bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accelerating Technology Transfer: New Relationships for Academia, Industry and Government
Authors: Satava Richard M.
Published: February 2025

The budget deficit, reduction in Defense spending and the lack of return in the “peace dividend” has resulted in reduced federal funding for research. A number of programs have attempted to remedy the problem, with the use of collaborative funding as one of the major solutions. However, within the medical research community, there continues to be a very long technology transfer cycle. By mimicking the processes of non-medical high technology research and employing a number of these innovative solutions to medical research could afford the pathway to success. A template of how this could be accomplished through cooperative efforts of academia, industry and government is presented by using examples of success and failure in the past.
A PC-BASED SURGICAL SIMULATOR FOR LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY
Authors: Tseng C.S.  , Lee Y.Y.  , Chan Y.P.  , Wu S.S.  , Chiu A.W.
Published: February 2025

Surgical simulators for minimally invasive surgery have been developing in the 1990s. Most of them use high-end UNIX workstations for real-time simulation of complex human organ models. Only few of them have input devices with force feedback. Recently, personal computer technologies have made real-time display of relatively complex models feasible. We are developing an Intel-based laparoscopic surgical simulator that provides near real-time intuitive interaction between the trainee and simulated models of human organs. The surgical simulator has a prototypical scenario of cholecystectomic surgery. It can interactively simulate the deformation and cutting of cystic duct and vein. In addition, a set of input devices with force feedback has been designed and tested to imitate the manipulation of surgical instruments. The input device has five degrees of freedom and three of them are driven by DC motors to produce force feedback.
THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRIDIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATION OF BODY AND EXTERNAL REALITY IN MAN THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF EVOLUTION TO DATE IMPLICATIONS FOR VIRTUAL REALITY
Authors: Woodbury Michael A.  , Woodbury Margarita F.
Published: February 2025

Our 3-D Body Representation constructed during development by our Central Nervous System under the direction of our DNA, consists of a holographic representation arising from sensory input in the cerebellum and projected extraneurally in the brain ventricular fluid which has the chemical structure of liquid crystal. The structure of 3-D holographic Body Representation is then extrapolated by such cognitive instruments as boundarization, geometrization and gestalt organization upon the external environement which is perceived consequently as three dimensional. When the Body Representation collapses as in psychotic panic states, patients become terrified as they suddeny lose the perception of themselves and the world around them as three dimensional, solid in a reliably solid environement but feel suddenly that they are no longer a person but a disorganized blob. In our clinical practice we found serendipidously that the structure of three dimensionality can be restored even without medication by techniques involving stimulation of the body sensory system in the presence of a benevolent psychotherapist. Implications for Virtual Reality will be discussed.
Simulator for virtual surgery using deformable organ models and force feedback system
Authors: Suzuki Naoki  , Hattori Asaki  , Ezumi Takeshi  , Uchiyama Akihiko  , Kumano Takahiro  , Ikemoto Akio  , Adachi Yoshitaka  , Takatsu Akihiro
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a real-time surgery planning system using virtual reality techniques. This system allows us to simulate incision of skin and organs which respond as elastic objects with surgical tools in virtual space. Inner structures such as blood vessels and lesions can be seen and manipulated in the simulation. In addition to these functions we attempted to add a feedback function that responds to the operator's hands. We developed a force feedback device to manipulate the elastic organ model based on pressure from the operator's fingers.
A Sensate Liner for Biomedical Monitoring Applications
Authors: Lind Eric J.  , Jayaraman Sundaresan  , Park Sungmee  , Rajamanickam Rangaswamy  , Eisler Robert  , Burghart George  , McKee Tony
Published: February 2025

This program develops and demonstrates technologies useful for implementing a manageable cost effective systems approach to monitoring the medical condition of personnel by way of an instrumented uniform hereafter referred to as a Sensate Liner (SL). The SL consists of a form fitting garment which contains and interconnects sensing elements and devices to an electronics pack containing a processor and transmitter. The SL prototype requires fiber, textile, garment and sensor development. The SL textile consists of a mesh of electrically and optically conductive fibers integrated into the normal structure (woven or knitted) of fibers and yarns selected for comfort and durability. A suite of SL garment compatible embedded biological and physical sensors are then integrated into the SL. The initial SL sensor suite is selected to improve triage for combat casualties. Additional SL sensor concepts for medical monitoring will be discussed.
Secured Medical Imaging Over the Internet
Authors: Aslan Peter  , Lee Benjamin  , Kuo Ramsey  , Babayan Richard K.  , Kavoussi Louis R.  , Pavlin Kristin A.  , Preminger Glenn M.
Published: February 2025

