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Biomedical subjects

R F Edlich

Publications and source records attributed to R F Edlich.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Biomechanical performance of ophthalmic surgical needles.

The mechanical performance of ophthalmic surgical needles is studied. Standard biomechanical tests, devised to evaluate the performance of ophthalmic surgical needles, are presented. Four comparable groups of ophthalmic surgical needles were selected from two different manufacturers for these biomechanical studies. The results of this testing demonstrate that needle point geometry and needle composition are important determinants of needle performance. When comparable size needles were evaluated, the biomechanical performance of the recently introduced CS160-6 ophthalmic needle (Ethicon, Inc) was superior to the AU-5, CU-5, and SU-5 needles (Alcon, Inc). Whereas the development of these biomechanical tests has allowed the evaluation of these ophthalmic needles, these same tests can be used to assess the performance of other new ophthalmic surgical needles.

Alloys↗
PubMed1992

A new compound curved tapercut needle for oral surgery.

A new compound curved tapercut needle has been designed and developed for oral mucous membrane closure from a unique stainless steel alloy, American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) 45500. This tapercut needle has a short, relatively straight point, followed by a curved distal section. Despite its geometry, it exhibited similar sharpness as well as resistance to bending and breakage, as did the standard tapercut needle with a single radius of curvature manufactured from the same alloy. The design of this new needle enabled the surgeon to pass it through the oral mucous membrane with a greater accuracy to a controlled depth and length of bite than the standard tapercut needle with a single radius of curvature. In addition, the new needle design aids in the suturing of mucous membranes in confined spaces.

Elasticity↗
PubMed1992

A new, compound-curved needle for vascular surgery.

A new, compound-curved needle has been designed and developed for vascular surgery from a unique stainless steel alloy, American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) 45500. This needle has two different radii of curvature and a relatively straight body followed by a short, curved tapered point. Despite its geometry, it exhibits a similar sharpness, as well as resistance to bending and breakage, as did a curved needle with a single radius of curvature manufactured from the same alloy. The design of this new needle enabled the surgeon to pass it through the vessel wall with greater accuracy to a controlled depth and length of bite than the curved cutting edge needle with a single radius of curvature.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1991

Biomechanical performance of tapercut needles for oral surgery.

A new tapercut needle has been designed and developed for closure of the oral mucous membrane in oral surgery. It is a sharp needle with short cutting edges that easily penetrates through a small needle puncture hole. It is manufactured from a unique stainless steel alloy that resists bending and fracture. Biomechanical performance tests and clinical experience confirm its superiority over the standard reverse cutting edge needle for use in oral surgery.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1991

Mechanical performance of surgical needle holders.

A new quantitative measurement of surgical needle holder performance has been described that records the forces (clamping moment) applied by the needle holder jaws to curved surgical needles. This test has been used to determine the applied clamping forces of four different surgical needle holders made by one manufacturer. By relating the magnitude of the clamping moment of needle holder to the resistance to bending of curved surgical needles, we propose a new scientific basis for selecting surgical needle and needle holders for wound closure.

Elasticity↗
PubMed1991

A new compound-curved needle for microvascular surgery.

A new compound-curved needle has been designed and developed for microvascular surgery from a unique stainless steel alloy, American Society for Testing Materials 45500. This needle has two distinct radii of curvature and a short tapered point, followed by a curved distal section. Despite its geometry, it exhibits similar resistance to bending and breakage as a curved needle with a single radius of curvature manufactured from the same alloy. The design of this new needle enables plastic surgeons to pass it through vessel walls with greater accuracy to a controlled depth and length of bite than a curved needle with a single radius of curvature.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Biochemical performance of tapercut cardiovascular needles.

Standardized reproducible tests have been developed to determine the biomechanical performance of cardiovascular needles. The parameters used to assess performance were: 1) sharpness, 2) resistance to bending, and 3) ductility. Four comparable groups of tapercut and taper point cardiovascular needles were selected from different manufacturers for these biochemical studies. The results of this testing demonstrated that needle geometry, needle composition, and the manufacturer were important determinants of needle performance. When comparable needles were evaluated, the biochemical performance of cardiovascular needles manufactured by Ethicon, Inc. (Somerville, NJ) were superior to needles produced by other manufacturers. The superior performance characteristics of the cardiovascular needles produced by Ethicon, Inc. were related to their unique stainless steel alloy, American Society for Testing Materials 45500, which has greater yield and tensile strengths than the alloy used by the other manufacturers. This stainless steel alloy was ideal for the production of tapercut needles, which combined some of the features of a reverse cutting edge needle and taper point needle. Its very short cutting edges allowed it to penetrate the membrane at considerably lower penetration forces than were encountered with comparable taper point needles. In addition, the investigation indicated that the trocar point cardiovascular needles produced a large triangular defect whose diameter was much larger than that of the needle body. For this reason, the use of the trochar point needle is not recommended in cardiovascular surgery.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1979

Activity of antibiotics in contaminated wounds containing clay soil.

