Researchers have developed a technique for automatically controlling anaesthesia during surgical operations. The new system detects the hypnotic state of the patient at all times and supplies the appropriate dose of anaesthetic.
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Biomedical Engineering - Regulating Anaesthesia via Computer
Researchers have developed a technique for automatically controlling anaesthesia during surgical operations. The new system detects the hypnotic state of the patient at all times and supplies the appropriate dose of anaesthetic.
Biomedical Engineering - Miniature Ultrasound Device
The sleek blue-and-white device created by biomedical engineering graduate student George K. Lewis slips into a pocket and sends ultrasound waves deep into muscles via a coin-sized polystyrene pad. This is the transducer, which converts electrical energy into ultrasound.
Since first publishing research about his pocket-sized devices in 2007, Lewis has continued to improve them, making them smaller and more efficient. To give the systems medical legitimacy, Lewis has prepared the first clinical trial. The study will focus on osteoarthritis patients to determine whether the devices can significantly reduce joint pain.
Ultrasound is often used to relieve muscle and joint pain but requires patients to receive treatments in doctors’ and physical therapists’ offices. Lewis’ mini-machine would allow people to receive such treatment at home and work. Even though medications are the primary way to treat pain in older patients, with age comes increased risk of complications. Therefore, there is a “great need” to support research into non-drug therapies for pain, the researchers say.
Since first publishing research about his pocket-sized devices in 2007, Lewis has continued to improve them, making them smaller and more efficient. To give the systems medical legitimacy, Lewis has prepared the first clinical trial. The study will focus on osteoarthritis patients to determine whether the devices can significantly reduce joint pain.
Ultrasound is often used to relieve muscle and joint pain but requires patients to receive treatments in doctors’ and physical therapists’ offices. Lewis’ mini-machine would allow people to receive such treatment at home and work. Even though medications are the primary way to treat pain in older patients, with age comes increased risk of complications. Therefore, there is a “great need” to support research into non-drug therapies for pain, the researchers say.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
what does the hospital biomedical engineer do?
success in any job depends highly on job description. it is an important step in the planning of staffing in any facility, but in a hospital setting it is critical to have a clear understanding of what needs to be done, who to report to, who reports to you, & where authority starts and ends.
Normally hospital biomedical/clinical engineers have the following tasks:
1- keeping an updated record of ALL the medical equipment: type, model, serial number, date of purchase, status & location.
2- keeping an updated file with all the manufacturers contact details
3- performing routine maintenance as per manufacturers recommendations AND skill level
4- making sure proper maintenance contracts with agents are issued for specialized equipment
5- following up the agents work
6- contacting the suitable companies when any equipment needs servicing, following up with the users, purchasing dept, management & the company until the equipment is back in use, assigned to storage for spare parts or dispensed.
7- keeping a maintenance log of ALL medical equipment, updated daily
8- keeping an original/ copy of service & operating manuals for all medical equipment
9- drafting a maintenance plan for All medical equipment & diligently following it
10- keeping a working stock of most needed spare parts, with proper warehousing methodology.
11- training hospital staff on proper use for equipment, or arranging for the manufacturer's authorized agent to give that training regularly
12- checking the safety of the site & that the users are following safety recommendations
13- continuously communicating with other staff members to be better able to assess their various needs
14- working with other staff in drafting proper specifications for new equipment purchases, following up tendering, bidding, purchasing through to acceptance, installation, testing & staff training.
15- closely monitoring the new equipment & being aware of warranty periods
16- presenting the state of affairs, accomplishments, goals & challenges to the board of directors on a regular basis
17- ensuring that the biomedical dept is assigned a proper budget for optimal operation
This is frequently the sum of the jobs performed in the biomedical engineering dept. where about 2-5 biomedical engineers engineers can be working together, one of them is boss, alongside the HVAC technician, electrician, plumber, & carpenter.
In some hospitals however one biomedical engineer runs the whole show, & technicians are called in when needed !
words of caution:
1- DO NOT attempt to fix an equipment you are not well trained to service.
