scholarly journals Endorobots for Colonoscopy: Design Challenges and Available Technologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Manfredi

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide, after lung cancer (Sung et al., 2021). Early stage detection is key to increase the survival rate. Colonoscopy remains to be the gold standard procedure due to its dual capability to optically inspect the entire colonic mucosa and to perform interventional procedures at the same time. However, this causes pain and discomfort, whereby it requires sedation or anaesthesia of the patient. It is a difficult procedure to perform that can cause damage to the colonic wall in some cases. Development of new technologies aims to overcome the current limitations on colonoscopy by using advancements in endorobotics research. The design of these advanced medical devices is challenging because of the limited space of the lumen, the contorted shape, and the long tract of the large bowel. The force applied to the colonic wall needs to be controlled to avoid collateral effects such as injuries to the colonic mucosa and pain during the procedure. This article discusses the current challenges in the colonoscopy procedure, the available locomotion technologies for endorobots used in colonoscopy at a prototype level and the commercial products available.

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 3199-3208
Author(s):  
Emanuel Balzan ◽  
Pierre Vella ◽  
Philip Farrugia ◽  
Edward Abela ◽  
Glenn Cassar ◽  
...  

AbstractResearch funded projects are often concerned with the development of proof-of-concept products. Consequently, activities related to verification and validation testing (VVT) are often not considered in depth, even though various design iterations are carried out to refine an idea. Furthermore, the introduction of additive manufacturing (AM) has facilitated, in particular, the development of bespoke medical products. End bespoke products, which will be used by relevant stakeholders (e.g. patients and clinicians) are fabricated with the same manufacturing technologies used during prototyping. As a result, the detailed design stage of products fabricated by AM is much shorter. Therefore, to improve the market-readiness of bespoke medical devices, testing must be integrated within the development from an early stage, allowing better planning of resources. To address these issues, in this paper, a comprehensive VVT framework is proposed for research projects, which lack a VVT infrastructure. The framework builds up on previous studies and methods utilised in industry to enable project key experts to capture risks as early as the concept design stage.


2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Ruthven

This article examines three important facets of the incorporation of new technologies into educational practice, focusing on emergent usages of the mathematical tools of computer algebra and dynamic geometry. First, it illustrates the interpretative flexibility of these tools, highlighting important differences in ways of conceptualizing and employing them that reflect their appropriation to contrasting practices of mathematics teaching. Second, it examines the cultural process of instrumental evolution in which mathematical frameworks and teaching practices are adapted in response to new possibilities created by these tools, showing that such evolution remains at a relatively early stage. Third, it points to crucial prerequisites, at both classroom and systemic levels, for effective institutional adoption of such tools: explicit recognition of the interplay between the development of instrumental and mathematical knowledge, including the establishment of a recognized repertoire of tool-mediated mathematical techniques supported by appropriate discourses of explanation and justification.


2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal-Ruth Schweiger ◽  
Hans Lehrach

According to the centre for disease control (CDC) malignant neoplasms are the second most common cause of death in the US in 2004 (1). One of the major problems is that most of the cancers are diagnosed in an advanced stage, which prohibits curative treatment. In order to circumvent these problems, we need to develop strategies that allow identification of risk patients and tumors at an early stage. In addition, it is necessary to identify prognostic and predictive biomarkers that guide patient treatment at different stages of the disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
Julie Lenzer ◽  
Piotr Kulczakowicz

The new technologies born from academic research can be very promising, yet they are often very early stage. University spin-off companies are uniquely positioned to tackle the risks associated with new technologies emerging from academia by developing proofs of concept, functioning prototypes, and new products. While these enterprises start from a solid research and development foundation, they face their own unique set of challenges—they are strongly anchored in the scientific and technological expertise that is typically backed by intellectual property but often lack the business experience needed to develop and market products demanded by customers. University spin-offs have access to substantial non-dilutive funding that can be utilized for advancing product development. While the relentless pursuit of these funds builds a company's credibility and improves its position for negotiating future private investment, university spin-offs would greatly benefit from an early focus on complementing their technology teams with their business teams. These new enterprises should consider pursuing private investment in parallel to utilizing sources of non-dilutive funding. Timing of private investment is extremely important to maximize the value of the opportunity, and, therefore, building relationships with investors early on and getting ready for executing an investment round can greatly increase odds for success. While there is no single path to formulate, pursue, and adapt successful financing strategies, lessons can be learned from real-life cases of university spin-offs that continue their journeys towards ultimate success.


2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (9B) ◽  
pp. 677-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helio Rodrigues Gomes

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is a major complication of haematological and solid tumors with an incidence that ranges from 10% in solid malignances up to 25% in specific leukaemia or lymphoma subtypes. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) patterns are unspecific. Though CSF cytology has a high specificity (up to 95%), its sensitivity is generally less than 50% and no diagnostic gold standard marker is available, yet. New technologies such as flow cytometry, molecular genetics and newer biomarkers may improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, leading to the CNS involvement diagnosis, and consequently, to an effective prophylaxis and successful treatment.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Salama ◽  
Michael Phillips ◽  
Fabienne Grieu ◽  
Melinda Morris ◽  
Nik Zeps ◽  
...  

