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R S Hertert

Publications and source records attributed to R S Hertert.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Portable stimulus generator for obtaining high-frequency (8-14 kHz) auditory brainstem responses.

Currently, the most useful application of high-frequency (greater than or equal to 8 kHz) auditory evaluation is for serial monitoring of patients receiving potentially ototoxic agents. Many individuals, however, are unable to respond to behavioral auditory test techniques. An objective evaluation method such as the auditory brainstem response (ABR) is valuable with difficult-to-test individuals. Laboratory instrumentation has been demonstrated to evoke high-frequency-specific (8-14 kHz) ABRs with reliable intrasubject latencies over time. This instrumentation is limited, however, because it cannot be transported to the patient confined to a hospital room. A portable device has now been constructed to deliver high-frequency (8-14 kHz) tone-burst stimuli comparable to the lab system. This digital/analog high-frequency tone-burst stimulus generator weighs less than 5 pounds. It can be utilized with any ABR signal averager capable of generating a positive (condensing) click at approximately 4.8 volts. Case studies are presented to demonstrate the frequency-specific responses obtained with these high-frequency tone-burst stimuli.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Stress relaxation of dental amalgam alloys.

Short-term stress relaxation of four dental amalgam alloys was studied. Test materials included two conventional lathe-cut restoratives, a spherical alloy, and a dispersed phase product. Specimens were 24-hr-old 4 X 8-mm cylinders. The specimens were compressed and held at constant strain on development of a stress (So) of 28 MN/m2. Subsequent stress relaxation (Dt) was recorded for 60 sec. Data were obtained at eight nominal temperatures between 0 and 55 degrees C. Over the experimental temperature range, fractional stress losses at 60 sec (Dt/So/60) for specimens made from lathe-cut alloys increased from 10% to 58%. The spherical material and the dispersed phase alloy showed fractional stress losses (Dt/So/60) ranging from 9% to 47% and 9% to 31%, respectively. It would appear that particle morphology and alloy composition affect stress-relaxation behavior of dental amalgam. Stress decay patterns enhance significantly the mechanical characterization of amalgam alloys.

Dental Amalgam↗

Testing for neutral-to-ground connections in new construction.

A study was performed to seek out inadvertent connections between neutral and ground in the power distribution system of a newly constructed hospital, prior to occupancy. Such connections are not only violations of code but could cause medical device problems. Ground wires are not intended to carry load currents except during faults. When currents do flow in grounds, medical device chassis voltages are elevated and some devices may respond unpredictably. Suitable acceptance testing is not commonly done. In this study, a simple test method was developed that helped reveal and correct many neutral-ground misconnections. The authors advocate incorporating such a test into building construction contract specifications.

Electric Power Supplies↗

Short-term stress-relaxation behavior of nonmetallic restoratives.

The rheological behavior of five nonmetallic dental materials was studied. Short-term stress relaxation was found to be strongly dependent on time and temperature. Relaxation behavior of the test materials conformed well to simple mathematical models.

Dental Cements↗