Force sensitive handles and capacitive touch sensor for driving a flexible haptic-based immersive system.

In this article, we present an approach that uses both two force sensitive handles (FSH) and a flexible capacitive touch sensor (FCTS) to drive a haptic-based immersive system. The immersive system has been developed as part of a multimodal interface for product design. The haptic interface consists of a strip that can be used by product designers to evaluate the quality of a 3D virtual shape by using touch, vision and hearing and, also, to interactively change the shape of the virtual object.

Improving manual skills in persons with disabilities (PWD) through a multimodal assistance system.

Unlabelled: In this research work, we present a Multimodal Guidance System (MGS) whose aim is to provide dynamic assistance to persons with disabilities (PWD) while performing manual activities such as drawing, coloring in and foam-cutting tasks. The MGS provides robotic assistance in the execution of 2D tasks through haptic and sound interactions. Haptic technology provides the virtual path of 2D shapes through the point-based approach, while sound technology provides audio feedback inputs related to the hand's velocity while sketching and filling or cutting operations.

Peribulbar tramadol, clonidine, and ropivacaine in blind and seeing painful eyes.

Purpose: To report on the treatment of painful eyes by peribulbar injection of tramadol, clonidine, and ropivacaine.

Methods: The authors treated a 72-year-old woman with chronic prephthisical pain in the left eye secondary to graft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty and an 81-year-old woman with severe ocular pain in her left eye for neovascular glaucoma secondary to an ischemic central vein occlusion. They were treated with a medial canthus injection of tramadol (100 mg/2 mL ampules), clonidine (0.

Ultrastructural analysis of rabbit retina irradiated with a new 670-nm diode red laser at different powers.

Purpose: Diode lasers have compact dimensions, efficient electric-optical conversion, absence of major cooling requirements, long useful life, and minimal maintenance. We verified the structural and ultrastructural effects of diode red laser emissions at 670 nm on pigmented rabbit retina.

Methods: Transpupillary laser pulses were applied to rabbit retinas at variable powers with a spot size of 500 microm ( approximately 1,000 microm at the retina level) and duration of 200 milliseconds.

Truncal anaesthesia of the maxillary nerve for outpatient surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion.

We present our experience of transcutaneous truncal anaesthesia of the maxillary nerve in association with transmucosal anaesthesia of the sphenopalatine ganglion in surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. Twelve patients with a skeletal transverse discrepancy of the maxilla were treated in our department from 1994 to 1995. Maxillary transcutaneous nerve block was done with a Quincke 8 cm spinal needle together with transmucosal anaesthesia of the sphenopalatine ganglion.

Sedation with ketamine during cataract surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the cardiovascular and ocular effects of a low-dose sedation-analgesia regimen in cataract surgery.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.

Methods: Eighty patients were randomly assigned to two groups.