2- the hospital setting can harbor a lot of hostility & aggressiveness from the upper ranks, good communication & a low profile at the beginning is a big plus!
3- nobody is asking the biomedical engineer to fix everything himself, but he needs to get it fixed promptly through manufacturer's agents or give a good reason why he hasn't.
4- doctors, nurses, technicians & managers all speak a different language, it is best to be clear & precise.
5- do not be afraid to ask a question ( don't be pushy too!) and you might repeat what you understood from someone to check that you both mean the same thing.
6- read a lot about the way hospitals work, trends, new equipment, latest standards & recommendations. this field changes rapidly & it is critical to keep up.
7- safety comes first, before acceptance from other staff: some equipment is back in operation immediately when a valve was removed not replaced, the staff is happy but that is so wrong! .. and before popularity among managers: the engineer who doesn't spend much is liked by his superiors, but the equipment suffer & people actually die!
8- preventive maintenance is not a luxury, it is necessary & it keeps the equipment in good working condition for a long time
9- the hospital is a high risk environment. the risk is much less when you know what you are up to, equipment you handle can have fatal biological or chemical agents on them! .. personal safety should always be a priority
10- the biomedical engineer in the hospital is not the star of the show, doctors are. but it is the only place to understand biomedical engineering. & there are many unspoken rules within that setting .. may be we can address this issue next ...
Normally hospital biomedical/clinical engineers have the following tasks:
1- keeping an updated record of ALL the medical equipment: type, model, serial number, date of purchase, status & location.
2- keeping an updated file with all the manufacturers contact details
3- performing routine maintenance as per manufacturers recommendations AND skill level
4- making sure proper maintenance contracts with agents are issued for specialized equipment
5- following up the agents work
6- contacting the suitable companies when any equipment needs servicing, following up with the users, purchasing dept, management & the company until the equipment is back in use, assigned to storage for spare parts or dispensed.
7- keeping a maintenance log of ALL medical equipment, updated daily
8- keeping an original/ copy of service & operating manuals for all medical equipment
9- drafting a maintenance plan for All medical equipment & diligently following it
10- keeping a working stock of most needed spare parts, with proper warehousing methodology.
11- training hospital staff on proper use for equipment, or arranging for the manufacturer's authorized agent to give that training regularly
12- checking the safety of the site & that the users are following safety recommendations
13- continuously communicating with other staff members to be better able to assess their various needs
14- working with other staff in drafting proper specifications for new equipment purchases, following up tendering, bidding, purchasing through to acceptance, installation, testing & staff training.
15- closely monitoring the new equipment & being aware of warranty periods
16- presenting the state of affairs, accomplishments, goals & challenges to the board of directors on a regular basis
17- ensuring that the biomedical dept is assigned a proper budget for optimal operation
This is frequently the sum of the jobs performed in the biomedical engineering dept. where about 2-5 biomedical engineers engineers can be working together, one of them is boss, alongside the HVAC technician, electrician, plumber, & carpenter.
In some hospitals however one biomedical engineer runs the whole show, & technicians are called in when needed !
words of caution:
1- DO NOT attempt to fix an equipment you are not well trained to service.
2- the hospital setting can harbor a lot of hostility & aggressiveness from the upper ranks, good communication & a low profile at the beginning is a big plus!
3- nobody is asking the biomedical engineer to fix everything himself, but he needs to get it fixed promptly through manufacturer's agents or give a good reason why he hasn't.
4- doctors, nurses, technicians & managers all speak a different language, it is best to be clear & precise.
5- do not be afraid to ask a question ( don't be pushy too!) and you might repeat what you understood from someone to check that you both mean the same thing.
6- read a lot about the way hospitals work, trends, new equipment, latest standards & recommendations. this field changes rapidly & it is critical to keep up.
7- safety comes first, before acceptance from other staff: some equipment is back in operation immediately when a valve was removed not replaced, the staff is happy but that is so wrong! .. and before popularity among managers: the engineer who doesn't spend much is liked by his superiors, but the equipment suffer & people actually die!
