Development Of Healthcare Technology Research Articles

In-Home Evaluation of the NeoCare Artificial Intelligence Sound-Based Fall Detection System

The NeoCare home monitoring system aims to detect falls and other events using artificial intelligence. This study evaluated NeoCare’s accuracy and explored user perceptions through a 12-week in-home trial with 18 households of adults aged 65+ years old at risk of falls (mean age: 75.3 years old; 67% female). Participants logged events that were cross-referenced with NeoCare logs to calculate sensitivity and specificity for fall detection and response. Qualitative interviews gathered in-depth user feedback. During the trial, 28 falls/events were documented, with 12 eligible for analysis as others occurred outside the home or when devices were offline. NeoCare was activated 4939 times—4930 by everyday household sounds and 9 by actual falls. Fall detection sensitivity was 75.00% and specificity 6.80%. For responding to falls, sensitivity was 62.50% and specificity 17.28%. Users felt more secure with NeoCare but identified needs for further calibration to improve accuracy. Advantages included avoiding wearables, while key challenges were misinterpreting noises and occasional technical issues like going offline. Suggested improvements were visual indicators, trigger words, and outdoor capability. The study demonstrated NeoCare’s potential with modifications. Users found it beneficial, but highlighted areas for improvement. Real-world evaluations and user-centered design are crucial for healthcare technology development.

Developing a Multiprofessional Mobile App to Enhance Health Habits in Older Adults: User-Centered Approach.

Although comprehensive lifestyle habits are crucial for healthy aging, their adherence tends to decline as individuals grow older. Sustaining a healthy life over time poses a motivational challenge. Some digital tools, such as smartphone apps aimed at promoting healthy habits, have been used to counteract this decline. However, a more profound investigation is necessary into the diverse experiences of users, particularly when it concerns older adults or those who are unfamiliar with information and communications technologies. We aimed to develop a mobile app focused on promoting the health of older adults based on the principles of software engineering and a user-centered design. The project respected all ethical guidelines and involved the participation of older adults at various stages of the development of the app. This study used a mixed methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methodologies for data collection. The study was conducted in Ribeirão Prêto, São Paulo, Brazil, and involved 20 older adults of both genders who were aged ≥60 years and enrolled in the Physical Education Program for the Elderly at the University of São Paulo. The research unfolded in multiple phases, encompassing the development and refinement of the app with active engagement from the participants. A total of 20 participants used a mobile health app with an average age of 64.8 (SD 2.7) years. Most participants had a high school education, middle-class status, and varying health literacy (mean score 73.55, SD 26.70). Overall, 90% (18/20) of the participants owned smartphones. However, 20% (4/20) of the participants faced installation challenges and 30% (6/20) struggled with web-based searches. The focus groups assessed app usability and satisfaction. Adjustments increased satisfaction scores significantly (Suitability Assessment of Materials: 34.89% to 70.65%; System Usability Scale: 71.23 to 87.14). Participant feedback emphasized font size, navigation, visual feedback, and personalization, and suggestions included health device integration, social interaction, and in-app communication support. This study contributes to the development of health care technologies tailored to the older adult population, considering their specific needs. It is anticipated that the resulting app will serve as a valuable tool for promoting healthy habits and enhancing the quality of life for older adults.

AI and Spotting the Sound of Illness

Abstract Martin Cooper MBCS speaks to Tim Bashford about exciting developments in healthcare technology that may allow the early detection and treatment of respiratory diseases such as COPD through AI-based vocal analysis.

Development and application of the Rapha® device for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

Transforming medical research into real-world healthcare solutions is a complex endeavor that may benefit from the synergy between academic research, governmental support, and industry innovation. In this article we delve into the framework of Translational Medical Research (TMR) in Brazil, elucidating the possible interplay between public universities and other pivotal stakeholders in the translational journey. Our focal point is the Rapha® device, an innovative medical technology, as we explore its ethical and regulatory journey. We seek to understand the environment that shapes healthcare technology development through a mixed-methods research design, combining policy analysis with stakeholder interviews. The research begins by examining public policies, aiming to carve out a socially inclusive and advantageous ecosystem. We then highlight the pivotal components-steps, milestones, stakeholders, and policies that underpin the TMR process. Our findings reveal that while TMR frequently culminates in patents and technology transfer agreements, specific regulatory and production challenges exist, particularly during transitioning from the T3 (clinical trials) to T4 (public health practice) phase. We provide insights into its translational progression by tracing the developmental stages from foundational research (T0) to clinical trials (T3) for the Rapha® device. Ultimately, this study underscores TMR's vital role in advancing healthcare access and posits that academic institutions can significantly influence the creation of ethically robust, regulated, and impactful medical innovations, contributing meaningfully to global healthcare.

Robust zero-watermarking scheme using DT CWT and improved differential entropy for color medical images

The advancement of internet has greatly facilitated development of healthcare technology, particularly in the field of remote diagnosis. However, during the transmission of medical images and electronic medical records through internet, there are risks such as theft, tampering, and compression, which may result in leakage or damage of patients’ information. A robust zero-watermarking scheme using DT CWT and improved differential entropy is proposed to protect the copyright and security of medical images. Firstly, the low-frequency information of medical image is extracted by DT CWT to weaken the impact of non-geometric attacks. Then, a sub-block selection method based on variance is used to select locally stable sub-blocks, and the traditional differential entropy method is improved by introducing singular values and their mean, which improves its robustness against geometric attacks. In order to ensure the security of zero-watermarking, Arnold scrambling and Logistic mapping encryption mechanisms are applied to watermark images. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme provides a high level of robustness with an average normalized correlation value of 0.9928. Compared with other advanced schemes, the robustness of the proposed scheme can be improved by 9 percentage points under the same attacks, which verifies the superiority of the proposed scheme.

Navigating the Future of Healthcare: A Review of Emerging Technology Implementation

Anesthetics, antibiotics, magnetic resonance imaging scanners, and radiation have all benefited from technological advancements. Even while developments in healthcare are being driven by new technology (drugs, gadgets, social media support for healthcare, etc.), human concerns will continue to be a barrier to any advances that are made. The field of medicine will continue to be disrupted by technological advances. The purpose of this mini review article is to help us think more clearly about how we want to go and gratify as many people as possible by highlighting the need for new developments in healthcare technology, its multiple uses, and fragments of the future.

Development Pattern of Medical Device Technology and Regulatory Evolution of Cataract Treatment

To prevent regulation from becoming an obstacle to healthcare technological innovation, regulation should evolve as new healthcare technologies are developed. Although regulation is closely related to healthcare technology development, there are few studies that view healthcare technological advances from the multi-layered perspective of papers, patents, and clinical research and link this with regulatory evolution. Therefore, this study tried to develop a new method from a multi-layer perspective and draw regulatory implications based on it. This study applied this method to intraocular lens (IOLs) for cataract treatment and detected four major healthcare technologies and two recent healthcare technologies. Moreover, it discussed how current regulations evaluate these technologies. The findings provide implications for healthcare technological advances and the evolutionary direction of regulation through the example of IOLs for cataract treatment. This study contributes to the development of theoretical methods for co-evolution with regulations based on healthcare technology innovation.

간병살인 범죄의 특징과 대응방안에 관한 연구

The improvement in the living standard for the people and the remarkable development of healthcare technology have positive effects of extending our life expectancy and improving the quality of life. However, the extended life expectancy ultimately raises another issue of entrance into a super-aged society. South Korea currently implements a lot of welfare policies, which involve many different types of industrial facilities and leisure life, in preparation for aging society and the number of healthcare institutions, including long-term care centers for the elderly, is on the exponential increase. However, the South Korean society has no accurate statistics concerning the targets of caregiving and the caregivers and fails to identify institutionalized targets of caregiving, not to mention home-based caregiving. Amid the aging society, now is a moment that urgently requires national attention to the physical and mental problems of caregiving family as well as to aged patients. In particular, the cases of intra-family murder and suicide due to caregiving become serious social problems. There are several types and causes of murder related to caregiving and relevant statistics and social measures are very poor. In addition, intra-family murder and suicide related to caregiving are usually defined as homicide (Article 250 of the Criminal Law) or are just punished for parricide due to the murder of a lineal ascendant. This study aimed to divide the definitions of caregiving murder and analyze its characteristics and causes. Efforts were also made to review the problems of the current caregiving system and develop the methods of coping effectively with the crimes of caregiving murder through the support based on criminal policies and management. specific measures to manage depression in children and adolescents were presented. Neglect measures are presented.

