The Physics and Manipulation of Dean Vortices in Single- and Two-Phase Flow in Curved Microchannels: A Review.

Microchannels with curved geometries have been employed for many applications in microfluidic devices in the past decades. The Dean vortices generated in such geometries have been manipulated using different methods to enhance the performance of devices in applications such as mixing, droplet sorting, and particle/cell separation. Understanding the effect of the manipulation method on the Dean vortices in different geometries can provide crucial information to be employed in designing high-efficiency microfluidic devices. In this review, the physics of Dean vortices and the affecting parameters are summarized. Various Dean number calculation methods are collected and represented to minimize the misinterpretation of published information due to the lack of a unified defining formula for the Dean dimensionless number. Consequently, all Dean number values reported in the references are recalculated to the most common method to facilitate comprehension of the phenomena. Based on the converted information gathered from previous numerical and experimental studies, it is concluded that the length of the channel and the channel pathline, e.g., spiral, serpentine, or helix, also affect the flow state. This review also provides a detailed summery on the effect of other geometric parameters, such as cross-section shape, aspect ratio, and radius of curvature, on the Dean vortices' number and arrangement. Finally, considering the importance of droplet microfluidics, the effect of curved geometry on the shape, trajectory, and internal flow organization of the droplets passing through a curved channel has been reviewed.

Jacketed elastomeric tubes for passive self-regulation of pulsatile flow.

Regulating pulsatile flow is important to achieve optimal separation and mixing and enhanced heat transfer in microfluidic devices, as well as maintaining homeostasis in biological systems. The human aorta, a composite and layered tube made (among others) of elastin and collagen, is an inspiration for researchers who seek an engineering solution for a self-regulation of pulsatile flow. Here, we present a bio-inspired approach showing that fabric-jacketed elastomeric tubes, manufactured using commercially available silicone rubber and knitted textiles, can be used to regulate pulsatile flow. Our tubes are evaluated via incorporation into a mock-circulatory 'flow loop' that replicates the pulsatile fluid flow conditions of an ex-vivo heart perfusion (EVHP) device, a machine used in heart transplants. Pressure waveforms measured near the elastomeric tubing clearly indicated an effective flow regulation. The 'dynamic stiffening' behavior of the tubes during deformation is analyzed quantitatively. Broadly, the fabric jackets allow for the tubes to experience greater magnitudes of pressure and distension without risk of asymmetric aneurysm within the expected operating time of an EVHP. Owing to its highly tunable nature, our design may serve as a basis for tubing systems that require passive self-regulation of pulsatile flow.

The evaluation of constant coronary artery flow versus constant coronary perfusion pressure during normothermic ex situ heart perfusion.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that hearts that are perfused under ex-situ conditions lose normal coronary vasomotor tone and experience contractile failure over a few hours. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different coronary perfusion strategies during ex situ heart perfusion on cardiac function and coronary vascular tone. METHODS: Porcine hearts (n = 6 each group) were perfused in working mode for 6 hours with either constant aortic diastolic pressure (40 mmHg) or constant coronary flow rate (500 mL/min). Functional and metabolic parameters, cytokine profiles, cardiac and vascular injury, coronary artery function and oxidative stress were compared between groups. RESULTS: Constant coronary flow perfusion demonstrated better functional preservation and less edema formation (Cardiac index: flow control = 8.33 vs pressure control = 6.46 mL·min-1·g-1, p = 0.016; edema formation: 7.92% vs 19.80%, p < 0.0001). Pro-inflammatory cytokines, platelet activation as well as endothelial activation were lower in the flow control group. Similarly, less cardiac and endothelial injury was observed in the constant coronary flow group. Evaluation of coronary artery function showed there was loss of coronary autoregulation in both groups. Oxidative stress was induced in the coronary arteries and was relatively lower in the flow control group. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy of controlled coronary flow during ex situ heart perfusion provides superior functional preservation and less edema formation, together with less myocardial damage, leukocyte, platelet, endothelial activation, and oxidative stress. There was loss of coronary autoregulation and decrease of coronary vascular resistance during ESHP irrespective of coronary flow control strategy. Inflammation and oxidative stress state in the coronary vasculature may play a role.

