Microneurography has been used in humans to study sympathetic activity supplying targets within skeletal muscle and skin. Comparable animal studies are relatively few, probably due to the technical demands of traditional fibre picking techniques. Here we apply a simple suction electrode technique to record cutaneous (CVC) and muscle (MVC) vasoconstrictor activities and describe and investigate ...

We developed a preparation in which the mean arterial pressure of the newborn lamb is varied with little change in left ventricular preload. Seven lambs underwent balloon atrial septostomy and were instrumented with vascular catheters, an electromagnetic flow transducer on the aorta, and a balloon occluder on the aorta. Four different preload conditions were established by volume infusion or wi...

Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) is a method used to estimate the intraocular pressure by measuring the indentation resistance of the cornea. A popular approach to investigate the sensitivity of GAT results to material and geometry variations is to perform numerical modelling using the finite element method, for which a calibrated material model is required. These material models are typica...

A simple time-cycled device uses an oscillating, fluidic, bistable element to control the high-pressure oxygen, supply to the ejector of a ventilating bronchoscope. Both manual and automatic modes of function are available, and inflation pressure and respiratory rate are controlled. Its construction is simple, the cost is low and the number of components is small.

Patient triggered ventilation using oesophageal pressure changes was assessed in eight premature neonates. Respiratory activity was reliably recorded and positive pressure inflation occurred synchronously with inspiration. Peristalsis resulted in only minimal interference. During patient triggered ventilation, inflating volume and oxygenation increased significantly compared with periods of con...

Myelinated pulmonary afferents are classified as rapidly adapting receptors (RARs) or slowly adapting receptors (SARs) by their adaptation rate. Behavior of SARs varies greatly, and therefore the present study tries to further categorize SARs according to their mechanical properties. Single-fiber activity of 104 SARs was examined in anesthetized, open-chest, artificially ventilated rabbits. Acc...

To study the possible reflex effects of stimulation of pulmonary stretch receptors on the cardiovascular system, experiments were designed that would allow separate assessment of the responses of the heart, the total peripheral vascular resistance, and the resistance of the innervated hindlimb that was perfused at a constant flow rate. In every experiment, inflation of the lungs to a positive p...

An unusually wide pneumatic tourniquet has recently become available; we provide a simple formula for its use with a low but effective inflation pressure. A prospective, randomised and controlled trial in 600 lower limb and 150 upper limb operations is reported. The wide tourniquet (12.5 cm) was as effective at low pressure as was a conventional tourniquet (9 cm) inflated to significantly highe...

OBJECTIVES Endotracheal tube cuff (ETTc) inflation by standard methods may result in excessive ETTc pressure. Previous studies have indicated that methods of cuff inflation most frequently used to inflate ETTcs include palpation of the tension in the pilot balloon or injection of a predetermined volume of air to inflate the pilot balloon. If a logarithmic relationship exists between ETTc volume...

In six anaesthetised and ventilated dogs the CSF pulse pressure was compared with the volume-pressure response (VPR) during continuous inflation of an extradural balloon. Both pulse pressure and VPR increased linearly with the ventricular fluid pressure (VFP) up to a mean VFP of 60 mmHg. At this pressure a breakpoint occurred above which the CSF pulse pressure showed a steeper linear increase, ...