As many anesthesiologists and dentists are acutely aware, administering inhalational anesthetics to young uncooperative patients can be a tricky business.
Not seeing any advantage in having someone strap a mask to their face, children will often automatically reject it and proceed to star in an ad hoc theatrical production for the entire clinical staff.

In a stroke of genius, Dr. Geoffrey Hart brought together an immersive video game display, a pulse oxymeter, capnometer, and a nitrous oxide delivery tube to create an entirely new gaming experience. Pulling down the snorkel over the eyes and nose activates the video screen and allows the anesthetic to be introduced by the physician without all the huffing and puffing.

Engineers at Washington University in St. Louis adapted a small ultrasound prove to interface with a Microsoft Windows mobile smartphone. Although the screen may be too small to diagnose anything properly, it is thought the concept will be used to scan a patient away from the clinic, with the data wirelessly sent to physicians with large screen computers for evaluation.

In order to make commercial USB ultrasound probes work with smartphones, the researchers had to optimize every aspect of probe design and operation, from power consumption and data transfer rate to image formation algorithms. As a result, it is now possible to build smartphone-compatible USB ultrasound probes for imaging the kidney, liver, bladder and eyes, endocavity probes for prostate and uterine screenings and biopsies, and vascular probes for imaging veins and arteries for starting IVs and central lines.

"You can carry around a probe and cell phone and image on the fly now," said Richard [William D. Richard, Ph.D., WUSTL associate professor of computer science and engineering]. "Imagine having these smartphones in ambulances and emergency rooms. On a larger scale, this kind of cell phone is a complete computer that runs Windows. It could become the essential computer of the Developing World, where trained medical personnel are scarce, but most of the population, as much as 90 percent, have access to a cell phone tower."

 Zar [David Zar, research associate in computer science and engineering] said the vision of the new system is to train people in remote areas of the developing world on the basics of gathering data with the phones and sending it to a centralized unit many miles, or half a world away where specialists can analyze the image and make a diagnosis. Zar wrote the phone software and firmware for the probes; Richard came up with the low-power probe electronics design. He began working on ultrasound system designs 25 years ago, and in that span he has shrunk the electronics from cabinet-sized to a tiny circuit board one inch by three inches. A typical, portable ultrasound device may cost as much as $30,000. Some of these USB-based probes sell for less than $2,000 with the goal of a price tag as low as $500.

Another promising application is for caregivers of patients with Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy. A degenerative disease that often strikes young boys and robs them of their lives by their late 20s, DMD is a degenerative disease for which there is no cure. The leading treatment to slow its progression is a daily dose of steroids. Patients often experience some side effects from steroids, which are dose related. These side effects include behavioral problems and weight gain. Researchers now know that physical changes in muscle tissue can indicate the efficacy of the steroids. Measuring these changes in muscle can be accomplished with ultrasound and may allow researchers to optimize steroid dosing to maximize efficacy while minimizing side effects.

"The idea is that caregivers, who otherwise have to transport a young person, often wheelchair bound, to a hospital or clinic on a regular basis for examination, can be trained to do ultrasound to track muscle condition," Zar said. "This could lower the dosage to the least effective amount to further increase quality of life of the patient and the caregiver and hopefully extend life. We're really excited about this application. The caregiver would only have to do a one-minute scan, transfer the data captured to the clinic, and the results would come back to the caregiver. A group at the WUSTL Medical School studying Duchene's Muscular Dystrophy is very interested in our devices and hopes they can incorporate them into their research plans."

From the press release:

ROBOSOFT worked with SRI to integrate SRI’s Karto navigation software on the robuBOX™, ROBOSOFT’s robotic programming system allows to develop interfaces for making daily tasks transparent to users. The robuBOX, with Karto navigation software, is a complete and flexible set of service robotics programming solutions.

ROBOSOFT and SRI began their technical collaboration in 2008 with the goal of developing innovative commercial offerings in the growing home-centric service robot market.

Via: medgadget.com

St. Jude Medical's implanted device monitoring system, Merlin.net, has been given approval by the European authorities to be marketed across the continent. Already cleared in the United States, the system wirelessly transmits data from implanted pacemakers and ICD's to caretakers via the Merlin@home device.

From SJM:

Remote monitoring provides daily checks on the patient’s device. If the check reveals an event that may require timely intervention, an alert will be posted on Merlin.net PCN and transmitted to the physician via email, fax or SMS text. Merlin.net PCN offers a set of flexible tools that allow the physician to choose when, where and how alerts are communicated during off-clinic hours, including the transfer of alerts to after hours support services. Alert-triggering events are not restricted to device performance, but also include clinical episodes such as atrial tachycardia (AT), atrial fibrillation (AF), and ST segment change notifications for remote disease management.

