China ; Inventions

Degenerative involution of the spine causes destruction of spinal stabilizer which consists of bone, ligament, joint capsule, and disc, which substantially leads to hypermobility and instability of the spine. Generally the hard fixation system has been used for the treatment of lumbar instability. However, it has many complications, including screw loosening, screw fracture, and instability on, above, and below the fusion segment. These complications of the hard fixation system has brought to the invention of a more physiologic fixation device, the soft fixation system. We have used the Graf soft fixation system as an instrument for degenerative lumbar disease. 106 cases were operated between August, 1993 and March, 1996. The clinical assessments, radiologic findings, and operative results were analyzed. The height of disc space significantly increased from 8.84mm to 9.84mm on L3/4, 9.28mm to 10.13mm on L4/5, and 9.44mm to 10.47mm on L5/S1. Flexion instability changed from -6.9 degrees to 5.5degrees on L3/4, -7.45 degrees to 5.04 degrees on L4/5, -2.09degrees to 10.81degrees on L5/S1, translation instability was corrected from 16.8% to 14.9% on L3/4, 19.9% to 12.4% on L4/5, 27.1% to 20.1% on L5/S1 after Graf soft fixation. The clinical results were as follows: excellent in 56%, 27% good, 9% fair, and 8% poor. These results suggest that Graf soft fixation system for degenerative lumbar disease would not only be useful and effective, but also be safer in terms of unwanted complications of the hard fixation system.
Inventions ; Joint Capsule ; Ligaments ; Spine

Biotechnology ; Diffusion of Innovation ; Humans ; Inventions

The errors in orthognathic surgery can occur during the preoperative preparations including the model surgery, but till now there's been some lack of reserches about them. So we wanted to verify the accuracies in measurements used in model surgery. We compared the accuracy of measurements by vernier calipers, which has been the main measurement tool for conventional model surgery, and that by height gauge, which is recently claimed to be more accurate, with 3 dimensional coordinate analyzer. We could have following results and have a plan to use them for the invention of new model surgery techniques. 1. The measurement errors in Group 1, which mean the difference between "the measurements by 3-D analyzer" and "the measurements by height gauge", were small enough with the range of 0.1~0.2mm in all planes. 2. The mean error in Group 2, which is the differences between the measurements of 3-D analyzer and those of vernier calipers, was 1.1mm. 3. The measurement errors in Group 2 were variable according to the factors including the differences of individuality and expertness of each measurers. But in case of Group 1, they were small and not variable by the expertness. 4. The measurements were more accurate at the points in anterior teeth than in molar teeth in Group 1 and 2. 5. The errors after model surgery increased remarkably, compared with those before surgery in Group 2. And the situation was different in Group 1 in that errors decreased after surgery. Accoding to these results, it assumed that the measurements with height gauge during the model surgery for orthognathic surgery are accurate enough and can be maintained, regardless of complexity of models, individuality, or expertness of measurers.
Individuality ; Inventions ; Molar ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. RESULTS: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Inventions ; Spine*

BACKGROUND: Confirm the stability of intervertebral disc sustaining each fused lumbar spine cases, comparing vertical compression, A-P shear force and rotational moment on intervertebral disc of instrumented lumbar spine with simple vertical compression load and follower load using finite element analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyze the stability of intervertebral disc L4-5 supporting fused lumbar spine segments. After performing finite element modelling about L1-L5 lumbar vertebral column and L1-L4 each fusion level pedicle screw system for fused lumbar spine fine element model. Intervertebral discs with complex structure and mechanical properties was modeled using spring element that compensate stiffness and tube-to-tube contact element was employed to give follower load. Performing geometrical non-linear analysis. RESULTS: The differences of intervertebral disc L4-5 behavior under the follower compression load in comparision with vertical compression load are as follows. CONCLUSION: As a result of finite element interpretation of instrumented lumbar spine, the stability of L4-5 sustaining fused lumbar segment, the long level fused lumbar spine observed hing stability under follower load. This research method can be the basis tool of effects prediction for instrumentation, a invention of a more precious finite element interpretation model which consider the role of muscle around the spine is loaded.
Finite Element Analysis ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Inventions ; Spine*

This article refreshes the innovative review approach of medical device in China at first. It proposes reference through presenting a series of existing review and approval of innovative medical device in U.S. as well as new tools and methods for supporting scientific review.
China ; Device Approval ; Equipment and Supplies ; Inventions

BACKGROUND: Transillumination of maxillary sinuses was an important method before the invention of X-rays. But as the more precise and valuable methods have been developed, its importance has been reduced in clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the vailidity of the transillumination in diagnosing the maxillary sinus diseases, the transillumination method was compared with the conventional PNS series. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We performed transillumination tests in 100 adults(48 males and 52 females). A fiberoptic cable with halogen light sorce was enough for the examination. The light detected in the face of examinee in the dark room was evaluated. We studied the clinical reliability of transillumination in representing the status of the maxillary sinus. RESULTS: For bilateral sinusitis group(N=48), transillumination matched with the conventinal PNS series in 64.6%(31/48) of the cases, unilateral sinusitis group(N=17) in 82.4%(14/17) and normal group(N=35) in 88.6%(30/35). The overall matched-rate was 75%(75/100). CONCLUSIONS: The transillumination is a helpful non-invasive mothod for clinical evaluation of the maxillary sinus conditions.
Humans ; Inventions ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Sinusitis ; Transillumination*

Our objective is to enable the blind to use smartphones with touchscreens to make calls and to send text messages (sms) with ease, speed, and accuracy. We believe that with our proposed platform, which enables the blind to locate the position of the keypads, new games and education, and safety applications will be increasingly developed for the blind. This innovative idea can also be implemented on tablets for the blind, allowing them to use information websites such as Wikipedia and newspaper portals.
Visually Impaired Persons ; Cell Phones ; Inventions

In recent years,the number of patent applications for traditional Chinese medicine( TCM) inventions has increased rapidly,but the authorization rate has declined. Listed TCM enterprises are a group of active innovators in this field,so this paper analyzes their patent quality by combining patent application and authorization with R&D investment of enterprises in order to explore a practical way to improve the quality of TCM patents. The conclusions are as follows: the R&D investment of listed TCM enterprises is insufficient and the gap between enterprises is large; the number of patent applications is within a reasonable range,but some enterprises still have abnormal patent applications,and patent quality needs to be improved; in addition,the patent operation capacity of enterprises still needs to be improved. In this phenomenon,enterprises should improve R&D investment,strengthen the level of technological innovation,improve the ability of patent operation,and consciously eliminate the output of " abnormal patents"; the patent administrative department should optimize policy direction which is beneficial to the improvement of patent quality,grasp the normal and reasonable examination scale,and jointly improve the quality of TCM patents.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Inventions ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional