Low-cost Portable System Research Articles

Wireless laptop-based phonocardiograph and diagnosis.

Auscultation is used to evaluate heart health, and can indicate when it’s needed to refer a patient to a cardiologist. Advanced phonocardiograph (PCG) signal processing algorithms are developed to assist the physician in the initial diagnosis but they are primarily designed and demonstrated with research quality equipment. Therefore, there is a need to demonstrate the applicability of those techniques with consumer grade instrument. Furthermore, routine monitoring would benefit from a wireless PCG sensor that allows continuous monitoring of cardiac signals of patients in physical activity, e.g., treadmill or weight exercise. In this work, a low-cost portable and wireless healthcare monitoring system based on PCG signal is implemented to validate and evaluate the most advanced algorithms. Off-the-shelf electronics and a notebook PC are used with MATLAB codes to record and analyze PCG signals which are collected with a notebook computer in tethered and wireless mode. Physiological parameters based on the S1 and S2 signals and MATLAB codes are demonstrated. While the prototype is based on MATLAB, the later is not an absolute requirement.

Parkinson's disease assessment based on gait analysis using an innovative RGB-D camera system.

Movement-related diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), progressively affect the motor function, many times leading to severe motor impairment and dramatic loss of the patients' quality of life. Human motion analysis techniques can be very useful to support clinical assessment of this type of diseases. In this contribution, we present a RGB-D camera (Microsoft Kinect) system and its evaluation for PD assessment. Based on skeleton data extracted from the gait of three PD patients treated with deep brain stimulation and three control subjects, several gait parameters were computed and analyzed, with the aim of discriminating between non-PD and PD subjects, as well as between two PD states (stimulator ON and OFF). We verified that among the several quantitative gait parameters, the variance of the center shoulder velocity presented the highest discriminative power to distinguish between non-PD, PD ON and PD OFF states (p = 0.004). Furthermore, we have shown that our low-cost portable system can be easily mounted in any hospital environment for evaluating patients' gait. These results demonstrate the potential of using a RGB-D camera as a PD assessment tool.

A Portable High-Speed Camera System for Vocal Fold Examinations

In this article, we present a new portable low-cost system for high-speed examinations of the vocal folds. Analysis of glottal vibratory parameters from the high-speed recordings is compared with videostroboscopic recordings. The high-speed system is built around a Fastec 1 monochrome camera, which is used with newly developed software, High-Speed Studio (HSS). The HSS has options for video/image recording, contains a database, and has a set of analysis options. The Fastec/HSS system has been used clinically since 2011 in more than 2000 patient examinations and recordings. The Fastec 1 camera has sufficient time resolution (≥4000 frames/s) and light sensitivity (ISO 3200) to produce images for detailed analyses of parameters pertinent to vocal fold function. The camera can be used with both rigid and flexible endoscopes. The HSS software includes options for analyses of glottal vibrations, such as kymogram, phase asymmetry, glottal area variation, open and closed phase, and angle of vocal fold abduction. It can also be used for separate analysis of the left and vocal fold movements, including maximum speed during opening and closing, a parameter possibly related to vocal fold elasticity. A blinded analysis of 32 patients with various voice disorders examined with both the Fastec/HSS system and videostroboscopy showed that the high-speed recordings were significantly better for the analysis of glottal parameters (eg, mucosal wave and vibration asymmetry). The monochrome high-speed system can be used in daily clinical work within normal clinical time limits for patient examinations. A detailed analysis can be made of voice disorders and laryngeal pathology at a relatively low cost.

Forward osmosis in a portable device for automatic osmolality adjustment of environmental water samples evaluated by cell-based biosensors

Forward osmosis (FO) is a well-established process that has been used for different applications like desalination of water, concentration of foods or drugs, and energy harvesting. We exploited this process in a fully automatic system to adjust osmolality of environmental water samples that are to be tested by cell-based biosensors. In cell-based biosensors, samples are brought into contact with living cells. Therefore, the samples' osmolality and pH should be in a range that is tolerable for the cells. Controlling these parameters has been a significant challenge especially in environmental monitoring, where the biosensors are required to work on-site. In this paper, we introduce a low-cost portable fluidic system that works automatically, and adjusts the osmolality and pH of environmental samples without diluting or denaturizing the ingredients of the samples. We report the performance of this system in adjusting the osmolality and pH of Swiss environmental waters with a natural osmolality of 4±1mmol/kg and a pH of 7.84±0.02.

