Optimising the parameters of cochlear implant imaging with cone-beam computed tomography

With computed tomography (CT), the delicate structures of the inner ear may be hard to visualise, which a cochlear implant (CI) electrode array can further complicate. The usefulness of a novel cone-beam CT device in CI recipient’s inner ear imaging was evaluated and the exposure parameters were optimised to attain adequate clinical image quality at the lowest effective dose (ED). Six temporal bones were implanted with a Cochlear Slim Straight electrode array and imaged with six different imaging protocols. Contrast-to-noise ratio was calculated for each imaging protocol, and three observers evaluated independently the image quality of each imaging protocol and temporal bone. The overall image quality of the inner ear structures did not differ between the imaging protocols and the most relevant inner ear structures of CI recipient’s inner ear can be visualised with a low ED. To visualise the most delicate structures in the inner ear, imaging protocols with higher radiation exposure may be required.Peer reviewe

InDEx – Industrial Data Excellence

InDEx, the Industrial Data Excellence program, was created to investigate what industrial data can be collected, shared, and utilized for new intelligent services in high-performing, reliable and secure ways, and how to accomplish that in practice in the Finnish manufacturing industry.InDEx produced several insights into data in an industrial environment, collecting data, sharing data in the value chain and in the factory environment, and utilizing and manipulating data with artificial intelligence. Data has an important role in the future in an industrial context, but data sources and utilization mechanisms are more diverse than in cases related to consumer data. Experiences in the InDEx cases showed that there is great potential in data utili zation.Currently, successful business cases built on data sharing are either company-internal or utilize an existing value chain. The data market has not yet matured, and third-party offerings based on public and private data sources are rare. In this program, we tried out a framework that aimed to securely and in a controlled manner share data between organizations. We also worked to improve the contractual framework needed to support new business based on shared data, and we conducted a study of applicable business models. Based on this, we searched for new data-based opportunities within the project consortium. The vision of data as a tradeable good or of sharing with external partners is still to come true, but we believe that we have taken steps in the right direction.The program started in fall 2019 and ended in April 2022. The program faced restrictions caused by COVID-19, which had an effect on the intensity of the work during 2020 and 2021, and the program was extended by one year. Because of meeting restrictions, InDEx collaboration was realized through online meetings. We learned to work and collaborate using digital tools and environments. Despite the mentioned hindrances, and thanks to Business Finland’s flexibility, the extension time made it possible for most of the planned goals to be achieved.This report gives insights in the outcomes of the companies’ work within the InDEx program. DIMECC InDEx is the first finalized program by the members of the Finnish Advanced Manufacturing Network (FAMN, www.famn.fi).</p

Motion control for CBCT gantry

This thesis is a study on developing a motion controller for an X-ray imaging arm based on the requirements specification. A proof-of-concept motion control is designed and tested. The main goal was to correspond with the requirement specification in parts concerning the motion control. This study was done by identification, build, data collection, analysis, and results method. The identification was made at a high level by studying the requirements specification, the X-ray imaging device constructions, and the motion control technologies. Once the identification was made, a prototype motion control hardware was selected, designed, implemented, and tested. After the motion control testing, the results were analyzed and compared against the requirements specification. And the future development recommendations were given. The hardware design is described in detail, but the embedded software is excluded from this thesis since the author did not do it. Only the motion control high-level description is presented. The selected motion control technologies included two absolute position encoders, a motor driver utilizing a closed-loop vector control, and a surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor. One sensor was used to provide the position feedback of the imaging arm for the motion controller. And the other sensor provided the speed and angular position of the PMSM rotor for the motor driver. The overall result from this study was that the selected motion control technologies were adequate for meeting the requirements specification. And some future enhancements should be considered regarding motion control velocity profiles and motor sizing