On-site Technicians Research Articles

The clinical use of remote parameter testing during cardiac implantable electronic devices implantation procedures: a single center, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial.

A novel non-contact system for remote parameter testing and reprogramming offers an alternative method for assessing device parameters during cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) implantation without the need for physical contact with the manufacturer's clinical service technician. The safety and feasibility of using this system in CIEDs implantation procedures remains to be determined. Evaluate the safety and feasibility of remote parameter testing in CIEDs implantation procedures. A single center, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial (ChiCTR2200057587) was conducted to compare the two approaches for interrogating CIEDs during implantation procedures: routine interrogation performed by on-site technicians or remote interrogation performed by technicians using the 5G-Cloud Technology Platform. Patients aged ≥18 years and elected to receive CIEDs were eligible for inclusion. The primary endpoint was the completion rate of the parameter test. Safety and efficiency were evaluated in all randomly assigned participants. A total of 480 patients were finally enrolled and were randomly assigned to routine group (n = 240) or remote group (n = 240). The primary endpoint was achieved by 100% in both groups (P = 0.0060 for noninferiority). The parameters of sensing, threshold, and impedance regarding the right atrium, right ventricle, and left ventricle had no statistical significance between the two groups (P > 0.05). Procedure time, parameter testing time, and both duration and dose of x-ray irradiation were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Shut-open door frequency was significantly higher in the routine group than the remote group [6.00 (4.00, 8.00) vs. 0, P < 0.0001]. Notably, no clinical or technical complications were observed in the remote group. Remote parameter testing is safe and feasible across various devices implantation procedures. The utilization of remote parameter testing and reprogramming could represent an innovative approach to improve healthcare accessibility and unlock the full potential of secondary centers in managing CIEDs. ChiCTR2200057587.

Investigating the graphical IEC 61131-3 language impact on test case design and evaluation of mechatronic apprentices

Abstract Mechatronic on-site technicians are responsible for maintenance and thus adequate testing of automated production systems. Hence, they must derive test cases from the IEC 61131-3 control code, which requires systematic testing skills. But despite the industry’s high demand for such skills, testing is not established in mechatronic apprentices’ educational curriculum. For the design of a teaching strategy for mechatronic apprentices on testing, this paper investigates the impact of the IEC 61131-3 language on test case design and evaluation. Comparing Sequential Function Chart (SFC) and Function Block Diagram, a trend towards SFC in apprentices’ self-perceived and real competence is shown.

Machining process-oriented monitoring method based on digital twin via augmented reality

The change of size, surface roughness, residual stress, and so on profoundly influence the final machining quality of complex mechanical products. Digital twin machining technology can ensure machining quality by observing the machining process in real time. However, the current digital twin systems mainly adopt the display method of virtual-real separation. It leads to transmitting the useful processing information to the on-site technicians ineffectively, limiting the digital twin system to help field processing. The monitoring technology on the machining process by augmented reality based on the digital twin machining system is proposed to deal with this problem. Firstly, the augmented reality dynamic multi-view is constructed based on multi-source heterogeneous data. Secondly, the augmented reality is integrated into the real-time monitoring of the intermediate process of complex products to promote cooperation among the operators and the digital twin machining system. It can avoid irreparable errors when the finished product is nearly completed. Finally, the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method will be verified by a monitoring application case.

Modeling of Woodworkers’ Exposure to Occupational Noises by Integrating Frequency Spectra Generated by Power Tools: A Pilot Study

Woodwork is one of the occupations with high levels of noises. This pilot study attempted to simulate woodworkers’ occupational noise exposure by integrating frequency spectra measured from individual power tools with the respective time of tool use. Five volunteering woodworkers participated in the study, and each wore a noise dosimeter with 1/1 octave-band analysis during the work for exposure assessment. The information of use of tools and time of tool use was recorded by an on-site technician. Frequency spectra of common power tools, including circular saw, electric curve saw, orbit sander, router trimmer, drill machine, pillar drill machine, nail gun, and air compressor, were also individually measured by the dosimeter. Monte Carlo simulation was used to simulate the distances between tools and workers, which were used to determine noise levels in the modeling. The personal measurements of noise exposure were around 80 dBA with peaks locating between 1 and 4 kHz and were fairly matched by the simulated results. This pilot modeling is seemingly feasible and promising, and noise exposure could be assessed by multiple times of tool use with known noise characteristics of the tools. The convenient dose estimates could be useful for the hearing protection of woodworkers.