Assessment of a Low-Cost Portable Proportional Exhaust Sampling System for Gravimetric Particulate Matter Emissions Measurement

Shrnutí Částice obsažené ve výfukových plynech spalovacích motorů jsou jejich pro lidské zdraví nejvíce škodlivou složkou. Se snižující se celkovou hmotností emitovaných částic se zvyšují nároky na její měření, které vyžaduje plnoprůtočný ředicí tunnel nebo proporcionální vzorkovač s ředěním části toku s rychlou odezvou. Pro umožnění takových měření během jízdy vozidla a v méně vybavených laboratořích bylo vytvořeno nízkonákladové zařízení pro proporcionální vzorkování výfukových plynů. Zařízení využívá dvojici regulátorů hmotnostního průtoku, z nichž jeden dodává proměnlivé množství ředicího vzduchu do miniaturního ředicího tunelu, a druhý udržuje konstantní průtok směsi ředicího vzduchu a výfukových plynů přes filtr, na který jsou částice vzorkovány. Výsledky naměřené tímto systémem během dynamických jízdních cyklů jsou, po korekci systematického rozdílu, v rozmezí faktoru dvou od výsledků gravimetrické analýzy vzorků odebraných z klasického plnoprůtočného ředicího tunelu.

MOBILE STEREO-MAPPER: A PORTABLE KIT FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

Abstract. A low-cost portable light-weight mobile stereo-mapping system (MSMS) is under development in the GeoICT Lab, Geomatics Engineering program at York University. The MSMS is designed for remote operation on board unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for navigation and rapid collection of 3D spatial data. Pose estimation of the camera sensors is based on single frequency RTK-GPS, loosely coupled in a Kalman filter with MEMS-based IMU. The attitude and heading reference system (AHRS) calculates orientation from the gyro data, aided by accelerometer and magnetometer data to compensate for gyro drift. Two low-cost consumer digital cameras are calibrated and time-synchronized with the GPS/IMU to provide direct georeferenced stereo vision, while a video camera is used for navigation. Object coordinates are determined using rigorous photogrammetric solutions supported by direct georefencing algorithms for accurate pose estimation of the camera sensors. Before the MSMS is considered operational its sensor components and the integrated system itself has to undergo a rigorous calibration process to determine systematic errors and biases and to determine the relative geometry of the sensors. In this paper, the methods and results for system calibration, including camera, boresight and leverarm calibrations are presented. An overall accuracy assessment of the calibrated system is given using a 3D test field.

Development of a low cost portable pressure measurement system using for garment design

Pressure comfort is an important part of garment comfort evaluation, in this paper, a low cost portable pressure measurement system (PPMS) are developed for measuring pressure distribution on garment. Three sets of different size knitted garments are fabricated for investigating the pressure distribution on a mannequin and on young female volunteers. Experimental results show curvature radius of points on the mannequin are smaller, pressures are larger which is consistent with the pressure calculation equation. Pressure distribution state on human body is different from that on mannequin due to size and shape difference even if the same garments were utilized. Dynamic pressure measurement on human body shows the pressure variations on points of human body. However, the static and dynamic pressure data can be utilized for improving quality of garments and helping design of garments.

99mTc-Radiolabelled Peptides for Tumour Imaging: Present and Future

Receptor-binding peptides have attracted an enormous interest in targeting molecules for the development of tumour specific radiopharmaceutical compounds. The overexpression of many receptors on human tumour makes such peptide-ligands attractive agents for diagnostic imaging and therapy of cancers. The use of solid-phase peptide synthesis and the availability of a wide range of bifunctional chelating agents for the radiolabelling of bioactive peptides with radionuclides have produced a wide variety of useful radiopharmaceutical molecules. For diagnostic purposes, techenetium - 99m is the ideal radionuclide thanks to its nuclear properties and the availability of a low cost portable generator system.