8- preventive maintenance is not a luxury, it is necessary & it keeps the equipment in good working condition for a long time
9- the hospital is a high risk environment. the risk is much less when you know what you are up to, equipment you handle can have fatal biological or chemical agents on them! .. personal safety should always be a priority
10- the biomedical engineer in the hospital is not the star of the show, doctors are. but it is the only place to understand biomedical engineering. & there are many unspoken rules within that setting .. may be we can address this issue next ...
Pancreatic Cancer: Soft Drink Consumption
Mark Pereira, senior author on the study, said people who consume soft drinks on a regular basis, defined as primarily carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages, tend to have a poor behavioural profile overall. However, the effect of these drinks on pancreatic cancer may be unique. "The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," said Pereira.
For the current study, Pereira and colleagues followed 60,524 men and women in the Singapore Chinese Health Study for 14 years. During that time, there were 140 pancreatic cancer cases. Those who consumed two or more soft drinks per week (averaging five per week) had an 87 percent increased risk compared with individuals who did not. No association was seen between fruit juice consumption and pancreatic cancer.
Pereira said that these results from Singapore are likely applicable to the United States. "Singapore is a wealthy country with excellent health care. Favourite pastimes are eating and shopping, so the findings should apply to other western countries," said Pereira.
Susan Mayne, associate director of the Yale Cancer Center, said these study results are intriguing but have some key limitations that should be considered in any interpretation. "Although this study found a risk, the finding was based on a relatively small number of cases and it remains unclear whether it is a causal association or not. Soft drink consumption in Singapore was associated with several other adverse health behaviours such as smoking and red meat intake, which we can't accurately control for," said Mayne.
Pereira points out that the findings are biologically plausible, held up in non-smokers, remained similar after taking other dietary habits into account and are consistent with findings in Caucasian populations.
For the current study, Pereira and colleagues followed 60,524 men and women in the Singapore Chinese Health Study for 14 years. During that time, there were 140 pancreatic cancer cases. Those who consumed two or more soft drinks per week (averaging five per week) had an 87 percent increased risk compared with individuals who did not. No association was seen between fruit juice consumption and pancreatic cancer.
Pereira said that these results from Singapore are likely applicable to the United States. "Singapore is a wealthy country with excellent health care. Favourite pastimes are eating and shopping, so the findings should apply to other western countries," said Pereira.
Susan Mayne, associate director of the Yale Cancer Center, said these study results are intriguing but have some key limitations that should be considered in any interpretation. "Although this study found a risk, the finding was based on a relatively small number of cases and it remains unclear whether it is a causal association or not. Soft drink consumption in Singapore was associated with several other adverse health behaviours such as smoking and red meat intake, which we can't accurately control for," said Mayne.
Pereira points out that the findings are biologically plausible, held up in non-smokers, remained similar after taking other dietary habits into account and are consistent with findings in Caucasian populations.
Influenza: Face Masks and Hand Hygiene Can Help Limit Spread
In an influenza pandemic, vaccination may not be initially available, and antiviral prescribing may be limited, which is why scientists need to understand how effective other measures are in preventing influenza.
For the study, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, led by Allison E. Aiello, recruited more than 1,400 college students living in university residence halls during the 2006-2007 influenza season. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: those who wore face masks, those who wore masks and used alcohol-based hand sanitizer, or a control group who received no intervention. Students were monitored for influenza-like symptoms for six weeks. All participants viewed a basic hand hygiene instructional video. Subjects in the hand hygiene and mask group were given an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and written instructions regarding proper face mask and hand sanitizer use. Those in the mask group received written instructions on face mask use only. The students began using the measures just after laboratory confirmation of influenza on the University of Michigan campus had been made.
The investigators observed significant reductions in the incidence of influenza-like symptoms starting after three weeks in the hand sanitizer/mask group and in the mask group compared with the control group. In the hand sanitizer/mask group, Aiello and researchers found a reduction of influenza-like symptoms ranging from 35 to 51 percent when compared with the control group. The incidence of symptoms between the hand sanitizer/mask group and the mask-only group were not statistically different, suggesting that the use of hand sanitizer did not substantially contribute to reducing symptoms.
