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Researchers battle a deadly lung problem with meds, computer models
It doesn't take a whole lot to stop the tiny air sacs in your lungs from doing their jobs -- trauma, a nasty case of pneumonia or sepsis could lead to what's called Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a situation in which your blood doesn't get all the oxygen it should. ARDS can be tricky to treat even on a good day, but that's where the big brains at the University of Michigan come in. Researchers there have cooked up a way to model how liquid medication surges and diffuses throughout the lungs, and breathed new life into a treatment that others had all but given up on in the process.
Antimicrobial silver coatings could be hindering your chemo
Hospitals around the world use a silver coating on their chemotherapy equipment, such as IV catheters, because the noble metal prevents microbial growth. However, it turns out that this germ killing coating could be damaging chemo drugs that flow over it and harming patients. A team of researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology's (NTNU) Department of Physics revealed this effect in a study recently published in the journal 2D Materials. "We wanted to find potential problem sources in the tubes used in intravenous catheters...Chemotherapy drugs are active substances, so it isn't hard to imagine that the medicine could react with the silver," Justin Wells, associate professor of physics at NTNU, said in a statement.
Chlorine leak injures five at Apple data center
It hasn't been the best week for Apple. After a small fire broke out at its Arizona facility, it's now dealing with a chlorine leak at its data center in North Carolina. Catawba County Emergency Services swept in with a HazMat team yesterday and five employees were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Apple admits the workers could have been exposed to fumes after the chemical, used to clean its cooling systems, was spilled inside the building. All of the employees have since been discharged from the hospital and Apple says they should be able to return to work today. "The spill was quickly contained and poses no threat to anyone else at the facility," an Apple spokesperson told WSOC-TV.
Reuters: more than half of top US hospitals are trialling Apple HealthKit
When Apple announced HealthKit, one of the more interesting features was the ability for Doctors to check your health data remotely. HealthKit has already been trialled with health professionals monitoring patients with Type 1 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Reuters suggests that these trials are moving away from Universities, and into hospitals. It claims that over half (14 of 23) the "top" hospitals (including eight on the News & World Report's Honor Roll) it contacted were running pilot programs that leveraged HealthKit data.
Patient 3D prints his own kidney to guide surgeons
Despite having millions of dollars of imaging technology at their disposal, surgeons often have to wait until they open a patient up before deciding the best course of action. Even for the simplest procedure, knowing the actual size and composition of the affected body part can make all the difference. When British patient John Cousins collapsed in pain from appendicitis and a 3.5cm "stags head" kidney stone, he wanted to provide specialists with as much information on his affected organ as he could, so he decided to 3D-print a replica model of it.
Health care outlets pay $4.8 million after 6,800 patient records leak on the web
Want to know why health care institutions can be antsy about making their patient data available online? Here's why: Columbia University and the New York and Presbyterian Hospital have paid a total of $4.8 million to settle charges after they inadvertently leaked the records of 6,800 patients to the web in 2010. The organizations allegedly didn't do enough to identify systems that had sensitive info, leaving them unprepared when a physician switched off a personal server that was keeping the records private. Both outlets are overhauling their policies in the wake of the settlement, so a repeat incident is less likely. Still, the breach is a not-so-friendly reminder that there are big risks to putting medical histories on networked computers -- your data is only as safe as the system it's on. [Image credit: Presidencia de la Republica del Ecuador, Flickr]
Physicians who use mobile apps prefer iPhones and iPads
A recent survey conducted by Black Book Rankings reveals that physicians are increasingly relying on mobile apps in their daily practice. The trend is somewhat attributable to the Affordable Care Act which provides incentives to doctors and hospitals to digitize Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and make them available via mobile devices. As a result, physicians are now using mobile applications in their practice more than ever before. Some functions of medical-based mobile apps include the ability to remotely view and update charts, coordinate schedules and appointments, place lab orders, access patient records and even prescribe medication. The study found that amongst physicians who use medical mobile apps on smartphones, 68 percent use iPhones while 31 percent use Android-based devices. Perhaps not surprisingly, this preference for iOS extends beyond the smartphone realm and includes tablets as well. The survey found that 59 percent of physicians who use mobile apps do so on a tablet device, and from within that group, most prefer the iPad. That the iPhone and iPad are the preferred devices amongst physicians isn't all that surprising given the number of hospitals that are increasingly incorporating iOS devices into the work place. Back in April, for example, we reported on a hospital in Los Angeles which began deploying FaceTime-equipped iPads in its neonatal intensive care unit as a means to facilitate communication between mothers and newborns when face-to-face interaction isn't yet possible. Such scenarios can arise when a new mother has post-operative complications or an infection which may put the newborn infant at risk. Just yesterday, we also reported on how one hospital was able to recoup its investment in iPads in just nine days. Lastly, it's worth pointing out that Apple has a special page on its website highlighting how a prominent Canadian hospital has successfully deployed iPads as a means to help doctors and nurses perform important tasks and increase the overall level and efficiency of care. Physicians at The Ottawa Hospital have started using iPad in innovative new ways. They can use the built-in iPad camera to photograph a patient's wound during treatment, and store the image in the patient's electronic medical record for future reference. Using iPad, physicians can show patients the progress of their recovery right at the bedside, Dr. Geiger notes. "I can say, 'Here's what your wound looked like three weeks ago.' I'm showing them what it looked like then and what it looks like today." iPad fits physicians' workflows in many ways, Potter says: "The form factor of iPad is very attractive. The screen size is optimal. There's almost instant access to information. Battery life exceeds the length of a shift. It's critically important for a physician to be able to know that they can rely on that device, work for an entire shift, and provide the same level of care to all their patients." The video below highlights how The Ottawa Hospital has been using iPads to improve patient care. It's well worth watching.
