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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1981

[The development of the apparatus for the fully automated synthesis of short-lived radiopharmaceutical. --13NH3 automated automated synthesis (author's transl)].

A fully automated apparatus for repeated production of 13NH3 from proton-bombarded water has been developed. Its operation sequence consists of the introduction of NaOH, the bombarded water containing 13NO3- and TiCl3 into a reaction vessel, the distillation of 13NH3 formed by the reduction of the 13NO3-, and the washing of the vessel for the next sequence. The NaOH and TiCl3 are added as 4 ml of saturated solution and 4 ml of 10% aqueous solution, respectively, and halogen lamps are used as the heat source for the distillation. By this apparatus, 13NH3 can be produced automatically and repeatedly in a radiochemical yield of 80-90% within 10 min from the EOB.

Ammonia↗
PubMed2000

[Dawning of laboratory automation; individually constructed automated systems].

In the early stages of laboratory automation, the first step toward automation was the use of a spectrophotometer equipped with a flow cell system. Then, automated machines were introduced. Furthermore, computing systems, which are necessary for automated machine systems, contributed to advances in laboratory automation. Under these primitive conditions, we devised a data processing system for clinical biochemistry and further advanced the first stage of automated laboratory system. These automated systems have gradually matured in to a total laboratory automation system. As described in this report, we designed and developed an automated system in our laboratory.

Automation↗
PubMed2003

Automated lung nodule classification following automated nodule detection on CT: a serial approach.

We have evaluated the performance of an automated classifier applied to the task of differentiating malignant and benign lung nodules in low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) scans acquired as part of a lung cancer screening program. The nodules classified in this manner were initially identified by our automated lung nodule detection method, so that the output of automated lung nodule detection was used as input to automated lung nodule classification. This study begins to narrow the distinction between the "detection task" and the "classification task." Automated lung nodule detection is based on two- and three-dimensional analyses of the CT image data. Gray-level-thresholding techniques are used to identify initial lung nodule candidates, for which morphological and gray-level features are computed. A rule-based approach is applied to reduce the number of nodule candidates that correspond to non-nodules, and the features of remaining candidates are merged through linear discriminant analysis to obtain final detection results. Automated lung nodule classification merges the features of the lung nodule candidates identified by the detection algorithm that correspond to actual nodules through another linear discriminant classifier to distinguish between malignant and benign nodules. The automated classification method was applied to the computerized detection results obtained from a database of 393 low-dose thoracic CT scans containing 470 confirmed lung nodules (69 malignant and 401 benign nodules). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the ability of the classifier to differentiate between nodule candidates that correspond to malignant nodules and nodule candidates that correspond to benign lesions. The area under the ROC curve for this classification task attained a value of 0.79 during a leave-one-out evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Short-wavelength automated perimetry and motion automated perimetry in patients with glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP), a test favoring the detection of the target by the parvocellular pathways of vision, with motion automated perimetry (MAP), a test favoring detection by the magnocellular pathways, in the same eyes. PARTICIPANT: Thirty-three individuals in whom glaucoma was suspected (glaucoma suspects) and 17 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were compared with 30 age-matched normal control subjects. INTERVENTIONS: Short-wavelength automated perimetry was done with the usual protocol (program 24-2). Motion coherence thresholds were measured with 14 random do targets that covered the 24-2 field area. Short-wavelength automated perimetry test locations corresponding to each of the 14 motion automated perimetry locations were averaged to compare 14 locations for each text. RESULTS: Short-wavelength automated perimetry and motion automated perimetry were correlated by visual field location (whole field r = -0.40, P < .001), especially in the superior field (r = -0.45, P < .001). Overlap for defective locations was present in 16 (94%) of the 17 eyes with glaucoma, although in the glaucoma suspect eyes each test showed the earliest deficit in a percentage of individuals with overlap in only 3 (21%) of the 14 eyes. An analysis of variance showed a significant effect of diagnosis for both tests (SWAP and MAP, P < .001); the eyes of patients with glaucoma were significantly different from those of the normal controls. The results for glaucoma suspects were significantly different on SWAP only in the superior temporal field (Tukey-Kramer test). CONCLUSIONS: Both tests successfully identified eyes with glaucoma and a percentage of the glaucoma suspect eyes; both were correlated by field location. These results suggest that damage due to glaucoma is nonselective for either the parvocellular or the magnocellular ganglion cell axons, that there may be individual differences in which type of ganglion cell shows damage first, and that when standard visual field loss is present the results of SWAP and MAP are defective.

Glaucoma, Open-Angle↗
PubMed2001

[An automated electronic anesthesia record and automated urine output measurement].

We can now collect many parameters (NIBP, HR, ABP, SpO2, EtCO2, CCO, etc) from an anesthesia monitor in an automated electronic anesthesia record system. The function of automated urine output measurement has been added to an automated electronic anesthesia record system. A digital weight meter connected with a personal computer by RS-232 C is used to measure the weight of urine. We convert the weight to the volume hypothesizing that the density of urine is 1 g.ml-1. Physiologic parameters are recorded every 10 seconds from an anesthesia monitor and we can set the period of automated urine output measurement we like. We must enter the initial and final urine output but the intraoperative urine output is collected automatically to an automated electronic anesthesia record and visualized in urine bar graph. The total volume of urine is calculated. Computerized urine output measurement can record data more frequently, for example, every 10 minute. At the end of the operation, intraoperative data are sent to a host computer and the anesthesia record is printed. Combining the automated urine output measurement with an automated electronic anesthesia record system is useful in anesthesia practice of a long operation.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed2001

E-health, phase two: the imperative to integrate process automation with communication automation for large clinical reference laboratories.

The initial efforts of e-health have fallen far short of expectations. They were buoyed by the hype and excitement of the Internet craze but limited by their lack of understanding of important market and environmental factors. E-health now recognizes that legacy systems and processes are important, that there is a technology adoption process that needs to be followed, and that demonstrable value drives adoption. Initial e-health transaction solutions have targeted mostly low-cost problems. These solutions invariably are difficult to integrate into existing systems, typically requiring manual interfacing to supported processes. This limitation in particular makes them unworkable for large volume providers. To meet the needs of these providers, e-health companies must rethink their approaches, appropriately applying technology to seamlessly integrate all steps into existing business functions. E-automation is a transaction technology that automates steps, integration of steps, and information communication demands, resulting in comprehensive automation of entire business functions. We applied e-automation to create a billing management solution for clinical reference laboratories. Large volume, onerous regulations, small margins, and only indirect access to patients challenge large laboratories' billing departments. Couple these problems with outmoded, largely manual systems and it becomes apparent why most laboratory billing departments are in crisis. Our approach has been to focus on the most significant and costly problems in billing: errors, compliance, and system maintenance and management. The core of the design relies on conditional processing, a "universal" communications interface, and ASP technologies. The result is comprehensive automation of all routine processes, driving out errors and costs. Additionally, compliance management and billing system support and management costs are dramatically reduced. The implications of e-automated processes can extend beyond the specific transaction problems they are designed to solve. The ready access and communication of process details required by e-automation can apply to many other business functions.

Accounts Payable and Receivable↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of automated and semi-automated skull-stripping algorithms using similarity index and segmentation error.

The skull-stripping in the MR brain image appears to be a key issue in neuroimage analysis. In this paper, we evaluated the accuracy and efficiency of both automated and semi-automated skull-stripping methods. The evaluation was performed on both simulated and real data with the ground truth in skull-stripping. Although automated method showed better efficient results, it should require additional intervention. In contrast to that, semi-automated method showed better accurate results, but it was time consuming and prone to operator bias. Therefore, it might be practical that the semi-automated method was used as the post-processing of the automated one.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1991

Automated refraction. A comparative study of automated refraction with the Nidek AR-1000 autorefractor and retinoscopy.