The findings "have implications for guidelines and recommendations for mask use in the community setting," the authors wrote. Mask use during this study was proven to have a protective effect even when worn moderately during the day. Additionally, the use of face masks and hand hygiene may reduce respiratory illnesses in community settings and lessen the impact of the H1N1 pandemic, the authors noted.
For the study, researchers from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, led by Allison E. Aiello, recruited more than 1,400 college students living in university residence halls during the 2006-2007 influenza season. Participants were assigned to one of three groups: those who wore face masks, those who wore masks and used alcohol-based hand sanitizer, or a control group who received no intervention. Students were monitored for influenza-like symptoms for six weeks. All participants viewed a basic hand hygiene instructional video. Subjects in the hand hygiene and mask group were given an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and written instructions regarding proper face mask and hand sanitizer use. Those in the mask group received written instructions on face mask use only. The students began using the measures just after laboratory confirmation of influenza on the University of Michigan campus had been made.
The investigators observed significant reductions in the incidence of influenza-like symptoms starting after three weeks in the hand sanitizer/mask group and in the mask group compared with the control group. In the hand sanitizer/mask group, Aiello and researchers found a reduction of influenza-like symptoms ranging from 35 to 51 percent when compared with the control group. The incidence of symptoms between the hand sanitizer/mask group and the mask-only group were not statistically different, suggesting that the use of hand sanitizer did not substantially contribute to reducing symptoms.
The findings "have implications for guidelines and recommendations for mask use in the community setting," the authors wrote. Mask use during this study was proven to have a protective effect even when worn moderately during the day. Additionally, the use of face masks and hand hygiene may reduce respiratory illnesses in community settings and lessen the impact of the H1N1 pandemic, the authors noted.
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
1st Annual Conference of the ISETT-WH
Dr. Togas Tulandi, internationally renowned and award winning Reproductive and Endoscopic Surgeon, is inviting you to attend the 1st Annual Conference of the International Society for Emerging Technologies and Treatment in Women's Health (ISETT-WH).
Exciting new topics!
Video Technology
Robotic Surgery / Minimally Invasive Surgery
Uterine Fibroids
Women's Health
Endometriosis
and much more...
For complete information, please visit:
www.isettwh.org
| Start Time: | Sunday, 02 May 2010 at 15:00 |
| End Time: | Wednesday, 05 May 2010 at 00:00 |
| Location: | Hyatt Regency Hotel 4, Complexe Desjardins Montreal, QC |
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projections for Biomedical Engineering
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projections for Biomedical Engineering related positions has increased dramatically from the 2006-2016 predictions for 2008-2018. They predict a 72% increase over 10 years. This represents an average increase of approximately 1500 jobs becoming available per year. These jobs are expected to come from new positions (averaging about 1,160 per year) and replacement needs ( averaging about 340 per year ) created by attrition. As good as it sounds B.S. Biomedical Engineering graduates are still being created at a over double the rate of the predicted increase. The number of B.S. Biomedical Engineers graduating in 2008 was 3,360. Since healthcare industry jobs typically require higher degrees and/ or three to five years of experience there will still be a bottleneck unless Biomedical Engineering Programs ramp up their internships and co-op opportunities. Students considering a Biomedical Engineering degree are strongly urged to ask for hard documentation of a programs plans and success rate at getting graduates jobs. Graduation rate details can be seen by following the link below.
Biomedical engineer - job
Biomedical engineer jobs combine traditional engineering skills with medical expertise to save lives.Biomedical engineering jobs combine biology and medicine with engineering, often focusing on the development of man-made systems used within the body–such as the artificial heart. Many biomedical engineering careers revolve around research, most notably the attempt to find mechanical solutions for patients coping with strenuous physical ailments. Where Biomedical Engineers Work
Biomedical engineering jobs can mostly be found in manufacturing industries; 38 percent of all jobs are in pharmaceutical and medicine production, including the construction and distribution of medical instruments and supplies. Biomedical engineering jobs can be found in: • universities
• hospitals
• medical and educational research facilities
• government regulatory agencies
What Are Biomedical Engineering Job Specialties?
