BIODEVICES 2018 Abstracts

Full Papers Short Papers
Full Papers
Paper Nr: 1
Title:

Modeling of C-SNARF-1 pH Fluorescence Properties: Towards Calibration Free Optical Fiber pH Sensing for in Vivo Applications
Authors:

Rutjaphan Kateklum, Bernard Gauthier-Manuel, Christian Pieralli, Samlee Mankhetkorn and Bruno Wacogne
Abstract: Organic functions of the human body are related to biological constants. Variations of these constants, among them pH, induce pathological troubles. The general goal of our work is to fabricate a fluorescent pH sensor at the end of an optical fiber for in vivo pH measurements. One difficulty using fluorescence indicators is the need to perform an accurate calibration. In this communication, we present methods used to simplify and potentially avoid calibration procedures of fluorescence indicators. The first method concerns the simplification of calibration procedures making them independent of the indicator’s concentration, path length and equipment used. The second method concerns modelling the fluorescence emission of the molecules as a function of pH only. This model is used to fit the exact shape of C-SNARF-1 fluorescence spectra obtained at any pH. Subsequently, the pH of a solution can be computed with an accuracy of 0.1 pH unit without the calibration procedure employed up to now. These methods constitute the first steps toward calibration free pH measurements. They can be applied to any fluorescent indicator exhibiting a dual emission peak. As a conclusion, this is the first time that fluorescence properties of C-SNARF-1 are fully mathematically described.
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Paper Nr: 3
Title:

Foot Plantar Pressure Monitoring with CYTOP Bragg Gratings Sensing System
Authors:

Débora Vilarinho, Antreas Theodosiou, Maria F. Domingues, Paulo Antunes, Kyriacos Kalli, Paulo André and Carlos A. F. Marques
Abstract: In this paper, a polymer optical fiber (POF) sensing solution to monitor the pressure induced in the foot plantar surface is investigated. The paper shows the design and implementation of a platform with an array of 5 polymer optical fiber Bragg gratings (POFBGs) placed in key points to monitor the pressure on the foot surface during gait cycles and the body center mass displacements. The results showed a great response compared with solutions using silica optical fibers. A much high sensitivity and repeatability were achieved using the CYTOP fiber as well as proving that the advantages of POF is a viable and useful solution for this type of application for a future implementation of an integrated “in-shoe” CYTOP POFBGs sensor network.
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Paper Nr: 4
Title:

Analysis and Modeling of Secondary X-ray Effect on Structure of Skiagraphy Images
Authors:

Jan Kubicek, Marek Penhaker, Martin Cerny, Martin Augustynek, Karol Korhelik, Andrea Vodakova and David Oczka
Abstract: Secondary X-ray effect is a significant phenomenon which is linked with the X-ray imaging. Besides an impact on the human organism, it may significantly influence recording devices such as the skiagraphy images. During the RTG irradiation, the secondary X-ray is being distributed to its surrounding, and may affect skiagraphy images which are stored in the clinical workplace. The secondary irradiation causes a partially irreversible deterioration resulting to a worse quality of the clinical information. More times is particular image affected by the secondary X-ray, we obtain a worse quality and reproducibility of the clinical information. Unfortunately, there is not clinically objective approach for determining the X-ray effect level before using particular skiagraphy image. We have done analysis and modelling of the secondary X-ray effect on skiagraphy records within several experiments. A level of the X-ray irradiation is being modelled via the multiregional segmentation method allowing for extraction image areas affected by irradiation. Consequently, this model allows for a calculation of image features representing the irradiation level, and estimates a quantification of the secondary X-ray irradiation.
Paper Nr: 5
Title:

Modeling of Blood Alcohol Content using Multiregional Segmentation from IR Images
Authors:

Jan Kubicek, Bastien Faure-Brac, Marek Penhaker, Radomir Scurek, Martin Cerny, Martin Augustynek and David Oczka
Abstract: The alcohol detection is a challenging task in many areas. There are many security decision based systems utilizing the alcohol amount estimation. Besides well-known methods comprising the breath analysers, the level of alcohol intoxication could be estimated from the image information. Since the alcohol consumption is linked with a change in the temperature distribution on the skin, thermal imaging appears as a suitable way for contactless alcohol detection and monitoring. After naked-eye observation, we suspected that the consumption of alcohol increases the size of the hottest area located in the forehead, and decrease the size of the coldest area located on the nose. This study confirms that observation statistically. We extracted those extreme areas using different segmentation algorithms, and we have shown that overall, entropy optimization is an efficient method, while Otsu-N also provided decent results in a case of the forehead. Segmentation has proven to be very successful in identifying the hottest area on the forehead. It was however less effective on the nose, and prone to many errors. While continuous assessment of alcohol level using this technique was not possible, we shown that this method could allow some decent results on some of the common alcohol limitations in the world.
Paper Nr: 9
Title:

Design and Evolution of an Opto-electronic Device for VOCs Detection
Authors:

Ana Carolina Pádua, Susana Palma, Jonas Gruber, Hugo Gamboa and Ana Cecília Roque
Abstract: Electronic noses (E-noses) are devices capable of detecting and identifying Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in a simple and fast method. In this work, we present the development process of an opto-electronic device based on sensing films that have unique stimuli-responsive properties, altering their optical and electrical properties, when interacting with VOCs. This interaction results in optical and electrical signals that can be collected, and further processed and analysed. Two versions of the device were designed and assembled. E-nose V1 is an optical device, and E-nose V2 is a hybrid opto-electronic device. Both E-noses architectures include a delivery system, a detection chamber, and a transduction system. After the validation of the E-nose V1 prototype, the E-nose V2 was implemented, resulting in an easy-to-handle, miniaturized and stable device. Results from E-nose V2 indicated optical signals reproducibility, and the possibility of coupling the electrical signals to the optical response for VOCs sensing.
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Paper Nr: 12
Title:

A Wearable Silent Speech Interface based on Magnetic Sensors with Motion-Artefact Removal
Authors:

Lam A. Cheah, James M. Gilbert, Jose A. Gonzalez, Phil D. Green, Stephen R. Ell, Roger K. Moore and Ed Holdsworth
Abstract: For a silent speech interface (SSI) to be truly practical, it has to be able to tolerate motion artefacts generated by the user while engaging in normal activities of everyday living. This paper presents a wearable speech restoration system based on magnetic sensors with an integrated background cancellation technique to eliminate the effect of motion-induced interference. The background cancellation technique is assessed when the user makes no intentional movement, when they performs a set of defined head movements and when they make more natural, conversational head movements. The performance is measured for the TIDigits corpus in terms of whole word recognition rate using a Hidden Markov Model and through Mel Cepstral Distortion for a Direct Synthesis of speech using Deep Neural Networks. The results indicate the robustness of the sensing system with background cancellation against the undesirable motion-induced artefacts.
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Paper Nr: 19
Title:

Optical Design of a Compact Image Acquisition Device for Mobile Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Authors:

David Melo, João Costa, Filipe Soares and Pedro Vieira
Abstract: Imaging the eye retina is critical to diagnose various pathologies, particularly Diabetic Retinopathy, which is the leading cause of avoidable blindness in the world. Accessing the retina can be achieved through ophthalmoscopes with small field-of-view or Optical Coherence Tomography and fundus cameras, which are larger and expensive. The image acquisition through tabletop fundus cameras is the preferred method for retinopathy screening. However, these devices tend to be cumbersome and require expertise for operation, limiting its broad application. In this paper, a compact optical system was designed for a handheld and smartphone-based fundus camera prototype called EyeFundusScope, with the main goal of low-cost and high coverage screening. The key features for the compact optical system are the mobile and non-mydriatic acquisition of fundus images by a smartphone camera, with high field-of-view. The simplicity of the optical system was accomplished by a three lens system setup, simulated using ray tracing software. The results reveal a system with only a few aberrations in the periphery but with a good resolution at the center of 41 field-of-view. Besides the optical system, a mechanical prototype was designed with the purpose of being 3D printed and easily portable.
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Paper Nr: 25
Title:

Multifunctional Optical Sensor Module - Integrated Optical Micro Displacement Sensor and Its Application to a Photoplethysmographic Sensor with Measuring Contact Force
Authors:

Hirofumi Nogami, Ryo Inoue, Yuma Hayashida, Hideyuki Ando, Takahiro Ueno and Renshi Sawada
Abstract: Photoplethysmography (PPG) is widely and commonly used, as it produces a wide range of information, such as stress level, heart rate interval, respiration rate, blood vessel hardness, etc. It is necessary to control the contact force between a PPG sensor and the measurement location (the skin surface), in order to obtain an accurate PPG signal. We propose new multifunctional sensor modules that can measure both pulse waves and contact force. The sensor module has a micro integrated displacement sensor chip with an optical source, photo diodes, and op-amp circuits, and a gum frame with a mirror. Some incident light penetrates into a finger, and the scattered light, which contains a biological signal (a pulse wave), is detected by one photodiode. The photodiode can also detect reflected light from a mirror, which is displaced by a contact force. In this paper, we fabricate a multifunctional sensor module and attempt to simultaneously measure the pulse wave and contact force.
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Paper Nr: 34
Title:

Comparative Study of Depth-Image Matching with Steepest Descendent and Simulated Annealing Algorithms
Authors:

Hiroshi Noborio, Shogo Yoshida, Kaoru Watanabe, Daiki Yano and Masanao Koeda
Abstract: We have been developing a depth-depth matching-based organ-following algorithm for use in surgical navigation. In this paper, we experimentally compare the steepest descendent and simulated annealing algorithms under depth-depth matching. Our experiment can be performed in a real-life situation like practical surgery as follows: the organ is artificially occluded by another object corresponding to a human body, and surgery is performed on a real surgical bed beside two shadow-less lamps. In this research, in addition to the algorithm comparison, we checked the effect of the placement of two infrared shielding filters, SL999 and TS6080S. Based on the results, we could determine that the simulated annealing algorithm using the filter TS6080S is the best.
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Paper Nr: 41
Title:

Design, Test and Fabrication of a Droplet based Microfluidic Device for Clinical Diagnostics
Authors:

A. S. Moita, F. Jacinto and A. L. N. Moreira
Abstract: Despite the intensive research performed towards the development of biomicrofuidic devices, information on the design, test and microfabrication of the devices is scarcely reported. Following our previous work, this paper describes the design, microfabrication and test of an electrowetting chip to transport and manipulate biosamples, towards the development of a microfluidic device for cancer diagnostics. As a first approach, experiments are performed to infer on the basic chip dimensions and configuration (size and positioning of the electrodes), allowing its best performance, evaluated based on droplet dynamics (spreading/receding diameter and contact line velocity). Then, to scale down this section, for its proper integration in the device, these basic dimensions are introduced as first guess values in a numerical model, used to optimize the distance between the electrodes, the thickness of the dielectric and the electric potential and frequency to be applied.
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Paper Nr: 44
Title:

Monitoring Muscle Stem Cell Cultures with Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors:

Yaiza Yuste, Juan A. Serrano, Alberto Olmo, Andres Maldonado-Jacobi, Pablo Pérez, Gloria Huertas, Sheila Pereira, Fernando de la Portilla and Alberto Yúfera
Abstract: The aim of this work is to present a new circuit for the real-time monitoring the processes of cellular growth and differentiation of skeletal myoblast cell cultures. An impedance spectroscopy Oscillation-Based technique is proposed for the test circuit, converting the biological system into a voltage oscillator, and avoiding the use of very high performance circuitry or equipment. This technique proved to be successful in the monitoring of cell cultures growth levels and could be useful for determining the degree of differentiation achieved, of practical implications in tissue engineering.
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Paper Nr: 45
Title:

Practical Characterization of Cell-Electrode Electrical Models in Bio-Impedance Assays
Authors:

Juan A. Serrano, Pablo Pérez, Andrés Maldonado, María Martín, Alberto Olmo, Paula Daza, Gloria Huertas and Alberto Yúfera
Abstract: This paper presents the fitting process followed to adjust the parameters of the electrical model associated to a cell-electrode system in Electrical Cell-substrate Impedance Spectroscopy (ECIS) technique, to the experimental results from cell-culture assays. A new parameter matching procedure is proposed, under the basis of both, mismatching between electrodes and time-evolution observed in the system response, as consequence of electrode fabrication processes and electrochemical performance of electrode-solution interface, respectively. The obtained results agree with experimental performance, and enable the evaluation of the cell number in a culture, by using the electrical measurements observed at the oscillation parameters in the test circuits employed.
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Paper Nr: 50
Title:

Building IoT-Enabled Wearable Medical Devices: An Application to a Wearable, Multiparametric, Cardiorespiratory Sensor
Authors:

Arthur Gatouillat, Bertrand Massot, Youakim Badr, Ervin Sejdić and Claudine Gehin
Abstract: Recent developments in personal and mobile healthcare have shown promising results in term of patients’ quality of life and quality of care improvements. This can be achieved through continuous monitoring of patients’ physiological functions using wearable non-invasive biomedical sensors. The remote collection and processing of such data can then be used to provide rapid medical response if a problem is detected or to offer preventive measures. However, the integration of wearable sensors into wider-scale framework is still a major challenge, as real-time data collection and remote configuration capabilities must be integrated to strongly constrained devices. Here, we show how such requirements can be integrated into a multiparameter, cardiorespiratory wearable sensor and how this sensor can be integrated into wide-scale Internet-based frameworks. We thus manufactured a biomedical-grade heart rate, instantaneous heart-rate variability and respiratory sensor. The sensor was tested in real life ambulatory condition, and we showed an Internet-based proof of concept exhibiting the integration of our sensor into wide-scale healthcare frameworks. Finally, we anticipate that wearable healthcare will greatly improve patients’ quality-of-life by using IoT-based wearable devices similar to the sensor developed in this paper.
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Short Papers
Paper Nr: 14
Title:

Rheography and Spirography Signal Analysis by Method of Nonlinear Dynamics
Authors:

Anna Кiseleva, Peter Luzhnov, Alexander Dyachenko and Yuriy Semenov
Abstract: The method for identifying rheocardiographic signal reference points was considered by means of nonlinear dynamics. Its application was shown for the analysis with the spirographic signals together. Seven male volunteers participated in the study as test subjects. Comparative analysis and efficiency of the developed algorithm were demonstrated.
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Paper Nr: 15
Title:

