Biomedical subjects

James English

Publications and source records attributed to James English.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The Surgical Simulation and Training Markup Language (SSTML): an XML-based language for medical simulation.

Under contract with the Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), Energid Technologies is developing a new XML-based language for describing surgical training exercises, the Surgical Simulation and Training Markup Language (SSTML). SSTML must represent everything from organ models (including tissue properties) to surgical procedures. SSTML is an open language (i.e., freely downloadable) that defines surgical training data through an XML schema. This article focuses on the data representation of the surgical procedures and organ modeling, as they highlight the need for a standard language and illustrate the features of SSTML. Integration of SSTML with software is also discussed.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed2006

Effectiveness of haptic feedback in open surgery simulation and training systems.

This paper presents progress in the development of an untethered haptic feedback system for open surgery simulation and training being developed by Energid Technologies. A key innovation in our simulation is an untethered haptic feedback method. In this paper, we describe our approach to developing an effective untethered haptic feedback system, and our current progress. We also present the results of a haptic feedback effectiveness study which explores how haptic rendering accuracy behaves as a function of sampling rate for tool tracking.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed2005

Laboratory-directed protein evolution.

Systematic approaches to directed evolution of proteins have been documented since the 1970s. The ability to recruit new protein functions arises from the considerable substrate ambiguity of many proteins. The substrate ambiguity of a protein can be interpreted as the evolutionary potential that allows a protein to acquire new specificities through mutation or to regain function via mutations that differ from the original protein sequence. All organisms have evolutionarily exploited this substrate ambiguity. When exploited in a laboratory under controlled mutagenesis and selection, it enables a protein to "evolve" in desired directions. One of the most effective strategies in directed protein evolution is to gradually accumulate mutations, either sequentially or by recombination, while applying selective pressure. This is typically achieved by the generation of libraries of mutants followed by efficient screening of these libraries for targeted functions and subsequent repetition of the process using improved mutants from the previous screening. Here we review some of the successful strategies in creating protein diversity and the more recent progress in directed protein evolution in a wide range of scientific disciplines and its impacts in chemical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sciences.

DNA Shuffling↗

PubMed2005

A vision-based surgical tool tracking approach for untethered surgery simulation and training.

This paper presents progress in the development of an untethered surgery simulation and training system. A surgical trainee interacts with the simulation in the most natural way possible-using standard, untethered surgical tools and hands. This natural interface requires innovations in tracking, haptic feedback, and visualization. This article describes the approach used for tool tracking with color cameras. A novel tracking algorithm is used to identify the type of tool, its position, and its orientation. Integration of the vision system with the tissue deformation and visualization modules is also discussed.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Pain, quality of life and complications following the radical resection of rectovaginal endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the long term response, quality of life and levels of pain following the radical excision of rectovaginal endometriosis. DESIGN: A cohort study. SETTING: A tertiary referral centre for the management of advanced endometriosis. SAMPLE: All patients who had undergone radical resection. METHODS: Case note review and patient questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical complications. Overall improvement. Dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia, dyschezia and chronic pain were measured using a visual analogue scale. Quality of life was measured using the EQ-5D questionnaire. RESULTS: Twelve radical resections were performed by laparotomy, 48 by laparoscopy. Ten patients had a hysterectomy. Forty-eight patients underwent shaving of the pre-rectal fascia, two had a disc resection of the rectum, 10 had an anterior rectal resection. Two patients required a colostomy and two needed subsequent dilation of a stenosed anastomosis. Forty-four of the first 46 patients replied. The median follow up period was 12 months (range 2 to 22 months) and 86% (38/44) reported an improvement or whom 27 (61%) had a good response (pain completely gone or greatly improved). Patients having a hysterectomy or a disc or segmental resection of the rectum reported a good response and had a normal quality of life. Quality of life scores in the study group overall were lower than the background population. CONCLUSIONS: Radical resection is an effective treatment for rectovaginal endometriosis. Hysterectomy and rectal resection were associated with a better response and quality of life.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A new technique for laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Anterior rectal resection is sometimes necessary to treat deeply infiltrating rectovaginal endometriosis. We describe a completely laparoscopic approach as a new way of excising rectal endometriosis that can be used without opening any part of the rectum. This avoids opening the abdomen or any risk of fecal spillage. METHODS: The patient received preoperative oral bowel preparation. Ureteric stents (6 F) were inserted cystoscopically. The peritoneum in the ovarian fossae was opened lateral to any disease and the rectum reflected off the back of the cervix, leaving any endometriosis on the front of the rectum. The pelvic peritoneum was reflected medially, below the level of the ureters. The mesorectum was then dissected off a 6-cm length of rectum by using a Harmonic scalpel. A circular end-to-end anastomosis instrument was passed anally until the outline of the anvil was visible, inside the colon, above the diseased rectum. The anvil was detached and held by a soft grasper before the rectum was then divided above and below the disease using a laparoscopic stapling device. The tip of the anvil was pushed through the proximal end of the colon allowing reanastomosis of the rectal stump. CONCLUSION: The patient was discharged after 5 days without complications.

Adult↗