The Internet has established itself as an affordable, extremely viable and ubiquitous communications network that can be easily accessed from virtually any point in the world. This makes it ideally suited for medical image communications. Issues regarding security and confidentiality of information on the Internet, however, need to be addressed for both occasional, individual users and consistent enterprise-wide users. In addition, the limited bandwidth of most Internet connections must be factored into the development of a realistic usermodel and resulting protocol. Open architecture issues must also be considered so that images can be communicated to recipients who do not have similar programs. Further, application-specific software is required to integrate image acquisition, encryption and transmission into a single, streamlined process.
DEMONSTRATION OF SURGICAL TELEROBOTICS AND VIRTUAL TELEPRESENCE BY INTERNET+ISDN FROM MONTEREY (USA) TO MILAN (ITALY)
Authors: Sala Remo  , Bressanelli Mirco  , Lorini Flavio  , Pegoraro Rita  , Canina Marita
Published: February 2025

This paper deals with the connection which has been held on 8th July 1997 in collaboration with the JPL of the NASA, Pasadena, California, between the Eighth International Conference on the Advanced Robotics (ICAR ‘97) in course at Monterey, California and the Telerobotics Laboratory of Politecnico di Milano connected in a multipoint teleconference through the MCU of Rome with the Aula Magna of the same Politecnico and the Palace Business of the Giureconsulti of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan. The demonstration has allowed to telecontrol a scars robot of the Sankyo and an ABB robot, which have affected simulations of operations of biopsy to the prostate, to the liver and to the breast, a mechanical hand and a model of a car, disposed in a space destined to reproduce the Martian ground, from Monterey to Milan by means of the INTERNET+ISDN connection form. In fact the event has taken place four days after the landing on Mars happily successful of the spatial probe Pathfinder from which it has gone out the “Sojourner” robot, telecontrolled from the JPL of the NASA, which has begun to take photos of the Martian ground and also some of these images have been transmitted in the course of the connection.
Exploring Factors Required for Successful Implementation of Healthcare Informatics
Authors: Oostendorp Anne  , Hoekstra Sylvia  , Aarts Jos
Published: February 2025

This paper examines factors that are essential for a successful implementation of healthcare informatics in professional curricula. These factors are related to the design framework of the learning materials that have been developed as a part of a Dutch model curriculum of healthcare informatics. Next some ideas and suggestions for a successful implementation are presented.
Periodontology’s Application of Multimedia
Authors: Soares Fernandes Ana Paula  , Bastos Rogério Cid  , de Souza Magini Ricardo
Published: February 2025

This article makes an approach about the use of multimedia resources applied in odontology computer science educational, especially in periodontia. It highlights the importance of the use of these resources, as well as the one that than there is of more recent in this area.
The Finnish Informatics Nurse, her Job and Education Against a Background of International Development
Authors: Tallberg Marianne
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a small survey made to Finnish “adp-nurses” working at adp-departments or as contact persons and informants at the wards. Their positions, job descriptions and informal education is discussed in relation to recent international development in the field. Finally the necessity of starting formal education for the European informatics nurse is stressed.
The Teaching of Nursing by Computer- Assisted Learning: Maximisation of Existing Resources in an Established School of Nursing
Authors: Jones Peter G  , Wainwright Paul
Published: February 2025

Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) has made limited inroads into the teaching of nursing. While existing CAL materials are often excellent for supporting conventional teaching programs, they cannot in any way be considered as steps towards providing a free-standing CAL course.
Compression of Color Medical Images in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Review
Authors: Kim Christopher Y.
Published: February 2025

This paper reviews the state of medical color digital imaging with respect to image compression. Only recently has the creation and storage of color medical images become technically and economically feasible. This has allowed medical images to become a part of an electronic medical record, to be used in telemedicine, or to be used for medical education. The Internet has become an important medium for the dissemination of medical images, whether through file transferring or through the World Wide Web. There is a growing need to evaluate the degree and types of image compression that are clinically acceptable (either for diagnostic or archival purposes) for different specialties. The focus will be on gastrointestinal endoscopic images, although work in other medical specialties will be mentioned.
Complete Left Ventricular Wall Motion Estimation from Cascaded MRI-SPAMM Data
Authors: Park Jinah  , Metaxas Dimitris N.  , Axel Leon
Published: February 2025

We present a new paradigm which incorporates multiple sets of tagged MRI data (MRI-SPAMM) acquired in a cascaded fashion in order to estimate the full 3-D motion of the left ventricle (LV) during its entire cardiac cycle. Our technique is based on the extension of the volumetric physics-based deformable models, whose parameters are functions, which can capture the local shape variation of an object with a small number of intuitive parameters. By integrating a cascaded sequence of SPAMM data sets into our modeling technique, we have extended the capability of MRI-SPAMM and have provided an accurate representation ofthe LV motion from end-diastole to end-diastole to better understand cardiac mechanics.
Results of European Projects Improving Security of Distributed Health Information Systems
Authors: Blobel Bernd  , Pharow Peter
Published: February 2025