Elastomeric tubes with self-regulated distension.

Compliant elastomer tubing with a fabric "jacket" has been essential in various applications as soft robotic actuators, such as in biomedical exomuscles and massage therapy implements. Here, our study shows that a similar design concept can be an effective strategy in realizing passive regulation in the tube's distension, as well as in preventing aneurysm-like asymmetric rupture of the tube. A custom hydraulic pressure testing rig was built to perform experiments. The jacketed tubes initially deform rapidly as pressure increases, but a self-regulation behavior suppresses the tube's continued distension by strain-stiffening of the "jacket". In addition, highly asymmetric distension, common to elastomeric tubes due to imperfection in fabrication, is prevented dramatically by the "jacket". A three-dimensional finite element model predicts the distension of all tested tubes quantitatively across the entire experimental pressure ranges and beyond. Incorporating custom-designed kirigami relief patterns in the "jackets" expands the potential of the elastomeric tubes.

Dual Graded Lattice Structures: Generation Framework and Mechanical Properties Characterization.

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the production of complex structured parts with tailored properties. Instead of manufacturing parts as fully solid, they can be infilled with lattice structures to optimize mechanical, thermal, and other functional properties. A lattice structure is formed by the repetition of a particular unit cell based on a defined pattern. The unit cell's geometry, relative density, and size dictate the lattice structure's properties. Where certain domains of the part require denser infill compared to other domains, the functionally graded lattice structure allows for further part optimization. This manuscript consists of two main sections. In the first section, we discussed the dual graded lattice structure (DGLS) generation framework. This framework can grade both the size and the relative density or porosity of standard and custom unit cells simultaneously as a function of the structure spatial coordinates. Popular benchmark parts from different fields were used to test the framework's efficiency against different unit cell types and grading equations. In the second part, we investigated the effect of lattice structure dual grading on mechanical properties. It was found that combining both relative density and size grading fine-tunes the compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, absorbed energy, and fracture behavior of the lattice structure.

The Position of the Heart During Normothermic Ex Situ Heart Perfusion is an Important Factor in Preservation and Recovery of Myocardial Function.

Ex situ heart perfusion (ESHP) is being investigated as a method for the continuous preservation of the myocardium in a semiphysiologic state for subsequent transplantation. Most methods of ESHP position the isolated heart in a hanging (H) state, representing a considerable departure from the in vivo anatomical positioning of the heart and may negatively affect the functional preservation of the heart. In the current study, cardiac functional and metabolic parameters were assessed in healthy pig hearts, perfused for 12 hours, in either an H, or supported (S) position, either in nonworking mode (NWM) or working mode (WM). The cardiac function was best preserved in the S position hearts in WM (median 11 hour cardiac index (CI)/1 hour CI%: working mode perfusion in supported position = 94.77% versus nonworking mode perfusion in supported position = 62.80%, working mode perfusion in H position = 36.18%, nonworking mode perfusion in H position = 9.75%; p < 0.001). Delivery of pyruvate bolus significantly improved the function in S groups, however, only partially reversed myocardial dysfunction in the H heart groups. The hearts perfused ex situ in a semianatomical S position and in physiologic WM had better functional preservation and recovery than the H hearts in non-S position. Optimizing the positional support for the ex situ-perfused hearts may improve myocardial preservation during ESHP.

Research paper: The three-dimensional mechanical response of orthodontic archwires and brackets in vitro during simulated orthodontic torque.

