Efficacy of fibrin glue for in vitro sealing of human chorioamniotic membranes.

Objective: To assess the changes in tensile strength properties of artificially punctured chorioamniotic membranes after sealing the defect with fibrin glue, a tissue sealant.

Study Design: Chorioamniotic membranes were obtained from 30 term, uncomplicated pregnancies immediately after delivery. Adjacent, same-sized strips were cut from each membrane sample.

Human ejaculate. Effects on the biomechanical properties of the human chorioamniotic membranes.

Objective: To determine the effects of human ejaculate on the biomechanical properties of the human chorioamniotic membranes.

Study Design: Equivalent strips of chorioamniotic membranes were obtained from 30 term, uncomplicated pregnancies immediately after delivery and incubated for 0, 1 and 24 hours with either ejaculate or pseudoamniotic fluid. Three biomechanical properties--rupture tension, strain to rupture and work to rupture--were compared.

Laser-assisted fibrin clot soldering of human menisci.

Fibrin mixtures have been used as a solder in conjunction with argon ion lasers to create strong tissue welds in several organ systems. An analogous method of meniscus repair could obviate the need for partial meniscectomy and its subsequent degenerative effects in a subset of meniscal tears. This study measured the in vitro tensile strength in 4 groups of human menisci (1-mm x 2-mm x 5-mm sections): (1) bisected menisci repaired with fibrin clot mixture, (2) bisected menisci bonded by fibrin clot mixture and exposure to argon laser energy (energy density, 60 W/cm2), (3) bisected menisci repaired with 2 interrupted sutures, and (4) untreated meniscal controls.

The effects of laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding on suture material.

To evaluate the effect of laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding on the tensile strength of suture material, 10 types of sutures were exposed to various time intervals of diode laser energy after pretreatment with dye-enhanced fibrinogen solder. After exposure, each suture material was stressed on a tensometer and compared with nonlased suture material. Our results indicate that polytetrafluoroethylene suture material was virtually unaffected at all time intervals of exposure to laser energy.

Comparison of laser-assisted fibrinogen-bonded and sutured canine arteriovenous anastomoses.

The effect of laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding (LAFB) on the development of intimal hyperplasia was studied with stress-strain profiles and histologic evaluation of canine arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). In 19 animals femoral AVFs were created with an 808 nm diode laser after topical application of fibrinogen mixed with indocyanine green dye; in the contralateral limb a sutured AVF was created. The animals were divided into three groups.

Laser-assisted fibrinogen bonding of vascular tissue.

Characterization of the stress-strain profiles of welded tissue would provide an additional means of analyzing this new technology and comparing it with alternative anastomosing techniques. Rabbit longitudinal aortotomies were repaired with either 7-O polypropylene sutures or an 808-nm diode laser (power density, 4.8 watts/cm2) after topical application of fibrinogen mixed with indocyanine green dye (peak absorption, 805 nm).

State-of-the-art materials used for maxillofacial prosthetic reconstruction.

The present state-of-the-art rests primarily on three general types of polymeric materials based on chemical configurations, that of polyacrylates, polydimethylsiloxane, and segmented block polyetherurethanes. Each of these types is currently prominent in a wide range of dental prosthodontics and surgical prosthetics with continued chemical variants emerging to attain enhanced biocompatibility for safety and effectiveness. However, owing to the disproportionally lower demand, the state-of-the-art for maxillofacial restorative prosthetics has not focused adequately on the specific array of the properties needed for the ideal prosthesis.

Materials and their specifications for vascular prostheses. Specifications and performance standards.

Specification and performance standards represent distinctly different criteria for safe and effective cardiovascular materials and devices, in distinct areas of materials and device conversions, with consideration of implant as well as physiological assault. Cardiovascular device failures need more definitive, realistic, and creative approaches to devising standards of performance with relevance to the physiological environment.