The challenge for improvement of quality and efficiency of health care systems causes the development and promotion of “Shared Care” in all developed countries. Distribution, decentralisation, and specialisation of health care must be joint with an extended communication and co-operation between the different care providers. Fulfilling the shared care paradigm, care supporting health information systems has to be distributed, interoperable, and scaleable too. Communication and co-operation across organisational, regional, and even national boundaries is bearing high threats and risks regarding security and privacy of medical and personal information of both patients and health professionals. Involved in several security projects funded by the European Union, the Medical Informatics Department and the regional Clinical Cancer Registry at the University of Magdeburg are piloting a secure regional distributed medical record system for cancer diseases. Requirements, solutions, and experiences are presented and discussed.
Health or Uni-disciplinary Informatics Initiatives - Why are we where we are today?
Authors: Roberts Jean
Published: February 2025

This paper looks at the development of health informatics from a segregated uni-disciplinary beginning to an environment in which multi-disciplinary health informatics and uni-disciplinary work co-exist reasonably harmoniously. However, the paper considers some of the catalysts and inhibitors which have made the transition not as smooth or wide ranging as the technological developments could have supported. Organisational and cultural factors appear to have played a part in the migration as it has emerged Identification and understanding of the key issues may help in progressing health informatics towards a mature state.
The Ethical Imperative of Child Health Population-based Data A Top-Down / Under-Up Analysis from the United Kingdom and Australia
Authors: Waters Elizabeth  , Rigby Michael
Published: February 2025

The policy move in both the United Kingdom and Australia to competitive primary care child health services (including preventive services and surveillance) has many advantages, but without secure and epidemiological information systems has the potential to put children at risk. More fundamentally, it produces the perverse effect of operating directly in opposition to the desirable policies of audit, outcomes studies, and evidence-based health care. Moreover, generations of children stand to be disadvantaged if environmental and ecological risk factors, as well as adverse clinical outcomes, cannot be identified quickly.
Development and Evaluation of Regional Health Database Systems
Authors: Ogushi Yoichi  , Haruki Yasuo  , Okada Yoshikazu  , Takahashi Masahiro  , Shimizu Miki  , Izumi Yukari  , Watabe Takashi  , Kobayashi Saeko  , Okuyama Jyunji  , Kurita Yumiko
Published: February 2025

We have developed information systems for regional public health in some areas. These systems have the following functions: (1) to register results of examinations, life style, followup data, diseases, (2) to output some reports and statistics for daily jobs, (3) to make a personal health database, (4) to display stored data by character, trend graph, radar chart or bar chart, (5) to analyze regional health problems, (6) to extract dada about persons with some conditions, (7) to compare data among some examinations, (8) to analyze risk factors. Each database can be transferred to mini-notebook type personal computers. So, they can be used anywhere and any time. Some access controls are performed for security. The systems are used in routine works, health consultation for persons and health education for groups. We have evaluated the systems and got some useful results. Using the systems, daily jobs can be performed with good accuracy and less labor, each subject can understand one's health status easily and clearly, grasps of health problems can be made quantitatively and health projects can be planned by scientific methods.
A Telecommunications System to Manage Patients with Chronic Disease
Authors: Friedman Robert H.  , Stollerman John  , Rozenblyum Leonid  , Belfer Donald  , Selim Alfredo  , Mahoney Diane  , Steinbach Suzanne
Published: February 2025

The care of patients with chronic disease is a large and growing problem in the United States and other industrialized countries.' it is expensive, and the quality of care received by patients is often sub-optimal, resulting in poor health outcomes. We developed a totally automated computer-controlled telecommunications system, called TLC, that provides -frequent, close monitoring of patients with chronic disease and reports the results to the patients' physicians on a timely basis, so that they can intervene appropriately. TLC also monitors the patients' important selfcare activities, such as medication-taking, and provides education and counseling to improve the patients' performance of these activities. The system operates through regularly scheduled telephone conversations with patients'in their homes. An evaluation of a TLC chronic disease application for patients with hypertension demonstrated that use ofthe system was associated with significant improvement of the patients” adherence to their medication regimens and significantly improved blood pressure control. These results show that it is possible to design an information science-based health care delivery system that performs functions usually performed only by health care professionals, and suggests that information science will become an important means of delivering health care services in the next millennium.
Telematic System for Monitoring of Asthma Severity in Patients' Homes
Authors: Finkelstein Joseph  , Hripcsak George  , Cabrera Manuel
Published: February 2025

