The TetraGrip is an inertial measurement unit-controlled surface upper limb FES device developed for improving hand functions of people with tetraplegia. The reliability of the control system and the repeatability and reproducibility of the device were assessed by analysing the results obtained when 14 able-bodied volunteers used the device. These volunteers were able to generate the control signals effectively once they had sufficient training. The two tetraplegic volunteers participated in a 12-week long clinical study (exercise, 4 weeks; functional tasks, 8 weeks), where they used the device to perform functional tasks. Outcome measures used were the grasp release test, the grip strength test, and the box and block test. Both tetraplegic volunteers showed improvement in performing the tasks specified in all outcome measures. The TetraGrip performed as intended when the able-bodied volunteers used it, and it improved the hand functions of both volunteers with tetraplegia. However, a larger clinical study is necessary to assess the performance of the device with a wider range of people with tetraplegia such as those with C5 complete/incomplete.

The effect of the external electromagnetic radiation on the human brain has been investigated by the numerical calculation of the frequency-dependent complex permittivity. Using the Hodgkin–Huxley neuron model, an analytical method for the calculation of the electromagnetic power absorption in the brain neurons is proposed based on the complex permittivity of neuron membranes. The effect of the human head is considered through the calculation of forward and backward travelling electromagnetic waves. The modified time-dependent Hodgkin–Huxley equations have been used to obtain the reflectivity and transmissivity of the external stimulus at the membrane of the cell. The amount of absorbed energy by the human head is presented in the form of the electromagnetic absorption rate.

Visual performance and visual comfort are a combined effect of the illumination characteristics and the illuminated objects. Current surgical lighting systems have a fixed shape illumination pattern, whereas the wound and surroundings have a variable shape and characteristics. A lighting system that is able to adapt its shape and light distribution to the characteristics of the wound might improve visual performance. This paper describes the development of a new concept for lighting using bendable strips with LEDs. The basic idea of placing LEDs on a bendable surface is very simple and elegant. To achieve a functional system, the effects of the different design choices, such as shape of the strips, number of LEDs, number of strips, and LED power were investigated. The influence of these choices is evaluated by simulation using a computational model to identify the optimal parameters for the design. The final design is evaluated using the computational model and a physical prototype consisting of one luminaire segment. The system is able to produce light fields that can have fairly complex shapes at a good range of different sizes. Recommendations about aspects like spot size and strip number are given. The physical test model indicates that the calculated system functions close to how it would in a real-life situation. Given the results, it expected that a system, which is able to modify the light field in real time and that requires minimal control effort, could improve lighting in the operating room.

For many years, heart function has been measured by the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, while sounds produced in the heart can also contain information indicating normal or abnormal heart function. What has caused to restrict the use of the phonocardiography (PCG) signal was the lack of mastery of experts in the interpretation of these sounds, as well as its high potential for noise pollution. PCG is a non-invasive signal for monitoring physiological parameters of cardiac, which can make heart disease diagnostics more efficient. In recent years, attempts have been made to use PCG to detect heart disease independently without a need to match with the ECG. We propose a hybrid algorithm including empirical mode decomposition (EMD), Hilbert transform and Gaussian function for detecting heart sounds to distinguish first (S1) and second (S2) cardiac sounds by eliminating the effect of cardiac murmurs. In this article, 250 normal and 250 abnormal sound signals were examined. The overall positive predictivity of normal and abnormal S1 and S2 is 98.98%, 98.78, 98.78 and 98.37, respectively. Our results showed that the proposed method has a high potential for heart sounds determination, while maintains its simplicity and has a reasonable computational time.

This paper presents an advanced approach for foetal brain abnormalities diagnostic by integrating significant biometric features in the identification process. In foetal anomaly diagnosis, manual evaluation of foetal behaviour in ultrasound images is a subjective, slow and error-prone task, especially in the preliminary treatment phases. The effectiveness of this appearance is strictly subject to the attention and the experience of gynaecologists. In this case, automatic methods of image analysis offer the possibility of obtaining a homogeneous, objective and above all fast diagnosis of the foetal head in order to identify pregnancy behaviour. Indeed, we propose a computerised diagnostic method based on morphological characteristics and a supervised classification method to categorise subjects into two groups: normal and affected cases. The presented method is validated on a real integrated microcephaly and dolichocephaly cases. The studied database contains the same gestational age of both normal and abnormal foetuses. The results show that the use of a support vector machine (SVM) classifier is an effective way to enhance recognition and detection for rapid and accurate foetal head diagnostic.

The surgical creation of an artery–vein connection via a Brachicephalic fistula (BCF) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) provides a unique opportunity to study blood vessel response mechanisms to extreme hemodynamic conditions in relatively short timeframes. After BCF creation, the flow rate in the vein increases by an order of magnitude leading to separated flows and corresponding abnormally low, or negative, wall shear stress (WSS) in the curved arch segment of the cephalic vein. Locations of abnormally low WSS are shown to correlate with development of neointimal hyperplasia (NH) and subsequent stenosis. It is found that the stenosis, prior to a surgical intervention, restores the normal physiological WSS in the vein. As a result, this investigation provides evidence that the adaptation principle, known to apply in the arterial system, is also valid in the venous system. A novel graphical method is developed that combines clinical and computational data to assist in interpreting these physiological mechanisms including adaptation that lead to changes in vein geometry over time.

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is prohibitively expensive at the moment and therefore not easily accessible in low-income countries. An additional problem is the requirement of consistent reliable electricity to power the devices. A new low-cost NPWT device was designed from low cost and simple materials and it can be built and operated following a simple set of instructions. The so-called Gravity device was made from parts costing just under £6 GBP (May 2016) and it creates a constant pressure of 125 mmHg. Gravity operated from 4 hours and 40 minutes up to 5 hours and 18 minutes before needing to be reset. This reset can be achieved without patient involvement. Gravity was taken to Kenya by a Doctor on 5 May 2016 to be evaluated. A NPWT device prototype was successfully made and positive feedback was received from Kenya.