Involvement of frontline clinicians in healthcare technology development: Lessons learned from a ventilator project

Co-development of healthcare technology with users helps produce user-friendly products, ensuring safe device usage and meeting patients’ needs. For developers considering healthcare innovations, engaging user experience can reduce production time and cost while maximizing device application. The purpose of this paper is to report lessons learned from the development of a 3D printed origami ventilator prototype in response to the rise of ventilator demand due to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We conducted focus groups with frontline clinicians working in an Intensive Care Unit of a large urban hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In the interdisciplinary focus groups, we identified challenges, practical tips about product development, the human needs of technology, and cross-discipline peer learning. The focus group discussions provide useful insight into the technology development for complex clinical contexts. Based on our experiences, we articulate five practical tips for co-development of healthcare technology - AGILE: Analyse users’ needs first, Gain insights into complex context, Involve users early and frequently, Lead with a prototype, and Educate and support. Through sharing the tips and lessons learned, we wish to emphasize the necessity of meaningful multi-disciplinary collaboration during healthcare technology development and promote the inclusion of frontline clinicians during these initiatives.

Overview of Trending Medical Technologies

Healthy population is regarded as the most valuable asset of any country. Unfortunately, the health challenges that hinder mankind's wellbeing are enormously increasing. Examples include but are not limited to: the diversity of emerging diseases afflicting the global population, the projected demographic growth of elderly people who need consistent monitoring, the deficiency in medical staff, the lower density of physicians, and the challenging geographical location of the population from healthcare providers. The mitigation of such health challenges calls for novel technologies to improve patient outcomes. In this article, seven emerging technologies, namely: Wearable Devices and Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Technology or Distributed Ledger Technology, Robotics Technology, Telehealth and Telemedicine, Big Data Technology and Nanomedicine have been highlighted. For each discussed technology, its historical background, development drivers, market status and trends, significance to healthcare, key player companies, and associated challenges have been presented. The information contained in this paper was collected from different journal articles, websites, reports, conference proceedings, and books. It was observed that though the technologies discussed in this article show growth at different rates, healthcare technology development and implementation are very promising in revolutionizing the health sector and improving the health of the population. Therefore, healthcare providers and countries are recommended to put in place Healthcare Technology Assessment Programs to help them collect data regarding the technology efficacy, relevance, safety, outcomes, and alternative technologies towards better planning for healthcare services improvement.

Efforts to establish indigenous technology for healthcare in a low resource country – Bangladesh experience

The astounding developments in healthcare technology is not available to about 84% of the global population in the low-medium income countries (LMIC). Good meaning medical equipment donation programmes from the high income countries (HIC) have made very little impact, most devices failing to give the desired service and increasing e-waste. The author, with his four decade-long experience feels that people in the LMICs with higher education in science and technology should be motivated and trained in the design and manufacture of medical devices, and they should also take the responsibility for commercial manufacture and distribution of the developed products. With this realisation early in life, he initiated similar efforts in his home country Bangladesh about four decades back against many challenges and obstacles. This produced some success stories and this paper lists some of the devices developed and distributed by groups under his leadership. The author argues that the existing industries in the LMICs are based on fully foreign technology, and do not have the capability or preparedness to take up commercial manufacture of indigenously developed technology based products. He has come up with the design of a ‘Micro-eco-system’ for the LMICs which involve the leadership of a single technology innovator or a single group of innovators to organise R&D and commercial manufacture, both. An LMIC may have hundreds or thousands of the above ‘Micro-eco-system’ to create an overall eco-system, which may be the solution eventually leading to a more equitable world, with each and every person of the globe having access to developments in science and technology in healthcare.
 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Physics Vol.14 No.1 2021 P 1-15