Despite advances in the treatment of asthma the morbidity and mortality of this disease has increased significantly in the past several years. Recent studies have shown that monitoring of asthma severity in the patient home especially combined with patient education can reduce incidence of asthma exacerbation and subsequent hospitalization. The existing methods for home asthma monitoring are limited by four factors; they completely rely on a patient’s ability to document and to evaluate test results; there is no easy way for a physician to review data in a timely manner; they use imprecise tools for evaluation of asthma severity and they don’t provide clinical decision support tools.
Sending Specialist Reports to GPs using EDI
Authors: Kooijman C.J.  , Kaag M.E.C.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a project in which specialist reports are sent to general practitioners using EDI. The reports were protocoled to better meet the wishes of the GPs. This also made it possible to achieve a further structurization of the existing EDImessage, using free-text qualifiers.
Design and Implementation of a Multi-Institution Immunization Registry
Authors: Jenders Robert A.  , Dasgupta Balendu  , Mercedes Dario  , Clayton Paul D.
Published: February 2025

One of every four children in the USA is underimmunized. Surveys of children in New York City have documented rates of appropriate immunization as low as 37% in certain populations in northern Manhattan. In response to this, government and private agencies have undertaken efforts to improve immunization rates. As part of one such multiinstitution effort in northern Manhattan, we have begun implementation of a computer-based immunization registry. Key features of this registry system include adaptation of legacy software in order to perform initial capture of data in electronic format; design of a user interface using a World Wide Web server that provides data review and capture functions with appropriate security, implementation of a registry database with links to the server, communication links between hospital registration systems, a Master Patient Index, community providers and the central registry; and integration of decision support in the form of Medical Logic Modules encoded in the Arden Syntax. We discuss our design of this multi-institution immunization registry and implementation efforts to date.
Induction of Diagnostic Test Strategies with Multi-Level Information Measures
Authors: Cao Cungen  , Leong Tze-Yun  , Leong Peng Kheong
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a method for inducing clinical diagnostic test protocols or strategies from data. We represent testing strategies as a strategy tree. To support induction of strategy tree, we define three information measures: K-level information, K-level information gain, K-level gain ratio, and K-level cost index, for test selection during strategy building. These measures generalize Quinlan's information measures used in decision tree induction. We present theoretical and experimental results to show that the K-level cost index can be used to induce strategy trees in a practical domain.
Natural Language Generation of Surgical Procedures
Authors: Wagner Judith C.  , Rogers Jeremy E.  , Baud Robert H.  , Scherrer Jean-Raoul
Published: February 2025

The GALEN-IN-USE project has developed a compositional scheme for the conceptual representation of surgical operative procedure rubrics. The complex representations which result are translated back to surface language by a tool for multilingual natural language generation. This generator can be adapted to the specific characteristics of the scheme by introducing particular definitions of concepts and relationships. We discuss how the generator uses such definitions to bridge between the modelling ‘style’ of the GALEN scheme and natural language.
Barriers to Evaluation of Clinical Vocabularies
Authors: Hales Joseph W.  , Schoeffler Katherine M.
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND: The importance of standard vocabularies for representing clinical data is widely accepted. The selection of suitable vocabularies for a given task relies upon criteria for systematically differentiating vocabularies. However, methods and measures for comparing vocabularies are only now emerging. Substantial barriers inhibit progress in the development of these measures.
Development of A Web-based CAI Program for Maternity Nursing Practice
Authors: Cho InSook  , Park Hyeoun-Ae
Published: February 2025

This quasi-experimental study was conducted to explore what kind of impact a Web-based educational program can have on nursing students and how nursing students react to this educational program. A Web-based computer assisted instruction for maternity nursing practice was developed by researchers using Instruction System Design model and serviced for nursing students on the WWW. To study educational effect of this program on nursing students 30 senior students at a school of nursing were selected They were assigned into experimental and control groups based on their maternity nursing practice schedule. The effect of the Web-based CAI was measured using Achievement score, attitude toward learning experience and attitude toward computer and Internet, and compared between two groups. There were significant differences between two groups in achievement and attitude score. And students in the experimental group showed positive response to the Web-based CAI program. These results suggest that Web-based CAI is useful as a new teaching tool for maternity nursing practice as well as other nursing courses. Comments on program improvement and operational issues were collected from students. These will be used for program improvement in future.
Twenty Care Components: An Educational Strategy to Teach Nursing Science
Authors: Saba Virginia K.  , Sparks Sheila M.
Published: February 2025

The HHCC System's twenty care components and nomenclature provide a framework for the development of teaching strategies to prepare nurses for practice in the 21stcentury. The use of an integrated system of instruments accessible to students on-line allows for a smooth transition from course to course and later to clinical nursing practice. Faculty and/or instructors at Georgetown University School of Nursing use this innovative educational strategy and conceptual approach to facilitate collaboration with other healthcare providers and to model professional behavior for students.
Model of Computerized Academic Medical Clinic
Authors: Sigulem Daniel  , Gimenez Silvana S.F.X.  , Cebukin Alberto  , Cardoso Orlando Lima  , Chern Maria Susan  , Ramos Mônica Parente  , Anção Meide Silva  , Wechsler Rudolf  , Serachi Carlos Roberto  , Netto Humberto Bracco  , Goihman Samuel
Published: February 2025