A prospective study was performed on 46 eyes to compare results of different methods of objective refraction, namely automated refraction with the Nidek AR-1000 autorefractometer and retinoscopy in cycloplegia. We found that automated refraction in cyclopentolate cycloplegia gave results that differed little from results of retinoscopy in atropine cycloplegia both with respect to sphere and cylinder. Axis determination was even better with automated refraction. Dry automated refraction gave inaccurate results for the spheric component presumably because of suboptimal control of accommodation in this group of young patients. We recommend automated refraction in cyclopentolate cycloplegia as an easy, rapid, accurate and convenient method for obtaining an objective refraction where accommodative disorders are suspected.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of the semi-automated Autosperm semen analysis system. II. Comparison with conventional method, time-exposure photomicrography, and automated CellSoft system.

Semen analysis results obtained by a recently developed semi-automated Autosperm system (Amsaten N.V.S.A. Corp., De Pinte, Belgium) were compared with those obtained by the conventional, time-exposure photomicrographic, and automated CellSoft system (Cryo Resources Inc., New York, NY) analyses. The Autosperm system either over- or underestimated the sperm concentration in comparison with the conventional analysis and more often underestimated the sperm concentration in comparison with the automated CellSoft system analysis. Comparison of the results for percent sperm motility by the conventional and Autosperm analyses showed that the latter tended to underestimate the percentage of fast-swimming spermatozoa and overestimate the percentage of slow-swimming spermatozoa. There were considerable variations in the measurement of sperm movement characteristics between the Autosperm and time-exposure photomicrographic and automated CellSoft system analyses, respectively. These findings demonstrate that the performance of the Autosperm system does not agree well with those of the currently available methods employed in the present study. Part of the disagreement in measurements of sperm parameters could be because of the subjective elements inherent in the semi-automated Autosperm analysis.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Automated sample preparation of Roxifiban tablets: transfer of a manual method to an automated workstation.

Automation offers obvious advantages for the preparation of tablets prior to analysis by HPLC including unattended operation, minimization of human intervention and an electronic audit trail. However, significant effort has to be put in up front to develop and validate an automated method, particularly if it is required to closely follow an existing manual method. Here, method transfer for Roxifiban, a fibrinogen receptor antagonist, will be discussed. A Zymark tablet processing workstation II (TPWII) was used for all automated sample preparations. Manual methods for composite assay, content uniformity, weight variation and degradation products testing of a tablet formulation were transferred to the TPWII. The method involved weighing of the sample, disintegration of the dosage form by homogenization, extraction of the analyte in the homogenate solution, filtration of the homogenate, dilution of the filtrate and transfer to autosampler vials. Obstacles to a quick transfer included limitations in the volume capabilities of the TPWII, poor analyte solubility and achieving proper conditioning of the transfer lines and filter. After resolving these issues, a validated method was achieved. Spiked recoveries were from 99.4 to 101.1% (RSD's <0.5%). A cross-validation between automated and manual assay methods was compared by Westlake analysis giving a 0.7% calculated interval at the 95% confidence level. Carryover was 0.07% after 20 sample preparations at the highest tablet strength.

Amidines↗
PubMed1990

The 'problem' with automation: inappropriate feedback and interaction, not 'over-automation'.

As automation increasingly takes its place in industry, especially high risk industry, it is often blamed for causing harm and increasing the chance of human error when failures do occur. I propose that the problem is not the presence of automation, but rather its inappropriate design. The problem is that the operations under normal operating conditions are performed appropriately, but there is inadequate feedback and interaction with the humans who must control the overall conduct of the task. When the situations exceed the capabilities of the automatic equipment, then the inadequate feedback leads to difficulties for the human controllers. The problem, I suggest, is that the automation is at an intermediate level of intelligence, powerful enough to take over control that used to be done by people, but not powerful enough to handle all abnormalities. Moreover, its level of intelligence is insufficient to provide the continual, appropriate feedback that occurs naturally among human operators. This is the source of the current difficulties. To solve this problem, the automation should either be made less intelligent or more so, but the current level is quite inappropriate. The overall message is that it is possible to reduce error through appropriate design considerations. Appropriate design should assume the existence of error, it should continually provide feedback, it should continually interact with operators in an effective manner, and it should allow for the worst situations possible. What is needed is a soft, compliant technology, not a rigid, formal one.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1988

Automated charting of physiological variables in anesthesia: a quantitative comparison of automated versus handwritten anesthesia records.