Towards Open Source Medical Devices - Current Situation, Inspiring Advances and Challenges
Authors:

Arti Ahluwalia, Carmelo De Maria, Andrés Díaz Lantada, Licia Di Pietro, Alice Ravizza, Mannan Mridha, June Madete, Philippa Ngaju Makobore, Alvo Aabloo, Risto Kitsing and Arni Leibovits
Abstract: Open Source Medical Devices may be part of the solution towards the democratization of medical technologies pursuing Universal Health Coverage as part of the Sustainable Development Goals for United Nations. Recent technological advances, especially in information and communication technologies, combined with innovative collaborative design methodologies and manufacturing techniques allow for the mass-personalization of biodevices and help to optimize the related development times and costs, while keeping safety in the foreground through the whole life cycle of medical products. These advantages can be further promoted by adequately fostering collaboration, communication, high value information exchange, and sustainable partnerships and by extending the employment of open source strategies. To this end, within the UBORA project, we are developing a framework for training the biomedical engineers of the future in open-source collaborative design strategies and for supporting the sharing of information and the assessment of safety and efficacy in novel biodevices. An essential part of this open-source collaborative framework is the UBORA e-infrastructure, which is presented in this study, together with some initial success cases. Main future challenges, connected with regulatory harmonization, with educational issues and with accessible and open design and manufacturing resources, among others, are also presented and discussed.
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Paper Nr: 16
Title:

Physiological Data Validation of the Hexoskin Smart Textile
Authors:

N. H. Cherif, N. Mezghani, N. Gaudreault, Y. Ouakrim, I. Mouzoune and P. Boulay
Abstract: The aim of this study is to validate cardiorespiratory function measurement of a healthy population provided by a wearable textile during a progressive maximal exercise test. The following measurements were collected using embedded sensors to assess three variables: heart rate (HR), breathing rate (BR) and ventilation (Ve). These variables were recorded simultaneously by the wearable textile and using as a reference system for a comparison purpose. The validation was performed based on the two systems agreement estimation by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and the Bland-Altman plot for each variable. Twenty-eight healthy volunteers participated in this study. Analysis of each participant under exercise condition by the two measurement systems revealed high CCC values (rho_c between 0.91 and 0.99), no deviation from the 45 degrees line (C_b between 0.96 and 0.99) and significant ICC values (rho between 0.91 and 0.99, p< 0.05) for HR and BR. The Bland Altman plot for HR and BR indicated no deviation of the mean difference from zero and a small variability with tight agreement limits. However, the analysis of the estimated ventilation Ve of each participant revealed doubtful values for the CCC (rho_c between 0.2 and 0.99) and ICC (rho between 0.11 and 0.99). In summary, the Hexoskin presented good agreement for HR and BR. However, for ventilation, it is difficult to conclude from the results due to variability.}
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Paper Nr: 17
Title:

Studies on Rat Brain Phantoms for the Development of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) System
Authors:

Gaurav Sharma, Yashika Arora and Shubhajit Roy Chowdhury
Abstract: The present work aims at developing static phantom for rat brain to model the inhomogeneities in the brain tissues. The inhomogeneities have been modelled by varying the concentration of the fluids that mimic those inhomogeneities. The local variations in various parts of brain can be considered as different concentration of substances and accordingly having different optical attributes. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used to detect and estimate these local changes that indicate different brain activities. The paper presents the development of static rat brain tissue phantoms and its analysis using a single channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system. Homogeneous phantoms have been prepared with different concentrations of agarose and intralipid. For different concentrations, the NIRS signal has been acquired at dual wavelengths (770 nm and 850 nm). With increase in the concentration of intralipid, an increase in the amplitude of NIRS signal was noted. The response obtained due to 770 nm and 850 nm sources corresponded to lower and upper amplitude respectively.
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Paper Nr: 28
Title:

Evaluation of Closed-loop Feedback System Delay - A Time-critical Perspective for Neurofeedback Training
Authors:

Jonatan Tidare, Elaine Åstrand and Martin Ekström
Abstract: Neurofeedback in real-time has proven effective when subjects learn to control a BCI. To facilitate learning, a closed-loop feedback system should provide neurofeedback with maximal accuracy and minimal delay. In this article, we propose a modular system for real-time neurofeedback experiments and evaluate its performance as a function of increased stress level applied to the system. The system shows stable behavior and decent performance when streaming with many EEG channels (36-72) and 500-5000 Hz, which is common in BCI setups. With very low data loads (1 channel, 500-1000 Hz) the performance dropped significantly and the system became highly unpredictable. We show that the system delays did not correlate linearly with the stress-level applied to the system, emphasizing the importance of system delay tests before conducting real-time BCI-experiments.
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Paper Nr: 30
Title:

