To estimate the barrier efficiency of gloves for operations against the infection risks caused by pinhole formation, we investigated the passing number of bacteria in a pinhole which was formed in gloves for operations. In the primary experimental conditions which were no pinhole form moving (no changes in diameter of pinhole) and making water level pressure (1cm), we confirmed the passing of bacteria through the pinhole within 20 min after investigation was started. Furthermore, the passing number of bacteria increased to 1,000 fold when the diameter of pinhole expanded to 5 fold. From these results, it was suggested that an invisible pinhole of operation gloves promotes an infection risk during the operation.

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In Tohoku University, a five-year plan of “Recurrent Education for the Development of Enginee-ring Enhanced Medicine” (REDEEM) is done. The REDEEM is an entry level curriculum of biomedical engineering for industrial engineers. This program is consisted of lecture and practical training. It is a unique opportunity to learn biology and medical basics by training such as the dissection instructed by doctors. The purpose of this study is to check demand and effect, and to act the curriculum. In this paper, we describes outline of the REDEEM, test of the courses, evaluation of the curriculum and development of the 2nd REDEEM. The evaluation was based on Kirkpatrick′s 4 levels of evaluation system, of which the reaction (level 1), learning (level 2) and behavior (level 3) levels were utilized. The results showed big demand and education effect of the REDEEM. Future prospect and the priority for recurrent education system in biomedical engineering were also discussed. In conclusion, it was confirmed that the recurrent education system in biomedical engineering is a potential aid for progress of biomedical engineering. This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

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The application of film-dressings to the skin rarely causes dermal irritation. It is important to reduce the damage of the skin when they are removed from the skin. Several methods of removing film-dressings have been recommended. However, only the peel angle has been studied. Therefore, we examined the best method of removing film-dressings by studying the peel rate, peel angle, and the effect of draw, in which the skin was drawn by hand in the opposite direction in order to keep the film-dressing in a stationary position, using two kinds of film-dressings.
With an increase in peel rate, the number of stripped corneocytes significantly increased. The number of stripped corneocytes and the pain at 0 degree peel angle (i.e., removal by stretching the film-dressing parallel to the skin) were slightly less than those at other peel angles. When the skin was drawn by hand in order to keep the film-dressing in a stationary position, the pain decreased slightly. It was most important that film-dressings were removed from the skin as slowly as possible.

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Sterilization process costs of manual washing procedures were calculated. In the previous report “Calculating Sterilization Process Costs (Part 3) ”, the sterilization costs by autoclaving, ethylene oxide gas (EOG), and plasma with the use of hydrogen peroxide were evaluated according to various sizes of containers, respectively. However, the costs by manual washing were yet to be determined. In this following report, I have evaluated the sterilization process cost per item by manual washing.
The costs by manual washing (including proteinase-containing detergents, running water, 40°C warm water, drying, and so on) were calculated. In addition, the sterilization process costs were evaluated according to the sterilization processes and kinds of items.
Serial sterilization process includes collection of dirty-contaminated items, classification, check, washing, assembling, validation, packing, sterilization, picking, and transportation (to operation rooms, inpatient wards, and outpatients services).
As a result, sterilization process costs per item were 13.7 to 14.4 yen by manual washing and 7.4 yen by washer-disinfectors, respectively. Although washer-disinfectors were more stable in quality, manual washing should be reassured by managing environments, education, skills, and evaluation.

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