Some of the fields biomedical engineers can choose to specialize in include:
• Bio-instrumentation — developing devices used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
• Bio-materials — working with living tissues and artificial materials to
design implants. • Bio-mechanics — studying motion, flow, and transport as traditional
mechanics relate to bodily systems in relation to biological problems.
The Job Outlook for Biomedical Engineers
The job outlook for biomedical engineering is expected to increase much faster than average through the year 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Between the aging baby boomer population and the need for increased healthcare in the areas of computer-assisted surgery and joint replacement, the market for biomedical engineering jobs should remain high, though competition for jobs should remain high as well. According to the BLS, there were an estimated 9,700 biomedical engineering jobs in the United States in 2006, paying a median annual salary of approximately $68,000. A degree in biomedical engineering is definitely an excellent way to begin a career in this exciting and revolutionary field.
biomedical engineering books
MEDICAL IMAGING
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/short-lecture-notes-on-medical-imaging-methods-seminar-topics/
MEDICAL INFORMATICS
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/extra-important-lecture-notes-topics-on-medical-informatics/
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/best-only-one-of-its-type-topic-wise-lecture-notes-on-medical-informatics-this-resource-is-the-rarest-and-best-one-available-on-net/
NEUROINFORMATICS
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/lecture-notes-on-neuroinformatics/
MEDICAL ELECTRONICS
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/best-topic-wise-lecture-notes-on-medical-electronicsbiomedical-direct-downloads/
BIOMEDICAL SIGNAL ANALYSIS
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/best-topic-wise-lecture-notes-on-processing-of-biomedical-signals/
INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/best-lecture-notes-on-every-topic-of-biomedical-engineering/
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/short-lecture-notes-on-medical-imaging-methods-seminar-topics/
MEDICAL INFORMATICS
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/extra-important-lecture-notes-topics-on-medical-informatics/
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/best-only-one-of-its-type-topic-wise-lecture-notes-on-medical-informatics-this-resource-is-the-rarest-and-best-one-available-on-net/
NEUROINFORMATICS
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/lecture-notes-on-neuroinformatics/
MEDICAL ELECTRONICS
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/best-topic-wise-lecture-notes-on-medical-electronicsbiomedical-direct-downloads/
BIOMEDICAL SIGNAL ANALYSIS
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/best-topic-wise-lecture-notes-on-processing-of-biomedical-signals/
INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
http://kushtripathi.wordpress.com/2010/02/07/best-lecture-notes-on-every-topic-of-biomedical-engineering/
Monday, 8 February 2010
Biomedica 2010, March 17–18, 2010, Aachen, Germany
- Biofunctional materials, engineering and devices
- Bifunctional coatings for medical & biotechnological devices
- Biohybrid materials for regenerative medicine
- Advanced development for (bio)pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals
- Epigenetic mechanisms and their disorders
- Epigenetics and nutrition
- Disease-specific diagnostics & personalized medicine
- Translational medicine: Bringing personalized medicine to the clinic
- Regenerative medicine
- Integrated care solutions & services
- Multi-party services for extramural care
- The role of technology in care at home / care at a distance
- Business developments and product innovations
- Innovations in life sciences and medical technology
- New business models for patient (home) care
The Biomedica Summit objectives
- Support and stimulation of collaboration between science and business
- Information about the latest innovations in the field of science and product development
- Top quality presentations by renowned speakers with breakthrough topics
- Participation in discussion forums with internationally leading experts
- The place to meet new contacts and strengthen your network
Science meets Business:
- An interdisciplinary congress with high level presentations on the latest advancements in science, product development and technologies.
- The place to make new contact with companies and R&D institutions. The targeted event for joining your partners & clients and discussing business within science.