Research on Intelligent Identification of Rock Types Based on Faster R-CNN Method

In the mining process of underground metal mines, the misjudgment of rock types by on-site technicians will have a serious negative impact on the stability evaluation of rock mass and the formulation of support schemes, which will result in the loss of economic benefits and potential safety hazards of mining enterprises. In order to realize the precise and intelligent identification of rock types, the image data of peridotite, basalt, marble, gneiss, conglomerate, limestone, granite, magnetite quartzite are amplified. Under the target detection framework of Faster R-CNN deep learning, the extraction network based on simplified VGG16 is used to extract and learn features of rock images, and finally the rock type identification system is successfully trained. The experimental verification shows that the system is correct for single-type rock image recognition and the accuracy is more than 96%. In order to realize accurate and intelligent identification of the surrounding rock surface under complex lithological conditions, the multi-type rocks hybrid images are also identified. The results show that the recognition effect is great and the accuracy rate is over 80%. Therefore, this system can accurately identify rock types with similar image features, which proves that the model has strong robustness and generalization ability. It has broad application prospects in rock mass stability evaluation and rock classification in underground mining.

Study protocol: a randomised non-inferiority trial using interactive virtual presence to remotely assist parents with child restraint installations

BackgroundMotor vehicle crashes are the third-leading cause of death to American children aged 1–5 years. When installed correctly, child restraints (car seats) reduce risk of serious injury and death. However,...

Proposing an Online Testing Method for Gradual Migration of Information and Control System

To respond to changes in the requirements of the information and control system, it is necessary to rebuild the system with new functions and/or systems with a different architecture. In this paper, we propose a method that enables on-site technicians to perform step-wise migration from a legacy system to a target system without having to stop the whole system and without requiring advance preparation or support from a system engineer who is an expert in system design and development. Accordingly, we aimed to develop a technology for the coexistence of and cooperation between with target and legacy systems and cooperation test between heterogeneous systems. We implemented this method and evaluated its effectiveness by applying it for rebuilding a production line management system.

Remote Control of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: Exploring the New Frontier-First Clinical Application of Real-time Remote-control Management of Cardiac Devices Before and After Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the performance of remote-control (RC) management of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) in clinical practice using a new service model in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The number of CIEDs is constantly growing, alongside the demands for prompt checks. Although remote CIED interrogation exists, ultimately, real-time remote management is the goal. In this study, patients with MRI-conditional devices suitable for RC interaction who required an MRI were enrolled. An onsite technician began the RC session by contacting the remote operator, applying the programmer wand, and keying in an access code. The device was remotely checked via encrypted Wi-Fi by an electrophysiologist using a laptop. An MRI-safe mode was programmed per a preestablished proprietary algorithm. Following the scan, patient devices were remotely reinterrogated and reprogrammed to baseline, with adjustments made as clinically necessary. Patients subsequently were asked to complete a survey. Ultimately, a total of 100 RC CIED reprogrammings were performed in 50 MRI sessions, prescan and postscan. The average RC time interaction was four minutes prescan and three minutes postscan, respectively. No complications occurred. Five patients had more than one MRI in this study and 15 patients had had previous MRIs. In eight patients, baseline settings were reprogrammed. Most patients (82%) were very satisfied, preferring device specialist remote management. Only 14 (32%) patients used home remote monitoring. In conclusion, RC management of CIEDs in the MRI setting is feasible, safe, and clinically relevant. Use of the MRI mode determination algorithm was safe, consistent, and efficient. Expanding RC in CIED management for service anytime, anywhere is the next challenge.

