Exploring glass as a novel method for hands-free data entry in flexible cystoscopy

We present a way to annotate cystoscopy finding on Google Glass in a reproducible and hands free manner for use by surgeons during operations in the sterile environment inspired by the current practice of hand-drawn sketches. We developed three data entry variants based on speech and head movements. We assessed the feasibility, benefits and drawbacks of the system with 8 surgeons and Foundation Doctors having up to 30 years' cystoscopy experience at a UK hospital in laboratory trials. We report data entry speed and error rate of input modalities and contrast it with the participants' feedback on their perception of usability, acceptance, and suitability for deployment. The results are supportive of new data entry technologies and point out directions for future improvement of eyewear computers. The findings can be generalised to other endoscopic procedures (e.g. OGD/laryngoscopy) and could be included within hospital IT in the future

The development of novel photonics based techniques for biomedicine

The advances in technology capable of measuring various optical properties within organic materials and tissues have paved way for potentially revolutionary methods of detecting and diagnosing diseases as well as generally monitoring health. Thus, this thesis provides a background on a number of key optical properties crucial in organic tissues and describes how such properties can currently be detected and observed.The thesis looks at a diverse selection of conditions and health-monitoring challenges to determine the effectiveness of non- and minimally invasive diagnostics. Urinary bladder cancer and a computational Monte Carlo model are described in an effort to predict the effectiveness of such diagnostics tools as well as aid in the overall detection of cancer within the organ. Beginning from porcine bladder, the model is advanced to function with human biopsy samples.Furthermore, the thesis covers cardiovascular disease (CVD), specifically pre-eclampsia.Tools used for human analysis are tested on animal CVD models and ultimately employed to display their effectiveness at monitoring diseased mice from an established murine model. The thesis also presents potential parameters vital for diagnostics purposes.Using the established parameters of interest from the above work, the thesis describes measurement of physiological (photonics based diagnostics) and psychological (reaction time assessment) effects resulting from short-term light exposure. Due to the frequency at which non natural light interacts with people on a day-to-day basis, the thesis provides a basis to further expand health-monitoring research.Finally, potential methods for assessing ocular health in the form of contact lens induced discomfort is assessed through objective analysis by photonics based techniques. The thesis also establishes a validation for the proposed approach.Ultimately, the work presented in the thesis describes how novel photonics based technologies can be effectively employed in a wide variety of biomedical diagnostics and monitoring applications, whether used alone or in conjunction with other forms of diagnostics

Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities, 2008

2008, last update: Feburary 15, 2017"The Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008, presents evidence-based recommendations on the preferred methods for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of patient-care medical devices and for cleaning and disinfecting the healthcare environment. This document supercedes the relevant sections contained in the 1985 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guideline for Handwashing and Environmental Control. Because maximum effectiveness from disinfection and sterilization results from first cleaning and removing organic and inorganic materials, this document also reviews cleaning methods. The chemical disinfectants discussed for patient-care equipment include alcohols, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, iodophors, ortho-phthalaldehyde, peracetic acid, phenolics, quaternary ammonium compounds, and chlorine. The choice of disinfectant, concentration, and exposure time is based on the risk for infection associated with use of the equipment and other factors discussed in this guideline. The sterilization methods discussed include steam sterilization, ethylene oxide (ETO), hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, and liquid peracetic acid. When properly used, these cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization processes can reduce the risk for infection associated with use of invasive and noninvasive medical and surgical devices. However, for these processes to be effective, health-care workers should adhere strictly to the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization recommendations in this document and to instructions on product labels. In addition to updated recommendations, new topics addressed in this guideline include 1) inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, bioterrorist agents, emerging pathogens, and bloodborne pathogens; 2) toxicologic, environmental, and occupational concerns associated with disinfection and sterilization practices; 3) disinfection of patient-care equipment used in ambulatory settings and home care; 4) new sterilization processes, such as hydrogen peroxide gas plasma and liquid peracetic acid; and 5) disinfection of complex medical instruments (e.g., endoscopes)." - p. 7Environmental Fogging [December 2009]Clarification Statement: CDC and HICPAC have recommendations in both 2003 Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities and the 2008 Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities that state that the CDC does not support disinfectant fogging. Specifically, the 2003 and 2008 Guidelines state:\ue2\u20ac\ua2 2003: \ue2\u20ac\u153Do not perform disinfectant fogging for routine purposes in patient-care areas. Category IB\ue2\u20ac?\ue2\u20ac\ua2 2008: \ue2\u20ac\u153Do not perform disinfectant fogging in patient-care areas. Category II\ue2\u20ac?These recommendations refer to the spraying or fogging of chemicals (e.g., formaldehyde, phenol-based agents, or quaternary ammonium compounds) as a way to decontaminate environmental surfaces or disinfect the air in patient rooms. The recommendation against fogging was based on studies in the 1970\ue2\u20ac\u2122s that reported a lack of microbicidal efficacy (e.g., use of quaternary ammonium compounds in mist applications) but also adverse effects on healthcare workers and others in facilities where these methods were utilized. Furthermore, some of these chemicals are not EPA-registered for use in fogging-type applications.These recommendations do not apply to newer technologies involving fogging for room decontamination (e.g., ozone mists, vaporized hydrogen peroxide) that have become available since the 2003 and 2008 recommendations were made. These newer technologies were assessed by CDC and HICPAC in the 2011 Guideline for the Prevention and Control of Norovirus Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Healthcare Settings, which makes the recommendation:\ue2\u20ac\u153More research is required to clarify the effectiveness and reliability of fogging, UV irradiation, and ozone mists to reduce norovirus environmental contamination. (No recommendation/unresolved issue)\ue2\u20ac?The 2003 and 2008 recommendations still apply; however, CDC does not yet make a recommendation regarding these newer technologies. This issue will be revisited as additional evidence becomes available.CurrentHICPACPrevention and ControlInfectious Diseas

Guideline for disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities, 2008. Update: May 2019

The Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008, presents evidencebased recommendations on the preferred methods for cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of patientcare medical devices and for cleaning and disinfecting the healthcare environment. This document supercedes the relevant sections contained in the 1985 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Guideline for Handwashing and Environmental Control. Because maximum effectiveness from disinfection and sterilization results from first cleaning and removing organic and inorganic materials, this document also reviews cleaning methods. The chemical disinfectants discussed for patient-care equipment include alcohols, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, iodophors, ortho-phthalaldehyde, peracetic acid, phenolics, quaternary ammonium compounds, and chlorine. The choice of disinfectant, concentration, and exposure time is based on the risk for infection associated with use of the equipment and other factors discussed in this guideline. The sterilization methods discussed include steam sterilization, ethylene oxide (ETO), hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, and liquid peracetic acid. When properly used, these cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization processes can reduce the risk for infection associated with use of invasive and noninvasive medical and surgical devices. However, for these processes to be effective, health-care workers should adhere strictly to the cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization recommendations in this document and to instructions on product labels.In addition to updated recommendations, new topics addressed in this guideline include1. inactivation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, bioterrorist agents, emerging pathogens, and bloodborne pathogens;2. toxicologic, environmental, and occupational concerns associated with disinfection andsterilization practices;3. disinfection of patient-care equipment used in ambulatory settings and home care;4. new sterilization processes, such as hydrogen peroxide gas plasma and liquid peracetic acid; and5. disinfection of complex medical instruments (e.g., endoscopes).This guideline discusses use of products by healthcare personnel in healthcare settings such as hospitals, ambulatory care and home care; the recommendations are not intended for consumer use of the products discussed.disinfection-guidelines-H.pd

Urinary Stents

This open access book provides a concise overview of a range of aspects related to urinary stents. Sections within the work cover clinical and recent technological advancements in the field. Chapters feature detailed coverage of the different surgical, pharmacological and palliative treatments currently available. Insight is also given on current limitations of urinary stents and how these can be overcome by utilizing anti-biofilm coatings; new biomaterials, drug-eluting stents, and biodegradable stents. Therefore, enabling the reader to systematically gain a detailed understanding of the subject. Urinary Stents is a practical, multi-disciplinary focused resource on the complications and applications of ureteral, urethral and prostatic stents in day-to-day clinical practice. A vital read for all medical professionals and researchers who work in this area

