1 Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus.
Published: October 2018
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Background Wear and corrosion have been identified as two of the major forms of medical implant failures. This study aims to improve the surface, protective and tribological characteristics of bare metals used for medical implants, so as to improve scratch resistance and increase lifetime. Methods Hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films were deposited, using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), on stainless steel (SS), titanium (Ti) and niobium (Nb) metal plates. Nanomechanical and nanotribological responses were investigated before and after a-C:H deposition. Film thickness and density were quantified through X-ray reflectivity, and surface morphology before and after deposition were measured using atomic force microscopy, whereas the tribomechanical characteristics were probed using instrumented indentation. Results and conclusions Films of approximately 40 nm in thickness and density of 1.7 g/cm were deposited. The a-C:H films reduce the roughness and coefficient of friction while improving the tribomechanical response compared with bare metals for Ti, SS and Nb plates. The very good tribomechanical properties of a-C:H make it a promising candidate material for protective coating on metallic implants.
Effective drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye remains a challenge owing to the limitations of conventional methods such as intravitreal injections, which are associated with significant side effects. This study explored the use of hollow microneedles (HMNs) for localized intrascleral drug delivery as a minimally invasive alternative. Stainless steel HMNs with bevel angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75° were fabricated using wire electron discharge machining.
Background: To compare the performance of a new-generation cobalt-chromium balloon-expandable bare metal stent with a stainless steel platform for the treatment of iliac occlusive disease.
Methods: Consecutive patients treated for symptomatic iliac occlusive disease between 2014 and 2021 with the cobalt-chromium Dynetic-35 or the stainless steel Dynamic platform were retrospectively evaluated. Outcome measures included technical success, device- or procedure-related death, clinically-driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), primary patency, and major index limb amputation up to 12 months.
Background: This randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effect of intracanal cryotherapy with 2-4 °C normal saline irrigation on post-operative pain after single-visit non-surgical root canal retreatment.
Methods: Forty-six single-rooted, single-canal teeth requiring non-surgical root canal retreatment were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 23): a cryotherapy group and a control group. All the treatments were completed during a single visit.
Introduction: This study aimed to assess the effect of the mandibular second molars on the stress distribution and initial displacements during leveling the curve of Spee using different archwire thicknesses and materials by means of finite element analysis.
Methods: After construction of all anatomic structures, including the mandibular alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, and dentition, 0.022-in slot brackets and 0.