About Biomedica Summit
March 17-18, 2010 will mark the fourth successful year for the Biomedica Summit. Each year the summit provides a venue where life science institutes and companies come together within the Top Technology Region (TTR) covering: Aachen, Eindhoven, Hasselt, Leuven, Liège and Maastricht.
Last year in Liège, Belgium, the organizers were proud to welcome more than 850 international delegates.
Call for papers
Gain reputation and further establish yourself in the scientific community by presenting your recent research breakthroughs and business developments. Deadline December 11,2009.
Business development and product commercialization
The Biomedica Summit offers the right opportunity to present your business, discuss with experts from the industry and take part in “onsite training”.
Call for posters
Young scientists, graduates or undergraduates have the opportunity to produce a scientific poster and submit it for the poster exhibition contest. The competition winners will receive an award. More than 100 posters were entered in competition in 2009! Deadline February 15, 2010.
Exhibitors and sponsors
Your company or research institute has the opportunity to promote its products and services. Please register today to ensure your participation at the Biomedica Summit. Please see the Exhibitor & Sponsor package booklet.
Matchmaking sessions
Meet with potential business partners and other scientists in related fields in the context of an international forum; thus opening up potential networking opportunities.
Discussion forum
Sign up to meet speakers, chairs and other conference participants on the session topic.
Job opportunities
Take advantage of our leading European job opportunities to meet your future employer.
Sunday, 7 February 2010
Job offers for whom concern: Biomedical Engineering
5- Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Saint Louis University, MO
http://www.bmenet.org/BMEnet/jobs/doc/18
6- Tenure-track Faculty Position in Biorobotics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
http://www.bmenet.org/BMEnet/jobs/doc/18
Job offers for whom concern: Biomedical Engineering
Job offeres for whom concern:
1- Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
http://www.bmenet.org/BMEnet/jobs/doc/17
2- Research Technologist, University of Chicago, IL
http://www.bmenet.org/BMEnet/jobs/doc/18
3- Associate Research Scientist , Department of Biomedical Engineering, Colum...bia University, NY
http://www.bmenet.org/BMEnet/jobs/doc/18
4- Physiological Signal Processing Engineer, Draeger Medical, Patient Monitoring, Boston, MA
http://www.bmenet.org/BMEnet/jobs/doc/17
Friday, 5 February 2010
Patient communicates through brain scan
A 29-year old Belgian man who spent five years in a vegetative state, has answered simple question with ‘yes’ and ‘no’ using an MRI-scanner, a study published on the website of the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday showed. Scientific response to the finding was mixed. Some researchers say this find heralds a new era of increased autonomy for patients suffering from reduced consciousness, but others argue the discovery is of little consequence.
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The 29-year old was part of a larger study of vegetative and minimally conscious patients who had been left comatose by massive brain trauma. Vegetative patients commonly awake within weeks to open their eyes, move their feet or scratch their hands. Some may even suddenly sit up in bed, but their motor activity is always limited to reflex actions. Vegetative patients do not respond to stimuli like light or sound. They may be awake, but they are not conscious.
Communicating through brain scans
In 2006, the same group of scientist had already demonstrated that, a 23-year old female victim of a traffic accident was able to respond to spoken commands. When the woman was asked to picture herself walking through her apartment, areas of the brain involved in spatial orientation lit up. When the researchers asked her to picture herself playing tennis, parts of the brain associated with motor coordination were activated. The women’s brain activity, as registered by the scan, differed little from that of normal healthy people.
In their latest research, the scientists studied 23 patients who did not respond to stimuli and 31 who did so only occasionally. Five proved able to respond to commands like the 23-year old woman. According to Steven Laureys, one of the scientists involved in the study, the patients who responded to commands all suffered their brain trauma in accidents. The study group did not find any evidence whatsoever patients whose brain was damaged in a stroke were also able to communicate through fMRI scans.
The scientists asked a single patient, a 29-year old man who suffered a traffic accident five years ago, specific questions like: "Is your father’s name Thomas?" and "Do you have any brothers?" The patient was told to respond by either thinking of tennis or walking through a house. “Before we put him in the fMRI scanner, a small army of experts tested him every month. None of them were able to reach him, so they concluded he was in a vegetative state. Using our fMRI, he answered five out of six questions correctly. He did not give a clear answer to the sixth question,” Laureys said.