Nanoparticles: Potential for Use to Prevent Infections

One of the major issues related to medical devices and especially urinary stents are infections caused by different strains of bacteria and fungi, mainly in light of the recent rise in microbial resistance to existing antibiotics. Lately, it has been shown that nanomaterials could be superior alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Generally, nanoparticles are used for many applications in the biomedical field primarily due to the ability to adjust and control their physicochemical properties as well as their great reactivity due to the large surface-to-volume ratio. This has led to the formation of a new research field called nanomedicine which can be defined as the use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in diagnostics, imaging, observing, prevention, control, and treatment of diseases. For example, coverings or coatings based on nanomaterials are now seen as a promising strategy for preventing or treating biofilms formation on healthcare kits, implants, and medical devices. Toxicity, inappropriate delivery, or degradation of conventionally used drugs for the treatment of infections may be avoided by using nanoparticles without or with encapsulated/immobilized active substances. Most of the materials which are used and examined for the preparation of the nanoparticles with encapsulated/immobilized active substances or smart reactive nanomaterials with antimicrobial effects are polymers, naturally derived antimicrobials, metal-based and non-metallic materials. This chapter provides an overview of the current state and future perspectives of the nanoparticle-based systems based on these materials for prevention, control, or elimination of biofilm-related infections on urinary stents. It also addresses manufacturing conditions indicating the huge potential for the improvement of existing and development of new promising stent solutions

Transactions of 2015 International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement Vol.3, No. 1

The Third International Conference on Health Information Technology Advancement Kalamazoo, Michigan, October 30-31, 2015 Conference Chair Bernard Han, Ph.D., HIT Pro Department of Business Information Systems Haworth College of Business Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI 49008 Transactions Editor Dr. Huei Lee, Professor Department of Computer Information Systems Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Volume 3, No. 1 Hosted by The Center for Health Information Technology Advancement, WM

Materialities of clinical handover in intensive care: challenges of enactment and education

Abstract The research is situated in a busy intensive care unit in a tertiary referral centre university hospital in Scotland. To date no research appears to have been done with a focus on handover in intensive care, across the professions involved, examining how handover is enacted. This study makes an original contribution to the practical and pedagogical aspects of handover in intensive care both in terms of the methodology used and also in terms of its findings. In order to study handover a mixed methods approach has been adopted and fieldwork has been done in the ethnographic mode. Data has been audio recorded and transcribed and analysed to explore the clinical handovers of patients by doctors and nurses in this intensive care unit. Texts of both handover, and the artefacts involved, are reviewed. Material from journals, books, lectures and websites, including those for health care professionals, patients and relatives, and those in industry are explicated. This study explores the role of material artefacts and texts, such as the intensive care-based electronic patient record, the whiteboards in the doctors’ office, and in the ward, in the enactment of handover. Through analysis of the data I explore some of the entanglements and ontologies of handover and the multiple things of healthcare: patients, information, equipment, activities, texts, ideas, diseases, staff, diagnoses, illnesses, floating texts, responsibility, a plan, a family. The doing of handover is framed theoretically through the empirical philosophy of Mol’s identification of multiple ontologies in clinical practice (Mol, 2002). Each chapter is prefaced by a poem, each of which has relevant socio-material elements embedded in it. The significance of the findings of the research for both patient care and clinical education and learning is surfaced

Urinary Stents

This open access book provides a concise overview of a range of aspects related to urinary stents. Sections within the work cover clinical and recent technological advancements in the field. Chapters feature detailed coverage of the different surgical, pharmacological and palliative treatments currently available. Insight is also given on current limitations of urinary stents and how these can be overcome by utilizing anti-biofilm coatings; new biomaterials, drug-eluting stents, and biodegradable stents. Therefore, enabling the reader to systematically gain a detailed understanding of the subject. Urinary Stents is a practical, multi-disciplinary focused resource on the complications and applications of ureteral, urethral and prostatic stents in day-to-day clinical practice. A vital read for all medical professionals and researchers who work in this area