bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultrasound elastography of the supraspinatus tendon guided by US-MRI virtual navigation
Authors: Liu Jun , Zhan Weiwei , Zhou Mingyang , Zhang Xiaoxiao 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: A virtual navigation system (VNS) can combine two imaging modalities for synchronous observation and can be beneficial for diagnosis and treatment. Ultrasound elastography (UE) can distinguish between soft and hard tissues. However, the application of UE to musculoskeletal structures is rare. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate UE of the supraspinatus tendon using ultrasound-magnetic resonance imaging (US-MRI) virtual navigation. METHODS: Sixty patients with an ache in the shoulder were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendon injuries using MRI. US-MRI virtual navigation was used to identify lesions in the supraspinatus tendon, and finally US elastography (UE) was performed. Volunteers whose supraspinatus tendons were diagnosed as normal by MRI were also selected for US elastography. The UE scores were then compared between patients and volunteers. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were diagnosed with supraspinatus tendon injuries using MRI and forty-two patients classified as Grade I exhibited no obvious abnormality by US. The supraspinatus tendon injury scores were significantly higher in Grade I patients compared with volunteers (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: US elastography is helpful for the diagnosis of the supraspinatus tendon injuries when used with US-MRI virtual navigation.
Innovation design of medical equipment based on TRIZ
Authors: Gao Changqing , Guo Leiming , Gao Fenglan , Yang Bo 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Medical equipment is closely related to personal health and safety, and this can be of concern to the equipment user. Furthermore, there is much competition among medical equipment manufacturers. Innovative design is the key to success for those enterprises. OBJECTIVE: The design of medical equipment usually covers vastly different domains of knowledge. The application of modern design methodology in medical equipment and technology invention is an urgent requirement. METHODS: TRIZ (Russian abbreviation of what can be translated as `theory of inventive problem solving') was born in Russia, which contain some problem-solving methods developed by patent analysis around the world, including Conflict Matrix, Substance Field Analysis, Standard Solution, Effects, etc. TRIZ is an inventive methodology for problems solving. RESULTS: As an Engineering example, infusion system is analyzed and re-designed by TRIZ. The innovative idea is generated to liberate the caretaker from the infusion bag watching out. The research in this paper shows the process of the application of TRIZ in medical device inventions. CONCLUSION: It is proved that TRIZ is an inventive methodology for problems solving and can be used widely in medical device development.
Small-area low-power heart condition monitoring system using dual-mode SAR-ADC for low-cost wearable healthcare systems
Authors: Shin Young-San , Wee Jae-Kyung , Song Inchae , Lee Seongsoo 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Heart rate monitoring is useful to detect many cardiovascular diseases. It can be implemented in a small device with low power consumption, and it can exploit low-cost piezoelectric pressure sensors to measure heart rate. However, it is also desirable to transmit heartbeat waveform for emergency treatment, which significantly increases transmission power. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, a low-cost wireless heart condition monitoring SoC is proposed. It can monitor and transmit both heart rate and heartbeat waveform, but the hardware is extremely simplified to achieve in a small package. METHODS: By slight modification of successive-approximation analog-digital converter, it can count heart rate and read out heartbeat waveform with the same hardware. In the normal mode, only an 8-bit heart rate is transmitted for power reduction. If the heart rate is out of a given range, it goes to the emergency mode and a 10-bit heartbeat waveform is transmitted for fast treatment. RESULTS: The fabricated chip size is 1.1 mm2 in 0.11 μ m CMOS technology, including the radio-frequency transmitter. The measured power consumption is 161.8 μ W in normal mode and 507.3 μ W in emergency mode, respectively. CONCLUSION: The proposed SoC achieves low-cost, small area, and low-power. It is useful as part of a disposable healthcare system.
A piecewise geometric analysis method for real-time ambulatory ECG detection
Authors: Zhou H.-Y. , Li J. , Zuo D.-C. , Hou K.-M. , Vaulx C. de 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: As one of the pervasive healthcare services, Ubiquitous cardiac care (UCC) systems should have at least two significant characteristics: real-time detection capability for cardiac arrhythmia events and a small resource requirement for its computation and storage. PURPOSE: Due to the strict-constrained system support and ambulatory signal quality in the out-of-hospital pervasive healthcare applications, a dedicated real-time AED (Ambulatory Electrocardiograph Detection) algorithm has been implemented. METHODOLOGY: By adopting the piecewise geometric analysis method, this algorithm can provide a real-time continuous detection capability for QRS complexes, which consists of three main functional modules: the Data preparation; the R-wave vertex discovery; and the QRS complex recognition. Currently, this algorithm has been applied on an on-line UCC application system at the hospital for more than 30 patients. RESULT: The performance evaluation has been made not only on the standard MIT-BIH cardiac arrhythmia database but also on the clinical testing. The experiential results explore this algorithm has in average sensitivity of 99.37% and specificity of 99.72%. CONCLUSION: This AED algorithm has minimal beat detection latency and a less computation consumption, which make it meet the requirements of ubiquitous cardiac care applications.
An effective hand vein feature extraction method
Authors: Li Haigang , Zhang Qian , Li Chengdong 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: As a new authentication method developed years ago, vein recognition technology features the unique advantage of bioassay. OBJECTIVE: This paper studies the specific procedure for the extraction of hand back vein characteristics. METHODS: There are different positions used in the collecting process, so that a suitable intravenous regional orientation method is put forward, allowing the positioning area to be the same for all hand positions. In addition, to eliminate the pseudo vein area, the valley regional shape extraction operator can be improved and combined with multiple segmentation algorithms. The images should be segmented step by step, making the vein texture to appear clear and accurate. Lastly, the segmented images should be filtered, eroded, and refined. This process helps to filter the most of the pseudo vein information. RESULTS: Finally, a clear vein skeleton diagram is obtained, demonstrating the effectiveness of the algorithm. CONCLUSION: This paper presents a hand back vein region location method. This makes it possible to rotate and correct the image by working out the inclination degree of contour at the side of hand back.
Pilot's visual attention allocation modeling under fatigue
Authors: Wu Xu , Wanyan Xiaoru , Zhuang Damin 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Human factors involved with visual attention mechanism and fatigue are critical causes of modern aviation accidents. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the connection between attention and flight fatigue, a mathematical model of pilot's visual attention allocation was established based on information processing channels. Multi-task condition and current psychophysical state were taken into account as well. METHODS: Sixteen participants were recruited to perform a long-term dual-task in a Boeing 737-800 flight simulator. The primary task was an envelope flight task and the secondary was an unusual attitude (UA) recovery task. Reaction time of the secondary task was recorded as a behavior performance index, while heart rate and respiration rate were measured as physiological indices as well as fixation distribution as attention allocation index. RESULTS: The experiment results showed a significant affect of experiment time that indicated the occurrence and influence of fatigue. Eye movement tracking also revealed good agreement with the predictable model and hence verified its effectiveness. Moreover, applicability of the model was validated under flight fatigue and multiple tasks condition. CONCLUSION: The current study provided a quantitative connection between pilot's visual attention allocation and flight fatigue, which was verified in the ergonomics experiment.
FE modeling and analysis of L4-L5 lumbar segment under physiological loadings
Authors: Yu Bin , Zhang Chen , Qin Chunyu , Yuan Huaijiang 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Because of the complexity and construction, the failure rate of lumbar surgery is still high. It is necessary to find a solution to help improve the accuracy and safety of surgery. OBJECTIVE: Construction and stress analysis of lumbar spine. METHODS: The generated FE model based on CT scan images was validated and used to investigate the motion, and stress/strain of the vertebrae under different physiological loadings. A degenerated model was also simulated by changing the materials properties (E and Poisson's Ratio) of the intervertebral disc nucleus and annulus fibers from 1.0 N/mm^2 to 3.0 N/mm^2, and 0.42 to 0.45, respectively. RESULTS: When annulus fibrosis is degenerating or under ictal external loadings, the annulus fibrosis will be in a state of protrusion and there will potential for other pathological changes, such as herniation of the nucleus pulpous. CONCLUSION: The effects of these changes in the corresponding motion and stress/strain of the spinal motion segments were investigated with some conclusions drawn in relation to the normal model for future application of medical diagnosis and surgical treatment.
Agent-based intelligent medical diagnosis system for patients
Authors: Zhang Yingfeng , Liu Sichao , Zhu Zhenfei , Si Shubin 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: According to the analysis of the challenges faced by the current public health circumstances such as the sharp increase in elderly patients, limited medical personnel, resources and technology, the agent-based intelligent medical diagnosis system for patients (AIMDS) is proposed in this research. OBJECTIVE: Based on advanced sensing technology and professional medical knowledge, the AIMDS can output the appropriate medical prescriptions and food prohibition when the physical signs and symptoms of the patient are inputted. METHODS: Three core modules are designed include sensing module, intuition-based fuzzy set theory/medical diagnosis module, and medical knowledge module. RESULTS: The result shows that the optimized prescription can reach the desired level, with great curative effect for patient disease, through a case study simulation. CONCLUSION: The presented AIMDS can integrate sensor technique and intelligent medical diagnosis methods to make an accurate diagnosis, resulting in three-type of optimized descriptions for patient selection.
A pilot application of Korotkoff sound delay time in evaluating cardiovascular status
Authors: Xiang Haiyan , Liu Yanyong , Qin Yufei , Cao Zhengtao , Guo Tao , Yu Mengsun 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Korotkoff sounds have been used to measure systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressures noninvasively for over 100 years. However, most of the research concerning the Korotkoff sound were focused on the origin and frequency component analyzing the Korotkoff sound signal. OBJECTIVE: To show that the occurrence time of the Korotkoff sounds for each cardiac cycle demonstrates a characteristic value during the cuff deflating process of blood pressure measurement. METHODS: The Korotkoff sound delay time (KDT) decreases as the cuff pressure P deflates and KDT is a function of arterial transmural pressure. In the present research, an experiment system was established to explore the relationship between the KDT and the cuff pressure in different subjects. RESULTS: A pilot experiment was conducted to obtain different subjects' KDTs and investigate the relationship between KDT and cuff pressure. CONCLUSION: The relationship between KDT and invasive blood pressure was also studied and its potential application in detection of cardiovascular status was discussed.
Investigating the modulation of brain activity associated with handgrip force and fatigue
Authors: Cao Liu , Hao Dongmei , Rong Yao , Zhou Yanan , Li Mingai , Tian Yunqing 
Published: June 2015

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of force level and fatigue on brain activity during handgrip tasks. METHODS: Electroencephalography (EEG) signals were recorded from eleven healthy male subjects when they performed 25%, 50% and 75% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), and were in fatigue state. EEG powers in different handgrip tasks were analyzed in the frequency domain and time domain respectively. RESULTS: The EEG power at 25%MVC was significantly lower than that at 75%MVC in gamma band (p< 0.05) for electrode C3, C4, Cz, Pz and Fz. EEG power at 25%MVC was also significantly lower than that at 75%MVC in beta band (p< 0.05) for electrode C3. However, the handgrip force level and fatigue did not affect the EEG powers for the other frequencies and electrodes (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that handgrip force level may modulate the brain activity in certain frequency bands and cortical regions. EEG power is a useful tool to characterize the motor state.
Computational fluid dynamics analysis and PIV validation of a bionic vortex flow pulsatile LVAD
Authors: Xu Liang , Yang Ming , Ye Lin , Dong Zhaopeng 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Hemocompatibility is highly affected by the flow field in Left Ventricular Assistant Devices (LVAD). OBJECTIVE: An asymmetric inflow and outflow channel arrangement with a 45° intersection angle with respect to the blood chamber is proposed to approximate the vascular structure of the aorta and left atrium on the left ventricle. The structure is expected to develop uninterruptible vortex flow state which is similar to the flow state in human left ventricle. METHODS: The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) asymmetric model is simulated using ANSYS workbench. To validate the velocity field calculated by CFD, a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) experiment is conducted. RESULTS: The CFD results show that the proposed blood chamber could generate a shifting vortex flow that would be redirected to the aorta during ejection to form a persistent recirculating flow state, which is similar to the echocardiographic flow state in left ventricle. Both the PIV and the CFD results show the development of a persistent vortex during the pulsatile period. Comparison of the qualitative flow pattern and quantitative probed velocity histories in a pulsatile period shows a good agreement between the CFD and PIV data. CONCLUSION: The goal of developing persistent quasi intra-ventricle vortex flow state in LVAD is realized.
Studying frequency processing of the brain to enhance long-term memory and develop a human brain protocol
Authors: Friedrich Wernher , Du Shengzhi , Balt Karlien 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: The temporal lobe in conjunction with the hippocampus is responsible for memory processing. The gamma wave is involved with this process. To develop a human brain protocol, a better understanding of the relationship between gamma and long-term memory is vital. OBJECTIVE: A more comprehensive understanding of the human brain and specific analogue waves it uses will support the development of a human brain protocol. METHODS: Fifty-eight participants aged between 6 and 60 years participated in long-term memory experiments. It is envisaged that the brain could be stimulated through binaural beats (sound frequency) at 40 Hz (gamma) to enhance long-term memory capacity. EEG recordings have been transformed to sound and then to an information standard, namely ASCII. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed a proportional relationship between long-term memory and gamma activity. Results from EEG recordings indicate a pattern. The pattern was obtained through the de-codification of an EEG recording to sound and then to ASCII. CONCLUSIONS: Stimulation of gamma should enhance long term memory capacity. More research is required to unlock the human brains' protocol key. This key will enable the processing of information directly to and from human memory via gamma, the hippocampus and the temporal lobe.
