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Evaluation of and compensation for spatial noise of LCDs in medical applications.

Recent developments in liquid crystal display (LCD) technology suggest that this technology will replace the cathode ray tube (CRT) as the most popular softcopy display technology in the medical arena. However, LCDs are far from ideal for medical imaging. One of the principal problems they possess is spatial noise contamination, which requires accurate characterization and appropriate compensation before LCD images can be effectively utilized for reliable diagnosis. This paper presents some work we have conducted recently on characterization of spatial noise of high resolution LCDs. The primary purpose of this work is to explore the properties of spatial noise and propose a method to reduce it. A high quality CCD camera was used for physical evaluation. Spatial noise properties were analyzed and estimated from the camera images via signal modeling and processing. A noise compensation algorithm based on error diffusion was developed to process images before they were displayed. Results shown in this paper suggest that LCD spatial noise can be effectively reduced via appropriate processing.

Algorithms↗

Usability of touch-panel interfaces for older adults.

The usability of a touch-panel interface was compared among young, middle-aged, and older adults. In addition, a performance model of a touch panel was developed so that pointing time could be predicted with higher accuracy. Moreover, the target location to which a participant could point most quickly was determined. The pointing time with a PC mouse was longer for the older adults than for the other age groups, whereas there were no significant differences in pointing time among the three age groups when a touch-panel interface was used. Pointing to the center of a square target led to the fastest pointing time among nine target locations. Based on these results, we offer some guidelines for the design of touch-panel interfaces and show implications for users of different age groups. Actual or potential applications of this research include designing touch-panel interfaces to make them accessible for older adults and predicting movement times when users operate such devices.

Adult↗

Full-field digital mammography on LCD versus CRT monitors.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine if the display of full-field digital mammograms on a 5-megapixel liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor is at least equivalent to the display of the same on a 5-megapixel cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five radiologists evaluated normal anatomy and features of 61 abnormalities in 48 full-field digital mammograms. A 9-point Likert scale was used to compare images on two identical soft-copy review workstations, one equipped with two 5-megapixel CRTs and the other with two 5-megapixel LCDs. Outcomes were evaluated using a random-effects analysis of variance model. Means and SEs were reported. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals and p values were calculated. RESULTS: The two systems were equivalent for most features. The LCDs were rated better for the sharpness of mass margins (p = 0.011) and mass conspicuity (p = 0.050). For calcium features, the LCDs were rated better than the CRTs for lesion conspicuity (p = 0.010) and number of calcifications (p = 0.043). For architectural distortions, there was no statistically significant difference between the monitors in any of the features evaluated. For display characteristics, the LCDs were better for luminance (p = 0.021). The CRTs were significantly better for image noise (p = 0.001). In the overall ratings, there was no statistically significant difference between the two displays. CONCLUSION: The 5-megapixel monochrome active-matrix LCD is equivalent to and in some respects better than the 5-megapixel CRT display for full-field digital mammograms over a range of normal and abnormal findings.

Breast Neoplasms↗

NOSTOS: a paper-based ubiquitous computing healthcare environment to support data capture and collaboration.

In this paper, we present a new approach to clinical workplace computerization that departs from the window-based user interface paradigm. NOSTOS is an experimental computer-augmented work environment designed to support data capture and teamwork in an emergency room. NOSTOS combines multiple technologies, such as digital pens, walk-up displays, headsets, a smart desk, and sensors to enhance an existing paper-based practice with computer power. The physical interfaces allow clinicians to retain mobile paper-based collaborative routines and still benefit from computer technology. The requirements for the system were elicited from situated workplace studies. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of augmenting a paper-based clinical work environment.

Computer Peripherals↗

Using the sense of smell in telemedical environments.

It is widely recognized in the medical community that the sense of smell plays a very important role in the diagnosis of various associated medical disorders. With the advent of computerized scent detection and scent production devices, smell as a medical diagnostic and educational tool could be carried over into the world of telemedicine, tele-surgery, and distance education.

Computer Peripherals↗

Low-cost rapid usability engineering: designing and customizing usable healthcare information systems.

It is essential that the healthcare systems we develop are usable, meet user information needs and are safe. To ensure system usability, a variety of methods have emerged from the area of usability engineering and have been adapted to healthcare. The authors have been applying methods of usability engineering, working with hospitals and companies to develop more usable healthcare information systems for over 15 years. Based on our current work at the University of Victoria, we describe how to set up a low-cost portable laboratory that can rapidly evaluate the usability and safety of healthcare information systems both in artificial mocked-up settings and in real clinical contexts (e.g., in hospital wards).

Computer Peripherals↗

Image-oriented rule generating tool for medical knowledge base.

This paper describes an automatic programming tool for the end users in the medical knowledge representation. When end users work with the rule generating tool (RGT) that we have designed, they can represent an idea using an Image-oriented interface such as a picture, movie, audio reference or two dimensional bar code. Such representations can be valuable tools for medical study, diagnosis, decision making and treatment monitoring to supplement the expertise of medical personnel. The RGT will automatically generate rules in the logic programming language Prolog and then add them to the knowledge base.

Algorithms↗

Long-term preservation of a beating heart in an artificial environment.

The natural heart could be preserved in the beating state, with appropriate afterload, for more than 24 hrs if supported by blood compatible artificial organs and biomedical engineering techniques. An artificial environment was developed using this philosophy. The system was constructed from four subsystems: circulatory, respiratory, metabolic, and environmental. In the circulatory subsystem, diastolic pressure was held at 70 to 100 mmHg by computer aided peripheral resistance, and a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) could be added when cardiac function was weakened. The respiratory subsystem was composed of an artificial lung and computer aided gas mixer for O2, CO2, and air, which kept blood PO2 and PCO2 within physiologic levels. In the metabolic subsystem, glucose and insulin were injected by infusion pump so as to maintain blood sugar within 100 to 200 mg/dl, whereas the environmental system preserved the isolated heart at 37 degrees C in a sterile water bath. Goats' hearts were connected to this system, and continued to beat for a maximum of 24 hours.