Purpose To determine the prognostic significance of FOXP3+ lymphocyte (Treg) density in colorectal cancer compared with conventional histopathologic features and with CD8+ and CD45RO+ lymphocyte densities. Patients and Methods Tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry were used to assess the densities of CD8+, CD45RO+, and FOXP3+ lymphocytes in tumor tissue and normal colonic mucosa from 967 stage II and stage III colorectal cancers. These were evaluated for associations with histopathologic features and patient survival. Results FOXP3+ Treg density was higher in tumor tissue compared with normal colonic mucosa, whereas CD8+ and CD45RO+ cell densities were lower. FOXP3+ Tregs were not associated with any histopathologic features, with the exception of tumor stage. Multivariate analysis showed that stage, vascular invasion, and FOXP3+ Treg density in normal and tumor tissue were independent prognostic indicators, but not CD8+ and CD45RO+. High FOXP3+ Treg density in normal mucosa was associated with worse prognosis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.51; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.13; P = .019). In contrast, a high density of FOXP3+ Tregs in tumor tissue was associated with improved survival (HR = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.77; P = .001). Conclusion FOXP3+ Treg density in normal and tumor tissue had stronger prognostic significance in colorectal cancer compared with CD8+ and CD45RO+ lymphocytes. The finding of improved survival associated with a high density of tumor-infiltrating FOXP3+ Tregs in colorectal cancer contrasts with several other solid cancer types. The inclusion of FOXP3+ Treg density may help to improve the prognostication of early-stage colorectal cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-90
Author(s):  
Shaimaa K. Ahmed ◽  
Zobeda H. Naji ◽  
Yousif N. Hatif ◽  
Meaad Hussam

Automation in the drug inventory distribution process is helpful to pharmacist. Pharmacy management has kept paper record in filing cabinets. Managing a very large pharmacy with records on papers will be tedious and difficult to keep track ofinventories with regards to the drugs in the store, expiry date, quantity of drugs available based on the categories and their functions. A Drug Inventory Management Information System(DIMIS) is basically a computer system that can manage all the information to allow pharmacists to do their jobs faster and more effective in real time. These jobs include: dispensing of drugs, drug regulation, and the sale of these drugs. The developed methodology adopted in the implementation of the software is iterative model of system development life cycle. This method produces an early stage of model. The development of the system is based on using new technologies like AJAX, ASP.NET MVC 5, Bootstrap, HTML and CSS which make the user interface more interactive. C#.NET language was used as server language whereas as a database server Microsoft SQL server 2012 was utilized. DIMIS is able to search and check a huge number and expiration date of drug in the purchase as well as delivery records. These attributes and functions are powerful, efficient and subsequently useful in patient's safety and cost containment


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 478-482
Author(s):  
Louise Lee ◽  
Evie Yon

Phacoemulsification is the gold standard procedure for cataract removal in veterinary patients. Registered veterinary nurses involved in the care of patients undergoing this surgery should be aware of potential complications postoperatively and tailor their nursing considerations to individual patients. Pain assessment in ophthalmic patients should take a different format to that in traditional soft tissue or orthopaedic surgeries, and monitoring of intraocular pressure is an important part of postoperative care. This report aims to discuss these nursing interventions for a patient nursed in a referral hospital setting.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vallet Laurent ◽  
Gutarov Pavel ◽  
Chevallier Bertrand ◽  
Converset Julien ◽  
Paterson Graeme ◽  
...  

Abstract In the current economic environment, delivering wells on time and on budget is paramount. Well construction is a significant cost of any field development and it is more important than ever to minimize these costs and to avoid unnecessary lost time and non-productive time. Invisible lost time and non-productive time can represent as much as 40% of the cost of well construction and can lead to more severe issues such as delaying first oil, losing the well or environmental impact. There has been much work developing systems to optimize well construction, but the industry still fails to routinely detect and avoid problematic events such as stuck pipe, kicks, losses and washouts. Standardizing drilling practice can help also to improve the efficiency, this practice has shown a 30% cost reduction through repetitive and systematic practices, automation becomes the key process to realize it and Machine Learning introduced by new technologies is the key to achieve it. Drilling data analysis is key to understanding reasons for bad performances and detecting at an early stage potential downhole events. It can be done efficiently to provide to the user tools to look at the well construction process in its whole instead of looking at the last few hours as it is done at the rig site. In order to analyze the drilling data, it is necessary to have access to reliable data in Real-Time to compare with a data model considering the context (BHA, fluids, well geometry). Well planning, including multi-well offset analysis of risks, drilling processes and geology enables a user to look at the full well construction process and define levels of automation. This paper applies machine learning to a post multi-well analysis of a deepwater field development known for its drilling challenges. Minimizing the human input through automation allowed us to compare offset wells and to define the root cause for non-productive time. In our case study an increase of the pressure while drilling should have led to immediate mitigation measures to avoid a wiper trip. This paper presents techniques used to systematize surface data analysis and a workflow to identify at an early stage a near pack off which was spotted in an automatic way. The application of this process during operations could have achieved a 10%-time reduction of the section 12 ¼’’.


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