In the traditional medical graduation course, the student receives a great amount of information while training at the Outpatient Care; the student assumes the physician's role, collecting all the information regarding the patient's clinical history and learns to get along with patients as well. During the attendance process, several factors interfere in the academic teaching, such as limitations of room numbers, amount of patients, difficulties in obtaining medical records, paper illegibility, among other problems.
An International Dermatological Image Atlas on the WWW: Practical Use for Undergraduate and Continuing Medical Education, Patient Education and Epidemiological Research
Authors: Eysenbach Gunther  , Bauer Jürgen  , Sager Alexander  , Bittorf Andreas  , Simon Miklós  , Diepgen Thomas
Published: February 2025

We describe the development of an image database DOIA (Dermatological OnlIne Atlas) and present several spin-off projects using images of the atlas, e.g. student education using the atlas including results of an questionnaire evaluating computer-literacy, prerequisites and interests of students for using computers and the World-Wide-Web (WWW), a patient information system and an experiment to collect epidemiological data from patients with dermatological diseases via Www.
Differences of Case-mix According to the Type of Hospital: Methodological Aspects and Results
Authors: Constant Emmanuelle  , Garin Hervé  , Bouchet Christine  , Kohler François
Published: February 2025

This study has brought to the fore variations of case-mix according to the type of French hospitals taken into consideration. The GHM line-up in the French classification of the hospital stays (French DRG) have also been studied and variations linked to the type of hospitals have been noticed too. This survey has been carried out thanks to the anonymous discharge summary issued by the national and the regional databases.
Towards Semantic Integration within an Existing Medical Information System
Authors: Staccini Pascal  , Joubert Michel  , Fieschi Marius  , Fieschi Dominique
Published: February 2025

Talking about the problems of integration in medical information systems, the necessity to provide end users with a consistent and coherent view of patient's data, has been largely reported In order to attempt this goal, systems need to perform semantic integration. We propose a pragmatic way to describe the semantics of the elements of a database, based on a bottom-up three steps process:
Chapter 9: Liability and Legal Aspects
Authors: Allaert F.  , Ferrer-Roca O.
Published: February 2025

This chapter will introduce liability and legal aspects not covered in other chapters, and particularly will take into consideration the existing EU norms that may cover those issues. To model the situation the existing contractual scenarios are introduced. The Teleassistance scenario is linked to world emergency situations. The chapter concludes with some legal formulas that may protect the practice of Telemedicine.
Chapter 12: Emerging Issues
Authors: Ferrer-Roca O.  , Della Mea V.
Published: February 2025

This chapter introduces some new technological advances and trends on the market that may influence the future Telemedicine applications, including a brief analysis of the agent technology and their possible Telemedicine applications.
A convincing case for the provision of telemedicine services to ocean going vessels: the MERMAID paradigm
Authors: Anogianakis George  , Maglavera Stavroula
Published: February 2025

MERMAID is an EU financed telemedicine project with global reach and 24-hour, multilingual capability. It aspires to provide a model for the provision of health care services based on the electronic transmission of medical information, via ISDN based videoconferencing. This model will not be limited to medical diagnostics but it will encompass all cases where the actual delivery of health care services involves a patient who is not located where the provider is. Its implementation requires the commissioning of an expensive telecommunications infrastructure and the exploration of a number of solutions. In fact, all categories of telemedical applications (audio and video conferencing, multimedia communications, flat file and image transfer with low, medium and high bandwidth data requirements) are considered while the full range of network choices (Digital land lines, Cellular/Wireless, Satellite and Broadband) are being tested in terms of cost/performance tradeoffs that are inherent to them and the developmental stage each of these options occupies in their in its life cycle. Finally, out that MERMAID utilises advanced land based line transmission technologies to aid the remote patient by making available the specialist care that is best suited in the particular case.
IMASIS. A Multicenter Hospital Information System - Experience in Barcelona
Authors: Sancho JJ  , Planas I  , Domènech D  , Martín-Baranera M  , Palau J  , Sanz F
Published: February 2025

The present study aimed to analyse physicians' attitudes towards IMASIS, and their potential influence on IMASIS medical record project. IMAS (Institut Municipal d'Assistència Sanitària) is the health care organisation of the City Council of Barcelona. IMAS hospital information system (IMASIS), which first applications were designed and implemented in 1984, is currently facing a new phase, focused on clinical information management. Our approach included a personal interview with representatives of every hospital unit, and a self-administered questionnaire distributed to every clinician. Both provided a worthy insight into the cultural patterns to be considered in the HIS implementation process. Moreover, the results helped to define the subsequent steps of IMASIS evolution. Our experience is proposed as a tool to assess clinical informations systems from a user point of view.
The MuPSi Project- A Learning Environment for Multiprofessional Collaboration
Authors: Ståhl Tore
Published: February 2025