Most traumatic wounds are contaminated to some degree by soil and run a high risk of infection. The presence of soil in wounds interferes with natural tissue defenses, which include phagocytosis and serum bactericidal capacity. The experimental studies reported herein clearly demonstrate that soil also limits the antibacterial effects of specific antibiotics. This inactivation appears to be the result of a chemical reaction between the charged antibiotics and the soil particles.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

An injury severity scale for comprehensive management of central nervous system trauma.

The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used in central Virginia by emergency medical technicians (EMT's), emergency department personnel and neurosurgical staff to evaluate patients with central nervous system (CNS) trauma. In a series of 406 patients admitted to the neurosurgical services at the University of Virgina Hospital between October 1977 and February 1978, a GCS score was recorded by the neurosurgeon, nurse, and EMT. All 250 data points, including clinical diagnosis and incidence of associated injuries were entered into our information system analysis. The scale can be easily mastered by all members of the emergency medical team giving reproducible results. It also appears to be a valid predictor of the ultimate outcomes of head injury. The GCS has substantial clinical value in the management of the nuerotrauma patient. It is presently being employed in all phases of the emergency medical system to monitor the progression of the neurologic injury. Ultimately, this injury severity scoring system will be used to standardize patient populations in well controlled clinical studies in which different treatment parameters will be assessed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Physician and patient acceptance of emergency nurse practitioners.

Patient and physician attitudes toward emergency nurse practitioners (ENP) were surveyed in our emergency medical service. The responses to the questionnaires indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the ENP similar to that reported in a survey of patient reaction to physician assistants (PA) in the emergency department. In our emergency medical service, physicians expressed a concern over the practitioner's care of the emergent patient. Their confidence in the practitioner's clinical judgment was greater in their care of nonurgent and urgent patients.

Attitude↗
PubMed1979

Extinguishing the flaming burn victim.

The multipurpose dry chemical fire extinguishers are unusually efficient in extinguishing many classes of fire: A) ordinary combustible; B) flammable liquids and C) electrical equipment. This exemplary performance of multipurpose extinguishers is associated with minimal toxic effects to humans. Following contact of soft tissue with the multipurpose dry chemical, the tissue exhibits a remarkable ability to resist infection and a normal capacity to heal following injury. This negligible toxicity of the multipurpose dry chemicals makes them safe for extinguishing the flaming clothes of human burn victims.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Practical technique for quantitating anaerobic bacteria in tissue specimens.

Quantitative bacteriology has considerable influence on the care and management of surgical wounds. Heretofore, these techniques have been limited to measurements of aerobic bacteria. A technique is reported herein which permits quantitation of obligately anaerobic bacteria in tissue specimens. This technique is easily reproduced in any clinical laboratory and eliminates the need for expensive anaerobic chambers.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1979

Side-effects of topical proteolytic enzyme treatment.

The results of this study indicate that short term treatment of wounds with topical enzymes appears to be safe and is accompanied by no clinically significant side-effects. Topical wound treatment with this enzyme did not interfere either with healing of experimental wounds or the activity of the antibiotics. Wounds subjected to this enzyme treatment exhibited a normal capacity to resist infection, even though this enzyme interferred with leukocyte phagocytosis in vitro. The potential benefits of this treatment in experimental wounds as an adjunct to antibiotics considerably outweigh its damaging effects. Its clinical use in patients must await the results of carefully controlled clinical trials in which the efficacy of this treatment is evaluated.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1978

Male transsexualism--a review of genital surgical reconstruction.

Transsexualism is a poorly understood, uncommon, and controversial entity of recent interest to the lay public and medical profession. Important features of the condition are discussed, surgical procedures for genital conversion in male transsexuals are compared, and our experience at the University of Virginia where 53 patients have been treated surgically is presented. All patients have made satisfactory postoperative psychosocial adjustment despite a surgical complication rate approaching 50 per cent. It is concluded that alternative (better) surgical procedures for male transsexuals should be explored.

Castration↗
PubMed1978

Debridement: an essential component of traumatic wound care.

The harmful influences of devitalized tissue on wound defenses are documented and the importance of wound debridement in the care of the traumatic wound is stressed. All devitalized soft tissues damaged the host's defenses and encouraged the development of infection. The capacity of divitalized muscle, fat, and skin to enhance infection was comparable. The infection-potentiating effect of skin was enhanced by exposing it to a dry thermal injury. The mechanisms by which devitalized soft tissue enhanced infection are several. The devitalized soft tissue acts as a culture medium promoting bacterial growth. In addition, the devitalized tissue inhibits leukocyte phagocytosis of bacteria and subsequent kill. Finally, the anaerobic environment within the devitalized tissue may also limit leukocyte function.

Debridement↗