Webcam camera as a detector for a simple lab-on-chip time based approach

A modification of a webcam camera for use as a small and low cost detector was demonstrated with a simple lab-on-chip reactor. Real time continuous monitoring of the reaction zone could be done. Acid-base neutralization with phenolphthalein indicator was used as a model reaction. The fading of pink color of the indicator when the acidic solution diffused into the basic solution zone was recorded as the change of red, blue and green colors (%RBG.) The change was related to acid concentration. A low cost portable semi-automation analysis system was achieved.

Coping with spatial attention in real space: A low-cost portable testing system for the investigation of visuo-spatial processing in the human brain

While two-dimensional stimuli may be easily presented with any computer, an apparatus which allows a range of stimuli to be presented in three dimensions is not easily or cheaply available to researchers or clinicians. To fill this gap, we have developed the Realspace Testing System (RTS) which addresses the need for a flexible and multimodal stimulus presentation system capable of displaying stimuli in a three-dimensional space with a high degree of temporal accuracy. The RTS is able to control 26 channels of visual or audio stimuli, to send trigger pulses during each trial to external devices, such as a transcranial magnetic stimulator, and to record subject responses during the testing sessions. The RTS is flexible, portable and can be used in laboratory or clinical settings as required while being built at a low cost using off the shelf components. We have tested the RTS by performing an exploratory experiment on the role of right posterior parietal cortex in visuo-spatial processing in conjunction with online transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and verified that the system can accurately present stimuli as needed while triggering a TMS pulse during each trial at the required time. The RTS could be appealing and useful to a range of researchers or clinicians who may choose to use it much as we have designed it, or use it in its current state as a starting point to customize their stimulus control systems in real space.

Computerized back postural assessment in physiotherapy practice: Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the MIDAS system

Assessment of spinal posture during physiotherapy practice is routine, yet few objective measures exist to this end. The Middlesbrough Integrated Digital Assessment System (MIDAS) is a low cost portable system able to record 3D information on posture. The purpose of this study was to assess both the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the MIDAS system. Twenty-five healthy subjects were recruited. A repeated measures design was used to record fifteen pre-palpated landmarks on the back of each subject. To limit the sources of variability, the principal researcher palpated the landmarks for each subject. Each of three raters took two measurements on each subject in a standardized upright posture. X (medio-lateral), Y (antero-posterior) and Z (height) landmark positions were recorded via a computer interface. Both intra-rater agreement (mean ICCs - rater 1 r=0.970, rater 2 r=0.965 and rater 3 r=0.965, p< 0.001) and inter-rater agreement (mean ICCs r=0.967, p< 0.001) was very high between repeated measures and between markers. Error values for the z-axis (height) were the lowest. The MIDAS demonstrated both high inter-rater and intra-rater reliability and provides an objective method for the assessment of posture in physiotherapy practice.

A New System for Monitoring Gait Training in Infants With Down Syndrome

Infants with Down syndrome show an altered pattern of motor development at early childhood. Treadmill-walking training can be used to promote the earlier attainment of motor milestones in infants with locomotion deficiencies but quantitative data on their motor development are limited to gait laboratory studies. Our purpose was to develop, validate, and test a low-cost portable system for detecting infant steps on a treadmill while training. The system includes five infrared distance sensors, which were placed on a motorized treadmill to record the location of the feet of the infant during walking and thus measure his/her step length and cadence. The system was validated using synthetic objects, with a healthy 13-month-old infant. Pilot studies were then conducted in additional five infants with Down syndrome (aged 11–28 months) to determine step length (17.5–22.3 cm) and cadence (0.33–2.16 steps/s) at baseline, as well as at follow-ups 1 month and 3 months after the first trial. Measurements were repeatable per session and agreed with values reported in the literature. These pilot studies indicate the potential utility of the present system in quantitative monitoring of the process of acquisition of initial gait in infants with Down syndrome at the care facility where routine therapy is given.