Physical activity prediction using fitness data: Challenges and issues

In the new healthcare transformations, individuals are encourage to maintain healthy life based on their food diet and physical activity routine to avoid risk of serious disease. One of the recent healthcare technologies to support self health monitoring is wearable device that allow individual play active role on their own healthcare. However, there is still questions in terms of the accuracy of wearable data for recommending physical activity due to enormous fitness data generated by wearable devices. In this study, we conducted a literature review on machine learning techniques to predict suitable physical activities based on personal context and fitness data. We categorize and structure the research evidence that has been publish in the area of machine learning techniques for predicting physical activities using fitness data. We found 10 different models in Behavior Change Technique (BCT) and we selected two suitable models which are Fogg Behavior Model (FBM) and Trans-theoretical Behavior Model (TTM) for predicting physical activity using fitness data. We proposed a conceptual framework which consists of personal fitness data, combination of TTM and FBM to predict the suitable physical activity based on personal context. This study will provide new insights in software development of healthcare technologies to support personalization of individuals in managing their own health.

Video Consultations for Older Adults With Multimorbidity During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for an Exploratory Qualitative Study.

BackgroundMultimorbidity, the coexistence of multiple chronic conditions in an individual, is a growing public health challenge. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing remains an indispensable measure to limit the spread of the virus. This pertains especially to those belonging to high-risk groups, namely older adults with multimorbidity. In-person visits are discouraged for this cohort; hence, there is a need for an alternative form of consultation such as video consultations to continue the provision of care.ObjectiveThe potential of video consultations has been explored in several studies. However, the emergence of COVID-19 presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to explore the use of this technological innovation in a time when physical distancing is imperative. This study will evaluate the sustainability of video consultations on a micro-, meso-, and macro-level by assessing the views of patients, physicians, and organizational and national policymakers, respectively.MethodsThe NASSS (nonadoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread, and sustainability) framework was designed as a guide for the development of health care technologies. In this study, the implementation of and experiences related to video consultations will be studied using the NASSS framework. Individual in-depth interviews or focus group discussions will be conducted with participants using the Zoom platform. Data will be analyzed by at least two investigators trained in qualitative methodology, organized thematically, and coded in two phases—an initial phase and a focused selective phase. All disagreements will be resolved by consulting the larger research team until consensus is reached.ResultsThis study was approved for funding from the Geriatric Education and Research Institute. Ethics approval was obtained from the National Healthcare Group Domain Specific Review Board (reference #2020/00760). Study recruitment commenced in July 2020. The results of the data analysis are expected to be available by the end of the year.ConclusionsThis study aims to evaluate the adoption and sustainability of video consultations for older adults with multimorbidity during the pandemic as well as post COVID-19. The study will yield knowledge that will challenge the current paradigm on how care is being delivered for community-dwelling older adults with multimorbidity. Findings will be shared with administrators in the health care sector in order to enhance the safety and quality of these video consultations to improve patient care for this group of population.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/22679

Prediction Model of Dementia Risk Based on XGBoost Using Derived Variable Extraction and Hyper Parameter Optimization

With the development of healthcare technologies, the elderly population has grown and therefore populating ageing has emerged as a social issue. It is a cause of rise in patients with geriatric disorders, among which dementia is very fatal to the elderly's activities of daily living. In the studies on dementia risk prediction, a method using deep learning was proposed. It requires a lot of image data and much time to learn. Therefore, this study proposes a prediction model of dementia risk based on XGBoost using derived variable extraction from numericalized dementia data and hyper-parameters optimization. The proposed method extracts variable importance from typical independent variables with the use of gradient boosting and then generates derived variables. The generated derived variables are applied to variable importance analysis and thereby a Top-N group is created. Then, for achieving optimal performance in line with the data characteristics of each Top-N group, hyper-parameter tuning is conducted. With the optimized groups, XGBoost model based performance is evaluated. In addition, for the performance evaluation of the proposed model, goodness-of-fit for machine learning classification models is evaluated. According to the Top-N group performance evaluation with different numbers of derived variables, Top-20 model showed the best performance, and the optimized hyper-parameter values were eta = 0.10, gamma = 0, max_depth = 4, and min_child_weight = 1. As a result, the accuracy of the XGBoost model proposed in this study was 85.61%, and its F1-score was 79.28%. When the proposed model is compared with Decision Tree, Random Forest, SVM, and k-NN models, it has the best performance.

