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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Automated analysis of prerecorded evoked electromyographic activity from rat muscle.

An automated microprocessor-based data acquisition and analysis system has been developed specifically to quantify electromyographic (EMG) activity induced by the convulsant agent catechol in the anaesthetized rat. The stimulus and EMG response are recorded on magnetic tape. On playback, the stimulus triggers a digital oscilloscope and, via interface circuitry, a BBC B microcomputer. The myoelectric activity is digitized by the oscilloscope before being transferred under computer control via a RS232 link to the microcomputer. This system overcomes the problems of dealing with signals of variable latency and allows quantification of latency, amplitude, area and frequency of occurrence of specific components within the signal. The captured data can be used to generate either signal or superimposed high resolution graphic reproductions of the original waveforms. Although this system has been designed for a specific application, it could easily be modified to allow analysis of any complex waveform.

Animals

An 8086-based Holter arrhythmia monitor.

Holter monitoring is a technique which involves the use of a specialized recorder to record and analyze the ECG of an ambulatory subject for a duration up to 24 h. It is used for persons who have generally normal ECG, but who experience heart disorders under some particular stress conditions. This paper describes the design of an 8086-based Holter monitor using state-of-the-art technology. The old concept of analog signal processing and cassette recording has been replaced by digital signal processing and solid state memories. The main features of the new monitor, as compared with conventional ones, is its intelligence to detect and record arrhythmias which are of clinical importance. Emphasis was placed on miniaturization and minimization of the power consumption while designing the monitor.

Algorithms

Low-cost digital impedance meter for the detection of micro-organisms.

The digital impedance meter is a microprocessor-based instrument able to detect, quantify and identify micro-organisms. The equipment makes use of the bipolar technique of measuring the impedance modulus of six cells containing inoculated culture broth. It performs temperature compensation automatically. Growth curves are stored in memory as time course events and can be displayed on any suitable device.

Calibration

An artificial neural network for lesion detection on single-photon emission computed tomographic images.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: An artificial neural network (ANN) has been developed to detect nonactive circular lesions on single-slice, single-photon emission computed tomographic (SPECT) images reconstructed using filtered back projection (FBP). METHODS: The neural network is a single-layer perception which learns to identify features on the SPECT image using supervised training with a modified delta rule. The network was trained on a set of SPECT images containing clinically realistic levels of noise. The trained network was applied to a set of 120 images, and the detection performance was evaluated at several decision thresholds using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: The trained neural network performed better than human observers for the same detection task with the same images as reflected by a significantly larger ROC curve area. CONCLUSIONS: ANN can be trained successfully to perform lesion detection on reconstructed SPECT images.

Equipment Design

Assistant programming software: a new tool for an improved programming of pacemakers.

Programming the new DDD pacemakers is becoming increasingly difficult. One must take into account the pacemaker's complexity, the fact that some parameters are linked to others, and the clinical profile of the patient. This difficult problem will lead to the design of software to assist programming, which will help the implanting physicians in choosing adequate programmed settings adapted to the functioning of the device and to the physiology and pathology of the patient. These programming aides should meet certain basic requirements to make them safe, efficient, and easy to use. One such system designed by ELA Médical, "Programming Assistant" is herein described. The preliminary results of an initial study on the acceptance of this programming aide among physicians involved in cardiac pacing are given and discussed.

Adult

Laser assessment of leaflet closing motion in prosthetic heart valves.

The dynamics of leaflet motion in heart valve prostheses (HVP), and in particular the closing velocity, is believed to be related to the valve sound and possibly to the phenomenon of valve cavitation. This paper describes a non-intrusive laser sweeping technique enabling the study of leaflet motion. The principle of measurement and the equipment involved are presented, together with the results of two commercially available, 29 mm bileaflet mitral valves, a St. Jude Medical, and an Edwards Duromedic valve. Experiments were carried out in a pulsatile mock flow testing loop designed to mimic physiological pressure waveforms and ventricular contraction. Measurements of heart rate were made in the range 70-120 beats min-1, with a ventricular pressure slope range of 1800-5600 mm Hgs-1 and a cardiac output range of 5.0-7.5 litres min-1. Motion analysis of the measured data focuses on the velocity of the leaflet immediately before closure.