Automatic Parameter Estimation for Reusable Software Components of Modular and Reconfigurable Cyber-Physical Production Systems in the Domain of Discrete Manufacturing

The main feature of cyber-physical production systems is its adaptability. They adapt quickly to new requirements such as new products or product variants. Nowadays, a bottleneck is the automation system, for which high manual engineering efforts are needed: Today, on-site technicians write and rewrite automation software, configure real-time communication protocols and create system configurations consisting of machine timing, physical dimensions of products, sensitivity, and motor control accelerations and velocities. Cyber-physical production systems often solve this dilemma by relying on reusable software components, which are composed in the overall automation software. However, this solution comes with a price, reusable software components need free parameters to adjust to the individual production configurations. This paper addresses this central research question and presents a novel parameter estimation approach to choose automatically optimal system configurations for cyber-physical production systems. Different scenarios from discrete manufacturing plants are used to evaluate the solution approach.

Using interactive virtual presence to support accurate installation of child restraints: Efficacy and parental perceptions

IntroductionChild restraint systems (car seats) reduce injury risk for young children involved in motor-vehicle crashes, but parents experience significant difficulty installing child restraints correctly. Installation by certified child passenger safety (CPS) technicians yields more accurate installation, but is impractical for broad distribution. A potential solution is use of interactive virtual presence via smartphone application (app), which permits “hands on” teaching through simultaneous and remote joint exposure to 3-dimensional images. MethodIn two studies, we examined the efficacy of remote communication via interactive virtual presence to help parents install child restraints. Study 1 was conducted at existing car seat checkpoints and Study 2 at preschools/daycare centers. In both cases, existing installations were assessed by certified CPS technicians using an objective coding scheme. Participants then communicated with remotely-located certified CPS technicians via a smartphone app offering interactive virtual presence. Technicians instructed participants to install child restraints and then the installation was inspected by on-site technicians. Both before and after the remote interaction, participants completed questionnaires concerning perception of child restraints and child restraint installation, self-efficacy to install child restraints, and perceived risk of injury to children if they were in a crash. ResultsIn both studies, accuracy of child restraint installations improved following the remote interaction between participants and certified CPS technicians. Together, the two samples achieved a weighted average of 90% correct installations across a multi-point inspection. Both samples reported increased self-efficacy to install child restraints and altered perceptions about the accuracy of the child restraint installations in their vehicles. ConclusionsFindings support use of interactive virtual presence as a strategy to realize accurate installation of child restraints. Practical applicationsInteractive virtual presence between certified CPS technicians and the public via smartphone app has potential to improve proper child restraint installations broadly, including to vulnerable and underserved rural populations.

The Human Touch: Learning That the Job Is About More Than Machines

<i>The Human Touch:</i> Learning That the Job Is About More Than Machines

Systematic image quality assessment for sewer inspection

Closed circuit television (CCTV) has been applied in many developing or developed counties for sewer inspection due to its low setup cost and technical requirement. Several automated diagnosis systems of sewer pipe defects had been developed to assist the technicians in interpreting or classifying sewer pipe defects. However, many researchers pointed out that good image quality is the prerequisite for accurate interpretation and diagnosis of CCTV inspection but has not a proper evaluation approach. In this paper, a CCTV image quality index considering both of the luminance distortion and the contrast distortion of a CCTV image compared by reference images is proposed and was applied to assess the image quality of the CCTV images shot for a sewer house-connection project. The experimental result indicates that rather than luminance contrast plays a more important role in the CCTV image quality that can be effectively improved by contrast enhancement. Since CCTV image quality can hardly distinguished by human eyes, the proposed image quality index can provide helpful information to efficiently assist the on-site technicians in precisely shooting better CCTV images for the pipe defection. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis of contrast stretch was implemented to quantify the CCTV image quality improvement. CCTV imaging conditions, such as pipe materials and imager status, are found as the factors affecting the CCTV image quality. In the future, a real-time CCTV image quality assessment will be developed by modifying the CCTV image quality index as an instantaneous reference for imaging adjustment that can be expected to be practicable for the on-site sewer inspection because of the extremely short computation time.