Assessment of the programs for promoting the Public Private Partnership for global business development of Healthcare Technologies and Services in Japan

Assessment of the programs for promoting the Public Private Partnership for global business development of Healthcare Technologies and Services in Japan

Mini Health Technology Assessment of Urban and Rural Health Care in Indonesia

Background: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a program to evaluate the use of technology in healthcare. HTA proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) will affect the government’s decision-making in the development of healthcare technology. The use of technology should be assessed from its cost-effectiveness to its potential ethical problems. HTA Unit – a division who organizes HTA in government in Indonesia – has emerged in ministry of health in 2003 and focused in drugs and vaccines problems. However, HTA in Indonesia has not been formally effective until today.Objectives: To evaluate the usage, supply, and demand of the health technology and the spread of health technology in urban and rural areas.Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study using questionnaire to gather quantitative and qualitative data. The respondents of this study are medical doctors in Indonesia, and the selection of the respondents is done consecutively. We divide respondents’ area into urban and rural areas, and health practitioners as field executors (general practitioners or GP and specialists) and head of healthcare facilities.Results: The total samples are 48 health practitioners and 14 head of healthcare facilities. Statistical analysis shows that the two settings (urban and rural) are not significantly different (p=0.478), while descriptive analysis shows that the inadequacy of health technology is higher in rural than that in urban areas (70% VS 52.63%). The relationship between the field of health practitioners (GP and specialist) and the adequacy of health technology is not significant. More GP than specialists complain about the inadequacy of health technology in giving the health service to the patients. About 92.8% head of health facility said that technology is needed to support the health service, while only 35.71% agreed that their health facilities still have inadequate health technology.Conclusion: The use of health technology in Indonesia is still inadequate. The spread of health technology is not equal in urban and rural areas. The lack of health technology in rural areas, especially for GP, affect in diagnosing and giving therapy to patients. The poor spread of technology in healthcare also make gap between health research and health clinical practice.

Robust Real-Time Musculoskeletal Modeling Driven by Electromyograms.

Current clinical biomechanics involves lengthy data acquisition and time-consuming offline analyses with biomechanical models not operating in real-time for man-machine interfacing. We developed a method that enables online analysis of neuromusculoskeletal function in vivo in the intact human. We used electromyography (EMG)-driven musculoskeletal modeling to simulate all transformations from muscle excitation onset (EMGs) to mechanical moment production around multiple lower-limb degrees of freedom (DOFs). We developed a calibration algorithm that enables adjusting musculoskeletal model parameters specifically to an individual's anthropometry and force-generating capacity. We incorporated the modeling paradigm into a computationally efficient, generic framework that can be interfaced in real-time with any movement data collection system. The framework demonstrated the ability of computing forces in 13 lower-limb muscle-tendon units and resulting moments about three joint DOFs simultaneously in real-time. Remarkably, it was capable of extrapolating beyond calibration conditions, i.e., predicting accurate joint moments during six unseen tasks and one unseen DOF. The proposed framework can dramatically reduce evaluation latency in current clinical biomechanics and open up new avenues for establishing prompt and personalized treatments, as well as for establishing natural interfaces between patients and rehabilitation systems. The integration of EMG with numerical modeling will enable simulating realistic neuromuscular strategies in conditions including muscular/orthopedic deficit, which could not be robustly simulated via pure modeling formulations. This will enable translation to clinical settings and development of healthcare technologies including real-time bio-feedback of internal mechanical forces and direct patient-machine interfacing.

Design Quality in the Context of Healthcare Environments: A Scoping Review.