Students studying for different professions within the field of health care need to practice both multiprofessional collaboration and use of HIS and EPR software. The MuPSi concept utilizes computer-mediated communication to provide students access to a EPR software to enable the students to act collaboratively as members of a virtual health care team. The students are given a fictive patient case and use the EPR software to plan and document the care they provide. In order to achieve a higher grade of authenticity the case is presented as segments - the teachers direct the simulation by recording events that change the situation into the patient record.
A Regulated Telemedicine System for Day to Day Application in Remote Areas
Authors: Samiotakis Y.  , Anagnostopoulou S.  , Alexakis A.
Published: February 2025

The NIVEMES project creates an international network of Health Service providers which offer Telemedicine-Teleconsultation services to Remote, Isolated places and to ship vessels for both routine and emergency situations. The base of the system is the powerful Multimedia Health Record, with the ability to manage conventional data, images, videos and biosignals, acquired directly from the medical device. National and international medical codification schemata are employed such as ICD-X and WHO standards.
CURRENT LIMITATIONS INTO THE APPLICATION OF VIRTUAL REALITY TO MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH
Authors: Huang Milton P.  , Alessi Norman E.
Published: February 2025

Virtual Reality (VR) environments have significant potential as a tool in mental health research, but are limited by technical factors and by mental health research factors. Technical difficulties include cost and complexity of virtual environment creation. Mental health research difficulties include current inadequacy of standards to specify needed details for virtual environment design. Technical difficulties are disappearing with technological advances, but the mental health research difficulties will take a concerted effort to overcome. Some of this effort will need to be directed at the formation of collaborative projects and standards for how such collaborations should proceed.
VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS SPECIAL NEEDS AND EVALUATIVE METHODS
Authors: Brown D.J.  , Standen P.J.  , Cobb S.V.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an overview of the development of the Learning in Virtual Environments programme (LIVE), carried out in special education over the last four years. It is more precisely a project chronology, so that the reader can sense the historical development of the programme rather than giving emphasis to any one particular feature or breakthrough, which are covered in other papers and available through the authors.
Regulation of Spinal Growth and Remodelling
Authors: Urban Jill
Published: February 2025

Although the primary cause may not lie in these structures, the deformity in scoliosis arises mostly from the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs. Changes in mechanical stress can affect both vertebral body growth and disc remodelling, thus leading to wedging and the deformity.
Brace Treatment in Neuromuscular Spine Deformity
Authors: Olafsson Y.  , Saraste H.  , Al-Dabbagh Z.
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to find possible prognostic factors for the outcome of brace treatment, and to study the brace induced correction in neuromuscular spine deformities.
Functional Classification of Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis Assessed by the Quantec System: A Discriminate Functional Analysis To Determine the Patient Group With Different Curves
Authors: Thometz J.  , Klein JP.
Published: February 2025

We studied 40 normal subjects and 136 patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Both the Quantec Spinal Image System (QSIS) and a AP x-ray view had evaluated all of them. Discriminate analysis showed functional scores can be used as classification of scoliotic groups with different Cobb angles. It supports that classification of scoliosis is able to be based upon the QSIS metrics rather than X-ray exclusively. Functional analysis is best to distinguish patients with less than 8° of Cobb angle from those with more than 20°.
Using the Electronic Nursing Record NUREC-CH for workload management: results and integration perspectives
Authors: Assimacopoulos André  , Balahoczky Mireille  , Junod Béatrice  , Kruezsely Attila  , Borgazzi André
Published: February 2025

A nursing module of an electronic healthcare record system (EHCR) has been tested during 12 weeks at two wards of the acute geriatric hospital of the University hospitals of Geneva. During this test period 27 patient observations have been recorded. The clinical verification phase yield among others following results: (1) the hypertext paradigm is consistent with the nursing care process reasoning, (2) use of EHCR is well accepted by nurses, (3) training of nurses can be limited to a reasonable time. The possibility of recycling clinical data for management purpose has also been demonstrated. Integration points of the nursing module with an overall patient electronic healthcare record (EHCR) are identified. The various integration aspects are: injection of doctors orders in the nursing care process management tool, (i.e. the nursing problem solving strategy): linking of medical problems (diagnosis) with nursing phenomena, and implementing view of the doctors on the nursing care process.
Harmonisation and Formalisation of Nursing Terminology: a three-dimensional approach
Authors: Ceusters Werner
Published: February 2025