The only way to talk
So far, communicating with the patients in any other way has proven impossible. According to Laureys, that might change. The Belgian neurologist said he hoped to give patients a voice by registering electrical activity in their brains. “We are at the dawn of a new era. These vulnerable patients will one day enjoy more autonomy and be able to make everyday decisions again,” Laureys said.
Nicolas Schiff, a neurologist at Cornell University not involved in the study called the results “spectacular”. “The fMRI is only a diagnostic tool that we can use to find patients who are ready for new ways of communicating. They can no longer be considered vegetative. That is hugely important progress,” he said.
“All our traditional tests are meant to elicit a motor response. Like, ‘pinch my hand’ or ‘blink your eyes to say yes’. But these test often fail to yield clear results. Approximately 40 percent of patients are misdiagnosed. The fMRI gives us an additional diagnostic tool,” Laureys added.
Some are unconvinced
Other scientist remain to be convinced. Rien Vermeulen, a neurologist at Amsterdams’ AMC hospital, for instance. “I am not surprised they found brain activity. You regularly find small clusters of active brain cells in these patients, but what does that mean? Does the patient experience consciousness? Responses like these can also be elicited when someone is unconscious,” Vermeulen said.
A third expert, Geraint Rees, said he felt “genuinely torn,” by the study’s findings. “We are talking about young people who live in heartbreaking conditions here. For decades there was little scientific interest in these patients. Now at least we have a tool to study their consciousness. They can change their brain activity to answer some of the questions correctly. That means they have some residual comprehension left,” Rees said. “Still, it is a far leap from answering a few simple questions to being aware like you or me, after all they are severely brain damaged.”
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Radiology
Radiology is the branch or specialty of medicine that deals with the study and application of imaging technology like x-ray and radiation to diagnosing and treating disease.
Radiologists direct an array of imaging technologies (such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine, positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) to diagnose or treat disease. Interventional radiology is the performance of (usuallyminimally invasive) medical procedures with the guidance of imaging technologies. The acquisition of medical imaging is usually carried out by the radiographer or radiologic technologist.
BioMedical Engineering OnLine
What is BioMedical Engineering OnLine?
BioMedical Engineering OnLine is an Open Access, peer-reviewed, online journal that is dedicated to publishing research in all areas of biomedical engineering.
BioMedical Engineering OnLine is aimed at readers and authors throughout the world with an interest in using tools of the physical sciences to advance and understand problems in the biological and medical sciences. There are biomedical engineers in countries throughout the world, and the results of their work are scattered and often difficult to access. This publication promotes the rapid and free accessibility of articles for biomedical engineering researchers everywhere. The result is a worldwide community of biomedical engineers who are linked together by their various research interests and their values in promoting benefits to all of humanity.
Content overview
BioMedical Engineering OnLine considers the following types of articles:
- Research: presenting new work based on the highest standards of basic or applied academic research.
- Book reviews: presenting short summaries of the strengths and weaknesses of a book. They should evaluate its overall usefulness to the intended audience. Please contact Francisco Azuaje (fj.azuaje@ulster.ac.uk) with your Book review proposal.
- Letters to the Editor: can take three forms: a substantial re-analysis of a previously published article, or a substantial response to such a re-analysis from the authors of the original publication, or an article that may not cover 'standard research' but that may be relevant to readers.
- Reviews: presenting a comprehensive and authoritative description and evaluation of a current scientific or research area within the journal scope, these articles are usually written by opinion leaders that have been invited by the Editorial Board.
Peer review policies
All articles are reviewed by at least three experts from the relevant field. The reviewers consider the technical aspects of the material presented, in terms of scientific validity and usefulness. Authors are given every opportunity to alter their submission and/or to respond to the comments.
Edited by Kenneth R. Foster, BioMedical Engineering OnLine is supported by an expert Editorial Board.