Optical Technology for Fibrotic Skin Changes Objectification in Experimental Systemic Scleroderma
Authors:

Yulia Chursinova, Dmitriy Kulikov, Dmitry Rogatkin, Irina Raznitsyna, Darya Mosalskaya and Maksim Bobrov
Abstract: Currently the examination of skin fibrosis is based on subjective non quantitative methods and requires invasive procedures. Optical techniques abled to evaluate different quantitative parameters of ordered tissues can be used to solve these problem. Measurements of endogenous fluorescence intensity, regional tissue oxyhemoglobin saturation, and blood filling volume allowed to define the high endogenous fluorescence intensity of porphyrin in skin fibrosis. Besides that, the decrease in oxygen intake parameters together with the fluorescence intensity increase of collagen was determined. Consequently the optical diagnostic techniques can become an effective method for skin fibrosis evaluation.
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Paper Nr: 31
Title:

Dynamic Detection of Cytomegalovirus in Breastmilk - Towards a Device for Self Monitoring Risks of Postnatal Infection
Authors:

S. Py, A. Guitton, F. Lardet-Vieudrin, N. Marthouret, L. Pazart, A. Coaquette, W. Boireau, G. Thiriez, G. Herbein and B. Wacogne
Abstract: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a major cause of morbidity worldwide especially in newborn infants. While congenital HCMV infection affects 2-5% of preterm newborns, the risk of postnatal infection particularly through breast milk is higher in this population (prevalence about 20%) since more than one mother on two is affected. Congenital and postnatal infection can lead to important clinical complications such as deafness, learning disabilities, and mental retardation during childhood. Neonatologists are squeezed in their clinical practice: either breastfeeding is favored without any milk treatment going on exposure of preterm infants to a potential infection, or milk is systematically treated by freezing or pasteurization but with deprivation of non-at-risk infants from the benefits of fresh milk. In this position paper, we propose a possible solution to differentiate milk with risk of HCMV contamination from milk without any risk. This would allow subsequent adaptation of the milk feeding strategy. Also, because the HCMV contamination peak appears 4 to 8 weeks after birth, the work we present here should lead to a device meant to be used both at hospital and at home in a self-testing manner.
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Paper Nr: 32
Title:

Test Device for Blood Transfusion Safety - How Acoustics Can Help Preventing Any Red Cells Incompatibility
Authors:

Karine Charrière, Jean-Francois Manceau, Pascal Morel, Véronique Bourcier, Wilfrid Boireau, Lionel Pazart and Bruno Wacogne
Abstract: During red cells concentrates transfusion, red cells incompatibilities still occur despite the laboratory controls based on immuno-hematologic techniques. Red cells incompatibilities appear when patient’s antibodies bind to red cells to be transfused. Up to now, all pre-transfusion testing are addressed using techniques based on immunology. This is time consuming, expensive and some incompatibility situations cannot be addressed at the patient’s bedside. In this position paper, we propose a completely novel paradigm. Our hypothesis is that red blood cells sensitized by the patient’s antibodies see their deformability greatly reduced. This induces changes of the rheological properties of the “red cells concentrate /patient’s blood” mixture. Studies described in this position paper aim at characterizing these modifications by measuring the characteristics of acoustic waves propagating in the mixture and to produce a mobile and automated acousto-micro-fluidic device which would allow detecting any incompatibility at the patient’s bed side.
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Paper Nr: 35
Title:

Evaluation of Dosimetric Properties in Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) - Development of a New Dose Index
Authors:

Chiara Sottocornola, Antonio Traino, Patrizio Barca, Giacomo Aringhieri, Carolina Marini, Alessandra Retico, Davide Caramella and Maria Evelina Fantacci
Abstract: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, constituting 29% of all cancers related to the female population. In this context, Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) is the reference imaging technique for breast cancer early detection and diagnosis and it is widely employed in screening programs. Therefore, the absorbed radiation dose for each examination shall be evaluated in order to ensure proper radiation exposures for the patient. In addition, the new European Directive 59/2013/EURATOM requires that dosimetric data referred to the radiation exposure should be inserted in the radiological report. For these reasons, we designed a multidisciplinary research project with the intention of realizing and validating a new method for calculating the Average Absorbed Breast Dose (2ABD) by the patient during a mammography procedure. The innovative aspect regards the availability of a quantitative and personalized dosimetric parameter, providing an index that is patient-specific rather than related to the X-ray machine output, directly related to the risk of radiation. Specifically, in this work we present our scientific approach as well as the initial results.
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Paper Nr: 36
Title:

Microfluidic Platform for Aptamer based Fluorimetric Analysis of Analytes
Authors:

