Search

Abstract Uniform deposition across large areas of an organic layer is one of the challenges for the industrial application of solution-based organic light‐emitting diode (OLED). In this paper, we propose an organic thin film deposition method for OLED using a micro multi-nozzle jet coating process. The developed micro multi-nozzle jet head consists of eighteen nozzles (100 μm diameter), a side suction line, inlets, and a nozzle protection outer hole. To demonstrate organic thin film deposition for OLED lighting device fabrication, a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) solution was used as a hole injection layer (HIL). Thickness uniformity of the PEDOT:PSS thin film was analyzed by regulating the jetting pressure. Through single-path coating of twelve successive stable column-jet flows, PEDOT:PSS organic film of 26 mm width was coated on an ITO substrate at 1 m/s head speed. The PEDOT:PSS thin film of 24.25 ± 1.55 nm (CV = 6.39%) thickness was obtained by the proposed coating method. For the feasibility test, OLED lighting devices with emission areas of 20 mm × 20 mm and 70 mm × 70 mm were successfully fabricated using PEDOT:PSS films deposited by a micro multi-nozzle jet coating method.

Abstract This study proposes the unique method to analyze the cleanliness of the fine metal mask (FMM) used in OLED display manufacturing after FMM cleaning process. We developed a FMM-mimic microstructure as a substitute for the FMM, which can be used for the evaluation of cleaning efficiency. The FMM-mimic microstructure was fabricated using a combination of photolithography, reactive ion etching, anodic bonding and sand blasting processes. To demonstrate the proposed cleanliness analytical method, a 1.4 μm-thick Tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) film was deposited on the FMM-mimic microstructure as a contaminant by vacuum thermal evaporation. The Alq3-deposited FMM-mimic microstructure was cleaned by N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) with changing cleaning time. We analyzed the residual contaminants on the FMM-mimic microstructure using a fluorescence microscope. The developed FMM-mimic microstructure proves very convenient for inspecting the residual contaminant inside the gap through the transparent glass by general optical and fluorescence microscopy.

Full article available online at Healio.com/Orthopedics The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing functional outcomes in elderly patients with united intertrochanteric fractures treated with hip nails and to ascertain whether decreased femoral offset due to lag screw sliding has a negative effect on functional outcomes in these patients. This retrospective study included 65 patients older than 65 years with united intertrochanteric fractures treated with hip nails. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) and a visual analog scale (VAS) 6 months postoperatively. Mean patient age was 77.8 years (range, 65-90 years); mean follow-up was 20.7 months (range, 12-38 months). More lag screw sliding occurred as bone mineral density (BMD) decreased. It was also greater in unstable fractures and acceptable reduction status. Less accurate reduction and greater lag screw sliding showed significant negative effects on most subscales of the SF-36, especially Physical Functioning and Role Physical. A significant positive correlation was observed between the extent of lag screw sliding and VAS. Lag screw sliding affected by fracture type, reduction quality, and BMD has a negative effect on functional outcomes in elderly patients with united intertrochanteric fractures. Therefore, the preservation of anatomical femoral offset as much as possible is needed to obtain better functional outcome through the minimization of lag screw sliding by more accurate reduction, which is a controllable factor, especially in osteoporotic unstable intertrochanteric fractures. [Orthopedics. 2014; 37(12):e1101-e1107.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Retrospective study., Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intraoperative wound application of vancomycin on preventing surgical wound contamination during instrumented lumbar spinal surgery., Overview of Literature: Postoperative infection is the one of the most devastating complications of lumbar surgery. There are a few reports showing the benefits of intraoperative wound application of vancomycin during spinal surgery. However, there is no report about the effectiveness of local vancomycin instillation in prevention of surgical wound contamination., Methods: Eighty-six patients underwent instrumented lumbar spinal surgery. Mean patient age was 65.19 years (range, 23-83 years). There were 67 females and 19 males. During surgery, vancomycin powder was applied into the surgical site before closure in 43 patients (antibiotic group) and vancomycin powder was not applied into the surgical site before closure in 43 patients (control group). The tip of the surgical drain was cultured to evaluate surgical wound contamination. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured on the first, third, seventh, and fourteenth day after the operation., Results: We found two patients with a positive culture from the tip of surgical drains in the antibiotic group, and one patient with a positive culture from the tip of the surgical drain in the control group. Postoperative ESR and CRP levels did not show significant differences between the two groups. On the third postoperative day, ESR in patients of the antibiotic group was more significantly decreased than that in patients of the control group, while CRP level did not show a significant difference between the two groups., Conclusions: There was no evidence to suggest that intraoperative vancomycin application is effective in decreasing the risk of postoperative wound infection after instrumented posterior lumbar fusion surgery.