- Email: [email protected]
EMI at Royal Institution lecture
Three from Israel:
Automatic
checks on heart pacemakers A pacemaker function analyzer (PFA) developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science has been designed for routine examination of ambulatory patients in local medical clinics and for continual surveillance of hospitalized patients in cardiology units. The instrument provides a comprehensive test of the pacing system including the battery, pulse generator and electrodes during varying heart activity with automatic indication. Thus the need for expert evaluation of the fine details of elecrocardiograms is eliminated and skilled staff are not unnecessarily occupied. The PFA allows more frequent and more thorough checks to be made, so reducing emergency replacements and increasing survival rates. Yeda R 8c D company are encouraged by clinical tests on 120 patients monitored at the Tel Hashomer hospital; potential licencees are sought and offers from industry welcome. YEDA Research and Development Co. Ltd., Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel. Footprint This novel orthopaedic instrument measures the precise pattern of the foot on the ground. The distribution of the force between the foot and the ground is measured by optical interference to give a visual image composed of 500 separate points, which can be interpreted for clinical purposes. Thus, the FGP of any given patient can be compared with a normal FGP and qualitative deviations noted. When a permanent record is desired, one simply takes a photograph. Quantitative data on the force distribution are obtained by measuring the diameter of each interference circle and making use of the calibration curve.
228
J. Biomed.
Eng. 1979, Vol 1, July
The ‘footprint’, developed at Tel Aviv University and marketed by Ramot Footprint Ltd., can be used to diagnose various orthopaedic conditions; in the design of orthopaedic shoes; in planning surgery of the lower limb and for post-operative follow-up; and in the design and alignment of prostheses. The American magazine Industrial Research/Development cited this instrument in 1978 as among the world’s hundred most significant technological innovations. Ramot Footprint 6, Levitan Street Tel Aviv, Israel.
Computerised
Ltd.,
testing
of
hearing This objective audiometer, CERA100, over comes the deficiencies inherent in traditional methods which rely on response from the patient, and thus can be used to test the hearing of babies, the mentally retarded or patients in a coma. With the C-ERA-loo, a standardised clicking sound, variable between 0 and 100 dB, is brought to the patient’s ear through earphones. The resulting nerve activity running from the cochlea to the cerebral cortex is recorded by electrodes placed on the patient. The normal response to the click stimulus appears in five separate waves: the first occurring 1.4 milliseconds after the click; the cortical response from 80 to 300 milliseconds later. The heart of the system is a microcomputer programmed to detect these very small signals against the background electrical activity of the brain. This produces a waveform printout on which normal hearing is easily recognised. Faulty hearing is readily diagnosed, and the point along the nerve path at which conduction falters can usually be identified. Micro-Shev Ltd., Alon Shvut Gush Etzion Israel
EMI at Royal Institution lecture The Royal Institution Woodhull lecture, given in London on March 16th by Ian Donald, Professor Emeritus of Midwifery at Glasgow University, included a live demonstration of real time imaging using EM1 Medical’s portable ultrasonic scanner. Professor Donald’s account of nearly twenty-five years of research in sonar (ultrasonic echo sounding) as applied to modern medical diagnosis, described how the technique had grown from use in engineering for the detection of flaws in metal structures, and detailed the significant landmarks in its development as a clinical tool. A number of his original experiments reproduced on the lecturer’s bench were relayed throughout the auditorium by closed circuit television. Slides and filmed extracts were shown to further illustrate his theme. including a film of a foetus at less than twelve weeks gestation jumping around in its mother’s uterus. This film was obtained using EM1 Medical’s latest real time ultrasonic scanner. To conclude the lecture, Professor Donald demonstrated this machine on his own body, showing live pictures of his kidneys, liver and heart. EM1 Medical Ltd., Jubilee House, 120, Blyth Road, Hayes, Middx UB3 lDL, UK
Automatic
checks on heart pacemakers A pacemaker function analyzer (PFA) developed at the Weizmann Institute of Science has been designed for routine examination of ambulatory patients in local medical clinics and for continual surveillance of hospitalized patients in cardiology units. The instrument provides a comprehensive test of the pacing system including the battery, pulse generator and electrodes during varying heart activity with automatic indication. Thus the need for expert evaluation of the fine details of elecrocardiograms is eliminated and skilled staff are not unnecessarily occupied. The PFA allows more frequent and more thorough checks to be made, so reducing emergency replacements and increasing survival rates. Yeda R 8c D company are encouraged by clinical tests on 120 patients monitored at the Tel Hashomer hospital; potential licencees are sought and offers from industry welcome. YEDA Research and Development Co. Ltd., Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel. Footprint This novel orthopaedic instrument measures the precise pattern of the foot on the ground. The distribution of the force between the foot and the ground is measured by optical interference to give a visual image composed of 500 separate points, which can be interpreted for clinical purposes. Thus, the FGP of any given patient can be compared with a normal FGP and qualitative deviations noted. When a permanent record is desired, one simply takes a photograph. Quantitative data on the force distribution are obtained by measuring the diameter of each interference circle and making use of the calibration curve.
228
J. Biomed.
Eng. 1979, Vol 1, July
The ‘footprint’, developed at Tel Aviv University and marketed by Ramot Footprint Ltd., can be used to diagnose various orthopaedic conditions; in the design of orthopaedic shoes; in planning surgery of the lower limb and for post-operative follow-up; and in the design and alignment of prostheses. The American magazine Industrial Research/Development cited this instrument in 1978 as among the world’s hundred most significant technological innovations. Ramot Footprint 6, Levitan Street Tel Aviv, Israel.
Computerised
Ltd.,
testing
of
hearing This objective audiometer, CERA100, over comes the deficiencies inherent in traditional methods which rely on response from the patient, and thus can be used to test the hearing of babies, the mentally retarded or patients in a coma. With the C-ERA-loo, a standardised clicking sound, variable between 0 and 100 dB, is brought to the patient’s ear through earphones. The resulting nerve activity running from the cochlea to the cerebral cortex is recorded by electrodes placed on the patient. The normal response to the click stimulus appears in five separate waves: the first occurring 1.4 milliseconds after the click; the cortical response from 80 to 300 milliseconds later. The heart of the system is a microcomputer programmed to detect these very small signals against the background electrical activity of the brain. This produces a waveform printout on which normal hearing is easily recognised. Faulty hearing is readily diagnosed, and the point along the nerve path at which conduction falters can usually be identified. Micro-Shev Ltd., Alon Shvut Gush Etzion Israel
EMI at Royal Institution lecture The Royal Institution Woodhull lecture, given in London on March 16th by Ian Donald, Professor Emeritus of Midwifery at Glasgow University, included a live demonstration of real time imaging using EM1 Medical’s portable ultrasonic scanner. Professor Donald’s account of nearly twenty-five years of research in sonar (ultrasonic echo sounding) as applied to modern medical diagnosis, described how the technique had grown from use in engineering for the detection of flaws in metal structures, and detailed the significant landmarks in its development as a clinical tool. A number of his original experiments reproduced on the lecturer’s bench were relayed throughout the auditorium by closed circuit television. Slides and filmed extracts were shown to further illustrate his theme. including a film of a foetus at less than twelve weeks gestation jumping around in its mother’s uterus. This film was obtained using EM1 Medical’s latest real time ultrasonic scanner. To conclude the lecture, Professor Donald demonstrated this machine on his own body, showing live pictures of his kidneys, liver and heart. EM1 Medical Ltd., Jubilee House, 120, Blyth Road, Hayes, Middx UB3 lDL, UK