and to demonstrate the feasibility of using axial magnetic couplings for contactless torque transmission from the motor shaft to the pump...
Source: Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME - November 9, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Source Type: research

Surface and Thermal Characteristics of Single-Use Electrosurgical Pencils After Clinical Reuse and In-Hospital Reprocessing
This study aimed at monitoring the surface characteristics of single-use EPs subjected to multiple clinical use and in-hospital reprocessing. A total of 24 single-use-labeled EPs were divided in five test groups and one control group. The test groups were subjected to a different number of clinical uses, ranging from one to five. A multitechnique approach based on optical stereomicroscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was applied. The silicon coating of the tip was significantly reduced, an...
Source: Journal of Medical Devices, Transactions of the ASME - October 20, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Source Type: research