Orthodontic archwire rotation around its long axis, known as third-order torque, is utilised to correct tooth rotational misalignments moving the tooth root closer to or away from the cheek through engagement with an orthodontic bracket. Studying the behaviour of archwire and brackets during an applied rotation can aid in better understanding and appreciating the mechanics of third-order torque, potentially allowing for more effective orthodontic treatment protocols. Mechanically characterising archwire behaviour during third-order torque application is a complex task due to their physical scale and geometries. An advanced measurement technique was needed to address these constraints. A three-dimensional (3D) non-contact optical method using a digital image correlation (DIC) system was developed. An orthodontic torque simulator (OTS) was used to apply and measure third-order torque with 0.483 × 0.635 mm (0.019″ x 0.025″) rectangular archwires in tandem with a 3D DIC system, whereby surface deformations and strains could be computed using correlation algorithms. The 3D DIC system was implemented to enable third-order torque experimentation with the OTS while imaging the archwire and bracket surfaces. The 3D DIC system's ability to measure 3D archwire deformations and strains was verified using a finite element model, where comparisons between 3D DIC measurements and calculated results from the model were made to ensure the measurement capabilities of 3D DIC in the context of third-order torque. The 3D DIC system was then used to compare archwire behaviour between stainless steel (SS) and titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA) archwires to study potential clinical differences in archwire behaviour, in which the archwires were rotated with a custom SS rigid dowel (RD) as well as commercial Damon Q orthodontic brackets. The quantification of third-order torque and archwire deformations and strains led to the conclusion that SS archwires led to larger torque magnitudes compared to TMA archwires. The RD resulted in larger archwire strains compared to Damon Q brackets. The 3D DIC system provides a non-contact measurement technique that can further be used with third-order torque experimentation with the OTS.

Experimental investigation into the effect of compliance of a mock aorta on cardiac performance.

Demand for heart transplants far exceeds supply of donated organs. This is attributed to the high percentage of donor hearts that are discarded and to the narrow six-hour time window currently available for transplantation. Ex-vivo heart perfusion (EVHP) provides the opportunity for resuscitation of damaged organs and extended transplantation time window by enabling functional assessment of the hearts in a near-physiologic state. Present work investigates the fluid mechanics of the ex-vivo flow loop and corresponding impact on cardiac performance. A mechanical flow loop is developed that is analogous to the region of the EVHP system that mimics in-vivo systemic circulation, including the body's largest and most compliant artery, the aorta. This investigation is focused on determining the effect of mock aortic tubing compliance on pump performance. A custom-made silicone mock aorta was developed to simulate a range of in-vivo conditions and a physiological flow was generated using a commercial ventricular assist device (VAD). Monitored parameters, including pressure, tube distension and downstream velocity, acquired using time-resolved particle imaging velocimetry (PIV), were applied to an unsteady Bernoulli analysis of the flow in a novel way to evaluate pump performance as a proxy for cardiac workload. When compared to the rigid case, the compliant mock aorta case demonstrated healthier physiologic pressure waveforms, steadier downstream flow and reduced energetic demands on the pump. These results provide experimental verification of Windkessel theory and support the need for a compliant mock aorta in the EVHP system.

Concurrent Modelling and Experimental Investigation of Material Properties and Geometries Produced by Projection Microstereolithography.

Projection microstereolithography additive manufacturing (PµSLA-AM) systems utilize free radical photopolymerization to selectively transform liquid resins into accurate and complex, shaped, solid parts upon UV light exposure. The material properties are coupled with geometrical accuracy, implying that optimizing one response will affect the other. Material properties can be enhanced by the post-curing process, while geometry is controlled during manufacturing. This paper uses designed experiments and analytical curing models concurrently to investigate the effects of process parameters on the green material properties (after manufacturing and before applying post curing), and the geometrical accuracy of the manufactured parts. It also presents a novel accumulated energy model that considers the light absorbance of the liquid resin and solid polymer. An essential definition, named the irradiance affected zone (IAZ), is introduced to estimate the accumulated energy for each layer and to assess the feasibility of the geometries. Innovative methodologies are used to minimize the effect of irradiance irregularities on the responses and to characterize the light absorbance of liquid and cured resin. Analogous to the working curve, an empirical model is proposed to define the critical energies required to start developing the different material properties. The results of this study can be used to develop an appropriate curing scheme, to approximate an initial solution and to define constraints for projection microstereolithography geometry optimization algorithms.