Tanu Bhardwaj and Sandeep Kumar Jha
Abstract: In this work, we are reporting fabrication of a simple and low cost setup for fluorescence detection based on aptamer probes. For this reason, we fabricated a PMMA-PMMA microfluidic chip using easily available laboratory techniques and combined the chip with a simple fluorescence detection setup using optical fiber, filter, detector and a commercial spectroscopy software. In this new approach, we used two different strategies to use aptamers as probe. In first strategy, detection of any nucleic acid could be targeted using simple DNA hybridization with aptamer probe. Such strategy can be used in analysis of samples with specific nucleic acid sequence, such as pathogen. We proved this using known sequence of ssDNA aptamer probe immobilized on detection zone on microchip and its FAM labeled complementary strand was passed over it using microfluidic condition. In other strategy, we attempted detection of any protein or biomarker using sandwich fluorimetric technique with primary and labeled secondary aptamer immobilized on sensing region. For this, we used thrombin as model target to validate our setup. Both the strategies proved satisfactory on our setup. Even more, LOD was also impressive. In future, this setup could further be miniaturized by using a small on-chip CCD array detector, microcontroller based electronics and LabVIEW software based control.
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Paper Nr: 37
Title:

Relationship between NMES Patterns and Knee Angle Variation during Induced Fatigue Protocol in SCI Subjects
Authors:

Carla Daniele Pacheco Rinaldin, Caluê Papcke, Eddy Krueger, Guilherne Nunes Nogueira-Neto, Percy Nohama and Eduardo Mendonça Scheeren
Abstract: People with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) present a rapid process of muscle fatigue under neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) due to neuromuscular impairment. Different NMES patterns interfere with the fatigue process and joint amplitude. The aim of this study was to evaluate muscle reactions using joint knee joint fatigue protocol with four NMES patterns in people with complete SCI. Ten subjects with complete SCI received 4 stimulatory profiles, varying pulse duration and the modulating frequency (burst): P1 (100μs-50Hz); P2 (100μs-70Hz); P3 (200μs-50Hz); P4 (200μs-70Hz). Subjects were classified according to theirself angular response as upper median (UPmed) and lower median (LOWmed). UPmed had lower angular variation and attenuation in the fatigue process than LOWmed in P1 (session I, trial 1 p=0.06, trial 2 p=0.009, trial 3 p=0.029, session II, trial 1 p=0.015), P2 (session I, trial 3 p=0.024, trial 4 p=0.034), P3 (session I, trial 3 p=0.035), P4 without intergroup difference. The angular variation can be applied as a useful tool for muscular condition classification of complete SCI people. The best performance of UPmed has occured in P1 and the worst in P4. The LOWmed performance did not stand out in any protocol.
Paper Nr: 42
Title:

Polymeric Carriers – The Influence of Body Fluid Compounds on a Drug Local Release

Authors:

Anna Trusek-Holownia and Alicja Latka
Abstract: The release of a model compound (cyanocobalamin) from the core-shell structure of drug carrier was considered. Mass transfer was described by the classical equation describing a diffusion mass flow. The presence of compounds found in body fluids on the diffusional mass stream was investigated. It has been shown that high molecular weight compounds unable to penetrate the carrier surface form on the carrier surface a layer that slightly slows the drug release. Slowing down also occurs in the case of counter-current transport of soluble organic components. However, the salts (particularly NaCl) present in body fluids, probably due to the emerging osmotic pressure, significantly accelerate the transport of the released drug. In order to prevent this phenomenon, salts at the concentrations equal to their concentrations in the fluid surrounding the carrier should be placed into the carrier.
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Paper Nr: 8
Title:

Implementation of a Low Cost Prototype for Electrical Impedance Tomography based on the Integrated Circuit for Body Composition Measurement AFE4300
Authors:

Víctor Hugo Mosquera, Adrian Arregui, Ramon Bragós and Carlos Felipe Rengifo
Abstract: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a technique of image reconstruction of the electrical conductivity distribution in a tissue or region under observation. An electrical system for EIT comprises complex hardware and software modules, which are designed for a specific application which requires that the system to be able to detect conductivity variations within the study object. The Front-End for body composition measurement, AFE4300 from Texas Instruments allows a minimal implementation of an electrical impedance tomography system. It is the main device in the development of the EIT system presented in this paper, this device injects the current signal and measures the tensions generated on the study region boundary by 8 electrodes, the image reconstruction software was developed on the National Instruments platform Labview. The system includes a microcontroller PIC16F886 to configure the 8 channels for the definition of the patterns of injection and measurement of signals, also defines the current signal frequency and the bluetooth communication with the computer for the image reconstruction. The developed system was validated by a planar resistive phantom (CardiffEIT phantom), obtaining a stable voltage measurement every 50 ms per pair of electrodes, and a signal to noise ratio (SNR) maximum of 71.8 dB, for a current signal of 50 kHz. Additionally, tests were carried out in a saline tank with a concentration of 4 g/L, the developed system can simultaneously estimate the presence of conductive and non-conductive disturbances into the tank.
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Paper Nr: 13
Title:

