Speaker David Ross

Rotary Club of Stirling meeting of 11/12/15.

President Peter Mehta welcomed members and two visitors, Gordon Sampson and our speaker David Ross to our Friday meeting.
Following Scatter week members reported back on their visits to other clubs. Stewart Wilson reminded members that we will be collecting for charity in the Thistle Centre on 29th December.
Retired orthopaedic surgeon David Ross spoke to the club on, An Invention, The Casterpiller. Historically fractures were immobilized in a cast made of plaster of Paris, but this material, although easy to apply, was heavy, not waterproof, and difficult to remove. The lightweight material currently used is waterproof and more robust, but as with plaster of Paris, removal can be difficult. In both cases the cast needs to be cut off using a saw with a reciprocating blade, which will not cut the skin, but the saw is noisy and creates heat and vibration. It is unpleasant, and for children frightening, at times requiring an anaesthetic before the plaster can be removed. In addition, the dust produced from the lightweight material is toxic so has to be extracted.
Mr Ross had often wondered if a better way of removing casts could be found. Having seen how people are cut from cars after road accidents, he thought this might be adapted for plaster removal. The tool used is not a saw but a powerful pair of shears. In the medical application the lower blade would go under the plaster against the skin and would not move, minimizing damage. This left the problem of developing a sufficiently powerful unit which would run on low voltage, produce no heat and little noise or vibration. No such power unit existed and in the event it has taken 10 years to develop, however prototypes are now being trialled in several hospitals, and patents granted here and in USA, in itself not an easy task.
The vote of thanks was given by John Rankin. Next week Speakers host Ian Richardson, Visitors host Alastair McNeill.
Next week's meeting will be the last of the year, meeting restarting on 8/1/16.
For further information www.rotary1010.org
Dr Ian Richardson