Mimicking "J-Shaped" and Anisotropic Stress-Strain Behavior of Human and Porcine Aorta by Fabric-Reinforced Elastomer Composites.

An ex vivo heart perfusion device preserves the donor heart in a warm beating state during transfer between extraction and implantation surgeries. One of the current challenges includes the use of rigid and noncompliant plastic tubes, which causes injuries to the heart at the junction between the tissue and the tube. The compliant and rapidly strain-stiffening mechanical property that generates a "J-shaped" stress-strain behavior is necessary for producing the Windkessel effect, which ensures continuous flow of blood through the aorta. In this study, we mimic the J-shaped and anisotropic stress-strain behavior of human aorta in synthetic elastomers to replace the problematic noncompliant plastic tube. First, we assess the mechanical properties of human (n = 1) and porcine aorta (n = 14) to quantify the nonlinear and anisotropic behavior under uniaxial tensile stress from five different regions of the aorta. Second, fabric-reinforced elastomer composites were prepared by reinforcing silicone elastomers with embedded fabrics in a trilayer geometry. The knitted structures of the fabric provide strain-stiffening as well as anisotropic mechanical properties of the resulting composite in a deterministic manner. By optimizing the combination between different elastomers and fabrics, the resulting composites matched the J-shaped and anisotropic stress-strain behavior of natural human and porcine aorta. Finally, improved analytical constitutive models based on Gent's and Mooney-Rivlin's constitutive model (to describe the elastomer matrix) combined with Holzapfel-Gasser-Ogden's model (to represent the stiffer fabrics) were developed to describe the J-shaped behavior of the natural aortas and the fabric-reinforced composites. We anticipate that the suggested fabric-reinforced silicone elastomer composite design concept can be used to develop complex soft biomaterials, as well as in emerging engineering fields such as soft robotics and microfluidics, where the Windkessel effect can be useful in regulating the flow of fluids.

Particle Surface Roughness Improves Colloidal Stability of Pressurized Pharmaceutical Suspensions.

PURPOSE: The effects of particle size and particle surface roughness on the colloidal stability of pressurized pharmaceutical suspensions were investigated using monodisperse spray-dried particles. METHODS: The colloidal stability of multiple suspensions in the propellant HFA227ea was characterized using a shadowgraphic imaging technique and quantitatively compared using an instability index. Model suspensions of monodisperse spray-dried trehalose particles of narrow distributions (GSD < 1.2) and different sizes (MMAD = 5.98 µm, 10.1 µm, 15.5 µm) were measured first to study the dependence of colloidal stability on particle size. Particles with different surface rugosity were then designed by adding different fractions of trileucine, a shell former, and their suspension stability measured to further study the effects of surface roughness on the colloidal stability of pressurized suspensions. RESULTS: The colloidal stability significantly improved (p < 0.001) from the suspension with 15.5 µm-particles to the suspension with 5.98 µm-particles as quantified by the decreased instability index from 0.63 ± 0.04 to 0.07 ± 0.01, demonstrating a strongly size-dependent colloidal stability. No significant improvement of suspension stability (p > 0.1) was observed at low trileucine fraction at 0.4 % where particles remained relatively smooth until the surface rugosity of the particles was improved by the higher trileucine fractions at 1.0 % and 5.0 %, which was indicated by the substantially decreased instability index from 0.27 ± 0.02 for the suspensions with trehalose model particles to 0.18 ± 0.01 (p < 0.01) and 0.03 ± 0.01 (p < 0.002) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Surface modification of particles by adding shell formers like trileucine to the feed solutions of spray drying was demonstrated to be a promising method of improving the colloidal stability of pharmaceutical suspensions in pressurized metered dose inhalers.