The use of computers and electronic documentation systems in the nursing environment has put forward new requirements on terminologies. In this paper, we present an introduction to the development of formal terminological systems along a cognitive, linguistic and communicative dimension. The goal is to arrive at formal terminologies that assist nurses in their documentation activities while minimising the burdens related to the use of traditional terminologies.
SOME VIRTUAL REALITY AND TELEMEDICINE APPLICATIONS USEFUL FOR LONG DURATION SPACEFLIGHT FROM A SYSTEMS ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Holland Dwight  , Barfield Woodrow
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a review of virtual reality, telemedicine, and systems engineering design concepts that relate to the human performance of mission tasks during long duration spaceflight. A Mini-Case Study of the MIR/Progress collision is discussed and serves to highlight some of the key issues. We review some physiologic changes which occur as a result of long duration spaceflight, discuss issues associated with performing required mission tasks, and integrate concepts from telemedicine and virtual reality as possible methods and technologies to alleviate some of the deleterious effects of extended space missions.
New Software Applications for Interchangeable Instrumentation in Spinal Stereotaxis
Authors: Kim Kee D.  , Johnson J. Patrick  , Bloch Orin  , Masciopinto Jeffery E.  , Saracen Michael J.  , Villablanca J. Pablo
Published: February 2025

Computer image-guided surgery has been widely accepted because it allows the surgeon to track an instrument through unvisualized critical structures of a patient in real-time, thus minimizing the risk of injury. Current spinal and cranial image-guided surgery is, however, limited by the lack of surgical instruments and software applications that would allow rapid interchange of useful instruments to perform the procedures. Most image-guided systems utilize a single standard probe or a few pre-defined instruments that are not necessarily useful for performing the actual surgical procedure.
VIRTUAL ARTHROSCOPY TRAINING:
Authors: McCarthy Avril  , Harley Peter  , Smallwood Rod
Published: February 2025

The purpose of the study is to validate the training efficacy of the PC-based Sheffield Knee Arthroscopy Training System (SKATS, as described in MMVR6). Based on a task analysis of real arthroscopy, an evaluation module has been designed to test the core psycho-motor skills used in arthroscopy. The evaluation simulates a joint inspection and triangulation task, which is used to assess the research hypothesis that experienced arthroscopists will perform significantly better on the virtual arthroscopy simulator, than a trainee arthroscopist group and a control group. A group of experienced arthroscopic knee surgeons, a trainee surgeon group and a control group were tested on the simulator. The preliminary results indicate that experienced surgeons performed best with fewer instrument collisions and faster task-completion times. The results indicate that the core skills of arthroscopy used on the SKATS simulator are similar to those used in real arthroscopy. Further validation work is required to assess the training transfer effects. Once the simulator has been validated fully, it may prove beneficial in minimising patient risk
The Ergonomics of Virtual Reality: human factors in developing clinical-oriented virtual environments
Authors: Riva G.  , Mantovani G.
Published: February 2025

Virtual Reality (VR) is usually described as a collection of technological hardware: a computer capable of 3D real-time animation, a head-mounted display, data gloves equipped with one or more position trackers. However, this focus on technology is disappointing for clinicians interested in developing virtual environments to be used in assessment and therapy. To overcome this limitation this chapter describes VR as an advanced communication tool: a communication medium in the case of multi-user VR and a communication interface in sigle-user VR.
LASER 3-D SCANNING FOR SURFACE RENDERING IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
Authors: Rydmark Martin  , Brodendal Joakim  , Folkesson Patrik  , Kling-Petersen Torben
Published: February 2025

A technique based on laser scanning is applied to body parts and organs. Laser light is projected onto the surface of objects and recorded by CCD sensors. This is a fast and flexible method for accurately scanning surface geometry. It also allows conversion to NURBS patches. We have, so far, made ‘point-cloud’ surface renderings from a head model, a plastic brain model, a human brain, moulds of bites and a cranium. The limits, quality, efforts and costs of employing the laser 3-D scanning technique are evaluated. The experiments are currently in progress and results give interesting 3D renderings and attempts to triangulated solid-models.
Haptic rendering of isosurfaces directly from medical images
Authors: Blezek Daniel J.  , Robb Richard A.
Published: February 2025

Virtual environments for surgical training, planning and rehearsal have the potential to significantly enhance patient treatment and diagnosis. Haptic feedback devices provide forces to the physician through a manipulator, simulating palpation, scalpel cuts, or retraction of tissue. While haptics have been studied in other fields, medical applications of haptics remain in their infancy. We propose a method of haptically rendering isosurfaces (representing hard structures) directly from anatomical datasets rather than through traditional intermediate graphical representations such as polygons. Our algorithm determines an implicit surface representation of a volumetric isosurface on the fly, and renders the structure using standard haptic algorithms to calculate the forces felt by the user. This approach has the advantage of providing easy access to the rich volume dataset containing the actual anatomy. By relating Hounsfield units to density, haptic rendering has the ability to provide different resistances based on the tissue type being rendered. We developed and tested our algorithm using a quadric implicit surface, a common primitive in computer graphics, and have applied it to a variety of anatomical image datasets. Our paper describes the algorithm in sufficient detail to facilitate reproduction by others.
Web-based Teledermatology Consult system: Preliminary results from the first 100 cases
Authors: Pak Hon S.  , Welch Mark  , Poropatich Ronald
Published: February 2025