Equipment Design

A computerized kidney donorship register.

In the UK a university department in conjunction with UK charities and hospitals has formed the basis of a computerized opting in kidney donorship register. The system operates on a VAX 8250, with local hospitals using terminal-emulating micros and PCs. The justification for such a system and its design and implementation are described.

Computer Communication Networks

Computer-aided optimization of choice and positioning of bone plates and screws used for internal fixation of mandibular fractures.

The present study describes a biomechanical integrated model of the mandibular system in which the maxilla and mandible, the masticatory muscles, and the temporomandibular joints are regarded as one system. In this model, strains in plate-osteosynthesis devices for internal fixation of mandibular fractures can be minimized by optimizing their positions. The model evaluates maximal bite force strategies on all possible dental elements; it uses a linear programming technique and a muscle architecture model, resulting in muscle recruitment patterns. The shape of a "standard" lower jaw is digitized by means of a three-dimensional (3-D) coordinate retrieval device and drawn on a computer screen after its dimensions have been changed according to the clinical case at hand. The 3-D location of the fracture as well as the anatomic restrictions for screw placement can be indicated on the screen. Osteosynthesis devices can be indicated in terms of dimensions, number, and material properties.

Biomechanical Phenomena

POEMS: program for outliers elimination in multidimensional space.

A Program for Outliers Elimination in Multidimensional Space (POEMS), which allows the user to eliminate outliers from training spaces as a prior step to any statistical study, is presented. Even though the program can be applied to any scientific field, the characteristics of POEMS makes it particularly suitable for 'series design' on Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships studies.

Algorithms

Computer-assisted measurements in pacemaker follow-up.

The application of increasingly sophisticated engineering techniques to cardiac pacemaker design has resulted in substantially greater complexity of follow-up which requires that more complicated measurements be made and interpreted. A feasibility study was conducted in which microcomputer software was designed to permit direct electronic communication between the computer and a commercial follow-up measurement device. This technique eliminates human error in reading or copying measurement data, and facilitates the application of computerized error-trapping, predictive interpretation of measurements, and database-management methods to pacemaker follow-up.

Computers

Designing a patient care medication and recording system that uses bar code technology.

Bar code technology has been implemented in a variety of health care applications to facilitate computerized data entry. In this report, the author describes the potential application of a patient medication administration and recording system that uses bar code technology for data entry. The need for nursing to collaborate with pharmacy and information systems developers is discussed, and issues for consideration in the design of the medication system are outlined.

Drug Therapy

The evaluation of radioactive microsphere data: remarks on the use of the BMDP and SAS statistical software packages.

We investigated the suitability of BMDP and SAS as an integrated tool for the evaluation of regional blood flow data obtained from the radioactive microsphere technique. Both packages were applied to a recent study on muscle blood flow with a 3-factorial design. The organization of data and files, the strategy of data reduction, and the evaluation by means of statistical and graphical techniques are shown. The method may be applied to any microsphere study design. A considerable amount of time can be saved and data integrity may be improved. The statistical quality of the results may benefit from the broad spectrum of statistical tests available.

Algorithms

LaboImage: a workstation environment for research in image processing and analysis.

Numerous images are produced daily in biomedical research. In order to extract relevant and useful results, various processing and analysis steps are mandatory. The present paper describes a new, powerful and user-friendly image analysis system: LaboImage. In addition to standard image processing modules. LaboImage also contains various specialized tools. These multiple processing modules and tools are first introduced. A one-dimensional gel analysis method is then described. The new concept of 'normalized virtual one-dimensional gel' is introduced, making comparisons between gels particularly easy. This normalized gel is obtained by compensating for the bending of the lanes automatically; no information loss is incurred in the process. Finally, the model of interaction in a multi-window environment is discussed. LaboImage is designed to run in two ways: interactively, using menus and panels; and in batch mode by means of user-defined macros. Examples are given to illustrate the potentialities of the software.

Algorithms