The influence of container geometry and thermal conductivity on evaporation of water at low pressures.

Evaporation is a ubiquitous phenomenon that occurs ceaselessly in nature to maintain life on earth. Given its importance in many scientific and industrial fields, extensive experimental and theoretical studies have explored evaporation phenomena. The physics of the bulk fluid is generally well understood. However, the near-interface region has many unknowns, including the presence and characteristics of the thin surface-tension-driven interface flow, and the role and relative importance of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer in evaporation at the surface. Herein, we report a theoretical study on water evaporation at reduced pressures from four different geometries using a validated numerical model. This study reveals the profound role of heat transfer, not previously recognized. It also provides new insight into when a thermocapillary flow develops during water evaporation, and how the themocapillary flow interacts with the buoyancy flow. This results in a clearer picture for researchers undertaking fundamental studies on evaporation and developing new applications.

Characterization of the suspension stability of pharmaceuticals using a shadowgraphic imaging method.

A new shadowgraphic imaging method and an associated instrument for analyzing the physical stability of pharmaceutical suspensions are introduced in this paper. The new suspension tester consists mainly of a high-resolution camera that takes sequential shadowgraphic images of emulsions or suspensions and a 2D collimated LED for simultaneous whole-sample illumination in bright field. A built-in ultrasonic bath provides controlled initial agitation to the samples of interest. Sequential images acquired by the experimental setup were used to derive normalized transmission profiles from which an instability index was developed for quantitative stability comparison between samples. Instrument performance was verified by measuring the stability of a series of oil-in-water emulsions prepared with surfactant mixtures of different ratios. The new instrument correctly determined the required hydrophilic-lipophilic balance for sunflower oil to be 7.0. The stability of a pressurized suspension of spray dried lipid (DSPC) particles was monitored for 5 days after propellant filling. Although stable for the first 24 h, the lipid suspension was found to decrease in stability from day 1 to day 4. Morphological and spectroscopic analysis revealed that the suspended DSPC particles had reformed into large thin sheets of lipid, thereby causing the gradual stability decrease during the aging study. The effects of initial agitation on the stability of suspensions were demonstrated by agitating a suspension of micronized fluticasone propionate in propellant using a wrist action shaker and an ultrasonic bath respectively. A significant improvement of suspension stability was achieved by replacing the wrist action shaker method with ultrasonic agitation. Simultaneous illumination of the complete suspension, a high image acquisition rate, and controlled initial agitation are features that make this new suspension tester a suitable and more reliable instrument for investigating the stability of pressurized pharmaceutical suspensions.

Effect of the Thermocouple on Measuring the Temperature Discontinuity at a Liquid-Vapor Interface.

The coupled heat and mass transfer that occurs in evaporation is of interest in a large number of fields such as evaporative cooling, distillation, drying, coating, printing, crystallization, welding, atmospheric processes, and pool fires. The temperature jump that occurs at an evaporating interface is of central importance to understanding this complex process. Over the past three decades, thermocouples have been widely used to measure the interfacial temperature jumps at a liquid-vapor interface during evaporation. However, the reliability of these measurements has not been investigated so far. In this study, a numerical simulation of a thermocouple when it measures the interfacial temperatures at a liquid-vapor interface is conducted to understand the possible effects of the thermocouple on the measured temperature and features in the temperature profile. The differential equations of heat transfer in the solid and fluids as well as the momentum transfer in the fluids are coupled together and solved numerically subject to appropriate boundary conditions between the solid and fluids. The results of the numerical simulation showed that while thermocouples can measure the interfacial temperatures in the liquid correctly, they fail to read the actual interfacial temperatures in the vapor. As the results of our numerical study suggest, the temperature jumps at a liquid-vapor interface measured experimentally by using a thermocouple are larger than what really exists at the interface. For a typical experimental study of evaporation of water at low pressure, it was found that the temperature jumps measured by a thermocouple are overestimated by almost 50%. However, the revised temperature jumps are still in agreement with the statistical rate theory of interfacial transport. As well as addressing the specific application of the liquid-vapor temperature jump, this paper provides significant insight into the role that heat transfer plays in the operation of thermocouples in general.

