Comparison Of Different Devices Research Articles

Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention: to repair or to replace?

The burden of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is high in the aging population, almost 4% in the age group over 75 have moderate or more TR. This carries a poor prognosis and an increased incidence of mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and rehospitalization in symptomatic patients with severe TR is observed. Percutaneous tricuspid valve intervention has emerged as a viable therapeutic option, with an increasingly large toolbox of both tricuspid repair and replacement devices. The optimal strategy, timing and patient selection for transcatheter intervention are yet to be determined. This review focuses on the current strengths and limitations of transcatheter tricuspid repair vs. replacement, drawing on lessons learned from surgery. Early outcome studies have been published in the last 2 years for many of the new percutaneous tricuspid valve devices. We have summarized these results and compared them to surgical tricuspid valve repair and replacement. We found that surgical data shows a tendency to better outcome with tricuspid valve repair compared to replacement. For transcatheter interventions studies comparing repair and replacement are lacking but both interventions show good procedural success rates and are efficient in reducing the grade of tricuspid regurgitation. Transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions offer a safe and effective alternative to tricuspid surgery or medical therapy. The decision between valve replacement and repair should be based on patient anatomy, operator experience and device availability until head-to-head comparison of different devices are available.

Inductive and Capacitive Hysteresis of Halide Perovskite Solar Cells and Memristors Under Illumination

The current–voltage curves of memristors exhibit significant hysteresis effects of use for information storage and computing. Here, we provide a comparison of different devices based on MAPbI3 perovskite with different contact configurations, from a 15% efficient solar cell to a pure memristor that lacks directional photocurrent. Current–voltage curves and impedance spectroscopy give insights into the different types of hysteresis, photocapacitance, and inductance present in halide perovskites. It is shown that both halide perovskite memristors and solar cells show a large inverted hysteresis effect at the forward bias that is related to the presence of a chemical inductor component in the equivalent circuit. Based on the results, we classify the observed response according to recombination current in devices with selective contacts, to voltage-activated single-carrier device conduction in devices with symmetric contacts. These findings serve to gain an understanding of the mechanism of memristor currents in mixed ionic-electronic conductors such as halide perovskites. We establish the link in the electrical response between solar cells and memristors.

On the accurate characterization of quantum-dot light-emitting diodes for display applications

Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) are a class of high-performance solution-processed electroluminescent (EL) devices highly attractive for next-generation display applications. Despite the encouraging advances in the mechanism investigation, material chemistry, and device engineering of QLEDs, the lack of standard protocols for the characterization of QLEDs may cause inaccurate measurements of device parameters and invalid comparison of different devices. Here, we report a comprehensive study on the characterizations of QLEDs using various methods. We show that the emission non-uniformity across the active area, non-Lambertian angular distributions of EL intensity, and discrepancies in the adopted spectral luminous efficiency functions could introduce significant errors in the device efficiency. Larger errors in the operational-lifetime measurements may arise from the inaccurate determination of the initial luminance and inconsistent methods for analyzing the luminance-decay curves. Finally, we suggest a set of recommended practices and a checklist for device characterizations, aiming to help the researchers in the QLED field to achieve accurate and reliable measurements.

Modeling photovoltaic-electrochemical water splitting devices for the production of hydrogen under real working conditions

Photoelectrochemical splitting of water is potentially a sustainable and affordable solution to produce hydrogen from sun light. Given the infancy stage of technology development, it is important to compare the different experimental concepts and identify the most promising routes. The performance of photoelectrochemical devices is typically measured and reported under ideal irradiation conditions, i.e. 1 sun. However, real-life operating conditions are very different, and are varying in time according to daily and seasonal cycles. In this work, we present an equivalent circuit model for computing the steady state performance of photoelectrochemical cells. The model allows for a computationally efficient, yet precise prediction of the system performance and a comparison of different devices working in real operating conditions. To this end, five different photoelectrochemical devices are modeled using experimental results from literature. The calculated performance shows good agreement with experimental data of the different devices. Furthermore, the model is extended to include the effect of illumination and tilt angle on the hydrogen production efficiency. The resulting model is used to compare the devices for different locations with high and low average illumination and different tilt angles. The results show that including real illumination data has a considerable impact on the efficiency of the PV-EC device. The yearly average solar-to-hydrogen efficiency is significantly lower than the ideal one. Moreover, it is dependent on the tilt angle, whose optimal value for European-like latitude is around 40°. Notably, we also show that the most performing device through the whole year might not necessarily be the one with highest sun-to-hydrogen efficiency for one-sun illumination.

Comparison of different devices to measure the intraocular pressure in thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

To evaluate the correlation of the intraocular pressure measurements (IOP) with non-contact tonometer Corvis Scheimpflug technology (Corvis ST), Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), ocular response analyzer (ORA), and iCARE rebound tonometer in patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) and eye-healthy subjects (control group). Twenty-nine consecutive patients with TAO (79% female) and 30 eye-healthy subjects (60% female) were included in this prospective, age- and sex-matched study. The IOP measurement with Corvis, ORA, GAT, iCARE, and central corneal thickness (CCT) with Corvis was obtained from all study participants. The mean age of the patients was 51 ± 10years in patients with TAO and 56 ± 13years in the control group. The mean IOP measurements with GAT, Corvis, ORA, and iCARE were 15.93 ± 4.42mmHg, 18.10 ± 7.54mmHg, 18.40 ± 7.93mmHg, and 16.61 ± 7.96mmHg in patients with TAO and 14.52 ± 3.02mmHg, 14.48 ± 3.38mmHg, 15.29 ± 4.64mmHg, and 14.13 ± 3.85mmHg in the control group (P = 0.157, P = 0.004, P = 0.017, and P = 0.176 respectively). The mean CCT was 547.5 ± 39.2μm in patients with TAO and 560.8 ± 49.8μm in the control group ( P= 0.261). The data collected shows an agreement between the iCARE and GAT IOP measurements in TAO patients and in eye-healthy patients. However, the mean value of IOP measurements with Corvis and ORA was significantly higher in patients with TAO in comparison with the control group (P = 0.044 and P = 0.029 respectively).

Anatomical investigations on intraosseous access in stillborns – Comparison of different devices and techniques

AimIntraosseous (IO)-access plays an alternative route during resuscitation. Our study was performed to investigate the successful rate of IO-access in preterm and term stillborns using different devices and techniques. MethodsThe cadavers used were legal donations. 16 stillborns, median: 29.2 weeks (IQR 27.2–38.4) were investigated. Two different needles (a: Butterfly needle, 21G, Venofix® Fa.Braun; b: Arrow®EZ-IO®15G, Teleflex, Dublin, Ireland) were used. Needles were inserted i: manually, using a Butterfly needle; ii: manually, using EZ-IO® needle or iii: using a battery-powered semi-automatic drill (Arrow®EZ-IO®). Spectral-CT's were performed. The diameter of the corticalis was determined from the CT-images. Successful hit rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and odds ratios between the three methods were estimated using a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM). ResultsEstimated success rate was 61.1% (95%CI:39.7%–78.9%) for the Butterfly needle, 43.0% (95%CI:23.4%–65.0%) for hand-twisted EZ-IO® screwing and 39.7% (95%CI:24.1–57.7%) for the semi-automatic drill (Arrow®EZ-IO®), all referring to an average diameter of the corticalis of 1.2 mm. The odds of a correct position were 2.4 times higher (95%CI:0.8–7.6) when using the Butterfly needle than with the drill. In contrast, the odds of correct positioning when inserting the needle by hand were not significantly different from using the drill (odds ratio 1.1, 95%CI: 0.4–3.3). Neither of these effects nor the diameter of the corticalis with an odds ratio near one were significant in the model. Median diameter of the bone marrow cavity was 4.0 mm [IQR 3.3–4.7]. ConclusionIntraosseous access for premature and neonatal infants could be best achieved by using a manually twisted Butterfly needle.