A low‐cost portable video‐endoscopic system

A low‐cost portable video‐endoscopic system

Mercury Determination: A Hair Raising Experiment

A novel, fast, low-cost portable system for the total analysis of mercury (Hg) in human hair is presented by induction heating-electrothermal vaporization, gold amalgamation, atomic absorption spectrometry (IH-ETV-GA-AAS). Using this innovative technique a detection limit of 1 ng (or 1.5 mg/g based on a 0.6 mg sample) was achieved.

Clinical acceptance of a low-cost portable system for postural assessment

The drive towards evidence-based practice in health-care requires changes in work practices and supporting technology. In response to the requirement to provide evidence, the current research proposes a new low-cost system for 3-D postural assessment. The aims of the study were (1) to assess the technology acceptance model (Davis 1993) for the new system and (2) to derive user requirements with user involvement early in the development process. A prototype system was developed and demonstrated to physiotherapists. Technology acceptance was assessed using standardized questions (Davis and Venkatesh 1996) and user needs were assessed with open-ended questions. Relations between the technology acceptance components confirmed findings of previous research, with perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness identified as pivotal factors in clinical acceptance, and implications for design were drawn. Specific user requirements for system development were derived from the qualitative results. The prospects for computer-aided quantitative assessment of posture are discussed.

Clinical Acceptance of a Low-cost Portable System for Postural Assessment

Clinical Acceptance of a Low-cost Portable System for Postural Assessment

A portable inhalation system for personal exposure to ozone.

A low-cost portable inhalation system was developed for exposing an individual subject to 60-600 parts per billion of ozone in a 30-l clear-plastic head dome. The inhalation system had the following novel features: a canister vacuum cleaner that supplied room air without the need for precleaning or humidification; a 7% oxygen-in-nitrogen feed to a commercial ultraviolet ozonator that avoided an excess production of ozone; a compact inline mixer that assured homogeneous mixing of the 200-300 liters per minute room air supply with the 0.5-1.0 liters per minute of ozonated gas flow, positioning of gas inlet and exhaust hoses on the head dome that provided fresh gas delivery in the vicinity of the mouth; a quick-disconnect neck seal that allowed rapid donning of the head dome by the subject, and mounting of most system components on a small mobile cart. Temperature, humidity, and ozone and carbon dioxide concentrations were measured inside the dome while a subject exercised on a bicycle ergometer. An air flow of 200 liters per minute between rest and light exercise created a suitable microenvironment in the dome. During moderate and heavy exercise, however, a higher flow of 300 liters per minute should be used to suppress the build-up of carbon dioxide and humidity.

Exercise studies in horses: 1. A simple telemetry system for recording excercise ECGs in horses.

A robust low cost portable radiotelemetry system is described for the horse and its method of operation and advantages briefly discussed. The equipment consisted of 2 electrodes forming a bipolar lead, a transmitter, a receiver and a writing device. The sitting, application and immobilising of the electrodes was a most important factor in obtaining good quality recordings. ECGs were recorded at all paces and also while jumping and the results proved satisfactory.

35-Mm and 16-Mm Portable Sound-Recording System&lt;!--&lt;xref ref-type="other" rid="fn1-10.5594_J16515"&gt;*&lt;/xref&gt;--&gt;

A new low-cost portable sound-recording system suitable for recording a standard variable-density sound track on 35-mm or 16-mm film in synchronism with a motion picture film is described. The basic system includes a two-channel mixer, a main amplifier including associated noise-reduction circuits, a compact recorder, and a power unit for operating the entire system from a 115-volt, alternating-current supply. An optional inverter providing for operation from 96-volt batteries and an alternating-and direct-current multiduty motor-control unit are also available. The various circuit facilities and the performance of the components and system with respect to sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, harmonic distortion, and flutter are discussed in detail. The mechanical and electrical design of the equipment make possible a high-quality sound product for both speech and music recordings, the performance specifications being consistent with the requirements and standards of major Hollywood studios.