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Biomedical subjects

J L Gilbert

Publications and source records attributed to J L Gilbert.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Bending and fracture toughness of woven self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate).

Loosening remains an impediment to the long-term success of total hip replacements despite numerous improvements in the materials used. In cemented prostheses, fatigue and fracture of bone cement have been implicated in the failure of these devices. A new material, self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate). (SRC-PMMA), has been developed. SRC-PMMA is formed by a novel processing method that will be described. The composite consists of high strength, highly oriented PMMA fibers embedded in a matrix of PMMA. Using a woven form of SRC-PMMA, an in vitro physical and mechanical evaluation was performed to assess the feasibility of its use in an orthopedic prosthesis. Three different weaves of SRC-PMMA were evaluated in bending and fracture toughness in air, after immersion for 30 days in 37 degrees C saline, and after gamma irradiation followed by immersion. Bending modulus and strength were decreased by gamma irradiation followed by saline immersion. The effect of saline immersion alone on bending strength and modulus was negligible. Saline immersion and gamma irradiation followed by saline immersion was shown to have little or no effect on the fracture toughness of woven SRC-PMMA. Differences in the fracture processes of the different weaves were found and can be related to the differing orientation of fibers to the fracture toughness pre-crack. Optimally incorporated SRC-PMMA absorbs the same amount of water as bone cement. Comparison to previous and current work with bone cement controls shows that SRC-PMMA is a material equal to or better than bone cement in all tests performed. It deserves further consideration as a candidate biomaterial.

Adsorption↗

Comparison of chemical analysis of residual monomer in a chemical-cured dental acrylic material to an FTIR method.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to perform quantitative analysis of residual monomer in chemical-cured acrylic using an infrared spectroscopic method and to compare it to an accepted form of quantitative chemical analysis. Identical samples of acrylic were analyzed and compared using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with multiple standard additions vs. "wet" chemical analysis of bromination followed by titration. METHODS: Two 6 g disks from a single mix of cold-cured acrylic (Lang Dental Mfg. Co., Inc.) were prepared and cured in room air for 1 hr using a ratio of 12 g of powder to 8 mL of liquid. One of the cold-cured acrylic disks was dissolved in glacial acetic acid and analyzed according to the "wet" technique described by Smith and Bains (Smith and Bains, 1956). The other disk was dissolved in methyl isobutyrate (MIBT). Five aliquots, zero plus four incremental additions of pure methyl methacrylate (MMA), were prepared from the MIBT solution. Absorption spectra were collected for all five aliquots. The data were plotted with the ratio of the mass of methyl methacrylate added to the mass of aliquot of MIBT solution as the independent variable, and the absorption, corrected for dilution, as the dependent variable. Least squares fit of the data yielded the slope and intercept. The ratio of intercept to slope divided by the weight fraction of the acrylic disk dissolved in MIBT yielded the concentration of methyl methacrylate in the disk. RESULTS: The plot of absorbance as a function of mass ratio of MMA added to MIBT solution was linear over the concentration range covered (r = 0.999). Analysis of the spectroscopic data revealed a concentration of residual C = C double bonds of 0.32 +/- 0.01 mol/kg. "Wet" chemical analysis of the acrylic yielded a concentration of residual C = C double bonds of 0.288 +/- 0.003 mol/kg. There was significant difference (students t-test, 99% confidence level) between the two techniques with respect to the amount of residual monomer calculated. SIGNIFICANCE: The multiple standard additions technique works well for the quantitative analysis of small amounts of residual double bonds in the poly(methyl methacrylate) chemical-cured acrylic polymer system, eliminating the need for an internal standard or external calibration.

Absorption↗

The effect of tibial stem design on component micromotion in knee arthroplasty.

Rigid body mechanics with computer data acquisition and analysis techniques were used to determine the three-dimensional motions of any point on the tibial component of a total knee arthroplasty. Three stem configurations were compared: (1) no stem; (2) short stem (40 mm); and (3) long stem (75 mm). In addition, three loading conditions were analyzed for each stem configuration: (1) central loading; (2) posterior loading; and (3) medial loading. The longer stem implants were associated with increased micromotion, especially under eccentric loading. Cemented implants seemed to have more stable fixation, compared with noncemented implants. It was thought that the increased motion was secondary to a toggling of the implant under load, secondary to uneven medullary cortical contact. Overall, the results indicated that short and long stems do not enhance initial fixation with cemented or cementless implantation in routine knee arthroplasty.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee↗

