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Biomedical subjects

J Souquet

Publications and source records attributed to J Souquet.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Influence of fatigue on EMG/force ratio and cocontraction in cycling.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to observe force and power losses and electromyographic manifestations of fatigue during repeated sprints performed on a friction-loaded cycle ergometer. METHODS: Ten subjects performed 15 maximal 5-s sprints with 25-s rests between them. Power, velocity, and torque were measured during sprints 1 and 13 and during two submaximal constant-velocity (50 rpm) periods of cycling performed before and after the sprints. The EMG signals of five leg muscles were stored to determine the EMG/force ratio of power producer muscles and the coactivation of antagonist muscles. The power producer muscles were activated to the same level during sprints 1 and 13, despite a loss of force, whereas the vastus lateralis muscle was recruited more during the submaximal cycling period under fatigue conditions. RESULTS: This led to an increased EMG/force ratio for the power producer muscles, indicating the peripheral fatigue status of these muscles. Antagonist muscles were less activated during the sprints after fatigue; whereas they stayed unchanged during the last submaximal cycling period. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that there is a decrease in coactivation as agonist force is lost. This decrease in coactivation under fatigue conditions has not been previously reported and is probably due to the training status of the subjects. Subjects may have learned to better use their antagonist muscles to efficiently transfer force and power to the rotating pedal. This coordination can be adapted to cope with fatigue of the power producer muscles.

Adult↗

Urogenital re-education by electrostimulation: modelling for minimum energy computation.

The analysis of the voltage curve V(t) picked up between the two electrodes of a vaginal plug used with a current source stimulation allowed us to suggest a simple electrical model for intravaginal tissue. It is made up of three cells in series: a resistor in parallel with a capacitor for the first two, and a simple resistor for the third. Measurements throughout the hormonal cycle exhibit large variations in resistance and capacitance, and justify the use of a current source device to keep reproducible conditions of stimulation. Subjective detection of sensitivity threshold currents shows results which are independent of the day in the cycle and thus confirms the use of current source stimulation. The curve representing dissipated energy as a function of the pulse duration tau exhibits a minimum value different from the chronaxie (here 800 microseconds). The minimum value is effectively obtained at lower values of tau between 450 and 500 microseconds, dependent on the day of the cycle and the electrical characteristics of vaginal tissue. Two values of tau (230 and 1000 microseconds) between which the energy dissipated is less than Emin + 10 per cent are determined. This gap of pulse duration seems to be a correct range according to the minimum energy criterion for electrostimulation applied to urogenital re-education.

Electric Impedance↗

Transducers in medical ultrasound: Part Two. Vibration modes, matching layers and grating lobes.

The performance of transducers used for medical diagnosis depends to a great extent on matching layer, backing impedance and geometry of the active surface. In this paper special attention is given to the element vibrational modes, the optimum matching, the grating lobe and change of the real acoustic impedance into an imaginary impedance as a function of the product of the width and wavelength. Grating lobes on the echo image and the effect of a mismatch of the matching layer are illustrated. Suggestions are made for the design of linear and phased array transducers considering the above-mentioned aspects.

Humans↗

Transducers in medical ultrasound: Part One. Ferro-electric ceramics versus polymer piezoelectric materials.

A wide variety of transducer shapes and applications exists in the field of diagnostic ultrasound. As a basic material ferro-electric ceramics are used almost exclusively, but polymer piezoelectric material seems a new alternative. By comparing in a qualitative way the most relevant parameters of these materials, a state of the art judgement may be made about their applicability in diagnostic ultrasound.

Ceramics↗

Transoesophageal cross-sectional echocardiography with a phased array transducer system. Technique and initial clinical results.

Cardiac imaging by transthoracic two dimensional echocardiography is impaired in patients with chronic lung disease, those with obesity, and those with abnormal chest wall configuration. In order to overcome these limitations, a miniature phased array ultrasound transducer fitted to the tip of a commercially available gastroscope was developed. Transducer position and orientation can be adjusted completely by external control of vertical displacement inside the oesophagus, rotation, and angulation. Introduction and operation of the transducer gastroscope system are usually well tolerated by the patients, since no mechanical vibrations are generated and there is no need for an oil bag to secure oesophageal wall contact. Cardiac images of high quality are obtained even from structures and regions that are poorly or not at all imaged from external transducer positions.

Adult↗