Objective:We explored the concept of design quality in relation to healthcare environments. In addition, we present a taxonomy that illustrates the wide range of terms used in connection with design quality in healthcare.Background:High-quality physical environments can promote health and well-being. Developments in healthcare technology and methodology put high demands on the design quality of care environments, coupled with increasing expectations and demands from patients and staff that care environments be person centered, welcoming, and accessible while also supporting privacy and security. In addition, there are demands that decisions about the design of healthcare architecture be based on the best available information from credible research and the evaluation of existing building projects.Method:The basic principles of Arksey and O’Malley’s model of scoping review design were used. Data were derived from literature searches in scientific databases. A total of 18 articles and books were found that referred to design quality in a healthcare context.Results:Design quality of physical healthcare environments involves three different themes: (i) environmental sustainability and ecological values, (ii) social and cultural interactions and values, and (iii) resilience of the engineering and building construction. Design quality was clarified herein with a definition.Conclusions:Awareness of what is considered design quality in relation to healthcare architecture could help to design healthcare environments based on evidence. To operationalize the concept, its definition must be clear and explicit and able to meet the complex needs of the stakeholders in a healthcare context, including patients, staff, and significant others.

Use of a patient completed iPad questionnaire to improve pre-operative assessment.

Developments in healthcare technology could improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs. There is a need to facilitate communication and increase efficiency in surgical pre-assessment clinics. This study aimed to develop an iPad application to deliver an electronic patient questionnaire, and to evaluate its use in the pre-assessment environment. Software was developed, MyOp, for a standard iPad that mirrored the paper-based pre-assessment system, with features designed for ease of patient use and remote data transfer. A case-control study was conducted, comparing use of MyOp with paper-based practice, to evaluate feasibility and patient preference. Patients were offered the use of MyOp or paper-based system. Outcomes measured included time to complete iPad questionnaire, consultation duration, and a patient preference questionnaire. MyOp cost £3500 to develop. 104 individuals participated in the study, 53 MyOp and 51 controls. MyOp reduced the median consultation duration by 5.00min. A reduction was seen in all subgroups except those aged over 70 or urology patients. Patients preferred to complete the form independently, using a touchpad or computer but expressed concerns about data security. Use of an electronic patient questionnaire reduces consultation time delivering greater efficiency of pre-assessment nurse time. Preconceived ideas about the use of technology in older age groups are likely inaccurate and less of a barrier than previously thought. Electronic pre-assessments could be used routinely to reduce demands on healthcare facilities, improve patient care, and triage patients prior to clinic attendance.

The Application of Digital Media Industry to W. Scotland, N. Ireland, & the Irish Border Health Service Regions

Digital healthcare, that is the application of digital media communication technologies to health issues, for example, in the use of smart devices to tell patients when to take medication, or to relay medical information about concurrent health measures to centralised monitoring systems, presents digital media and health industries with unique interdisciplinary possibilities to research and promote healthy lifestyles while managing illness and health risk. Moreover, digital healthcare technology development for eHealth systems enables regional and national healthcare investment to respond to emerging health and ageing population trends highlighted in the EU task force report ‘Redesigning health in Europe for 2020’ ensuring that all EU citizens have consistent access to a high level of healthcare across the EU, and at a reasonable cost to national healthcare systems. Emerging technology enabled solutions to economies, digital healthcare, or eHealth, has the potential to bring together medical and healthcare professionals, social scientists and public health policy advocates, computational and computer scientists, and digital media platform experts to invest in helping patients and clinicians optimise health management in new resource, cost-efficient, and patient independent-living ways.This short summary will outline and detail sources relevant to the digital healthcare typologies and emerging eHealth development potential in three main EU peripheral regions: Western Scotland, N. Ireland (but not Belfast), and the Republic of Ireland Border (or North East) region. First, current regional specific digital health or eHealth projects and relevant government policy per region will be summarised. Second, health research institute capacity and emerging digital hub companies will be regionally discussed. Third, broadband and telecommunications infrastructure development, and labour market intelligence will be outlined. Fourth, specific media articles, policy documents, web organizational and relevant project addresses, and funding sources per region will be listed. Finally, some conclusions are drawn in light of the regional information sources collated in this report.