A homogenized 193 nm ArF* laser ablation system coupled to an inductively coupled plasma-"Time of Flight"-mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-TOFMS) was tested for depth profiling analysis on different single-layer Ti based coatings on steel and W carbides. Laser parameters, such as repetition rate, pulse energy and spatial resolution were tested to allow optimum depth related calibration curves. The ablation process using a laser repetition rate of 3 Hz, 120 microm crater diameter, and 100 mJ output energy, leads to linear calibration curves independent of the drill time or peak area used for calibrating the thickness of the layer. The best depth resolution obtained (without beam splitter) was 0.20 microm per laser shot. The time resolution of the ICP-TOFMS of 102 ms integration time per isotope was sufficient for the determination of the drill time of the laser through the coatings into the matrix with better than 2.6% RSD (about 7 microm coating thickness, n = 7). Variation of the volume of the ablation cell was not influencing the depth resolution, which suggests that the depth resolution is governed by the ablation process. However, the application on the Ti(N,C) based single layer shows the potential of LA-ICP-TOFMS as a complementary technique for fast depth determinations on various coatings in the low to medium microm region.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Bone adaptation changes mechanical stress in the femur--a prospective two years follow up after Hüft-TEP implantation].

AIM: Periprosthetic adaptive bone remodeling after total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been frequently simulated in computer models, combining bone remodeling theory with finite element analysis. Unfortunately, there is still a lack of clinical validation data. The collection of prospective volumetric bone density data with a clinical computerized tomography study after THA was previously conducted. The objective of the study presented here is an additional evaluation of femoral strain. METHOD: In a prospective clinical trial with 7 female patients after THA computerized tomography (CT) and finite element (FE) modeling was patient specifically combined immediately after surgery, as well as at three and 24 months postoperatively. Mechanical strain was expressed by strain energy density. RESULTS: Corresponding to a bone density decrease, a decrease of the femoral strain energy density was observed during the two year follow-up after surgery (approximately 20 %). The predominant change occurred within the first three months and was found to be distally stronger than proximally. CONCLUSION: As far as we are aware, this is the first combination of fully prospective 3D CT density data in vivo with patient-specific finite element modeling. The assessment of mechanical strain data during a follow-up trial should be a new approach for analyzing hip stems in clinical biomechanics. A future confirmative study based on a statistical case number calculation would increase the evidence of the results presented here.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Results of radiation therapy of bladder carcinomas with ultrahard roentgen irradiation of a 17 MeV betatron].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Aged↗