[In vitro study of polymer coatings on electronic elements]. / Badania in vitro powlok polimerowych na elementach elektronicznych.

The paper presents the results of investigations of polymer coatings used as capsules for implantable microelectronic devices for medical applications. Such devices work in artificial pacemakers and as feeding systems, in nerve ending stimulator sets. Biocompatible and biostable polysulfone capsules for integrated circuits and batteries have been prepared. Preliminary investigation of overall chemical stability of encapsulated electronic devices in Ringer's solutions, has been carried out as a function of immersion time. Influence of number of coating polysulfone layers on voltage-stability of batteries immersed in 0.9% NaCl solution has been measured with time. A comparative study of silicone (SIL) coating and double coating with silicone and polysulfone (SIL + PSU) in an in vitro test has been carried out.

[New composite implant for tracheal reconstruction--preliminary study]. / Nowy kompozytowy implant do rekonstrukcji tchawicy--badania wstepne.

Stenosis of trachea's diameter occurs the most often as complications after intubation and tracheotomy. Among the other reasons of narrowing of this organ the following are being named: mechanical injuries, chemical damages, primary and metastasis tumors. The therapy of trachea's stenosis includes both alternative and radical treatments. The radical treatment consists of surgical excision of the narrowed segment followed by reconstruction of trachea (anastomosing of free ends or filling of lost segment with use of auto- or allogenic material). There is no appropriate alloplastic material developed to date, the use of which in reconstructive surgery of large segment trachea defects would bring about positive long-term experimental results. The success of alloplastic material implantation in the reconstruction of large tracheal defects is limited by the fact that the biomechanical characteristics of replaced tissue are distinctly different from synthetic material. The work is devoted to evaluation of complex mechanical characteristic of natural sheep trachea before designing the proper synthetic material for large tracheal defects reconstruction. Various mechanical tests were conducted to study the mechanical behavior of total trachea. Samples of tissue cut out from trachea were also examined. The results revealed strong directional--dependent mechanical properties of trachea. Composite constituents, namely carbon fibers and biocompatible and biostable polysulfone were used to manufacture the implant.