Evaluation of the performance of two new generation pulse oximeters in cats at different probe positions and under the influence of vasoconstriction

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the failure rate of two new generation pulse oximeters at different probe positions, and with and without vasoconstriction, in anaesthetised cats. Methods This prospective clinical study included 103 cats in which the new generation pulse oximeters, the Rad-5 (Masimo) and EDAN H100N (EDAN), were evaluated. Premedication consisted of the vasoconstrictive drug combination butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg IV) and dexmedetomidine (5 µg/kg IV), or butorphanol only (0.2 mg/kg IV). Pulse oximeter failure rate at the tongue was compared between both groups. Pulse oximeter failure rate was also analysed at the alternative probe positions of the lip, pinna, knee fold and toe in the butorphanol group. Student’s t-test, Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test, Mann−Whitney U-test, Friedman test and χ2 test were performed. A P value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results Overall failure to achieve an adequate signal was 37.6% with the Masimo and 48.0% with the EDAN pulse oximeter ( P <0.0001). At the standard probe position on the tongue, the Masimo failed in 4.5%, while the EDAN failed in 35.3% ( P <0.0001). Vasoactive premedication increased the failure rate for the Masimo from 3.8% to 5.2% ( P = 0.3414) and for the EDAN from 22.4% to 49.0% ( P <0.0001). At the alternative probe positions of the lip and knee fold, failure rates for the Masimo were lower (39.7% and 81.4%) than with the EDAN (52.6% and 94.4%; P = 0.0231 and P = 0.0005, respectively), while the Masimo failed more often at the pinna (63.5%) than the EDAN (47.4%; P = 0.0044). At the alternative probe position of the toe, the failure rate for the Masimo (32.7%) was not different from the EDAN (38.5%; P = 0.7547). Conclusions and relevance The Masimo pulse oximeter had lower signal failure rates at the standard probe position on the tongue and at 2/4 alternative probe positions. The standard probe position on the tongue had the lowest failure rate for both devices. Dexmedetomidine-induced vasoconstriction increased the failure rate for the EDAN but not for the Masimo pulse oximeter.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Fingertip Cannot Replace Forearm Photoplethysmography in the Evaluation of Positional Venous Outflow Impairments

Objective: Fingertip photoplethysmography (PPG) resulting from high-pass filtered raw PPG signal is often used to record arterial pulse changes in patients with suspected thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Results from venous (low-pass filtered raw signal) forearm PPG (V-PPG) during the Candlestick-Prayer (Ca + Pra) maneuver were recently classified into four different patterns in patients with suspected TOS, two of which are suggestive of the presence of outflow impairment. We aimed to test the effect of probe position (fingertip vs. forearm) and of red (R) vs. infrared (IR) light wavelength on V-PPG classification and compared pattern classifications with the results of ultrasound (US).Methods: In patients with suspected TOS, we routinely performed US imaging (US + being the presence of a positional compression) and Ca + Pra tests with forearm V-PPGIR. We recruited patients for a Ca + Pra maneuver with the simultaneous fingertip and forearm V-PPGR. The correlation of each V-PPG recording to each of the published pattern profiles was calculated. Each record was classified according to the patterns for which the coefficient of correlation was the highest. Cohen’s kappa test was used to determine the reliability of classification among forearm V-PPGIR, fingertip V-PPGR, and forearm V-PPGR.Results: We obtained 40 measurements from 20 patients (40.2 ± 11.3 years old, 11 males). We found 13 limbs with US + results, while V-PPG suggested the presence of venous outflow impairment in 27 and 20 limbs with forearm V-PPGIR and forearm V-PPGR, respectively. Fingertip V-PPGR provided no patterns suggesting outflow impairment.Conclusion: We found more V-PPG patterns suggesting venous outflow impairment than US + results. Probe position is essential if aiming to perform upper-limb V-PPG during the Ca + Pra maneuver in patients with suspected TOS. V-PPG during the Ca + Pra maneuver is of low cost and easy and provides reliable, recordable, and objective evidence of forearm swelling. It should be performed on the forearm (close to the elbow) with either PPGR or PPGIR but not at the fingertip level.

Endobronchial Ultrasonography with a Guide Sheath Transbronchial Biopsy for Diagnosing Peripheral Pulmonary Lesions within or near Fibrotic Lesions in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease

In patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), the most frequent locations of lung cancer are within or near fibrotic lesions. However, the diagnostic yield for peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) within or near fibrotic lesions using endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath transbronchial biopsy (EBUS-GS TBB) may be unsatisfactory compared to that for PPLs distant from fibrotic lesions because of the difficulty in reaching the lesions. Our objectives were to evaluate the yield for PPLs using EBUS-GS TBB according to the proximity of PPLs to fibrotic lesions and to determine factors affecting the yield for PPLs. We retrospectively investigated 323 consecutive lesions using EBUS-GS TBB between 1 November 2014 and 31 December 2016. We identified PPLs with ILD in such lesions. PPLs with ILD were divided into PPLs within or near fibrotic lesions which met the criterion of PPLs, and of fibrotic lesions overlapping each other (PPLs-FL) and those distant from fibrotic lesions, which met the criterion of PPLs and the area of fibrotic lesion not overlapping each other (PPLs-NFL). Of the 323 lesions, 55 were included (31 PPLs-FL and 24 PPLs-NFL). The diagnostic yield for PPLs-FL was significantly lower than for PPLs-NFL (45.2% vs. 83.3%, p = 0.004). Multivariate analysis revealed that PPLs-NFL (odds ratio (OR) = 7.509) and a probe position within the lesion (OR = 4.172) were significant factors affecting diagnostic yield. Lesion’s positional relation to fibrotic lesions and the probe position were important factors affecting the successful diagnosis via EBUS-GS TBB in these patients.

A MBD Model-driven Automatic Generation Method of On-machine Measuring Program for CNC Machining

Aiming at the problem that the programming of on-machine measurement in CNC machining process is heavily dependent on operators and the efficiency is lower, a MBD model-driven automatic generation method of on-machine measuring program is proposed. The characteristics of measuring program is analysed and the relationship between the parameters of measuring cycle and the features of MBD model is built. The approach of PMI (product manufacturing information) data identifying and extracting is presented. The scheme for transforming the PMI data and geometric features to measuring cycle parameters is constructed. In order to make the measuring program adapt to the change of probe position which stored in different tool magazine, the way of collecting the position automatically by OPC DA protocol is provided. On the basis of the proposed methods and approaches, an on-machine measuring program generating software system has been developed. The running result of the system is given, and the feasibility and effectiveness of the method were demonstrated.

Near-Field Antenna Measurements with Manual Collection of the Measurement Samples

Near-field measurements are commonly performed in anechoic chambers which limits the flexibility of the measurements and requires high precision equipment to achieve exact results. In this contribution, we investigate a simple near-field measurement setup which does not use any sophisticated positioning system nor operates in a controlled environment. Instead, the probe antenna is moved by an operator person while the probe position is measured by a laser tracker. This implies that the measurement results will have a higher error level in comparison with antenna chamber measurements. However, excellent error levels are not always necessary, especially when it comes to on-site testing of the principle functionality of antennas. Measurement results are shown to illustrate the performance of the system.