[en] Minimally invasive treatment with lung volume reduction is the promising future for severe pulmonary emphysema patients. With emerging and improving of new techniques and instruments, it would become an important choice for managing severe emphysema. A comprehensive review is here documented through the correlative techniques, instruments, new achievements and latest research work. (authors)

[en] To plug the biopsy site in eight patients with coagulopathy who had undergone percutaneous liver biopsy. To this end, gelfoam cartridge was used as a sealant. Materials and Methods: Using an 18G Tru-Cut-type disposable automated biopsy gun(Soo Ho Medi-tech, Seoul, Korea) and under US guidance, eight patients underwent percutaneous liver biopsy. After the gun had fired, the biopsy specimen in the inner stylet was retrieved while the outer cannula was held in place ; the cannula was then used to plug the biopsy tracks with gelfoam, using two or three cartridges. If bleeding occurred, this was controlled by the use of more gelfoam cartridges. Results:Diagnostic target tissue was obtained in seven of the eight patients(87.5%). Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed in five cases and metastatic cancer in two. Profuse bleeding was observed in one patient(12.5%) and resolved by gelfoam plugging. Conclusion: We believe that in patients with coagulopathy who are required to undergo liver biopsy plugging the liver biopsy track with gelfoam cartridge is a simple, safe and useful method

[en] Objective: To evaluate the optimal combination of coil and glue used in the bronchial occlusion of rabbits. Methods: Three mm coil with albumin gel (A group), 3 mm coil with NBCA(B group), 2 mm coil with NBCA(C group) and 4 mm coil with NBCA(D group) were used respectively to occlude the bilateral anterior bronchi of rabbits. Each group composed of 4 rabbits with 8 anterior bronchi. After the bronchial occlusion of the rabbits, the coil expectoration, lobe collapse, inflammation and foreign-body granuloma formation were observed and scored as 0 to 2. Results: There was statistical difference between B group and A group (P=0.009), and was also different in comparing with those of the C and D groups. Conclusions: Proper-sized coil (3 mm) may reduce the rates of expectoration and other complications. NBCA is more effective than albumin gel in making lung collapse. (authors)

[en] Heat Exchanger tubes fail for any number of reasons including but certainly not limited to the cumulative effects of corrosion, erosion, thermal stress and fatigue. This presentation will attempt to identify the most common techniques for determining which tubes are leaking and then introduce the products in use to plug the leaking tubes. For the sake of time I will limit the scope of this presentation to include feedwater heaters and secondary system heat exchangers such as Hydrogen Coolers, Lube Oil Coolers, and nuclear Component Cooling Water, Emergency Cooling Water, Regenerative Heat Recovery heat exchangers

[en] The isolation with ice plug of a high diameter horizontal pipeline section is a specific technique for repairs activities/ replacements of components owning to thermo-hydraulic installations working with liquid agents. The application of such technique don.t assumes stopping of the entire system. The ice plugging inside of the pipeline assumes using of a special device and of an own specific technology for application. The paper contains a brief description of the experimental technological facilities used, followed by setting off the main moments in evolution of two experimental tests carried out on the test section with 300 mm nominal diameter for demineralized water and, finally, by a brief results analysis and some conclusions. The paper is dedicated to the specialists working in the research and technological engineering. (authors)

[en] Objective: To study the feasibility of interventional pulmonary lobectomy by animal experiment. Methods: Twelve healthy dogs were divided into three groups randomly, with 4 in each. Group A: the target bronchus and alveoli were filled with emulsion of lipiodol and alveolar cells damage liquors and then the target bronchus was occluded with Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) . Group B: The target bronchus was only occluded with PMMA. Group C: Pulmonary lobe was resected surgically. Arterial blood gases were measured at the time of pre-procedure and post-procedure and then 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week after the procedure respectively. Chest radiography histology and bacterial culture of tissue of target lung lobe were made after 4 weeks. Results: There was a significant difference in arterial blood-gas among 3 groups pre-procedure in comparison with those of post-procedure immediately (P<0.01), and no difference (P>0.05) in comparing with 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th week after the procedure. Atelectasis was shown radiologically with histological formation of fibrosis of target lung lobe but no bacteria grew in target tissue 4th week after the procedure. There were two cases of lung atelectasis but no pulmonary fibrosis occluded in group B. Conclusions: Interventional pulmonary lobectomy might be obtained after the target bronchus and pulmonary alveoli were filled with emulsion of lipiodol and alveolar cells damage liquors and then the target bronchus was occluded with PMMA. (authors)