Eight physiological variables--tidal volume, breathing rate, end-tidal carbon dioxide fraction, oxygen fraction in the anesthetic circuit, oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate--recorded on-line by a commercially available automated system were compared with the same variables recorded on handwritten anesthesia records. We quantified the differences between the automated and handwritten records generated from the same 30 patients (2,412 minutes of general anesthesia for elective eye surgical procedures). Considering the design of the study, we claim that the differences between both records were caused by the incompleteness or inaccuracy of the handwritten records, except in two instances. The amounts of missing or erroneous data for these eight physiological variables were expressed as fraction ("error fractions") of the time being recorded, designated EFm and EFe, respectively. For the first five variables the EFm on the handwritten records ranged between 0.23 and 0.31, and the EFe ranged between 0.01 and 0.06. For the last three variables the EFm range was 0.08 to 0.13, and the EFe range was 0.05 to 0.11. Most of these missing or erroneous data occurred during the period of induction (first 15 minutes) and at the end of the case (last 10 minutes). The EFm and EFe during induction had increased to 0.62 and 0.26, respectively, and to 0.76 and 0.06, respectively, at the end of the case. Erroneous data were observed on the automated records for the tidal volume during induction (EFe = 0.0044) and for the oxygen fraction during maintenance (EFe = 0.0024). The effect of averaging by the recordkeeper is discussed. The results of this study indicate the clinical relevance of automated record keeping.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1980

Automation of the leukocyte adherence inhibition assay. Counting live mononuclear cells with an automated light microscope system.

Adaptation of an automated light microscope system to the leukocyte adherence inhibition assay provides a rapid automated assay of cell mediated immunity. Comparison between the numbers of live mononuclear cells counted by eye and by machine yields no statistical differences in the per cent adherence or in the standard errors when performing either 10 or 20 replicate counts per antigen-cell mixture. Using the cell counter in a semi-automated mode, the counting is performed 10 times as fast in comparison to the manual method. A semi-automated system is described. The procedure requires from 4-6 X 10(5) mononuclear cells and from 2-3 micrograms crude KCl extract using a standard hemocytometer. The value of the technique lies in its availability as a rapid assay for both research applications and immunologic monitoring in the clinical laboratory.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Automated assessment of ventricular volume and function by echocardiography: validation of automated border detection.

To determine the utility of a new on-line echocardiographic automated border detection (ABD) algorithm in assessing ventricular volume and ejection fraction, an optimal model was studied. This open-chest canine model allowed continuous measurement of actual left ventricular volume. In four dogs, true end-systolic and end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction were compared with those obtained by two-dimensional echocardiography with an automated method calculated from a border detection algorithm to define left ventricular endocardium and the single-plane Simpson method to calculate volume. Left ventricular volumes that used manual, off-line tracings of the left ventricle by two-dimensional echocardiograms and the single-plane Simpson method were compared. The automated echocardiographic volumes correlated with true volumes (y = 0.7x + 8.9; standard error of the estimate = 13.5 cc; r = 0.81). A significant mean underestimation of 11 +/- 15 cc was noted (p < 0.0001). Volumes obtained from the manual tracings of left ventricular endocardial contours also correlated well with true volumes (y = 0.89x + 4; standard error of the estimate = 6.7 cc; r = 0.96). However, the 3 +/- 7 underestimation was significantly lower than the error of the ABD method (p = 0.00005). Both on-line ABD and off-line ejection fractions correlated well with true ejection fractions (r = 0.94 and 0.96, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean errors of the ABD or manually derived ejection fractions. In the setting of optimal left ventricular imaging, the on-line and rapid features of this automated method make it potentially useful for quickly obtaining left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1987

Automation in clinical microbiology: a new approach to identifying micro-organisms by automated pattern matching of proteins labelled with 35S-methionine.

