WesTest Engineering (United States)

What information is critical in test and diagnosis? Limits for measurements are certainly a critical aspect of the diagnosis of a Unit Under Test (UUT) fault. Specific measurement deviations can be extremely telling when it comes to potential Unit Under Test (UUT) problems which can have an adverse consequence of lowering the UUT Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF). Even though the measurement might be within tolerance, borderline or out-of-the-normal median range readings tend to be an indication of a future unit problem. A potential future problem in the UUT can be evident by unlocking specific measurement data and making the appropriate information known to the user. Limit parameters are always critical during the test and diagnosis process.

Drug-induced block of the cardiac hERG (human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene) potassium channel delays cardiac repolarization and increases the risk of Torsade de Pointes (TdP), a potentially lethal arrhythmia. A positive hERG assay has been embraced by regulators as a non-clinical predictor of TdP despite a discordance of about 30%. To test whether assaying concomitant block of multiple ion channels (Multiple Ion Channel Effects or MICE) improves predictivity we measured the concentration-responses of hERG, Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 currents for 32 torsadogenic and 23 non-torsadogenic drugs from multiple classes. We used automated gigaseal patch clamp instruments to provide higher throughput along with accuracy and reproducibility. Logistic regression models using the MICE assay showed a significant reduction in false positives (Type 1 errors) and false negatives (Type 2 errors) when compared to the hERG assay. The best MICE model only required a comparison of the blocking potencies between hERG and Cav1.2.

How to identify when a static pattern digital test program should be re-hosted as a dynamic pattern set on the state-of-the-art ATE is complicated. However, there are critical issues that should be evaluated when making this decision. Issues include chip models, timing parameters, drive strength, logic levels, circuit complexity, I/O pins, automated diagnostics, portability, reuse, speed, optimal circuit coverage, schematics, and data availability.

DARCI TOO is a universal computer control device for people with physical disabilities. It is connected to the keyboard and mouse connectors on virtually any personal computer and provides complete transparent access to all computer functions. The user selects the input device that best fits their needs and joysticks, switches, matrix keyboards, video game controllers and devices with serial outputs can be used. Timing can be adjusted by the user and DARCI TOO can be configured to match the capabilities of people with almost any type of physical disability.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>