Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference
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Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc · Aug 2016
Wearable deep body thermometers and their uses in continuous monitoring for daily healthcare.
This paper introduces noninvasive deep body thermometers suitable for continuous deep body temperature (DBT) measurement. On the basis of their features, they were used in DBT monitoring for daily healthcare. A thermometer based on the dual-heat-flux method (T_DHFM), and an aural canal thermistor (ACT), were used in two studies of daily healthcare. ⋯ The first study focused on preventing heat stroke in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, while the other focused on the temperature monitoring of patients with spinal cord injuries. In the first study, CoreTemp and T_DHFM were used, whereas T_DHFM and ACT were used in the second study. Using the results from these two studies, we discuss the availability and performance of each thermometer and indicate the necessity of an appropriate method of measuring DBT.
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Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc · Aug 2016
In-vitro evaluation of the long-term stability of PEDOT:PSS coated microelectrodes for chronic recording and electrical stimulation of neurons.
For the chronic application of neural prostheses long-term stable microelectrodes for electrical stimulation are essential. In recent years many developments were done to investigate different appropriate materials for these electrodes. One of these materials is the electrical conductive polymer PEDOT, which has low impedance and high charge injection capacity. ⋯ The results of this study demonstrate that the PEDOT coated electrodes are stable for at least 7 weeks of continuous stimulation, which corresponds in total to more than 4.2 billion bipolar current pulses. Also the unstimulated electrodes show currently no degradation after the time period of more than 10 months. These current results indicate an appropriate long-term stability of this electrode coating for chronic recording and electrical stimulation.
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Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc · Aug 2016
Towards an algorithm for automatic accelerometer-based pulse presence detection during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Manual palpation is still the gold standard for assessment of pulse presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for professional rescuers. However, this method is unreliable, time-consuming and subjective. ⋯ This study extends previous work by presenting an algorithm for automatic, accelerometer-based pulse presence detection at the carotid site during CPR. We show that accelerometers might be helpful in automated detection of pulse presence during CPR.
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Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc · Aug 2016
3D force/torque characterization of emergency cricothyroidotomy procedure using an instrumented scalpel.
Emergency Cricothyroidotomy (CCT) is a surgical procedure performed to secure a patient's airway. This high-stakes, but seldom-performed procedure is an ideal candidate for a virtual reality simulator to enhance physician training. ⋯ We analyze the upper force and torque thresholds experienced at the human-scalpel interface. We then group individual surgical cuts based on style of cut and cut medium and perform a regression analysis to create two models that allow us to predict the style of cut performed and the cut medium.
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Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc · Aug 2016
Influence of electrode configuration on the electric field distribution during transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation of the cervical spine.
Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) is a recent technique with promising neuromodulatory effects on spinal neuronal circuitry. The main objective of the present study was to perform a finite element analysis of the electric field distribution in tsDCS in the cervical spine region, with varying electrode configurations and geometry. A computational model of a human trunk was generated with nine tissue meshes. ⋯ In configuration A, the values were found to be <; 0.15 V/m through the entire spinal cord. Electric fields with magnitude above 0.15 V/m are thought to be effective in neuromodulation of the human cerebral cortex, so the configurations B1 and B2 could be an optimal choice for cervical tsDCS protocols. Computational studies using realistic models may be a powerful tool to predict physical effects of tsDCS on the cervical spinal cord and to optimize electrode placement focused on specific neurologic patient needs related with upper limb function.