Laser acoustic emission thermal technique (LAETT): a technique for generating acoustic emission in dental composites.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate a new method for generating interfacial debonding between the resin matrix and filler particles of dental composites. METHODS: A pilot study was conducted to evaluate laser-induced acoustic emission in dental resins filled with varying quantities of particles. Model systems of 50/50 BisGMA/TEGDMA resin reinforced with 0, 25, and 75 wt% 5-10 micrometers silanated BaSiO(6) were analyzed. The sample size was 3.5 mm diameter x 0.25-0.28 mm thick. A continuous wave CO2 laser (Synrad Infrared Gas Laser Model 48-1) was used to heat the composite samples. Acoustic events were detected, recorded and processed by a model 4610 Smart Acoustic Monitor (SAM) with a 1220A preamp (Physical Acoustic Corp.) as a function of laser power. RESULTS: Initially, the acoustic signal from the model composites produced a burst pattern characteristic of fracturing, about 3.7 watts laser power. Acoustic emission increased with laser power up to about 6 watts. At laser powers above 6 watts, the acoustic emission remained constant. The amount of acoustic emission followed the trend: unfilled resin > composite with 25 wt% BaSiO(6) > composite with 75 wt% BaSiO(6). SIGNIFICANCE: Acoustic emission generated by laser thermal heating is dependent on the weight percent of filler particles in the composite and the amount of laser power. For this reason, laser thermal acoustic emission might be useful as a nondestructive form of analysis of dental composites.

Analysis of Variance↗

Shear strength of composite bonded to Er:YAG laser-prepared dentin.

An Er:YAG laser coupled with a cooling stream of water effectively removes dental hard tissues. However, before such a system can be deemed clinically viable, some safety and efficacy issues must be addressed. We compared the bonding of composite to dentin following the preparation of the dentinal surface with either an Er:YAG laser (lambda = 2.94 microns) or a standard dental bur and with and without a subsequent acid-etching treatment. The crowns of extracted human molars were removed, revealing the underlying dentin. We removed an additional thickness of material with either a dental handpiece or an Er:YAG laser (350 mJ/pulse at 6 Hz) by raster-scanning the samples under a fixed handpiece or laser. Comparable surface roughnesses were obtained. Several samples from each group received an acid-conditioning treatment. A cylinder of composite was bonded onto the prepared surfaces. The dentin-composite bond was then shear-stressed to failure on a universal testing apparatus. The results indicate that laser-irradiated samples had improved bond strengths compared with acid-etched and handpiece controls. SEM photographs of the surfaces show exposed tubules following the laser treatment: tubules could also be exposed with acid etching. We conclude that Er:YAG laser preparation of dentin leaves a suitable surface for strong bonding or an applied composite material.

Acid Etching, Dental↗

Freeze-drying and scanning electron microscopy of setting dental gypsum.

OBJECTIVES: The initial and final forms of reactive gypsum products have been photomicrographed previously. However, the purpose of this project was to document the microscopic morphology of setting dental stone at various stages during the reaction. METHODS: Two dental products, a conventional (Type IV) die stone and a fast-setting (Type III) stone, were investigated. At selected times ranging from 1 min to 24 h after mechanically mixing the stone under vacuum, the conversion of calcium sulfate hemihydrate to a dihydrate was suspended by immersion into liquid nitrogen. Water was immediately removed by freeze-drying the specimen to prevent any further reaction so that the specimen could be returned to room temperature for examination in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS: Crystal formation appeared to be nearly complete at the 20 min interval for the die stone and at the 10 min interval for the fast-setting dental stone. Transitions noted during these times include the nucleation and growth of small needle-like crystals on and near the larger prismatic-shaped hemihydrate crystals, the concurrent decrease in size and number of the hemihydrate crystals, and the progressive entanglement of the growing dihydrate crystals. SIGNIFICANCE: The two-step process of suspending the reaction, then freeze-drying the specimen made it possible to observe and document the intermediate stages during crystal growth of dental stone. These observations should be helpful in understanding the structural dynamics of crystal growth during the setting of gypsum dental products. This procedure should be applicable to the study of other water-based dental materials.

Calcium Sulfate↗

Self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate): static and fatigue properties.

