Biomaterial Database

Environmental control systems in a spinal injuries unit: a review of 10 years' experience. 1990

B M Woods, and R D Jones

Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand.

In 1979 a 30-bed spinal injuries unit was opened at Burwood Hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand. The design of the building included built-in environmental control facilities for tetraplegic patients. This paper outlines 10 years of experience with environmental controls in a hospital setting, and discusses some of the problems encountered. Special mention is made of ease of setting up equipment, patient interface switches, patient acceptance, and a major upgrade and modification of the original control system. Although not utilized as much as originally anticipated, a definite need for environmental controls with the spinal injuries unit has become firmly established.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007374	Interior Design and Furnishings	The planning of the furnishings and decorations of an architectural interior.	Furniture,Interior Furnishings,Interior Design,Design, Interior,Designs, Interior,Furnishing, Interior,Furnishings, Interior,Interior Designs,Interior Furnishing
D011782	Quadriplegia	Severe or complete loss of motor function in all four limbs which may result from BRAIN DISEASES; SPINAL CORD DISEASES; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES; or rarely MUSCULAR DISEASES. The locked-in syndrome is characterized by quadriplegia in combination with cranial muscle paralysis. Consciousness is spared and the only retained voluntary motor activity may be limited eye movements. This condition is usually caused by a lesion in the upper BRAIN STEM which injures the descending cortico-spinal and cortico-bulbar tracts.	Quadriparesis,Spastic Quadriplegia,Tetraplegia,Flaccid Quadriplegia,Flaccid Tetraplegia,Paralysis, Spinal, Quadriplegic,Spastic Tetraplegia,Flaccid Quadriplegias,Flaccid Tetraplegias,Quadripareses,Quadriplegia, Flaccid,Quadriplegia, Spastic,Quadriplegias,Quadriplegias, Flaccid,Quadriplegias, Spastic,Spastic Quadriplegias,Spastic Tetraplegias,Tetraplegia, Flaccid,Tetraplegia, Spastic,Tetraplegias,Tetraplegias, Flaccid,Tetraplegias, Spastic
D004780	Environment, Controlled	A state in which the environs of hospitals, laboratories, domestic and animal housing, work places, spacecraft, and other surroundings are under technological control with regard to air conditioning, heating, lighting, humidity, ventilation, and other ambient features. The concept includes control of atmospheric composition. (From Jane's Aerospace Dictionary, 3d ed)	Clean Rooms,Laminar Air-Flow Areas,Controlled Environment,Area, Laminar Air-Flow,Clean Room,Controlled Environments,Environments, Controlled,Laminar Air Flow Areas,Laminar Air-Flow Area,Room, Clean
D006748	Hospital Departments	Major administrative divisions of the hospital.	Departments, Hospital,Department, Hospital,Hospital Department
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000203	Activities of Daily Living	The performance of the basic activities of self care, such as dressing, ambulation, or eating.	ADL,Chronic Limitation of Activity,Limitation of Activity, Chronic,Activities, Daily Living,Activity, Daily Living,Daily Living Activities,Daily Living Activity,Living Activities, Daily,Living Activity, Daily
D012656	Self-Help Devices	Devices, not affixed to the body, designed to help persons having musculoskeletal or neuromuscular disabilities to perform activities involving movement.	Assistive Devices,Assistive Technology,Assistive Device,Assistive Technologies,Device, Assistive,Device, Self-Help,Devices, Assistive,Devices, Self-Help,Self Help Devices,Self-Help Device,Technologies, Assistive,Technology, Assistive