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Article
Publication date: 1 March 2006

Ker Chin Ang, Kah Fai Leong, Chee Kai Chua and Margam Chandrasekaran

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanical properties and porosity relationships in fused deposition modelling (FDM) fabricated porous structures.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanical properties and porosity relationships in fused deposition modelling (FDM) fabricated porous structures.

Design/methodology/approach

Porous structures of numerous build architectures aimed at tissue engineering (TE) application were fabricated using the FDM. The employment of FDM to fabricate these non‐random constructs offers many advantages over conventional scaffold fabrication techniques as patient specific scaffolds with well‐defined architectures and controllable pore sizes can be fabricated accurately and rapidly. There exist several FDM parameters that one needs to specify during the scaffold fabrication process. These parameters, which can be interdependent and exhibit varying effects on scaffold properties, were identified and examined using the design of experiment (DOE) approach. Essentially, the effects of five FDM process parameters, namely air gap, raster width, build orientation, build layer and build profile, on the porosity and mechanical properties of acrylonitrile‐butadienene‐styrene (ABS) scaffold structures with three‐dimensional interconnectivity were investigated in two designed experiments. Statistical analyses of the data were performed and the respective factors that have significant influence on the porosity and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were identified. The relationship between scaffold's mechanical properties and porosity was thereafter established empirically.

Findings

Models of TE scaffolds of numerous build architectures were successfully fabricated using different parameter settings on the FDM. The DOE approach determined air gap and raster width as the most significant parameters in affecting the porosity and mechanical properties of the ABS scaffold structures. The relationship between scaffolds' mechanical properties and porosity was determined to be logarithmic, with the best mechanical properties observed in scaffolds of low porosity.

Originality/value

The paper highlights how the application FDM to tissue scaffold application can overcome most of the limitations encountered in the conventional techniques.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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Article
Publication date: 1 August 2006

Wai‐Yee Yeong, Chee‐Kai Chua, Kah‐Fai Leong, Margam Chandrasekaran and Mun‐Wai Lee

This paper presents a new indirect scaffold fabrication method for soft tissue based on rapid prototyping (RP) technique and preliminary characterization for collagen scaffolds.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper presents a new indirect scaffold fabrication method for soft tissue based on rapid prototyping (RP) technique and preliminary characterization for collagen scaffolds.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces the processing steps for indirect scaffold fabrication based on the inkjet printing technology. The scaffold morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The designs of the scaffolds are presented and discussed.

Findings

Theoretical studies on the inkjet printing process are presented. Previous research showed that the availability of biomaterial that can be processed on a commercial RP system is very limited. This is due mainly to the unfavorable machine processing parameters such as high working temperature and restrictions on the form of raw material input. The process described in this paper overcomes these problems while retaining the strength of RP techniques. Technical challenges of the process are presented as well.

Research limitations/implications

Harnessing the ability of RP techniques to control the internal morphology of the scaffold, it is possible to couple the design of the scaffold with controlled cell‐culture condition to modulate the behavior of the cells. However, this is just initial work, further development will be needed.

Practical implications

This method enables the designer to manipulate the scaffold at three different length scales, namely the macroscopic scale, intermediate scale and the cellular scale.

Originality/value

The work presented in this paper focuses on important processing steps for indirect scaffold fabrication using thermal‐sensitive natural biomaterial. A mathematical model is proposed to estimate the height of a printed line.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

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Article
Publication date: 20 November 2024

Augustino Mwogosi and Stephen Kibusi

This study aims to identify the barriers that hinder the effective implementation of electronic health records (EHR) systems in developing countries while also uncovering the…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to identify the barriers that hinder the effective implementation of electronic health records (EHR) systems in developing countries while also uncovering the critical success factors (CSFs) that can facilitate their implementation. This study focused on the sociotechnical and environmental challenges that influenced the implementation of EHR systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a systematic literature review methodology guided by the modified sociotechnical theory. It followed PRISMA guidelines to identify barriers and CSFs. This review included a comprehensive search of academic databases such as Taylor & Francis, Google Scholar, Emerald and PubMed, covering studies published between 2012 and mid-2024. The studies were screened and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

The review identified several barriers to EHR implementation, including a lack of information and communication technology infrastructure, inadequate training, and limited government support. It also highlighted CSFs such as enhancing training programmes, improving technical infrastructure, fostering government support and addressing privacy and security concerns. This study concluded that a holistic approach addressing technical, social and environmental factors was critical for the success of EHR systems in low-resource settings.

Practical implications

This study offered actionable recommendations for policymakers and health-care leaders in developing countries. These include strategies for enhancing user training, improving technical infrastructure, ensuring government support and addressing data privacy and security issues, which are crucial for successfully adopting EHR systems.

Originality/value

This research comprehensively examined the factors influencing EHR implementation in developing countries, offering a unique perspective by applying the modified sociotechnical theory. It bridged a significant gap in the literature by focusing on the specific challenges faced in resource-constrained environments.

Details

Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9342

Keywords

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