A novel material called 'self-reinforced composite poly(methyl methacrylate)' (SRC-PMMA) is described. This composite material consists of high strength, high ductility PMMA fibres embedded in a matrix of PMMA. Tensile tests, three-point flexural tests, fracture toughness tests and flexural fatigue tests were carried out on unidirectional continuous fibre SRC-PMMA materials. Commercial sheet PMMA and bone cement were also tested for comparison purposes. Two PMMA fibre sizes (40 and 120 microns diameters) with different mechanical properties were used to make the SRC-PMMA materials. The results of this study show that the tensile strength, tensile modulus and tensile strain-to-failure were significantly greater for the SRC-PMMA compared with commercial PMMA (P < 0.05). The flexural strength was not increased in the SRC-PMMA compared with PMMA alone but was greater than that in bone cement (P < 0.05). There were no differences in flexural modulus between any group. The flexural strain-to-failure (30-35% for SRC-PMMA) was about three times greater in SRC-PMMA compared with bone cement and PMMA. Fracture toughness of these SRC-PMMA materials was also significantly greater than PMMA and bone cement (P < 0.001). Fracture toughness values of 3.2 MPa m1/2 were found in the 40 microns SRC-PMMA compared with 2.3 MPa m1/2 for the 120 microns SRC-PMMA and 1.3 MPa m1/2 for PMMA and bone cement. The fatigue strength of both SRC-PMMA samples was significantly greater (P < 0.001) at 80 MPa (10(6) cycles) compared with bone cement and PMMA, both of which had fatigue strengths of about 18 MPa. Fatigue damage in the form of fibre splitting and fibre-matrix interface failure was observed in the SRC-PMMA samples while the PMMA and bone cement showed only smooth fractures. During cyclic fatigue testing, the ongoing damage processes were periodically monitored using several novel computer-based and analysis algorithms. The measured cyclic loads and displacements are used to determine the creep-fatigue displacements, the sample stiffness (or modulus) and the hysteresis damage energy as functions of the number of applied cycles associated with the fatigue loading. The hysteresis damage energy to failure was about 25 times greater in the SRC-PMMA samples (2000 J at 10(6) cycles) compared with bone cement or PMMA at the same number of cycles to failure (80 J) indicating much greater fatigue damage tolerance in these materials. This material, SRC-PMMA, may be applicable for use in several medical and/or dental applications.

Bone Cements↗

Bonding characteristics of low-fusing porcelain bonded to pure titanium and palladium-copper alloy.

This study compared bond strengths among palladium-copper alloy/VMK 68 porcelain, cast titanium/Duceratin porcelain, and machine-milled titanium/Procera porcelain combinations and investigated the mode of bond failure of these combinations. The effect of multiple firings on the bond strength of porcelain bonded to machine-milled pure titanium was then examined. A uniform thickness of 1 mm of porcelain was applied along an 8 mm length in the central portion of metal specimens measured 25 x 3 x 0.5 mm. The specimens were subjected to a three-point bending test on a load-testing machine with a span distance of 20 mm, and the load of bond failure was recorded and statistically analyzed. Two completely debonded specimens and two longitudinally sectioned specimens of each group were studied with a scanning electron microscope to determine the mode of bond failure. The bond strength of Pd-Cu/VMK 68 porcelain was significantly greater than two titanium/porcelain combinations. There was no significant difference in the bond strengths of porcelain bonded to machine-milled pure titanium among the five porcelain firing schedules.

Copper↗

Evaluation of a solvent-softened gutta-percha obturation technique in curved canals.

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of three obturation techniques in curved canals. Twenty-four sets of three (triplets) morphologically similar molars having root curvatures of 45 to 90+ degrees were assembled. Following canal preparation, one sample from each group was obturated by either a halothane-dipped, a chloroform-dipped, or an untreated lateral condensation technique. Twenty triplets were cleared, evaluated, and graded for homogeneity of fill, canal wall adaptation, and replication of internal anatomy. Four triplets had windows prepared to expose the apical 6 mm of filling and were viewed with scanning electron microscopy. Kruskal-Wallis test of cleared teeth indicated a significant difference in favor of the solvent-softened techniques (p = 0.01). There was no difference between chloroform- and halothane-dipped groups (p = 0.03). Scanning electron microscope evaluations of halothane-dipped samples revealed more homogeneous fills with greater canal replication than untreated gutta-percha. In addition, halothane-treated samples had appreciably less surface porosity than chloroform. Lateral condensation of halothane-treated gutta-percha was judged to be a viable obturation technique.

Chi-Square Distribution↗

Local and distant products from modularity.

In this study, the local and distant distribution of solid and soluble products of corrosion from the head and neck junction of modular femoral total hip prosthetic components were characterized. Particulate corrosion products from retrieved implants and surrounding tissues were analyzed. Serum transport and urinary excretion of metal was measured in correlation with the degree of corrosion at the head and neck junction. Particles of metal oxides, metal chlorides, and chromium phosphate corrosion products were identified on implants of 10 designs from 6 manufacturers. The most abundant solid corrosion product on the implant and within the periprosthetic tissues (size range, < 1-200 micrometers) was an amorphous chromium orthophosphate hydrate-rich material. Serum cobalt and urine chromium concentrations were elevated significantly in patients with implants that had moderate to severe corrosion in comparison with those with no to mild corrosion. Solid corrosion products from modular femoral stems may accelerate articular wear via a 3-body mechanism. Phagocytosable particles of these corrosion products may stimulate macrophage-mediated periprosthetic bone loss. Systemic dissemination of metallic corrosion products raises the issue of systemic toxicity; however, no overt evidence of metal toxicity was observed in this study.

