Biomedizinische Technik. Biomedical engineering
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A new generation of EU research is expected to take life at the end of 2002. One of the new elements of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), which is essential for the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA), will be the use of new instruments for funding research, such as Integrated Projects (IP) and Networks of Excellence (NoE). Integrated Projects will contribute to strengthening European competitiveness and solve major societal problems, by mobilising a critical mass of research and development resources and skills existing in Europe. Networks of Excellence will contribute to strengthening European scientific and technological excellence though a better integration of research capacities across Europe.
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Medical research confirmed the relevance of diagnosis and therapy of sleep-related breathing disorders, revealing prevalence and patho-physiological mechanisms [1-10]. Reliable sleep assessment currently demands examinations in the sleep-lab, which is very technical and time-consuming. ⋯ As a solution, the authors present telemetric system concepts for the unattended assessment of a patient's sleep profile and cardio-respiratory parameters. Taking initial experience with home polysomnography into consideration, the presented research work focuses on easily applicable sensors, the corresponding sleep profile assessment rules, wireless data recording, intelligent signal processing algorithms and telemedical information logistics to include sleep-labs in the diagnosis and treatment process as competence centers.
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During extracorporeal circulation, many important circulatory parameters are unknown, being inaccessible for measuring probes, as e.g. the perfusion of the brain. An observer system, which estimates such patient variables continuously throughout the operation, can extend the information basis for the decisions of the perfusionist regarding the control of the heart-lung machine and thus contribute to adjust this operation procedure to the actual patient situation. ⋯ Beside the classical Luenberger observer design, a rule-based approach has been tested, which is also based on the structure of a Luenberger observer, however instead of an observer matrix a correction algorithm has been used in the feedback loop. A prototype of this system for animal experimental and clinical evaluation has been realised.
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Comparative Study
[Variability of ventilation parameters of home ventilation equipment].
The performance of pressure- and volume controlled ventilators used for invasive and non-invasive ventilation in the home were tested on a patient lung model. In order to determine the influence of tidal volume preset, breathing rate, resistance, compliance and leakage to the variability of delivered tidal volume and peak airway pressure a factorial plan with adapted analysis of variance was used. The influence of tidal volume preset, compliance and leakage to the delivered tidal volume is significant. ⋯ All tested ventilators meet the legal demands. But in some clinical situations there are considerable deviations of the breathing parameters depending on the brand. In conclusion ventilators of different brands are not interchangeable.
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Supplying organs and body tissues with sufficient oxygen is one of the most important vital human functions. Commercial pulse oximeters compute the functional oxygen saturation from relative values (reduced hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin). Methemoglobin (MetHb) and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) are not taken into account, since they are considered to be reduced hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin (RHb, HbO2). ⋯ In this work, a non-invasive pulse oximeter is developed, which finds the entire hemoglobin concentration photometrically, and measures the fractional oxygen saturation and pulse rate. The signal of transmitted light I is processed according to the Lambert-Beer-law. The signal decays exponentially with the thickness d of the irradiated sample and its absorption coefficient alpha (I = I0 e -alpha d), where I0 is the incident light intensity.