Needle versus Forceps Technique in Ultrasound-Guided Synovial Biopsy of the Knee Joint

Objectives: Ultrasound-guided synovial biopsy is increasingly applied in rheumatology. Usually forceps- or needle-based techniques are used. So far there has been no direct comparison of different devices regarding their suitability in high resolution musculoskeletal ultrasound (hrMSUS)-guided synovial biopsy. Methods: A core needle biopsy (Quickcore, Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA), an anterograde arthroscopy forceps (Karl Storz GmbH, Tuttlingen, Germany), a retrograde forceps (Retroforce, KarlStorz GmbH Tuttlingen, Germany) and an convexly shaped integrated core needle system (Synovex, Hipp Medical, Kolbingen, Germany) were tested for ultrasound-guided synovial biopsy of the suprapatellar recess in cadaver knee joints. Four senior rheumatologists scored each intervention from 0-5 regarding the following characteristics: visualization, handiness, accuracy, synovial tissue yield, invasiveness and overall suitability. Each intervention was recorded as static images and video clips. You can submit your Manuscripts at: https://symbiosisonlinepublishing.com/submitManuscript.php

Sub-ppm YSZ-based mixed potential type acetone sensor utilizing columbite type composite oxide sensing electrode

Mixed potential type solid-state electrochemical gas sensors using yttria- stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and columbite composite oxide sensing electrodes (SEs) prepared via a facile sol-gel method were developed for detection of sub-ppm acetone at 600°C. In the comparison of different devices, the sensor attached with CdNb2O6-SE displayed the highest response of −25mV to 5ppm acetone and even could achieve low detection limit of 200ppb at 600°C. The fabricated sensor using CdNb2O6-SE exhibited rapid response and recovery times to 2ppm acetone at 600°C, which are 9 and 21s, respectively. Additionally, the present device also showed good repeatability, selectivity, wet-resistance and stability in 30day measured periods at 600°C. Moreover, the sensing mechanism related to mixed potential was proposed and analyzed quantitatively and further demonstrated by polarization curve.

Mechanical support in cardiogenic shock

Treatment of patients in cardiogenic shock (CS) presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is still a challenge and mortality rates remain high, approaching 50 %. Hemodynamic stabilization before and/or after early revascularization remains the primary goal in these patients. In addition to hemodynamic support by inotropes and vasopressors, support with mechanical devices such as intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP), percutaneous left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and complete extracorporeal life support (ECLS) with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be considered. The use of IABP cannot be recommended anymore on a routine basis. Unfortunately, there are no large randomized data from studies evaluating treatment with mechanical support systems compared to standard treatment with respect to the clinical outcome of patients and no head-to-head comparison of different devices is available. Another important open question to be answered is which subgroups of patients may have a benefit from LVAD therapy. Guidelines discourage the routine use of mechanical support as a first-line treatment in CS patients and emphasize that the application should be restricted to those patients with refractory shock. This article gives an overview of the different devices for percutaneous mechanical support in CS and describes the available evidence and guideline recommendations.

Measurement of heat and moisture exchanger efficiency

Deciding between a passive heat and moisture exchanger or active humidification depends upon the level of humidification that either will deliver. Published international standards dictate that active humidifiers should deliver a minimum humidity of 33 mg.l(-1); however, no such requirement exists, for heat and moisture exchangers. Anaesthetists instead have to rely on information provided by manufacturers, which may not allow comparison of different devices and their clinical effectiveness. I suggest that measurement of humidification efficiency, being the percentage moisture returned and determined by measuring the temperature of the respired gases, should be mandated, and report a modification of the standard method that will allow this to be easily measured. In this study, different types of heat and moisture exchangers for adults, children and patients with a tracheostomy were tested. Adult and paediatric models lost between 6.5 mg.l(-1) and 8.5 mg.l(-1) moisture (corresponding to an efficiency of around 80%); however, the models designed for patients with a tracheostomy lost between 16 mg.l(-1) and 18 mg.l(-1) (60% efficiency). I propose that all heat and moisture exchangers should be tested in this manner and percentage efficiency reported to allow an informed choice between different types and models.

Human placenta as an ex vivo vascular model for neurointerventional research

BackgroundHuman placenta is a convenient resource for biomedical research, and has not yet been used for neurointerventional surgery research.ObjectiveOur objective was to explore the feasibility of using human placenta to...

