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Biomedical subjects

J Niinimäki

Publications and source records attributed to J Niinimäki.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided diskography and diagnostic lumbar 0.23T MRI: an assessment study.

PURPOSE: To describe the in vivo appearance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diskograms of normal and degenerated lumbar intervertebral disks, and to evaluate the differences in imaging findings between sequential diagnostic MRI and MRI diskography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine consecutive patients underwent MRI-guided diskography in order to determine possible pain provocation during puncture and contrast medium injection. All patients had preceding clinical suspicion of lumbar diskogenic pain and findings of lumbar disk degeneration in diagnostic (MRI, computed tomography (CT), plain radiography). A 0.23T open MRI scanner with interventional tools was used for imaging and instrument guidance. On all patients, a complementary diagnostic MRI study of the lumbar spine before and after the MRI-guided disk injection was performed, and subsequent axial MRI diskograms were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 25 disk punctures were initialized, and 25 MRI diskograms were obtained and their expression described. There was a correlation between the degenerative disk findings visualized by diagnostic MRI and MRI diskograms. CONCLUSION: The use of gadolinium contrast media in MRI-guided diskography enables the evaluation of MRI diskograms. Our results suggest that MRI-guided diskography can be used to substitute conventional diskography or CT-diskography and as an augmenting method to assess diagnostic information upon degenerative processes of the lumbar spine.

Adult↗

MR-guided interventional procedures: a review.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a potential guidance tool for a variety of procedures. Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using either open surgical or percutaneous access are performed. They span from simple lesion targeting and biopsy to complex applications requiring multiple tasks performed simultaneously or in rapid succession. These tasks include instrument guidance and therapy monitoring as well as procedural follow-up. The interventional use of MRI (IMRI) is increasing steadily. This article reviews the prerequisites, systems, and clinical interventional procedures of IMRI.

Biopsy↗

New method for measuring potential secondary stickies in deinked pulp filtrates.

Secondary stickies refer to sticky material in recycled fiber process streams, which has been dissolved in one part of process, but turned to solid phase due to changes in process conditions. The material that can later form secondary stickies is called potential secondary stickies. A new, fast, and simple method for measuring the amount of potential secondary stickies was developed to measure the purification result in the deinked pulp (DIP) filtrates. The new method, now called potential secondary stickies method, was tested with process waters from a recycled fiber (RCF) plant. The method was found to be reliable. Several chemicals and chemical combinations were tested in laboratory scale and compared as coagulation-flocculation agents in two dissolved air flotations (DAF) used as internal water treatment units at the RCF plant. With potential secondary stickies method, significant differences between the effectiveness of the chemicals were found, whereas no difference was seen in the quality of purified process water with traditional measuring methods. The measurement method was also used in mill during a two-week measuring period. As a conclusion, it can be said that this method can be used to monitor the quality and to predict the changes in DIP process water.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗

Security development of a pocket-sized teleradiology consultation system.

Telemedicine widens the access to sensitive data and therefore data security development is an essential part of telemedicine projects. Publicly available security evaluation methods provide a good starting point for security work. We built a mobile teleradiology consultation system that is integrated into hospital information system and systematically evaluated possible security threats that may endanger it. Based on the analysis, a security model was designed and implemented. We conclude that systematic approach to data security development facilitates the process but does not give all answers to the practical questions.

Computer Security↗

Initial experience with a wireless personal digital assistant as a teleradiology terminal for reporting emergency computerized tomography scans.

A new type of terminal device, a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) based on a GSM digital cellular phone, was used to transmit computerized tomography scans of 21 patients to a neuroradiologist. All transmitted images were suitable for a preliminary consultation and in one case a final report could be made. In 18 cases the findings were compatible with the reference film reading performed later and in three cases there were minor differences of no clinical importance. Transmission of a single image lasted 1 min 30 s and the transmission of a complete brain scan (14 images) took on average 21 min. The total process of transmission and interpretation of a brain examination series took on average 40 min. In this pilot study the neuroradiologist gained essential information in 24% of the cases and beneficial information in 62%. The neuroradiologist considered that the image consultation saved a hospital visit in 15 cases (71%). Although PDA technology is at an early stage of development and has numerous limitations, it is likely that future technical improvements will allow easier clinical consultations for neurosurgeons and neurologists.

Adolescent↗

Methodology for security development of an electronic prescription system.

Data security is an essential requirement in all health care applications. Developers of medical information systems should utilize the existing security development and evaluation methods to foresee as many of the technical and human factors that may endanger data security as possible and apply appropriate precautions. Modern smart card technology facilitates the building of robust security framework for interorganizational shared care systems. In this article, we describe the way we utilized the existing security evaluation criteria in developing the security concept of our electronic prescription system.

Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems↗

Approaches for certification of electronic prescription software.

The proper management of drug treatment is essential, since adverse drug reactions are common reasons of hospitalisations. Expenditure on drug therapy has also been growing faster than any other aspect of health care in many countries. Savings and quality improvements in drug treatment could be achieved with computerised prescribing. In this paper, the architecture of an electronic prescription system is described in the light of software certification and registration. An electronic prescription system is an example of a system supporting shared care and therefore it should be person based, integrated, secure and confidential and data should be shared among health care institutions. The system architecture shares the idea of a virtual patient record and a smart card will be used as a key to prescription data located on the network. The certification and registration of medical software is a difficult and costly procedure. Ensuring the quality of software can be based on; certification of development process, voluntary evaluation, and post-market surveillance. Voluntary evaluation practice would be a precious tool for both the customers and software developers, and it would also be an invaluable source of information in terms of developing new software.

Certification↗