Experimental and Numerical Study of the Evaporation of Water at Low Pressures.

Although evaporation is considered to be a surface phenomenon, the rate of molecular transport across a liquid-vapor boundary is strongly dependent on the coupled fluid dynamics and heat transfer in the bulk fluids. Recent experimental thermocouple measurements of the temperature field near the interface of evaporating water into its vapor have begun to show the role of heat transfer in evaporation. However, the role of fluid dynamics has not been explored sufficiently. Here, we have developed a mathematical model to describe the coupling of the heat, mass, and momentum transfer in the fluids with the transport phenomena at the interface. The model was used to understand the experimentally obtained velocity field in the liquid and temperature profiles in the liquid and vapor, in evaporation from a concave meniscus for various vacuum pressures. By using the model, we have shown that an opposing buoyancy flow suppressed the thermocapillary flow in the liquid during evaporation at low pressures in our experiments. As such, in the absence of thermocapillary convection, the evaporation is controlled by heat transfer to the interface, and the predicted behavior of the system is independent of choosing between the existing theoretical expressions for evaporation flux. Furthermore, we investigated the temperature discontinuity at the interface and confirmed that the discontinuity strongly depends on the heat flux from the vapor side, which depends on the geometrical shape of the interface.

Analysis of the Particle Formation Process of Structured Microparticles.

The particle formation process for microparticles of cellulose acetate butyrate dried from an acetone solution was investigated experimentally and theoretically. A monodisperse droplet chain was used to produce solution microdroplets in a size range of 55-70 µm with solution concentrations of 0.37 and 10 mg/mL. As the droplets dried in a laminar air flow with a temperature of 30, 40, or 55 °C, the particle formation process was recorded by two independent optical methods. Dried particles in a size range of 10-30 µm were collected for morphology analysis, showing hollow, elongated particles whose structure was dependent on the drying gas temperature and initial solution concentration. The setup allowed comprehensive measurements of the particle formation process to be made, including the period after initial shell formation. The early particle formation process for this system was controlled by the diffusion of cellulose acetate butyrate in the liquid phase, whereas later stages of the process were dominated by shell buckling and folding.

Investigation into the effects of stainless steel ligature ties on the mechanical characteristics of conventional and self-ligated brackets subjected to torque.

OBJECTIVE: Torque is applied to orthodontic brackets in order to alter the buccal-lingual angulation of a tooth. One factor that can affect torque is the ligation mode used to retain the archwire in the bracket slot. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of stainless steel ligation on torque expression and bracket deformation. METHODS: This study utilized 60 upper right central incisor Damon Q brackets and 60 Ormco Orthos Twin brackets. The brackets used in this study were subdivided into four groups: (1) Damon Q ligated with SS ligature; (2) Damon Q with the sliding bracket door; (3) Orthos Twin bracket ligated with SS wire; and (4) Orthos Twin ligated with elastic ties. All brackets were tested using an orthodontic torque simulating device that applied archwire rotation from 0° to 45°. RESULTS: All brackets ligated with stainless steel ties exhibited greater torque expression and less deformation than brackets without stainless steel ties. As well, Damon Q brackets exhibit less bracket deformation than Orthos Twin brackets. CONCLUSIONS: Stainless steel ties can reduce the amount of plastic deformation for both types of brackets used in this study.

Comparison of deformation and torque expression of the orthos and orthos Ti bracket systems.