Publishing in BioMedical Engineering OnLine
All articles are listed in PubMed immediately upon acceptance (after peer review), and are covered by PubMed Central, MEDLINE, Thomson Reuters (ISI) and Embase.
Articles in BioMedical Engineering OnLine should be cited in the same way as articles in a traditional journal. However, because articles in this journal are not printed, they do not have page numbers. Instead, they have a unique article number.
The following citation:
BioMed Eng OnLine 2004, 2:1
refers to article 1 from volume 2 of the journal.
BioMed Eng OnLine 2004, 2:1
refers to article 1 from volume 2 of the journal.
As an online journal, BioMedical Engineering OnLine does not have issue numbers. Each volume corresponds to a calendar year.
To keep up to date with the latest articles from BioMedical Engineering OnLine, why not register to receive alerts? Registration also enables you to customise your subject areas of interest, store your searches, and submit your manuscripts.
Submission of manuscripts
Manuscripts should be submitted electronically to BioMedical Engineering OnLine using the online submission system. Full details of how to submit a manuscript are given in the instructions for authors.
General journal policies
BioMedical Engineering OnLine is published by BioMed Central, an independent publisher committed to ensuring peer-reviewed biomedical research is open access. That means it is freely and universally accessible online, it is archived in at least one internationally recognised free access repository, and its authors retain copyright, allowing anyone to reproduce or disseminate articles, according to the BioMed Central copyright and licence agreement. BioMedical Engineering OnLine however, has taken this further by making all its content open access.
BioMedical Engineering OnLine's articles are archived in PubMed Central, the US National Library of Medicine's full-text repository of life science literature, and also at INIST in France and in e-Depot, the National Library of the Netherlands' digital archive of all electronic publications. The journal is also participating in the British Library's e-journals pilot project, and plans to deposit copies of all articles with the British Library.
BioMedical Engineering OnLine is able to deliver summaries of frequently updated content via Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. These are accessible via the orange "XML" button at the top of the list of recent articles or the list of most accessed articles. For more information about RSS feeds see our publisher's website.
If you would like to help raise awareness of BioMedical Engineering OnLine, why not download the journal's leaflet and poster? You will needAcrobat Reader to open them.
Biomedical engineer: Job description and activities
Job description
Biomedical engineers apply engineering principles and materials technology to healthcare. This can include researching, designing and developing medical products, such as joint replacements or robotic surgical instruments; designing or modifying equipment for clients with special needs in a rehabilitation setting; or managing the use of clinical equipment in hospitals and the community.
Biomedical engineers can be employed by health services, medical equipment manufacturers and research departments/institutes.
Job titles can vary depending on the exact nature of the work. As well as biomedical engineer you are likely to come across bioengineer; design engineer; and clinical scientist (in a hospital setting/clinical situation).
Typical work activities
Work activities vary, depending on where you work and the seniority of the post, but typically involve:
- using computer software and mathematical models to design, develop and test new materials, devices and equipment. This can involve programming electronics; building and evaluating prototypes; troubleshooting problems; and rethinking the design until it works correctly;
- liaising with technicians and manufacturers to ensure the feasibility of a product in terms of design and economic viability;
- conducting research to solve clinical problems using a variety of means to collate the necessary information, including questionnaires, interviews and group conferences;
- liaising closely with other medical professionals, such as doctors and therapists as well as with end-users (patients and their carers);
- discussing and solving problems with manufacturing, quality, purchasing and marketing departments;
- assessing the potential wider market for products or modifications suggested by health professionals or others;
- arranging clinical trials of medical products;
- approaching marketing and other industry companies to sell the product;
- writing reports and attending conferences and exhibitions to present your work and latest designs to a range of technical and non-technical audiences;
- meeting with senior health service staff or other managers to exchange findings;
- dealing with technical queries from hospitals and GPs and giving advice on new equipment;
- testing and maintaining clinical equipment;
- training technical or clinical staff;
- investigating safety-related incidents;
- keeping up to date with new developments in the field, nationally and internationally.
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