Biomedical research has relied on animal studies and conventional cell cultures for decades. Recently, microphysiological systems (MPS), also known as organs-on-chips, that recapitulate the structure and function of native tissues in vitro, have emerged as a promising alternative1. However, current MPS typically lack integrated sensors and their fabrication requires multi-step lithographic processes2. Here, we introduce a facile route for fabricating a new class of instrumented cardiac microphysiological devices via multi-material 3D printing. Specifically, we designed six functional inks, based on piezo-resistive, high conductance, and biocompatible soft materials that enable integration of soft strain gauge sensors within micro-architectures that guide the self-assembly of physio-mimetic laminar cardiac tissues. We validated that these embedded sensors provide non-invasive, electronic readout of tissue contractile stresses, inside cell incubator environments. We further applied these devices to study drug responses, as well as the contractile development of human stem cell derived laminar cardiac tissues over four weeks.
Hybrid 3D printing is a new method for producing soft electronics that combines direct ink writing of conductive and dielectric elastomeric materials with automated pick-and-place of surface mount electronic components within an integrated additive manufacturing platform. Using this approach, insulating matrix and conductive electrode inks are directly printed in specific layouts. Passive and active electrical components are then integrated to produce the desired electronic circuitry by using an empty nozzle (in vacuum-on mode) to pick up individual components, place them onto the substrate, and then deposit them (in vacuum-off mode) in the desired location. The components are then interconnected via printed conductive traces to yield soft electronic devices that may find potential application in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and biomedical devices.
A new method for fabricating textile integrable capacitive soft strain sensors is reported, based on multicore-shell fiber printing. The fiber sensors consist of four concentric, alternating layers of conductor and dielectric, respectively. These wearable sensors provide accurate and hysteresis-free strain measurements under both static and dynamic conditions.
Multimaterial 3D printing using microfluidic printheads specifically designed for seamless switching between two visco-elastic materials "on-the-fly" during fabrication is demonstrated. This approach opens new avenues for the digital assembly of functional matter with controlled compositional and property gradients at the microscale.
Objectives/Hypothesis
Electronic health records have brought many advantages but also placed a documentation burden on the provider during and after the clinic visit. Some otolaryngologists have countered this challenge by employing clinical scribes. This project aimed to better understand the influence of scribes on patient experience in the otolaryngology clinic.
Study Design
Retrospective cohort survey study.
Methods
Patients presenting to the otolaryngology clinic for new and follow‐up appointments were recruited to complete surveys about their experience.
Results
A total of 153 patients completed the survey, and 96 of those patients (62.7%) interacted with a scribe. Patient satisfaction was not significantly associated with participation of the scribe (P = .668). Similarly, patient rating of their physician on a scale of 1 to 10 was not associated with scribe involvement (P = .851). The patients who did interact with a scribe responded that the scribe positively impacted the visit 77.1% of the time. Participation of a resident, primary language other than English, and use of interpreter were associated with lower satisfaction (P = .004, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively).
Conclusions
There are no published data on the effect of scribes on patient experience in the otolaryngology clinic. In other specialties, scribes have been demonstrated as having a positive effect on provider satisfaction, clinical productivity, and patient perception. These data demonstrate that patient satisfaction was neither impaired nor improved by the presence of the scribe in this clinic. In light of benefits demonstrated by prior studies, these findings support the conclusion that scribes are a useful adjunct in providing high‐level otolaryngology care.
Level of Evidence
4
Laryngoscope, 130:E134–E139, 2020
On page 3279, J. A. Lewis and co‐workers demonstrate multi‐material 3D printing using microfluidic printheads specifically designed for seamlessly switching between two viscoelastic materials during fabrication. This approach opens new avenues for digital assembly of functional matter with controlled compositional and property gradients at the microscale.
C. J. Walsh, J. A. Lewis, and co‐workers report a new method for fabricating capacitive soft strain sensors via multicore‐shell fiber printing as shown on page 2440. These fiber sensors consist of four concentric, alternating layers of ionic fluid and silicone elastomer that serve as conductive and dielectric materials, respectively. The image highlights both multicore‐shell fiber printing using model fluorescent inks as well as resulting fiber sensor and its textile integration.
adhesive site organizations. This reduces biological dispersion and allows statistical spatiotemporal analysis. Investigations on relevant cell adhesion actors through experimental measurements should point out links among them. The outcome of this work is to study relationships between cell spreading behaviors and extracellular matrix properties. We choose to simplify the cell environment by reducing the extracellular matrix to microfabricated substrates covered by a specified type of adhesive proteins. We thus use the geometry controlled by the adhesive pattern and the extracellular matrix biochemistry controlled by the type of protein adsorbed on the substrate to quantify the resulting cytoskeleton and adhesion sites organizations.
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