Orthodontic torque expression is the result of axial rotation of rectangular archwires within a rectangular bracket slot. This study investigates the effect of bracket material on torque expression. Torque exerted by a rotating archwire on each bracket will be measured as well as the relative deformation of each bracket slot. A total of 60 tests were performed where archwires were rotated within a bracket slot to produce torque within a bracket. Thirty Ormco Orthos Ti and 30 Orthos SS were compared to investigate the effect of torque on bracket material. Each bracket was mounted on a six-axis load cell that measured forces and moments in all directions. The archwire was rotated from an initial angle of 0 degree in 3 degrees increments to maximum angle of 51 degrees and then returned to the initial position. An overhead camera took images at each 3 degrees increment. The bracket images were post-processed using a digital image correlation technique to measure the relative deformation of each bracket slot. The maximum torque expressed at 51 degrees was 99.8 Nmm and 93.0 Nmm for Orthos Ti and Orthos SS, respectively. Total plastic deformation measured at 0 degrees post-torquing of the Orthos SS was 0.038 mm compared to 0.013 mm for Orthos Ti. The Orthos Ti brackets plastically deformed less than the Orthos SS brackets after torquing. The Orthos SS bracket plastic deformation was 2.8 times greater than that of Orthos Ti brackets. The Orthos Ti brackets expressed more torque than the stainless steel brackets but exhibited substantial variation.

Three-dimensional deformation of orthodontic brackets.

Braces are used by orthodontists to correct the misalignment of teeth in the mouth. Archwire rotation is a particular procedure used to correct tooth inclination. Wire rotation can result in deformation to the orthodontic brackets, and an orthodontic torque simulator has been designed to examine this wire-bracket interaction. An optical technique has been employed to measure the deformation due to size and geometric constraints of the orthodontic brackets. Images of orthodontic brackets are collected using a stereo microscope and two charge-coupled device cameras, and deformation of orthodontic brackets is measured using a three-dimensional digital image correlation technique. The three-dimensional deformation of orthodontic brackets will be evaluated. The repeatability of the three-dimensional digital image correlation measurement method was evaluated by performing 30 archwire rotation tests using the same bracket and archwire. Finally, five Damon 3MX and five In-Ovation R self-ligating brackets will be compared using this technique to demonstrate the effect of archwire rotation on bracket design.

Three-dimensional deformation comparison of self-ligating brackets.

INTRODUCTION: Archwire rotation is used in orthodontic treatment to alter the labiolingual orientation of a tooth. Measurement of the 3-dimensional (3D) motion of the orthodontic brackets requires a new configuration of the orthodontic torque simulator. METHODS: The orthodontic torque simulator was coupled with a stereo microscope and 2 cameras to allow for the 3D bracket motion to be determined during wire twisting. The stereo camera images were processed with a 3D digital image correlation technique to determine the 3D deformation of the orthodontic brackets. Three self-ligating brackets (Damon Q, Ormco, Orange, Calif; In-Ovation R, GAC, Bohemia, NY; and Speed, Strite Industries, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada) were compared by using the 3D digital image correlation method to demonstrate the difference in 3D motion of self-ligating brackets components. RESULTS: Contour plots of the 3 brackets demonstrate the 3D motion of the bracket tie-wings and the archwire retentive component. The 3D motion of the bracket tie-wings and archwire retentive component were quantified. The displacement values of the archwire retentive component measured with the 3D orthodontic torque simulator were found to be 2.0 and 3.5 times less for the In-Ovation and Damon Q brackets than the values in previous studies that examined the compliance of the archwire retentive component. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D digital image correlation method used to quantify bracket deformation showed the 3D motion of the bracket tie-wings and the motion of the archwire retentive component. The use of a 3D optical measurement system is useful to understand the motion of the archwire retentive component but is not necessary to quantify bracket tie-wing motion. This measurement technique can be used to evaluate brackets of varying designs.