A new rapid automated method for the identification and classification of microorganisms is described. It is based on the incorporation of 35S-methionine into cellular proteins and subsequent separation of the radiolabelled proteins by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The protein patterns produced were species specific and reproducible, permitting discrimination between the species. A large number of Gram negative and Gram positive aerobic and anaerobic organisms were successfully tested. Furthermore, there were sufficient differences within species between the protein profiles to permit subdivision of the species. New typing schemes for Clostridium difficile, coagulase negative staphylococci, and Staphylococcus aureus, including the methicillin resistant strains, could thus be introduced; this has provided the basis for useful epidemiological studies. To standardise and automate the procedure an automated electrophoresis system and a two dimensional scanner were developed to scan the dried gels directly. The scanner is operated by a computer which also stores and analyses the scan data. Specific histograms are produced for each bacterial species. Pattern recognition software is used to construct databases and to compare data obtained from different gels: in this way duplicate "unknowns" can be identified. Specific small areas showing differences between various histograms can also be isolated and expanded to maximise the differences, thus providing differentiation between closely related bacterial species and the identification of differences within the species to provide new typing schemes. This system should be widely applied in clinical microbiology laboratories in the near future.

Automation↗
PubMed1990

Automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy with and without chymopapain pretreatment versus non-automated discoscopy-monitored percutaneous lumbar discectomy. An experimental study in human cadaver spines.

Percutaneous lumbar discectomy has gained growing interest during recent years as an alternative to open surgery for protrusions and non-sequestrated subligamentous intervertebral disc herniations. As a less invasive method it competes with chemonucleolysis. At least two modifications are known to date: automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy (APLD) with a 2-mm suction probe and non-automated, discoscopy-monitored percutaneous lumbar discectomy with a suction rongeur and a motor-driven shaver (NAPLD). In this study these two methods are compared for the amount of material extracted, dependence upon the degree of degeneration of the disc and intrinsic technical problems, using 20 human cadaver lumbar specimens for experimental testing. Total nucleotomy was not possible with either method. APLD yielded significantly less material and proved to be less effective in severely degenerated intervertebral discs than the NAPLD procedure, as preexisting gaps within the degenerated nucleus pulposus allowed the tissue to shift away from the tip of the 2-mm probe and facilitated displacement of the probe within the anulus fibrosus. By contrast, the rongeur, which first cuts the material to be removed and then carries it away by suction, was much more effective. Further data to support the advantages of non-automated percutaneous nucleotomy are discussed. Pretreatment of the disc with chymopapain did not result in a higher yield of nucleus material when combined with APLD.

Chymopapain↗
PubMed1990

Will we see automated record keeping systems in common use in anesthesia during our lifetime? The automated anesthetic record will not automatically solve problems in record keeping.

The proponents of automated anesthetic records list the ostensibly logical reasons for them and then claim that automated records will make everything better. The logic goes as follows: (1) It is good to have accurate records because accurate records (a) make clinical decision making more effective and improve patient safety, (b) provide better defense against frivolous lawsuits, and (c) enable more astute medical policy decisions based on improved retrospective case reviews; (2) automatic record-keeping systems will give more nearly accurate records; (3) therefore, quality of care will improve if we acquire automatic record-keeping systems. This logic fails on several counts, which are detailed in this essay. Having said all this, however, I do believe that automated record systems will be implemented and they will be extremely useful, both for the patient and for those who care for the patient. However, we must exercise great care in their design and implementation, lest they wind up doing more harm than good.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1988

Adjusted-dose intravenous heparin treatment evaluation of an automated and a non automated schedule.

An automated schedule for adjusted continuous intravenous heparin treatment was tested under physician supervision in 19 patients and the results were compared to those obtained in 27 patients treated prior to automation. Both schedules used plasma activated partial thrombo-plastin time (P-APTT) for adjustment of heparin infusion and aimed at the same therapeutic interval for P-APTT (1.5-2 times the value in normal pooled plasma). The quality of treatment was assessed on the basis of clinical information and its ability to keep the P-APTT within or close to the therapeutic interval. The automated schedule reduced the involvement of the physician by 73% without changing the quality of treatment or increasing the consumption of other resources such as the number of P-APTT analyses. Both schedules were able to keep the P-APTT of the patients within the therapeutic interval for about 40% of the treatment time.

Adolescent↗