Ph.D. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

In plastic surgery, flap reconstruction has been utilised to repair defects in every part of the body, in an effort to restore form and function to patients. The basis of every flap is its blood supply, therefore this series of studies investigates the vascular territory of named arteries, veins and even perforators, utilizing computer tomography (CT) and TeraRecon software. The latter two is technology which allows appreciation of vascular flow in 3D and 4D (dynamic studies), whereas previous studies of vascularity has only been static and in 2D. Vascular anatomy studies were performed using fresh cadavers. Perforator flaps on the anterior trunk studied were the internal mammary artery perforator (IMAP) flap, the transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous (TRAM) flap, the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap and the superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap. Posterior trunk flaps included the posterior intercostal artery perforator flap, the lumbar artery perforator flap and the superior gluteal artery perforator (SGAP) flap. In the upper extremity, we studied the supraclavicular artery perforator flap. In the lower extremity, we studied the gracilis musculocutaneous flap. Trends and characteristics are noted in the vascular analyses, and four major principles drawn are discussed in the last chapter.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

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A novel method to form plastic lensed fiber that could be used to manufacture in bulk quickly and raise the coupling efficiency is proposed. The way to form plastic lensed fiber is droping the mucilage on the fiber endface which is described in the reference, then the mucilage will be formed ball lens with surface tension. Next step is to force the ball lens to hyperbola shape with electric force. The method contains some restrictions including controlling the volume of the drop, the shrinking rate after curing, and the shape of the fabricated lens. The way improving the restriction of fabrication to achieve high coupling efficiency is described in this paper.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-166). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 25, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Fu-hung Hsieh. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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