Adult↗

Bond characteristics of porcelain fused to milled titanium.

OBJECTIVES: A bonding agent has recently been introduced that prepares the surface of milled titanium copings for bonding to low fusing dental porcelains. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the bonding agent by comparing the shear and three-point bending strength of specimens made with three combinations of materials: 1) milled titanium/porcelain with bonding agent, 2) the same milled titanium/porcelain without bonding agent, and 3) cast high palladium/conventional porcelain. METHODS: Shear specimens consisting of porcelain cylinders 6 mm in diameter and 8 mm in length were fired to the ends of metal cylinders 6 mm in diameter and 13 mm in length. Three-point bend specimens made of 25 x 3 x 0.5 mm metal bars were veneered with 8 x 3 x 1 mm of porcelain in the bar's center. Specimens were tested in shear and bending in a universal testing machine. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Newman-Kuels post hoc tests (p = 0.05). RESULTS: When a titanium bonding agent was used, porcelain to titanium bond strength was slightly but statistically significantly greater than the porcelain to high palladium bond strength. The result was the same when measured by both shear and three-point bending tests. Without the bonding agent, the shear strength of porcelain to titanium was significantly lower than that of the bonding agent and high palladium groups. SIGNIFICANCE: The use of a bonding agent improves the bond strength of porcelain-fused-to-milled titanium.

Adhesives↗

Intergranular corrosion-fatigue failure of cobalt-alloy femoral stems. A failure analysis of two implants.

Two modular hip implants with a cobalt-alloy head and a cobalt-alloy stem were retrieved after a fracture had occurred in the neck region of the femoral component, eighty-five and seventy months after implantation. Both implants failed less than one millimeter distal to the taper junction between the head and the stem (outside of the taper). The fracture surfaces of the implant were investigated with the use of scanning electron microscopy, to determine the nature of the failure process. The fractures occurred at the grain boundaries of the microstructure and appeared to be the result of three factors: porosity at the grain boundaries; intergranular corrosive attack, initiated both at the head-neck taper and at the free surface; and cyclic fatigue-loading of the stem. The corrosive attack of the free surface was initiated, in part, by the egression of surface grains and by the ingression of fluid into the intergranular regions. Sectioned surfaces showed extensive intergranular corrosive attack in the prosthetic neck localized in the region of the head-neck taper junction and penetrating deeply into the microstructure.

Aged↗

Migration of corrosion products from modular hip prostheses. Particle microanalysis and histopathological findings.

Migration of solid corrosion products from the modular head-neck junction of fifteen total hip replacements to the periprosthetic tissues was studied. The devices and tissues were recovered at the time of a revision procedure or at autopsy after a mean of sixty-four months (range, eight to ninety-seven months). The prostheses had a cobalt-chromium-alloy head coupled with a cobalt-chromium-alloy or a titanium-alloy stem. The solid corrosion product was identified by electron microprobe analysis and Fourier transform infrared microprobe spectroscopy as a chromium orthophosphate hydrate-rich material. The product was present at the junction of the modular head and neck and as particles within the periprosthetic tissues as early as eight months postoperatively. In several hips, it was also present on the polyethylene bearing surface. The particles in the tissues ranged in size from less than one to 500 micrometers. They were present within histiocytes or were surrounded by foreign-body giant cells in the pseudocapsule of the hip joint; in the membranes of the femoral bone-implant interface; and at sites of femoral endosteal erosions, with and without loosening of the femoral component.

Adult↗

Composition and morphology of wear debris in failed uncemented total hip replacement.

Interfacial membranes collected at revision from 11 failed uncemented Ti-alloy total hip replacements were examined. Particles in the membranes were characterised by electron microscopy, microchemical spectroscopy and particle size analysis. Most were polyethylene and had a mean size of 0.53 micron +/- 0.3. They were similar to the particles seen in the base resin used in the manufacture of the acetabular implants. Relatively few titanium particles were seen. Fragments of bone, stainless steel and silicate were found in small amounts. Most of the polyethylene particles were too small to be seen by light microscopy. Electron microscopy and spectroscopic techniques are required to provide an accurate description of this debris.

Aged↗