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Showing papers by "Ephraim M Sparrow published in 1997"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This study describes a critical assessment of potential methodologies for noninvasive wound evaluation using a color imaging system and developed a method for quantifying histological readings and applied these techniques to a porcine animal model of wound formation.
Abstract: An accurate diagnosis of burns and pressure ulcers in the early stages can be made by computerized image processing. This study describes a critical assessment of potential methodologies for noninvasive wound evaluation using a color imaging system. The authors also developed a method for quantifying histological readings and applied these techniques to a porcine animal model of wound formation. Differences in calibrated hue between injured and noninjured skin provided a repeatable differentiation of wound severity for situations when the time of injury was known. This color analysis allowed statistically significant differentiation of mild, moderate, and severe injuries within 30 minutes after the application of the injury. It was more difficult to distinguish wound severity one to four days later, however the correlation re-emerged when the wounds were five to seven days old. This technique could be adapted for assessing and tracking wound severity in humans in a clinical setting.

104 citations


Patent
20 Aug 1997
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a support surface having a shaped or sculpted portion that conforms to the shape of a body portion being supported, and apply reduced temperature applied to the zones of the support surface to remove heat from the weight-bearing areas, thereby reducing the risk of injury to tissue in those areas.
Abstract: A weight-bearing apparatus such as a cushion, prosthetic device, or bed mattress includes a support surface having a shaped or sculpted portion that conforms to the shape of a body portion being supported. The shaped portion fits to the body portion, thereby to position the body portion so as to situate one or more weight-bearing parts of the body portion over specific zones of the support surface that are cooled below normal body temperature. The reduced temperature applied to the zones of the support surface removes heat from the weight-bearing areas, thereby reducing the risk of injury to tissue in those areas.

48 citations


Patent
20 Aug 1997
TL;DR: In this paper, a focal cooling apparatus includes a cooling, or heat sinking, layer over which a layer of compressible, thermally insulating material is disposed, and means are provided for maintaining the cooling layer at a predetermined temperature below normal human temperature.
Abstract: A focal cooling apparatus includes a cooling, or heat sinking, layer over which a layer of compressible, thermally insulating material is disposed. The layer of compressible, thermally insulating material has a surface for supporting a portion of a human (or animal) body. The layer of compressible, thermally insulating material responds to pressure exerted against the surface by exhibiting a thermal resistance between the surface and the cooling layer that varies inversely with the pressure. Means are provided for maintaining the cooling layer at a predetermined temperature below normal human temperature.

44 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Feb 1997-Spine
TL;DR: Proper use of the LTX 3000 (Spinal Designs International) induces significant lumbar lengthening and curvature reduction in healthy patients and this study evaluated the biomechanical responses evoked by a gravity-dependent, self-operated traction device.
Abstract: Study design This study evaluated the biomechanical responses evoked by the use of a gravity-dependent, self-operated traction device. These responses were determined by radiographs and were correlated with the body weight of the patient who was supported by a seat strap. Objectives To examine the biomechanical effectiveness of the LTX 3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System. Summary of background data The LTX 3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System (Spinal Designs International, Minneapolis, MN) was used to administer the lumbar fraction. No previous study has been conducted on this device. Methods For each of the 14 healthy male patients (age range, 19-69 years), lumbar lengthening, alterations in spinal curvature, and thoracic spine movement were assessed using radiographs taken: 1) before traction; 2) at 2, 10, and 15 minutes after the onset of traction; and 3) 2 minutes after traction was completed. Strain on the buttocks-supporting seat strap was recorded continuously during study sessions. Results The entire patient pool displayed an average maximal lumbar lengthening of 6.39 +/- 4.21 mm. The amount of lumbar lengthening was influenced by the degree of thoracic immobilization and by the amount of prior LTX 3000 (Spinal Designs International) use. Significant curvature reduction was observed during and after traction for the entire patient pool. Strain measurements correlated well with the measured response in the radiographs. Conclusions Proper use of the LTX 3000 (Spinal Designs International) induces significant lumbar lengthening and curvature reduction in healthy patients. Measurements of body weight supported by the seat strap could help determine if thoracic immobilization has been achieved and if the patient is responding to the lumbar unloading.

13 citations