The ‘Can't Intubate Can't Oxygenate’ scenario in Pediatric Anesthesia: a comparison of different devices for needle cricothyroidotomy

Little evidence exists to guide the management of the 'Can't Intubate, Can't Oxygenate' (CICO) scenario in pediatric anesthesia. To compare two intravenous cannulae for ease of use, success rate and complication rate in needle tracheotomy in a postmortem animal model of the infant airway, and trial a commercially available device using the same model. Two experienced proceduralists repeatedly attempted cannula tracheotomy in five postmortem rabbits, alternately using 18-gauge (18G) and 14-gauge (14G) BD Insyte(™) cannulae (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA). Attempts began at the first tracheal cartilage, with subsequent attempts progressively more caudad. Success was defined as intratracheal cannula placement. In each rabbit, an attempt was then made by each proceduralist to perform a cannula tracheotomy using the Quicktrach Child(™) device (VBM Medizintechnik GmbH, Sulz am Neckar, Germany). The rabbit tracheas were of similar dimensions to a human infant. 60 attempts were made at cannula tracheotomy, yielding a 60% success rate. There was no significant difference in success rate, ease of use, or complication rate between cannulae of different gauge. Successful aspiration was highly predictive (positive predictive value 97%) and both sensitive (89%) and specific (96%) for tracheal cannulation. The posterior tracheal wall was perforated in 42% of tracheal punctures. None of 13 attempts using the Quicktrach Child(™) were successful. Cannula tracheotomy in a model comparable to the infant airway is difficult and not without complication. Cannulae of 14- and 18-gauge appear to offer similar performance. Successful aspiration is the key predictor of appropriate cannula placement. The Quicktrach Child was not used successfully in this model. Further work is required to compare possible management strategies for the CICO scenario.

On the performance of label-free resonant photonic biosensors

R photonic biosensing is a powerful technique for label-free detection of biomolecules and viruses. Specifically during the past 5 years photonic biosensning using high quality factor (high-Q) optical microresonators has been the subject of intensive research and development. High-Q optical resonance in micron and sub-micron scale provides a sensitive transduction mechanism for generating a detectable signal proportional to the molecular binding events in label-free affinity based assays. A plethora of microresonator based photonic biosensors have been demonstrated that translate the surface density of bound molecules to measurable changes in optical transmission spectrum using resonant frequency shift. Although a large volume of research has been dedicated to different designs, sensitivity improvement in specific configurations and in few cases simple analysis of the performance, less effort has been spent on developing a comprehensive framework for comparing the practical performance of resonant photonic biosensors as an important class of biosensors. Here after a brief review of the fundamental principles of photonic biosensing using microresonators and related devices, we present a framework for a fair comparison of different devices and sensor configurations. Specifically we explore the detection limit, dynamic range and noise in resonant photonic biosensors. This analysis covers Whispering-Gallery microresonators, monolithic microring cavities, gratings, photonic crystals and microcapillaries. The proposed approach also lays the ground for the development of a universal framework that also includes microelectronic and micromechanical biosensors.

Comparison of different devices for predicting the lean meat percentage of pig carcasses

Lean meat percentage (LMP) is the criterion for carcass classification and it must be measured on line objectively. The aim of this work was to compare the error of the prediction (RMSEP) of the LMP measured with the following different devices: Fat-O-Meat’er (FOM), UltraFOM (UFOM), AUTOFOM and VCS2000. For this reason the same 99 carcasses were measured using all 4 apparatuses and dissected according to the European Reference Method. Moreover a subsample of the carcasses ( n = 77) were fully scanned with X-ray Computed Tomography equipment (CT). The RMSEP calculated with cross validation leave-one-out was lower for FOM and AUTOFOM (1.8% and 1.9%, respectively) and higher for UFOM and VCS2000 (2.3% for both devices). The error obtained with CT was the lowest (0.96%) in accordance with previous results, but CT cannot be used on line. It can be concluded that FOM and AUTOFOM had better accuracy than UFOM and VCS2000.

An experimental comparison of different devices for pulsatile high-pressure lavage and their relevance to cement intrusion into cancellous bone

