[en] This equipment is distinguished by being particularly compact and of flat design, with little weight. By using standard mask filters as filter media, which are not situated in the front, but on the back of the person carrying the equipment, and due to the special contamination protection by fitting the equipment under one's suit, the equipment can be used nearly universally. Its safety is increased by the air quantity warning device being provided by flow monitors with buzzers and by self-breathing of the equipment in case of faults. It also guarantees great manoeuvrability of the staff, a long operating period and does not cause any resistance to breathing. (orig./HP)

[en] Published in summary form only

[en] We report a 44-year-old woman who developed a fatal pulmonary embolus after uterine artery fibroid embolisation (UAE). Bilateral UAE was carried out through a single right-femoral artery puncture. The largest fibroid in the anterior fundal wall measured 4.5 cm, and the largest fibroid in the posterior fundal wall measured 6 cm. The appearances after UAE were satisfactory, and the procedure was apparently uneventful. No immediate complications were noted. The patient developed sudden-onset shortness of breath and went into cardiac arrest 19 h after the procedure. Postmortem autopsy confirmed that the cause of a death was a pulmonary embolism. To our knowledge this is the first reported case in the United Kingdom in which death occurred from a pulmonary embolus after UAE.

No abstract available

[en] Functional imaging of the pharynx used to be the domain of cineradiography, CT and ultrafast CT. The development of modern MRI techniques led to new access to functional disorders of the pharynx. The aim of this study was to implement a new MRI technique to examine oropharyngeal obstructive mechanisms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sixteen patients suffering from OSA and 6 healthy volunteers were examined on a 1.5 T whole-body imager ('Vision', Siemens, Erlangen Medical Engineering, Germany) using a circular polarized head coil. Imaging was performed with 2D flash sequences in midsagittal and axial planes. Patients and volunteers were asked to breathe normally through the nose and to simulate snoring and the Mueller maneuver during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Prior to MRI, all patients underwent an ear, nose and throat (ENT) examination, functional fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy and polysomnography. A temporal resolution of 6 images/s and an in-plane resolution of 2.67x1.8 mm were achieved. The mobility of the tongue, soft palate and pharyngeal surface could be clearly delineated. The MRI findings correlated well with the clinical examinations. We propose ultrafast MRI as a reliable and non-invasive method of evaluating pharyngeal obstruction and their levels. (orig.)

[en] Background and purpose: Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) increases lung volume and can potentially reduce treatment-related toxicity in locally advanced lung cancer. We estimated geometric uncertainties in visually guided voluntary DIBH and derived the appropriate treatment margins for different image-guidance strategies.

[en] A mechanical breathing simulator has been developed to produce the human respiration for use in respirator test. The respirations were produced through the strokes of piston controlled by a rockerarm with adjustable fulcrum. The respiration rate was governed by motor-speed control, independent of the tidal volume achieved by adjustment of the piston stroke. By the breather, the simulated respirations for work rate 0, 208, 415, 622 and 830 kg-m/min could be produced through the typical dummy head. (auth.)

[en] Dosimetry of inhaled radionuclides requires information upon airway dimensions and air volumes breathed every day by people under exposure to gases and aerosols. Using recent data of economic surveys, and of respiratory physiology, modern standards have been tabulated for specific categories of a population: adult worker men and women, housewives, children 3 months and 1, 5, 10 and 15 years old. These parameters can be adapted to various population groups in the world. (author)

[en] Deep inhale breath hold (DIBH) techniques are vital in radiation therapy for accurate treatment of thoracic and upper abdominal regions, especially for left breast to reduce radiation dose to the heart. However, training patients for consistent DIBH is challenging, especially for those unable to attend frequent hospital visits. This study presents the development of an affordable and portable Arduino-based distance sensor system to facilitate remote DIBH training from home. The system utilizes the VL53L0X Time-of-Flight (ToF) laser-ranging module connected to an Arduino microcontroller, interfaced with a custom graphical user interface (GUI) on the Nextion display for real-time feedback. The system was mounted on a phone holder that allows the sensor to be positioned above the patient’s sternum and the display above the patient's head. The GUI displays the chest's vertical position during breath holds, allowing patients to visualize and maintain the desired depth. Initial testing with DIBH patients demonstrated the reliability and usability of the sensor system. Patients reported increased confidence in maintaining consistent breath hold depths due to the visual feedback provided by the device. The remote training approach reduced the burden of hospital visits, making DIBH training more accessible and convenient. The Arduino-based sensor system using the VL53L0X ToF laser-ranging module and Nextion display offers a promising solution for remote DIBH training, empowering patients to actively participate in their treatment planning and improve treatment accuracy. Further optimization and validation studies are necessary to evaluate the system's efficacy in a larger patient population and its impact on treatment outcomes. This cost-effective and portable solution has the potential to enhance DIBH training and benefit patients undergoing radiation therapy targeting thoracic and upper abdominal regions. (author)

[en] The purpose of this review was to demonstrate magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography findings of anatomy, variants, and pathologic conditions of the superior glenohumeral ligament (SGHL). This review also demonstrates the applicability of a new MR arthrography sequence in the anterosuperior portion of the glenohumeral joint. The SGHL is a very important anatomical structure in the rotator interval that is responsible for stabilizing the long head of the biceps tendon. Therefore, a torn SGHL can result in pain and instability. Observation of the SGHL is difficult when using conventional MR imaging, because the ligament may be poorly visualized. Shoulder MR arthrography is the most accurately established imaging technique for identifying pathologies of the SGHL and associated structures. The use of three dimensional (3D) volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) sequences produces thinner image slices and enables a higher in-plane resolution than conventional MR arthrography sequences. Therefore, shoulder MR arthrography using 3D VIBE sequences may contribute to evaluating of the smaller intraarticular structures such as the SGHL.