eHealth Spare Parts as a Service: Modular eHealth Solutions and Medical Device Reform

Abstract eHealth Platform as a Service (‘PaaS’) is an innovative way to build mHealth apps out of cloud-based generic components. Having examined the current and future regimes of safety and performance, this article concludes that the ‘selling features’ of the PaaS (outsourced creation and maintenance of cloud-based parts for easy mHealth-building) undermine legal compliance, and the reform will not change this significantly. Although no safety and performance requirements apply yet to consumer eHealth, the medical apps are regulated. Their manufacturers must ensure the final apps are safe, while not being in control of the parts composing the apps. Generic components not meant for a specific medical device and their providers are not subject to safety and performance requirements. Market will likely push PaaS providers to offer mHealth manufacturers tools to ensure and control safety and performance when medical apps are concerned. I foresee no such incentives for consumer mHealth.

Download Full-text

The role of copper ions in hydrogen peroxide bleaching: Their origin, removal, and effect on pulp quality

TAPPI Journal ◽

10.32964/tj11.7.37 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 37-46 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

PEDRO E.G. LOUREIRO ◽

SANDRINE DUARTE ◽

DMITRY V. EVTUGUIN ◽

M. GRAÇA V.S. CARVALHO

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Peroxide ◽

Copper Ions ◽

Peroxide Bleaching ◽

Metals Removal ◽

Peroxide Decomposition ◽

Equipment Corrosion ◽

And Performance ◽

And Control ◽

Main Effects

This study puts particular emphasis on the role of copper ions in the performance of hydrogen peroxide bleaching (P-stage). Owing to their variable levels across the bleaching line due to washing filtrates, bleaching reagents, and equipment corrosion, these ions can play a major role in hydrogen peroxide decomposition and be detrimental to polysaccharide integrity. In this study, a Cu-contaminated D0(EOP)D1 prebleached pulp was subjected to an acidic washing (A-stage) or chelation (Q-stage) before the alkaline P-stage. The objective was to understand the isolated and combined role of copper ions in peroxide bleaching performance. By applying an experimental design, it was possible to identify the main effects of the pretreatment variables on the extent of metals removal and performance of the P-stage. The acid treatment was unsuccessful in terms of complete copper removal, magnesium preservation, and control of hydrogen peroxide consumption in the following P-stage. Increasing reaction temperature and time of the acidic A-stage improved the brightness stability of the D0(EOP)D1AP bleached pulp. The optimum conditions for chelation pretreatment to maximize the brightness gains obtained in the subsequent P-stage with the lowest peroxide consumption were 0.4% diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), 80ºC, and 4.5 pH.

Download Full-text