S. Gepiattee et Rcl. Feneley, A MODIFIED SEMIAUTOMATED TECHNIQUE FOR IN-VITRO ASSESSMENT OF ENCRUSTATION OF MATERIALS, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine, 211(6), 1997, pp. 475-478
In vitro study of encrustation is an important part of assessment of m
aterials as potential alloplasts or devices in the urinary tract. This
modified semi-automated technique comprises a circular reaction chamb
er with an encrustation mixture, the level of which is controlled by a
float switch which operates the exit peristaltic pump. The compositio
n of the reactants used simulates infected urine with alkaline pH. Res
ults of a preliminary study of the deposits by scanning electron micro
graphy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis are consi
stent with struvite and hydroxyapatite, similar to the main minerals d
eposited on urinary catheters. It is a relatively simple, effective an
d inexpensive set-up for study of encrustation on materials.