Scanning electron microscopy as an analytical tool for the study of calcified intrauterine contraceptive devices
Within the endometrial cavity intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) become encrusted with cellular, acellular, and fibrillar substances. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the crust. Cellular material consisted mainly of blood cells and various types of bacteria. The fibrillar material appeared to be fibrin which was omnipresent in the crust and formed a thin layer immediately over the IUD surface. X-ray microanalysis of the acellular component of the crust revealed the presence of calcium. No other major peaks were identified. Near the IUD surface characteristic calcium phosphate crystals were present. Their microanalysis showed peaks for calcium and phosphorus. X-ray diffraction of the crust however, showed it to contain only calcite. It is through the use of scanning electron microscopy that calcium phosphate has been detected in the IUD crust and a fibrillar layer has been visualized on the IUD surface. This study further demonstrates the effectiveness of SEM analytical techniques in the area of biomedical research.
- OSTI ID:
- 5586484
- Journal Information:
- Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States), Journal Name: Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Bladder stone in a human female: The case of an abnormally located intrauterine contraceptive device
Structure of a radiate pseudocolony associated with an intrauterine contraceptive device
Related Subjects
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
CALCINOSIS
CALCIUM PHOSPHATES
ERYTHROCYTES
PREGNANCY
SPERMATOZOA
UTERUS
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
FEMALE GENITALS
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
MATERIALS
MICROANALYSIS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
SCATTERING
551001* - Physiological Systems- Tracer Techniques