The TRICARE Region 1 Teledermatology Consortium has developed a secure web-based “store and forward” consult system designed to allow medical treatment facilities throughout the region to submit dermatology consults.
Fonetix: Building Virtual Speech Therapy Practicum over the Internet
Authors: Morawej A.  , Jackson A.T.K.  , McLeod R.D.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this project is to create an advanced interactive speech therapy site that can be used over the World Wide Web (WWW). This multimedia site, which we have named Fonetix, includes animation of articulation, audio, and video display and capture. The main function of Fonetix is to augment the role a speech language pathologist can play while interacting with patients remotely over the Internet. High quality consultative services via the Internet means that all individuals, regardless of their locale, can have access to best possible service. Fonetix could allow a patient, no matter how remote they are, to have access to the services often only available in major centres. The basic research work into Fonetix has been completed and a functional model has been constructed that will run on any type of personal computer with standard audio and video cards, therefore avoiding expensive equipment requirements. The ultimate goal of the Fonetix system is to create a multi-functional framework that will allow meaningful interactions via the Internet in a variety of circumstances—including clinical, educational and social functions.
Functional Characteristics of the Telemedical Network for the Medical Service of the Bundeswehr for Support of Operations Outside Germany and Civil-military Co-operation
Authors: Otto C.  , Bolte M.  , Linneweber F.  , Weber T.
Published: February 2025

The maxim governing the accomplishment of medical tasks by the Medical Service of the Bundeswehr stipulates that the soldiers will, in case of illness, accident or injury, receive medical treatment to the standard they can expect in the Ferderal Republic of Germany.
Security consultancy to and implementation in Healthcare Telematics projects
Authors: Mavroudakis Konstantinos G.  , Katsikas Sokratis K.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the results of the interaction of the ISHTAR project with other projects of the Health Telematics Programme on the issue of implementation of information security and privacy. ISHTAR has provided three projects with appropriate consultancy teams of security experts, to assist them in the security implementation in their project development work. Moreover, ISHTAR has conducted a survey among all the projects of Health Telematics on the issue of implementation of security. The results suggest that more effort has to be spent on influencing the attitude towards security, by providing specific awareness programmes. Another key finding was that there is a need for reduction of budget and effort required for the implementation of security. Libraries of Security Guidelines are expected to provide the roadmap for the adoption of security in the near future.
The use of the Balanced ScoreCard (BSC) in the Model for Investment and Evaluation of Medical Information Systems.
Authors: Niss Karsten Ulrik
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the use of the Balanced ScoreCard (BSC) in the MIEMIS meso-model (Model for Investment and Evaluation of Medical Information Systems). The scope of the MIEMIS model is to integrate the evaluation process into the whole lifecycle of an information system using both a prospective and a retrospective approach.
Slovenian national health insurance card: The next step
Authors: Kalin T.  , Kandus G.  , Trcek D.  , Zupan B.
Published: February 2025

The Slovenian national health insurance company started a full-scale deployment of the insurance smart card that is at the present used for insurance data and identification purpose only. There is ample capacity on the cards that were selected, to contain much more data than needed for the purely administrative and charging purposes. There are plans to include some basic medical information, donor information, etc. On the other hand, there are no firm plans to use the security infrastructure and the extensive network, connecting the insurance company with the more than 200 self service terminals positioned at the medical facilities through the country to build an integrated medical information system that would be very beneficial to the patients and the medical community. This paper is proposing some possible future developments and further discusses on the security issues involved with such countrywide medical information system.
Research needs and priorities in Health Informatics - early results of a Delphi Study
Authors: Brender Jytte  , McNair Peter  , Nøhr Christian
Published: February 2025

A four-phased Delphi study has been performed on the topic of “research needs and priorities to implement the Information Society within Healthcare”. This contribution presents the outcome of the first three phases. The biggest surprises are that ‘Telemedicine’ is relatively lower ranked than expected, and that ‘Business Pro- cess Re-engineering’ is the highest ranking topic, as judged from the number of is- sues and barriers raised by the expert panel.
Uniforming of outpatient health care statistics
Authors: Rogač Mitja  , Berger Daša Moravec
Published: February 2025

In the process of developing the health care information system, the Public Health Institute of the Republic of Slovenia harmonised the outpatient health care statistics at the national level. This paper presents the goals, contents, methodology and a brief analysis of the new data structure. The main functions of the ZUBSTAT computer program, user training methods, and planned further activities in this field are described.