Research on coupling relationship between ECG and PW signal in the cardiovascular system
Authors: Jiang Fangfang , Song Shaoxiu , Cheng Jiabin , He Siliang , Yang Xiao 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become the main cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide. OBJECTIVE: In order to obtain the potential function of cardiovascular system information further, the parameters of the coupling relationship between Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal and Pulse Wave (PW) signal are proposed. METHODS: In this paper, we detected the peaks of ECG and PW signal synchronously from the Fantasia database using Empirical Mode Decomposition(EMD) algorithm, and analyzed the interval between different age groups in the same domain, then calculating the Euclidean distance to characterize the coupling relationship. RESULTS: Via the experimental results of 20 subjects, the parameters of the old group were always larger than the young group. Thus the synchronization and consistency for PW following the ECG are weaker than the young group, which is in keeping with the clinical rule. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusion is that there is a certain representation for the cardiovascular system with the coupling relationship parameter proposed.
Integrated design of micro force sensor oriented to cell micro-operation
Authors: An Zhen , Xiang Chaoqun , Wang Jinming , Dong Liping , Hao Lina 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: During the process of cell micro operation, the contact force between the entry needle and the cell membrane is usually a very small area to be tested. OBJECTIVE: These two features have been utilized to design a high precision micro force sensor to provide a force feedback in the process of cell micro operation. METHODS: However, PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) has continued to display both a wide range of frequency response and a highly sensitive transform between force and electricity. In this paper a charge signal is obtained. In order to transform the charge signal into a voltage signal, a signal processing circuit was designed. The data acquisition card PCI-6221(National Instruments) was used. It was employed to collect the voltage signal. RESULTS: The resultant micro force sensor was calibrated by using a rating test. CONCLUSIONS: The experimental test results demonstrated that the sensitivity and linearity of the designed micro force sensor were higher than the sensitivity and linearity of a traditional piezoelectric sensor.
Biomechanics analysis of human walking with load carriage
Authors: Yang Xiuxia , Zhao Guorong , Liu Di , Zhou Weiei , Zhao Hewei 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive analysis of the inherent laws and the biomechanic principles of human walking with load carriage and building kinematics, and kinematics model of human walking with load carriage, are very meaningful for the development of devices and apparatus that are related to human walking with load carriage, such as a lower limb exoskeleton. OBJECTIVE: The gait experiment of human walking with load carriage is designed and performed in this paper. METHODS: The obtained video is marked and analyzed by using SIMI motion analytical software. The space motion coordinates at each body's mark point that is needed in the kinematics model of established human walking with load carriage is obtained. Based on inverse kinematics, a dynamic model of human walking with load carriage is established. The SPSS statistical analysis software is used for statistical processing for determining key gait parameters. RESULTS: The influence of load and speed on the walking gait parameters is analyzed systematically. CONCLUSIONS: The method provides a theoretical basis for the design of an exoskeleton.
MR temperature imaging using PRF phase difference and a geometric model-based fat suppression method
Authors: Liu Shoubin , Zhou Yanming 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Because protons in fat do not exhibit a temperature-dependent frequency shift, proton resonance frequency shift(PRFS)-based MR thermometry always suffers from disturbances due to the presence of fats or lipids. OBJECTIVE: A new fat suppression method for PRFS-based MR thermometry is proposed to obtain accurate variation of phase angle. METHODS: Similar to the approach of separating fat and water with the two-point Dixon technique, we first scan a complex MR image for reference and then scan another complex image varying with temperature at the same TE point. Based on the conventional PRFS method, we use geometric relationships to remove the effect of fat on the variation of the phase angle. RESULTS: Two phantoms with different water-to-fat ratios are involved in the temperature mapping test. Experimental results show that the temperature images of two phantoms are approximated under the same conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed fat suppression method is simple and effective for PRFS-based MR thermometry.
SIS evolutionary game model and multi-agent simulation of an infectious disease emergency
Authors: Yang Fan , Yang Qing , Liu Xingxing , Wang Pan 
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible (SIS) infectious disease outbreaks are hazardous events. However, if governments sectors do not adequately supervise such outbreaks, these infectious diseases could spread significantly, resulting in large economic losses and social issues. OBJECTIVE: In this paper, an evolutionary game and simulation model based on the interactions between strategies and states was proposed, and the game between the public and government sectors and its impact on epidemic situations was discussed. METHODS: Replicator dynamics equations and the multi-agent model simulation were used for analysis. RESULTS: According to replicator dynamics equations as well as the multi-agent model simulation, the public all eventually adopted the mobility strategy. In addition, the supervision strength of the governmental sectors was equal to 0 after the strength fluctuated at a low level under the trigger strategy. Ultimately, the entire public shifted to the S state throughout the course of the emergency. CONCLUSIONS: Social order was maintained and social loss was controlled to a certain extent in the final analysis.