Study, design and prototyping of arm splint with additive manufacturing process
The aim1 of this study is to propose the additive manufactured 3D printed technique for adaptive organic design splint as a solution for the problems generated by the use of casts in medical applications. Since the end of the XVIII century, when casts begin to be used, they have barely improved. Thanks to new manufacture and material techniques, we can improve and modernize this commonly used fracture treatment method. Based on three dimensional digitalization techniques and modeling via reverse engineering software, a 3D printed splint is proposed, which will provide the benefits of cast avoiding its deficiencies.
Design and prototype of a control for virtual environment in CHD examination
The study represents a preliminary step for the complete development of a virtual reality glasses control. This command will have applications for the simulation of the practice of the ultrasound examination in the diagnostic test of Congenital Heart Disease. This will help in the formation of new doctors during their practical class. In this work 3 analyzes were performed. With the functional analysis, the important parts of the control that will be applied in the prototype were removed. In the morphological analysis the final form of the command was developed, constituting a recognizable form for their respective users, and adding the necessary components for their operation. Finally, thanks to the ergonomic analysis, the relationship between the machine and the doctor could be understood.
Effectiveness of Removable Walker Cast Versus Nonremovable Fiberglass Off-Bearing Cast in the Healing of Diabetic Plantar Foot Ulcer
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a removable cast walker compared with that of a nonremovable fiberglass off-bearing cast in the treatment of diabetic plantar foot ulcer. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Forty-five adult diabetic patients with nonischemic, noninfected neuropathic plantar ulcer were randomly assigned for treatment with a nonremovable fiberglass off-bearing cast (total contact cast [TCC] group) or walker cast (Stabil-D group). Treatment duration was 90 days. Percent reduction in ulcer surface area and total healing rates were evaluated after treatment. RESULTS A total of 48 patients were screened; however, 2 patients in the TCC group and 1 patient in the Stabil-D group did not complete the study and were considered dropouts. There were no significant differences in demographic and clinic characteristics of the 45 patients completing the study. Ulcer surface decreased from 1.41 to 0.21 cm2 (P < 0.001) in the TCC group and from 2.18 to 0.45 cm2 (P < 0.001) in the Stabil-D group, with no significant differences between groups (P = 0.722). Seventeen patients (73.9%) in the TCC group and 16 patients (72.7%) in the Stabil-D group achieved healing (P = 0.794). Average healing time was 35.3 ± 3.1 and 39.7 ± 4.2 days in the TCC and Stabil-D group, respectively (P = 0.708). CONCLUSIONS The Stabil-D cast walker, although removable, was equivalent in efficacy to the TCC in terms of ulcer size reduction and total healing rate. The easier use of Stabil-D may help increase the use of off-loading devices in the management of plantar neuropathic diabetic foot ulcers.