Animals↗

MACSPEC--a software system for fully automatic processing and analysis of large series of NMR spectra.

In vivo NMR spectroscopy often accumulates a large number of spectra (typically 100 individual files or even more) to follow metabolic changes with high time-resolution. The analysis of these spectra is very time-consuming for the spectroscopist and, furthermore, it requires the spectrometer's computer, needed for control of experiments. Here we report the software system MACSPEC developed for automatic processing and analysis of large series of individual NMR spectra on a peripheral personal computer. With this software the spectrometer's computer is kept available for experiments, and the necessary interaction of the spectroscopist is limited to a definition of the processing conditions at the beginning of the data analysis.

Electronic Data Processing↗

The pursuit theory of motion parallax.

Although motion parallax is closely associated with observer head movement, the underlying neural mechanism appears to rely on a pursuit-like eye movement signal to disambiguate perceived depth sign from the ambiguous retinal motion information [Naji, J. J., & Freeman, T. C. A. (2004). Perceiving depth order during pursuit eye movement. Vision Research, 44, 3025-3034; Nawrot, M. (2003). Eye movements provide the extra-retinal signal required for the perception of depth from motion parallax. Vision Research, 43, 1553-1562]. Here, we outline the evidence for a pursuit signal in motion parallax and propose a simple neural network model for how the pursuit theory of motion parallax might function within the visual system. The first experiment demonstrates the crucial role that an extra-retinal pursuit signal plays in the unambiguous perception of depth from motion parallax. The second experiment demonstrates that identical head movements can generate opposite depth percepts, and even ambiguous percepts, when the pursuit signal is altered. The pursuit theory of motion parallax provides a parsimonious explanation for all of these observations.

Computer Peripherals↗

BCI2000: a general-purpose brain-computer interface (BCI) system.

Many laboratories have begun to develop brain-computer interface (BCI) systems that provide communication and control capabilities to people with severe motor disabilities. Further progress and realization of practical applications depends on systematic evaluations and comparisons of different brain signals, recording methods, processing algorithms, output formats, and operating protocols. However, the typical BCI system is designed specifically for one particular BCI method and is, therefore, not suited to the systematic studies that are essential for continued progress. In response to this problem, we have developed a documented general-purpose BCI research and development platform called BCI2000. BCI2000 can incorporate alone or in combination any brain signals, signal processing methods, output devices, and operating protocols. This report is intended to describe to investigators, biomedical engineers, and computer scientists the concepts that the BC12000 system is based upon and gives examples of successful BCI implementations using this system. To date, we have used BCI2000 to create BCI systems for a variety of brain signals, processing methods, and applications. The data show that these systems function well in online operation and that BCI2000 satisfies the stringent real-time requirements of BCI systems. By substantially reducing labor and cost, BCI2000 facilitates the implementation of different BCI systems and other psychophysiological experiments. It is available with full documentation and free of charge for research or educational purposes and is currently being used in a variety of studies by many research groups.

Algorithms↗

GAFChromic film dosimetry with a flatbed color scanner for Leksell Gamma Knife therapy.

GAFChromic films MD-55-2 have recently been established widely in industrial, scientific, and medical applications as radiation dosimeters. We applied these films to the dosimetry for Leksell Gamma Knife therapy. We used a flatbed image scanner to take digital images of irradiated MD-55-2, and the data were converted to Red, Green and Blue pixel values. The absorbed dose, as derived from the response curve of the Red pixel value, was consistent with the Leksell Gamma Plan dose planning system, for exposures using collimator sizes, 4 mm, 8 mm, and 14 mm. However, the maximum dose in the exposure of the 18 mm collimator was measured to be about 5% smaller than Gamma Plan due to the density effect of the compound material in the head phantom.

Algorithms↗

Aging, motor control, and the performance of computer mouse tasks.

Because of the increased presence of computers in work and everyday life and the demographic "graying" of America, there is a need for interface designs that promote accessibility for older people. This study examined age differences in the performance of basic computer mouse control techniques. An additional goal of the study was to examine the influence of age-related changes in psychomotor abilities on mouse control. A total of 60 participants in 3 age groups (20-39 years, 40-59 years, and 60-75 years) performed 4 target acquisition tasks (pointing, clicking, double-clicking, and dragging) using a computer mouse. The data indicated that the older participants had more difficulty performing mouse tasks than the younger participants. Differences in performance attributable to age were found for the more complex tasks (clicking and double-clicking). Furthermore, age-related changes in psychomotor abilities were related to age differences in performance. We discuss applications to computer interface designs. Actual or potential applications of this research include specifications for computer mouse design to accommodate older populations.

Adult↗

A tool for matching physically impaired people with suitable technical aids: the merits and demerits of a laser disk consultation tool.

We are developing a tool for matching physically impaired people with suitable technical aids;w this tool will also provide specific and comprehensive information to users. According to the user's physical abilities and situations (indicated when using a "mouse"), specific instructions with dynamic images are displayed on the screen. The hardware of this system will be constructed with the laser¿disk system (Pioneer Laser Active, CLD¿A100). The software for drawing dynamic images is a two dimensional animation software (Animation Stand). The difficulties of developing this system are (1) Collecting every possible pattern without exclusion and constructing the comprehensive information frame for providing specific advises, and (2) Drawing a large number of dynamic animations. The merits of this tool are (1) High quality image and quick response time, (2) Excellent presentation ability, (3) A user friendly interface.

Activities of Daily Living↗