Nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape-memory alloys (SMAs) have been used in the manufacture of orthodontic wires due to their shape memory properties, super-elasticity, high ductility, and resistance to corrosion. SMAs have greater strength and lower modulus of elasticity when compared with stainless steel alloys. The pseudoelastic behavior of NiTi wires means that on unloading they return to their ori...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the time-dependent viscoelastic properties of an aesthetic orthodontic archwire. The wire is based on a recently developed translucent polyphenylene thermoplastic, whose rigid molecular structure provides high strength. While the wire has good instantaneous mechanical properties, over time all polymers may relax so it is important to understand the po...

This study evaluated the effect of heat treatment on CrNi stainless steel orthodontic archwires. Half of forty archwires of each thickness - 0.014" (0.35 mm), 0.016" (0.40 mm), 0.018" (0.45 mm) and 0.020" (0.50 mm) (totalling 160 archwires) - were subjected to heat treatment while the remainder were not. All of the archwires had their individual thickness measured in the anterior and posterior ...

The patellar bone is involved in repetitive, load bearing motion sequences every day and functions as a vectorial force translator. A fracture rate of 1% of all skeletal fractures is reported and surgical treatment often required. beside a direct trauma mechanism, indirect mechanism but as well as fatigue fractures after reconstructive knee surgery are published. The fracture management is depe...

Guide wires are frequently used in various endourologic procedures to access the upper as well as lower urinary tract. Flexible guide wires have lesser complication rate of tissue injury as compared to stiff guide wires. Flexible guide wires are however more prone to bending and kinking due to their mechanical properties. We report an unusual complication of knotting of flexible guide wires dur...

BACKGROUND Mechanical factors are at the basis of any tendon healing process, being pressure an aspect able to positively influence it. For this reason transosseous rotator cuff repair represents the gold standard procedure for patients affected by a cuff tear, maximizing the tendon footprint contact area and reducing motion at the tendon to bone interface. METHODS The Authors present an all ...

In order to realize a wide area of a soft sensor skin covering the entire body of robots, several ideas of wireless tactile elements have been presented[1][2]. But those papers described only the sensing chip designs, and no methods of their equipment on a real robot had been shown. In this paper we propose a 1-D film coil array to power wireless tactile sensor chips and obtain sensing signals ...

The Extra cortical Clamp Device (ECD) is a novel fixation element designed for use in external fixation assemblies. Unlike standard transosseous fixation elements such as fine wires or the Schanz screw, the ECD avoids the intramedullary canal by obtaining capture of the bone segment external to the periosteal surface of diaphyseal bone. The prime advantage of this is to avoid disruption of, and...

The recovery stress of martensitic shape-memory alloy [SMA] wires can be used to confine concrete, and the confining effectiveness of the SMA wires was previously proved through experimental tests. However, the behavior of SMA wires under recovery stress has not been seriously investigated. Thus, this study conducted a series of tests of NiTiNb martensitic SMA wires under recovery stress with v...

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the clavicle (CPC) is a rare malformation of uncertain aetiopathogenesis, usually unilateral. Physical examination reveals swelling over the midportion of the clavicle, often asymptomatic; the diagnosis is confirmed by radiology. Treatment is controversial: for many authors the surgical indications are the presence of symptoms, functional impairment or cosmetic defo...