A key exclusive feature of Merlin.net PCN is DirectCall™ Message, an automated calling system that the clinic staff can use to call patients with up to four pre-recorded messages in any of approximately 20 languages. The system can be used to remind patients of an up-coming scheduled follow-up, notify them that they have missed a scheduled follow-up, inform them that their remote transmission has been received and everything looks normal, or ask them to call the clinic to discuss the results of the follow-up. These are all routine calls that are regularly made by clinic staff. With this new technology, clinics can quickly and efficiently provide information to patients regarding their device status for enhanced assurance.

Via: medgadget.com

• Features of the Award Winning Betachek G5 System:

  • Results in 5 seconds*
  • Tiny sample size (1-2μL)
  • Two simple steps: apply blood, read result  
  • All results recorded permanently on Smart Cards
  • Smart Card supplied with pack of test strips
  • Auto adjusts for temperature
  • Large easy to read display
  • Auto detects damaged test strips
  • Averages of the last 7 and 14 days calculated automatically 
  • Simple card coding
  • Batteries included
  • Silent mode – sound can be turned off
  • Clear white target zone for blood
  • Auto shut off
  • Easy data download to PC via memory card**
  • Meter prompts when card is full and should be changed.

  Coding occurs with Smart Card insertion. Meter prompts for new card with each fresh pack of tests.
  *   Approximately
  **  Adaptor and software required, sold separately

All peak flow meter conform to the new standard In clinic or at home use

Experts agree, the best way to manage asthma is at home allowing more effective control, improving quality of life and the need for less medical intervention.
Vitalograph offers a variety of peak flow meters. All offer the facility of a personal action plan, which simplifies self-management for asthma patients.
Electronic Peak Flow Meters offer the advantage of FEV1 monitoring as well as storage of data for subsequent review..
Our SafeTway® disposable mouthpieces prevent cross-contamination for use in-clinic

Product Type:
Electronic Peak Flow Meter
Size:
100 x 65 x 32mm
Weight:
55g net
Parameters Measured:
PEF & FEV1
Operating Temperature Range:
17 - 37° C
Measuring Principle:
Stator/rotor mass flow meter
Scale Intervals:
PEF 1L/min
FEV1 1 L
Accuracy in operating temperature range:
Better than +/- 3%
Repeatability:
Better than 5% or 10L/min, whichever is greater
Cleaning:
Alcohol wipe, especially the mouthpiece, weekly
Flow Range:
0 - 999 L/min
Disposal Methods:
Recycle

From the press release:

A family of three products are being unveiled, including the Wireless Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor, Wireless Precision Scale, and Wireless Activity Monitor. Utilizing FitLinxx, Inc.'s proprietary wireless technology all of the Wellness Connected products will be linked to provide users a comprehensive picture of their wellness. A complete record of blood pressure, weight, and activity transmits to a user's computer automatically, where custom software saves and charts daily progress. Consumers can also conveniently send data to Actihealth (TM) internet service for enhanced functionality, to access their personal wellness information from anywhere, and to share their progress with family, friends, support groups, and medical professionals.

Via: medgadget.com

An interesting personal scale, if it can be called in such a limited way, has been put to our attention as a nifty present for the health conscious and gadget obsessed man in your family. The device claims to provide accurate muscle mass and body fat numbers for each arm and leg, in addition to the body on the whole. And these and other numbers can be tracked via a graph screen on the top of the unit.

Our new father is planning to review the device hands on (feet on?) in the coming days to see if one needs to know Fortran to operate this thing.

RFID (radio frequency identification) technology is both controversial and amazing in its possibilities. In the field of sports, researchers are extending the precision of RFID to allow for accurate monitoring of performance. A new system attached to skis can provide feedback to a coach that is much more nuanced than an old fashioned video. The system has also the potential to improve safety for those who risk their lives on the giant slopes.

From Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft:

The Austrian firm Abatec developed the system. Together with colleagues from the university in Magdeburg, the researchers at the Fraunhofer IFF are testing its systematic implementation in sports: What adhesive bonds the antennas to the skis so they do not loosen during a downhill run but can be detached when no longer needed? How can the radio signals be evaluated so a coach is able to draw conclusions about technique? Another challenge: Many skis contain metal layers of varying thicknesses, which shift a transmitter’s frequency. Depending on the skis’ design, the antennas transmit on another frequency and the base station no longer detects the signal. The solution: An additional metal plate under the antennas alters the signal so intensely and predictably that the slight differences between different skis are of no consequence: The antennas always transmit with the same controlled frequency. The technology performed well in initial tests in Bottrop ski hall and the system is now ready for use.

FitBit is a simple motion activated device that tracks the movement of the wearer and provides feedback about physical activity, calories expanded, and how much sleep was obtained by the user. Small enough to be strapped to one's underwear, the device records the internal accelerometer's activity for interpretation on the computer.

The company that makes the device just received $2 million to fund it and put the product on the market, according to TechCrunch.

We particularly like that the device wirelessly syncs with its base station, and keeps your status up to date on the computer.