Tsd104a

Linear response of the Bladder Pill device was previously characterized in pressure chambers for values up to 300 cm H₂O above atmospheric pressure. [11 ] We compared measurement of static water columns by the Bladder Pill and the waistband external device to a fluid-filled catheter system. A PE-50 polyethylene catheter was connected to a fluid pressure transducer (TSD104A, BIOPAC Systems, Goleta, USA). To simulate the effect of bladder contractions on the Bladder Pill measurements, we inserted the device into a syringe and compressed the Pill longitudinally, as shown in Fig 3. Data presented in this section was obtained using the Pill combined with the waistband external device.

Two weeks after ameroid placement, the animals in Group I underwent CVBG. By this time, the ameroid constrictor had already created nearly 100% stenosis of the LAD artery (corroborated by angiography). The animals in Group II did not undergo CVBG and served as control. Two days before the CVBG surgery was performed, the animals received daily Aspirin 325 mg, PO, and Clopidogrel 75 mg, PO. On the day of the procedure, the right femoral artery was percutaneously accessed with a 6F introducer sheath and connected to a pressure transducer (TSD104A – Biopac Systems, Inc, Goleta, CA) for arterial pressure monitoring. Heparin 100–200 IU/kg was administered IV before further instrumentation and was then supplemented as needed to keep an activated clotting time over 200 s. The chest was reopened through the previous sternotomy and the LIMA was dissected from its bed in a skeletonized fashion (without a muscular pedicle). An end-to-side anastomosis between the LIMA and the arterialized GCV in the anterior longitudinal sulcus was performed without the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. The off-pump technique included insertion of an intra-venous shunt to aid in the creation of the anastomosis. This allowed oxygenated blood to reach the ischemic myocardium in a retrograde fashion. After the revascularization procedure, the animals were recovered for 8 additional weeks.

Gastric motility recording was performed as described previously by Gao et al. [23 (link)]. The abdomen was opened by a longitudinal incision (5–6 cm in length) right below the diaphragm. The stomach was exposed entirely. A balloon (0.5 cm in diameter) attached to a catheter (1.5 mm OD and 1.1 mm ID) was inserted into the stomach by making a small hole at the duodenum close to the pylorus. The balloon was placed in the antrum to record the gastric motility. Subsequently, the hole was securely tied to avoid bloodletting and balloon shifting. Another end of the catheter was connected to a pressure transducer (TSD 104A; BIOPAC Systems, Inc., USA) via a three-way tube. The three-way tube was also connected to a syringe. The internal pressure of the balloon was maintained at 80–100 mmHg by injecting 0.3–0.4 ml of warm saline with the syringe. The pressure varied in accordance with the gastric motility changes. Therefore, it was an indicator of gastric motility. The pressure signal was recorded by the data acquisition system (MP150; BIOPAC Systems, Inc., USA) with the EGG transducer module. The acquisition parameter settings were LP: 1.0 Hz, HP: 0.005 Hz, and sampling frequency: 1000 Hz.