Evaluating Accuracy and Usability of Microsoft Kinect Sensors and Wearable Sensor for Tele Knee Rehabilitation after Knee Operation
Authors:

MReza Naeemabadi, Birthe Dinesen, Ole Kæseler Andersen, Samira Najafi and John Hansen
Abstract: The Microsoft Kinect sensors and wearable sensors are considered as low-cost portable alternative of advanced marker-based motion capture systems for tracking human physical activities. These sensors are widely utilized in several clinical applications. Many studies were conducted to evaluate accuracy, reliability, and usability of the Microsoft Kinect sensors for tracking in static body postures, gait and other daily activities. This study was aimed to asses and compare accuracy and usability of both generation of the Microsoft Kinect sensors and wearable sensors for tracking daily knee rehabilitation exercises. Hence, several common exercises for knee rehabilitation were utilized. Knee angle was estimated as an outcome. The results indicated only second generation of Microsoft Kinect sensors and wearable sensors had acceptable accuracy, where average root mean square error for Microsoft Kinect v2, accelerometers and inertial measure units were 2.09°, 3.11°, and 4.93° respectively. Both generation of Microsoft Kinect sensors were unsuccessful to track joint position while the subject was lying in a bed. This limitation may argue usability of Microsoft Kinect sensors for knee rehabilitation applications.
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Paper Nr: 23
Title:

Feature Extraction and Selection for EEG and Motion Data in Tasks of the Mental Status Assessing - Pilot Study using Emotiv EPOC+ Headset Signals

Authors:

Alexey Syskov, Vasilii Borisov, Vsevolod Tetervak and Vladimir Kublanov
Abstract: In the paper the results of extracting and selection the features of EEG data and accelerometer for mental status evaluation are shown. We have used 14 channel wireless EEG-system Emotiv EPOC+ with accelerometer (motional data - MD) for short-term recording under several functional states for 10 healthy subjects: Functional rest (rest state), TOVA-test (mental load), Hyperventilation (physical load) and Aftereffect (after test state). We then extracted core features from EEG-only and MD-only data using principal component analysis. After that, supervised learning methods were used for mental state classification: EEG-only core features for AF3, T7, O1, T8, AF4 channels, MD-only core features and EEG- MD integrated core features. Experimental results showed that integrated core features for mental status evaluation have higher prediction accuracy 92,0% for decision tree method.
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Paper Nr: 26
Title:

RehabVisual: Development of an Application to Stimulate Visuomotor Skills
Authors:

Raquel Machado, Ana Ferreira, Carla Quintão and Claudia Quaresma
Abstract: The stimulation of visuomotor skills has a relevant role in the rehabilitation of children with neurological dysfunctions / pathologies. However, the methods of evaluation and intervention for children under the age of 18 months are few systematic and not directed to the problem of each one. For this reason it was important to develop a system that will fill this gap. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper is to present the development process of a tool called RehabVisual - evaluation and stimulation of visuomotor competences. RehabVisual has the objective to promote the evaluation and the stimulations of visuomotor skills in children between the ages of 0 and 18 months. The platform has two sessions: database that records all the clinical information of the child and protocol with stimuli according to the development of the child. This plataform it was realized with physicians and occupations therapists from the Service of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) of the Hospital D. Estefânica of the Hospital Center of Lisbon Central and it was approved by the Portuguese Ethics Committees of this Hospital. The RehabVisual can be used by physicians, occupational therapists, and caregivers and is characterized for being a tool user-friendly, versatile and adaptable to the needs of each child.
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Paper Nr: 27
Title:

Scalable and Easy-to-use System Architecture for Electronic Noses
Authors:

Ana Pádua, Daniel Osório, João Rodrigues, Gonçalo Santos, Ana Porteira, Susana Palma, Ana Cecília Roque and Hugo Gamboa
Abstract: The purpose of this work was the development of a scalable and easy-to-use electronic noses (E-noses) system architecture for volatile organic compounds sensing, towards the final goal of using several E-noses acquiring large datasets at the same time. In order to accomplish this, each E-nose system is comprised by a delivery system, a detection system and a data acquisition and control system. In order to increase the scalability, the data is stored in a database common to all E-noses. Furthermore, the system was designed so it would only require five simple steps to setup a new E-nose if needed, since the only parameter that needs to be changed is the ID of the new E-nose. The user interacts with a node using an interface, allowing for the control and visualization of the experiment. At this stage, there are three different E-nose prototypes working with this architecture in a laboratory environment.
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Paper Nr: 39
Title:

Time-depended Quenching Behaviors of Multi-dye Systems by Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors:

