Journal of medical engineering & technology
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An instrument which locates blood vessels by means of Doppler ultrasound and directs a needle at the located vessel has been developed. The feature of this instrument is that the needle does not pass down the ultrasonic beam as in other techniques that have been tried. ⋯ The needle is then guided towards the intersection point of the two beams. Both the angle of entry and the point of incision of the needle can be chosen arbitrarily, while the transducers are kept well away from the needle and at an optimum angle to the skin.
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Biomedical engineering has been recognized in India for the last decade. Technological developments have been in areas of importance to the country, with several groups actively involved in the promotion of bioengineering, particularly in New Delhi. A group at the National Physical Laboratory has contributed significantly to the field of ultrasonics as well as to the development of piezoelectric transducers for other biomedical uses. ⋯ Research in technology applied to reproductive physiology (an area especially relevant to India's needs) was initiated at this centre. Research at the School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University has elucidated the effects and mechanisms of the action of low-energy electromagnetic radiation and ultrasound on biological systems--in one of the school's projects the use of bone material for ultrasonic transducers and optical detectors was successfully demonstrated. A selected list of publications shows the wide spectrum of research carried out at these institutions.
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Review Comparative Study Historical Article
Ventilation and ventilators.
The history of ventilation is reviewed briefly and recent developments in techniques of ventilation are discussed. Operating features of ventilators have changed in the past few years, partly as the result of clinical progress; yet, technology appears to have outstripped the clinician's ability to harness it most effectively. ⋯ Ergonomics of ventilators and their controls and the provision of alarms need special attention. Microprocessors are likely to feature prominently in the next generation of designs.
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Haemoglobin concentration and its saturation with oxygen and carbon monoxide were estimated in identical blood samples using an automated two-wavelength photometer (the Radiometer OSM2) and standard methods. The instrument was easy to operate and maintain and, in general, was accurate and repeatable. At carboxyhaemoglobin levels below 1.5%, however, the precision of the instrument was poor.