scholarly journals Removing Barriers to Medical Devices for Users with Impairments

Author(s):  
Melissa R. Lemke ◽  
Jack M. Winters

Accessing routine medical equipment is often difficult or impossible for many patients and providers with disabilities. We present a novel approach for conducting physical accessibility evaluations of some commonly used medical equipment, including an examination table, two dental chairs, two hospital beds, and two weight scales. Participants with various disabilities used each device while being recorded by three cameras; psychometric survey data were also collected to help us understand each participant's experiences. “Accessibility barrier” occurrences were documented using a novel task analysis method, and the results enabled us to illustrate key distinctions between accessibility and usability methodology. Using insights from the analysis, we provide suggestions to aid designers in improving the accessibility of commonly used medical equipment for users with disabilities.

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 278-284
Author(s):  
Rosnah Mohd Yusuff ◽  
Abdul Malik bin Zainal Abidin ◽  
Fazlollah Agamohamadi

An ambulance is designed through the modification of an existing standard vehicle body. By converting, renovating and equipping a standard vehicle body with a patient stretcher, paramedic seats, nearside seats, and related medical equipment, the vehicle becomes an ambulance. Therefore, the requirements and layout of the ambulance interior are constrained by the space available and dimensions of the adopted vehicle. Ambulance occupant protection, safety and ergonomic aspects are usually compromised. High quality and consistent emergency care demand continuous quality improvement and is directly dependent on the effective monitoring, integration, and evaluation of all components of the patients care. Currently, there is no standard or guideline regarding patient compartment layout to help ambulance manufacturers to improve this confine working space. This study aims to assess and evaluate ambulance patient compartment and its effect on the paramedics in performing their tasks. Since the paramedics have to respond to emergencies, their comfort, safety and ease of handling the various equipment in the ambulance has to be considered. A combination of techniques was applied to collect comprehensive data, including interviews, observations and questionnaires which outcomes are used as a basis of suggestions for the improvement in ambulance layout design. By analyzing the tasks performed, a proper layout which considers the ergonomic aspects will ensure that the first response is efficient and reliable.


Author(s):  
Sam Hepenstal ◽  
Leishi Zhang ◽  
Neesha Kodogoda ◽  
B.L. William Wong

Criminal investigations are guided by repetitive and time-consuming information retrieval tasks, often with high risk and high consequence. If Artificial intelligence (AI) systems can automate lines of inquiry, it could reduce the burden on analysts and allow them to focus their efforts on analysis. However, there is a critical need for algorithmic transparency to address ethical concerns. In this paper, we use data gathered from Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) interviews of criminal intelligence analysts and perform a novel analysis method to elicit question networks. We show how these networks form an event tree, where events are consolidated by capturing analyst intentions. The event tree is simplified with a Dynamic Chain Event Graph (DCEG) that provides a foundation for transparent autonomous investigations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 132-142
Author(s):  
Paolo Masci ◽  
Sandy Weininger

Abstract This article reports on the development of usability engineering recommendations for next-generation integrated interoperable medical devices. A model-based hazard analysis method is used to reason about possible design anomalies in interoperability functions that could lead to use errors. Design recommendations are identified that can mitigate design problems. An example application of the method is presented based on an integrated medical system prototype for postoperative care. The AAMI/UL technical committee used the results of the described analysis to inform the creation of the Interoperability Usability Concepts, Annex J, which is included in the first edition of the new ANSI/AAMI/UL 2800-1:2019 standard on medical device interoperability. The presented work is valuable to experts developing future revisions of the interoperability standard, as it documents key aspects of the analysis method used to create part of the standard. The contribution is also valuable to manufacturers, as it demonstrates how to perform a model-based analysis of use-related aspects of a medical system at the early stages of development, when a concrete implementation of the system is not yet available.


Author(s):  
A Tavakoli Golpaygani

Nowadays, more than 10,000 different types of medical devices can be found in hospitals.These devices used in medical centers and hospitals for monitoring and treatment of patients require periodic safety and performance checking in order to have confidence in their functioning and operation. Physicians need better accurate medical measurements in order to better diagnose diseases, monitor patients and deliver treatments, in this way failure to ensure appropriate measurements will certainly have diverse effects. Safety and performance testing of medical devices in the medical sector is a one of the key factor in improving public health. Acquiring results of some investigations indicate a need for new and severe regulations on periodic performance verifications and medical equipment quality control program especially in highrisks instruments.The metrological reliability of four high risk medical devices, Electrosurgical unit, Defibrillator, Syringe pump and Infant incubator in use some hospitals (privates and publics) in one of the province of Iran according to international and national standards was evaluated. Quantitative analysis of Some parameters that impact the safety and performance showed the amount of the obtained results in some equipment are in critical range and have higher values than standard limitations. General electrical safety evaluations for measuring the patient leakage currents and patient auxiliary currents carried out for all of groups,in some cases the amount of leakage currents were over the standard limitations.Acquiring results indicate a need for new and severe regulations on periodic performance verifications and medical equipment quality control program especially in high risk instruments. It is also necessary provide training courses for operating staff in the field of meterology in medicine and what’s the critical parameters and how they can get good accuracy results equipment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 5703-5729
Author(s):  
Clara Isabel López ◽  
Luis Eduardo Bautista ◽  
Carlos Mantilla

1981 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-140
Author(s):  
John W. Cotton ◽  
Sandra P. Marshall ◽  
Stanley Varnhagen ◽  
John P. Gallagher

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferran Fillat-Gomà ◽  
Sergi Coderch-Navarro ◽  
Laia Martínez-Carreres ◽  
Núria Monill-Raya ◽  
Toni Nadal-Mir ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To cope with shortages of equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic, we established a nonprofit end-to-end system to identify, validate, regulate, manufacture, and distribute 3D-printed medical equipment. Here we describe the local and global impact of this system. Methods Together with critical care experts, we identified potentially lacking medical equipment and proposed solutions based on 3D printing. Validation was based on the ISO 13485 quality standard for the manufacturing of customized medical devices. We posted the design files for each device on our website together with their technical and printing specifications and created a supply chain so that hospitals from our region could request them. We analyzed the number/type of items, petitioners, manufacturers, and catalogue views. Results Among 33 devices analyzed, 26 (78·8%) were validated. Of these, 23 (88·5%) were airway consumables and 3 (11·5%) were personal protective equipment. Orders came from 19 (76%) hospitals and 6 (24%) other healthcare institutions. Peak production was reached 10 days after the catalogue was published. A total of 22,135 items were manufactured by 59 companies in 18 sectors; 19,212 items were distributed to requesting sites during the busiest days of the pandemic. Our online catalogue was also viewed by 27,861 individuals from 113 countries. Conclusions 3D printing helped mitigate shortages of medical devices due to problems in the global supply chain.


2012 ◽  
Vol 461 ◽  
pp. 868-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Ge Zhang

Materials science is an interdisciplinary field applying the properties of matter to various areas of science and engineering. In this article, the notion of orthogonal nonseparable five-variant wavelet packages is presented. A novel approach for constructing them is presented by iteration method and functional analysis method. A feasible approach for constructing two-directional orthogonal wavelet packs is developed. The orthogonality property of five-variant wavelet packs is discussed. Three orthogonality formulas concerning these wavelet packs are estabished. A constructive method for affine frames of is proposed. The sufficient condition for the existence of a class of affine pseudoframes with filter banks is obtained by virtue of a generalized multiresolution analysis.


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