[en] Casing deformation in wells is a common problem in many geothermal fields. Casing remediation is necessary to keep wells in production and occasionally, to even enter the well for an approved plug and abandonment procedure. The costly alternative to casing remediation is to incur the expense of drilling a new well to maintain production or drilling a well to intersect a badly damaged well below the deformation for abandonment purposes. The U.S. Department of Energy and the Geothermal Drilling Organization sponsor research and development work at Sandia National Laboratories in an effort to reduce these remediation expenditures. Sandia, in cooperation with Halliburton Energy Services, has developed a low cost, commercially available, bridge-plug-type packer for use in geothermal well environments. This report documents the development and testing of this tool for use in casing remediation work

[en] A state of art on primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) of alloy 600 used as steam generator tubing of nuclear power plant and remedial action on the PWSCC were reviewed and analyzed. One of the major metallurgical factors which have effect on PWSCC is Cr carbide distribution. A semicontinuous intergranular Cr carbide distribution enhance PWSCC of alloy 600. PWSCC rate is reported to be reported to be proportional to exp(-50 cal/RT) σ⁴. PWSCC rate also increase with increase in hydrogen partial pressure from 0 to 150 ppm and then decreased with further increase in hydrogen partial pressure to 757 ppm. Development of PWSCC prediction technology which takes into account tubing material, fabrication process and operating history of steam generator is needed to manage PWSCC of domestic nuclear power plant. PWSCC has mainly occurred at expansion irregularities within tubesheet, expansion transitions, dented tube support plate intersections and transition and apex of U bend. Remedial actions to PWSCC are sleeving, plugging, temperature reduction, Ni plating, Ni sleeving, shot peening and steam generator replacement in worst case. Option to remedial actions depend on plant specific such as plant age, leak rate from primary to secondary, density and progression of PWSCC. Ni sleeving developed in Framatome seems to be a powerful method because it never subject to PWSCC. Remedial action should be developed and evaluated for possible PWSCC of domestic nuclear power plant. (author)

[en] The partial dismantling of the FEBEX in situ test was carried out as planned during the summer of 2002, following 5 years of continuos heating. The operation included the demolition of the concrete plug and the removal of the section of the test corresponding to the first heater. A large number of samples from all types of materials have been taken for analysis. The dismantling was carried out causing minimum disturbance to the section of the test corresponding to the second heater, which remained in operation at all times and continues in place and fully operational. The process of data acquisition was also maintained during the dismantling. Due to the need to install new instruments in the remaining part of the test, a temporary concrete plug measuring 1 m in thickness was constructed immediately following the dismantling operation, in July 2002. A second section of the plug, of approximately 2 m in length, was built later, in June 2003. This report describes the planning and execution of the different operations carried out, the sampling performed, and the experiences obtained. Given the nature of the works, and the modifications introduced throughout the different phases of the project, the operations are described in a sequential manner, following the order of execution. (Author)

[en] Neutron and gamma ray attenuation has been studied in a cylindrical duct, length/diam. ratio 7, partly (36 vol.%) filled by a helical (screw-like) plug with adjustable number of turns. The total neutron leakage through the duct decreased by a factor of six from zero to 0.5 turn, and by an additional factor of three from 0.5 to 2 turns (saturation value). The leakage with less than 0.5 turn is governed by fast flux and above 0.5 turn by epithermal flux. It is observed that the attenuation calculation in a homogenized, infinite material combined with the predicted attenuation in a duct give the measured saturation attenuation. The length coordinates used must be slightly modified in this case. The attenuation of gamma in the saturation case (3 turns) equals that predicted without the duct attenuation in a homogenized infinite material