Some of the systems marketed for pulsatile high-pressure lavage are clearly different in their mechanical pulse characteristics. To take the matter further we set up an experimental in vitro model to determine whether these different lavage systems might produce different cementation results because of their differing pulse characteristics, and whether the systems differed significantly in terms of cement depth penetration. A total of 48 femoral heads were obtained at operation from patients who had undergone endoprosthetic hip replacement. The specimens were subjected to manual rinsing or semiautomatic cleansing procedures with five different pulsatile lavage devices. After the cleansing procedures, polymethylmetacrylate bone cement was intruded into the cancellous bone under standardised conditions. Determination of cement penetration was done by computed tomography using an image processing software. Irrespective of the nature of the lavage system tested, superficial cement penetration, both up to 2 mm and up to 3 mm, was significantly better after pulsatile high-pressure lavage than it was after manual rinsing of the specimens with a bladder syringe (P < 0.001 in each case). Whereas our experimental model did not show any significant differences between the lavage systems as regards the cementation results to a depth of up to 2 mm (P = 0.996), there were significant differences at a target depth of 3 mm (P < 0.05). As compared with manual rinsing, pulsatile high-pressure lavage in vitro makes highly significant improvements in cement penetration into cancellous bone and should be regarded as an indispensable component of modern cementation techniques for endoprosthetic surgery. Up to the present we have not been able to ascertain what influence the different pulse characteristics of a pulsatile lavage system may have on the intended cementation result, whether it is impact force, pulse shape, pulse duration, flow rate or frequency. Appropriate investigations will be necessary.

15.2: Distinguished Paper: Assessment of Temporal Blur‐Reduction Methods Using a Computational Observer that Predicts Human Performance

AbstractWe report on a method to assess the impact of temporal blur reduction techniques based on measured or modeled device temporal characteristics with a contrast‐sensitive computational observer that predicts human performance. We applied the method to the comparison of different devices and temporal blur reduction approaches.

Requirements for the Development of Bacillus Anthracis Spore Reference Materials Used to Test Detection Systems.

Bacillus anthracis spores have been used as biological weapons and the possibility of their further use requires surveillance systems that can accurately and reliably detect their presence in the environment. These systems must collect samples from a variety of matrices, process the samples, and detect the spores. The processing of the sample may include removal of inhibitors, concentration of the target, and extraction of the target in a form suitable for detection. Suitable reference materials will allow the testing of each of these steps to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the detection systems. The development of uniform and well-characterized reference materials will allow the comparison of different devices and technologies as well as assure the continued performance of detection systems. This paper discusses the special requirements of reference materials for Bacillus anthracis spores that could be used for testing detection systems. The detection of Bacillus anthracis spores is based on recognition of specific characteristics (markers) on either the spore surface or in the nucleic acids (DNA). We have reviewed the specific markers and their relevance to characterization of reference materials. We have also included the approach for the characterization of candidate reference materials that we are developing at the NIST laboratories. Additional applications of spore reference materials would include testing sporicidal treatments, techniques for sampling the environment, and remediation of spore-contaminated environments.

Convenience of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: comparison of different devices

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has emerged as an important tool supporting physicians in the diagnosis and management of arterial hypertension. Compared with office measurements and self-measurements, however, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring shows the lowest patients' acceptance. The present study compares the convenience of different monitors in order to examine whether the patients benefit from new technologies. In a prospective randomized study, we compared the side effects of the Spacelabs 90207 with the I.E.M. Mobilograph monitor in 250 patients by means of a questionnaire that covered the following aspects: restriction in everyday activities, noise, sleep disturbance, pain and mobility. Complaints were measured by a five-point scale ranging from 'no complaints at all' to 'severe complaints'. In all, 205 patients returned completed surveys (101 patients of the I.E.M. group, 104 patients of the Spacelabs group), yielding an 82% final response rate. The overall mean complaint score was significantly higher in the Spacelabs group than in the I.E.M group (2.24 vs. 1.78; P<0.001). The Mobilograph revealed less discomfort in every single question and differences were significant for restrictions in everyday activities, noise, pain, disturbance of the patient's or the patient's partner's sleep and restrictions in walking. Sleep disturbance was the aspect with the highest difference in the two groups. The present work confirms that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring monitors are cumbersome to wear. Devices, however, differ in their comfort. Monitors with an improved convenience might lead to a higher patients' acceptance of this powerful diagnostic tool.

Coagulation management and mechanical circulatory support: a comparison of different devices

Coagulation management and mechanical circulatory support: a comparison of different devices

An overview of standards in electromagnetic compatibility for integrated circuits

The characterization of the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance of integrated circuits (ICs) is receiving increasing focus as new applications and technology trends combine to raise the complexity of EMC compliance. The increased focus is driving the need for standardized measurement procedures to enable consistent evaluation and comparison of different devices. This paper discusses the need for standardization, describes the work in process by IEC TC47/SC47A Working Group 9 to standardize emissions and immunity EMC test methods for ICs, and examines trends in IC EMC.