Ying Tan and Kazuo Umemura
Abstract: A fluorescence quenching phenomenon of fluorophores or dyes could be observed with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) suspension. In this study, uranine (Ur) and Rhodamin B (RB), were employed as fluorophores to research time-depended quenching behaviors of multi-fluorophore system by SWNT suspension with single-stranded DNA (SWNT-T30). The effect of “simultaneous quenched” scheme (Ur and RB were quenched at the same time) and “un-simultaneous quenched” scheme (Ur was quenched to equilibrium state, then RB was added; or RB first quenched, then Ur added) to the quenching properties of multi-fluorophore system by SWNT-T30 were compared and researched. The quench equilibrium could be realized in 10 min, for both single and multi-quenching system. Quenching balance and quenching efficiency of each dye basically was not impacted obviously, whether there was another dye existed in the same solution or not. The results or the methodology was important for the future multi-sensor design and application, as it is essential to check the dynamic balance of quenching behavior and confirm that if the quenching performance of target or hunter of sensor (or multi-sensor) was influenced by other constituents.
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Paper Nr: 40
Title:

Intelligent Multi-sensor Arrays for Next Generation Diagnostic Biodevices
Authors:

Hadar Ben-Yoav
Abstract: Redox molecules play an essential role in many biological pathways, including energy metabolism, biosynthesis, and cell respiration. Moreover, a specific spectrum of redox molecules (comprising their type, concentration, and redox state) is involved in the development of diseases, including cancer. Thus, profiling the redox spectrum in the body is highly beneficial for a wide range of biomedical applications, from in vivo diagnostics to in situ monitoring of cell metabolism. Yet, the fundamental challenge lies within the ability to efficiently extract and analyze physiologically and medically relevant information from redox molecules in biofluids. This paper will discuss the advantageous approach to rapidly and continuously monitor redox molecules in biofluids using electrochemical lab-on-a-chip biodevices. The current approaches will be discussed to selectively measure redox molecules from biofluids without diminishing the rapid and continuous monitoring capabilities of these translational biodevices, i.e., by simultaneously analyzing multiple diagnostic redox biomarkers in a stand-alone operation, without any sample pretreatment or elimination of other interfering molecules. Then, the promising approach of using intelligent multi-sensor arrays will be highlighted for the rapid detection of a spectrum of redox molecules and the current challenges impeding their important utilization for next generation biomedical diagnostic devices.
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Paper Nr: 46
Title:

Human Interface for a Neuroprothesis Remotely Control
Authors:

Lucas M. Argentim, Maria Claudia F. Castro and Plinio A. Tomaz
Abstract: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Surface Electromyography (sEMG) have been widely explored by the scientific community for the rehabilitation of individuals with motor deficits due to stroke. The literature shows the benefits of sEMG-activated NMES use in both motor rehabilitation and neural plasticity stimulation. Currently, there is a strong tendency to expand the clinical environment, and the internet can be used by healthcare professionals to do detailed follow-up and interact with their patients remotely. This work presents a neuroprothesis activated by sEMG that allows configuration and monitoring of usage parameters remotely. Two control platforms were developed for different user profiles; health professionals (Web Interface) and neuroprosthesis users (Smartphone Application).
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Paper Nr: 47
Title:

Development of a Parameter Calculator in Cardiovascular Perfusion - BioMEP as a Tool for the Register of Physiological Parameters
Authors:

Inês Dias, Pedro Fonseca, Duarte Furtado, Inês Figueira, Paulo Franco, Vanda Cláudio, Helena Antunes, José Fragata, Cláudia Quaresma and Carla Quintão
Abstract: Technology has played an increasingly important role in the health sector, with new devices allowing for better real-time monitoring of patients’ biosignals. Among those, the ones developed with perfusion in mind are extremely useful, during cardiothoracic surgery, since they provide detailed information about the vital signs of the patient. However, doctors and technicians have often to calculate several physiological parameters, which help them make clinical decision during such surgical interventions. In this context, the authors present a software tool – BioMEP: Perfusion Calculator Application, built in a partnership between the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Santa Marta Hospital and the Department of Physics of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the NOVA University of Lisbon, and which fulfils the needs of the surgical team. BioMEP - Perfusion Calculator Application is a safe, intuitive and user-friendly tool that incorporates and integrates department-specific perfusion parameters and calculations, in a single platform, and allows for higher intervention efficiency, while minimizing the errors of the required calculation, with the concomitant improvement in patient safety.
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Paper Nr: 48
Title:

New Bioinspired Filter of DICOM Images
Authors:

Arata Andrade Saraiva, N. M. Fonseca Ferreira and Antonio Valente
Abstract: The article refers to a new model of genetic algorithm. The method used has finality of optimize the filtering of artifacts in DICOM images in two-steps.The first step is constituted by filterings with BM4D, 3d median filter and ellipsoid filter. The second step is formed by the application of operators of simple mutations in the previously recovered image, for that was used: intensity change, gaussian filter and mean filter. As a result, a better performance filter was obtained and which provides an improvement in diagnosis, in diseases assessment and in decisions making by the professional.
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