In the recent years, there has been a growing interest in research community towards the application of smart materials for bio-medical structural health monitoring. Amongst the smart materials, directly bonded piezo sensors (DBPS), based on the electro-mechanical impedance (EMI) technique, have been successfully employed for the above purpose. The principle behind the EMI technique is that high frequency excitations (typically > 30 kHz) generated by a surface bonded PZT patch are used to detect changes in structural drive point impedance caused by cracks or any other type of damage. Bone healing and damage have been shown to be successfully monitored using the DBPS. However, in most of the diagnostic cases of live human and animal subjects, directly bonding a PZT patch is always an irritant or hazard for a live subject. To circumvent direct bonding, the authors have developed and experimentally demonstrated a non-bonded piezo sensor (NBPS) configuration as a good alternative to DBPS while maintaining the effectiveness of measurement well within discernible limits. This paper presents further improvement in the NBPS configuration aiming at autonomous operation of the gripping mechanism using shape memory alloy (SMA) wires. The experiments are performed on replicas of femur bone in healthy and osteoporosis state. This paper shows the effective use of SMA clamping for bone identification and its damage assessment in comparison to earlier mechanical gripping using jubilee clamps. This paper also covers impedance based identification applied to SMA and clamp based NBPS configurations. In place of raw admittance signatures, effective drive point impedance is utilized for the purpose of bone diagnostics which provides a more realistic assessment of the condition of bone.
Alloys ; Animals ; Constriction ; Diagnosis ; Electric Impedance ; Femur ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Memory ; Osteoporosis

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multi-level airway disease, and the specific site of obstruction may influence associated conditions such as eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study aimed to explore the relationship between OSA, ETD, acid reflux, and the anatomical site of obstruction. Methods: Participants were assessed using validated questionnaires for OSA, ETD, and reflux symptoms. The site of upper airway collapse was determined objectively using apneagraphy or sleep MRI. Acid reflux symptoms were evaluated using a standardized reflux symptom questionnaire, and 24-hour pH monitoring was done when indicated. ETD was assessed both subjectively and objectively through the Toynbee maneuver. Results: Sixty-three individuals completed the evaluation. The mean age was 40.4 years, and the mean BMI was 28.1 kg/m2. Retroglossal obstruction was observed in 76.1% (48/63), while 23.9% (15/63) had retropalatal obstruction. ETD was diagnosed in 53% of participants, and GERD in 38% by objective testing. A statistically significant association was found between retroglossal collapse and complete ETD (p=0.02). However, no significant link was noted between the obstruction site and laryngopharyngeal reflux or partial ETD. Additionally, salivary pepsin levels showed no correlation with reflux (p=0.412). Conclusions: OSA is frequently accompanied by ETD and GERD. Notably, retroglossal obstruction appears to be significantly associated with complete ETD, suggesting a potential site-specific impact. These findings underscore the importance of anatomical localization in understanding OSA-related comorbidities and warrant further investigation in larger multicenter studies.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multi-level airway disease, and the specific site of obstruction may influence associated conditions such as eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study aimed to explore the relationship between OSA, ETD, acid reflux, and the anatomical site of obstruction. Methods: Participants were assessed using validated questionnaires for OSA, ETD, and reflux symptoms. The site of upper airway collapse was determined objectively using apneagraphy or sleep MRI. Acid reflux symptoms were evaluated using a standardized reflux symptom questionnaire, and 24-hour pH monitoring was done when indicated. ETD was assessed both subjectively and objectively through the Toynbee maneuver. Results: Sixty-three individuals completed the evaluation. The mean age was 40.4 years, and the mean BMI was 28.1 kg/m2. Retroglossal obstruction was observed in 76.1% (48/63), while 23.9% (15/63) had retropalatal obstruction. ETD was diagnosed in 53% of participants, and GERD in 38% by objective testing. A statistically significant association was found between retroglossal collapse and complete ETD (p=0.02). However, no significant link was noted between the obstruction site and laryngopharyngeal reflux or partial ETD. Additionally, salivary pepsin levels showed no correlation with reflux (p=0.412). Conclusions: OSA is frequently accompanied by ETD and GERD. Notably, retroglossal obstruction appears to be significantly associated with complete ETD, suggesting a potential site-specific impact. These findings underscore the importance of anatomical localization in understanding OSA-related comorbidities and warrant further investigation in larger multicenter studies.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a multi-level airway disease, and the specific site of obstruction may influence associated conditions such as eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study aimed to explore the relationship between OSA, ETD, acid reflux, and the anatomical site of obstruction. Methods: Participants were assessed using validated questionnaires for OSA, ETD, and reflux symptoms. The site of upper airway collapse was determined objectively using apneagraphy or sleep MRI. Acid reflux symptoms were evaluated using a standardized reflux symptom questionnaire, and 24-hour pH monitoring was done when indicated. ETD was assessed both subjectively and objectively through the Toynbee maneuver. Results: Sixty-three individuals completed the evaluation. The mean age was 40.4 years, and the mean BMI was 28.1 kg/m2. Retroglossal obstruction was observed in 76.1% (48/63), while 23.9% (15/63) had retropalatal obstruction. ETD was diagnosed in 53% of participants, and GERD in 38% by objective testing. A statistically significant association was found between retroglossal collapse and complete ETD (p=0.02). However, no significant link was noted between the obstruction site and laryngopharyngeal reflux or partial ETD. Additionally, salivary pepsin levels showed no correlation with reflux (p=0.412). Conclusions: OSA is frequently accompanied by ETD and GERD. Notably, retroglossal obstruction appears to be significantly associated with complete ETD, suggesting a potential site-specific impact. These findings underscore the importance of anatomical localization in understanding OSA-related comorbidities and warrant further investigation in larger multicenter studies.