RP-VITA bringing its telepresence to seven North American hospitals
We've already seen the RP-VITA in action -- and so, for that matter, has the FDA. Now iRobot / InTouch Health's telepresence 'bot is ready to take the field. The companies today jointly unveiled a list of seven US and Mexican hospitals that will be using the iPad-friendly wheeled robot. The list includes a handful of locations that helped demo RP-VITA ahead of its official release. Check in after the break for all the locations, which include half a dozen in the US and one in Mexico.
Hospital uses iPads to help moms stay in contact with newborns
As part of a program called BabyTime, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles recently deployed iPads in its neonatal intensive care unit to enable mothers to see their newborns and interact with hospital staff when they can't do so in person. Infants are typically placed in the NICU when they are born prematurely or have other complications that require specialized care and supervision. In some circumstances, the condition of the mother might preclude her from being allowed or able enough to visit her newborn in the NICU. Such scenarios might arise when a new mother has post-operative complications, an infection which may pose a risk to the newborn or is otherwise not yet well enough to leave her bed. Cedars-Sinai notes that approximately 20 to 30 percent of new mothers who undergo C-sections "do not feel well enough to travel from their bed in the Labor and Delivery unit to the NICU for the first 24 to 48 hours." With the iPad, however, these mothers can now see their newborn and, just as importantly, interact with the nurses and doctors keeping an eye on their baby. All in all, it's a great way to keep patients more involved and informed while also adding an overall sense of comfort to what can otherwise be a stressful and worrisome situation. Charles F. Simmons Jr., MD, who chairs the Cedars-Sinai Department of Pediatrics, touted the new program in a press release: BabyTime will help bridge communication with the family and the baby's medical team and is an excellent use of technology to help new mothers bond with their babies, even when they cannot be physically at their babies' bedside. When doctors and nurses are treating a newborn in the NICU, mom can be right there asking questions and getting updates, even if she's on a different floor. As one would expect, the way the program works is pretty simple. When a newborn is admitted into the NICU, one iPad is placed next to the baby's incubator while another is delivered to the baby's mother. The press release notes that the mother can log onto BabyTime twice a day. Over the past few years, Cedars-Sinai has particularly embraced the intersection of technology and healthcare. The hospital previously gave its staff iPhones to facilitate communication amongst nurses and doctors and was also one of the first hospitals to roll out an iPhone app which enables doctors to remotely access EKG results and fetal monitoring.
FDA approves iRobot RP-VITA telepresence robot for use in hospitals
iRobot's robots physicians have been wanting to offer their diagnostic assistance for around six months, but now the RP-VITA, made in partnership with InTouch's AVA telepresence broadcast tech, has been given permission by the FDA to roam a hospital corridor near you. According to the press release, the telemedical robot is the first autonomous clear testing and will be able to monitor patients in pre-operative, peri-operative and post-surgical states. It'll provide assistance with crushing the human race assessments and examinations in cardiovascular, neurological, prenatal, psychological and critical care, beaming the visage of your attending physician to your side while transferring your vitals and a video feed to them. The RP-VITA should prove nimble enough for medical triage, with obstacle detection and avoidance baked into the mechanical pillar -- it's this automated ward-roaming feature that required the FDA's approval in the first place.
Bungie's gift to a child who could use cheering up, in pictures
Reddit user fiscal_ reached out on the forums two weeks ago, asking if anyone had contact info for Bungie, the original team behind the Halo series. His young son was a huge Halo fan, but more importantly he was recovering from an intense liver transplant surgery, and fiscal_ wanted to cheer him up with something from his favorite franchise. Bungie delivered.Bungie sent over a full-size replica of Carter's helmet from Halo: Reach for fiscal_'s son to keep, along with a t-shirt and a card signed by Bungie staff wishing him well. "My family can't thank Bungie enough," fiscal_ wrote. "I know that they have had a huge impact on how well my son has been recovering after his surgery."This album of pictures tells the whole, heartwarming story.
iRobot's mobile medical telepresence robot controlled by iPad app
Massachusetts-based iRobot is probably best known for introducing robotics into the home in the form of the popular scurrying Roomba vacuuming robots, but the company also has its hands in many other markets as well. The company recently introduced RP-VITA, a telepresence robot that takes the physical place of remote workers while allowing interaction with other people. Our sister site Engadget has some video of the robot being controlled by an iPad app in a medical setting. Co-branding the RP-VITA with California-based InTouch Health, the companies are looking at letting doctors do rounds and check up on hospital patients without actually being onsite. A doctor simply taps a location -- like a hospital room number -- on the iPad screen, and the robot scurries off to the room, checking for obstacles along the way. Once at the patient's bedside, the doctor can check vitals or use the built-in screen to talk to the patient. The video shows the device being tested in a mock hospital setting with dummies as patients. I have to agree with commenter AarghaKnot's assessment on Engadget: "They should make it more realistic. Telepresence robot enters room with clipboard in front of face, mumbles a few formalities, barks orders at a nurse and is gone in less than 2 minutes." Enjoy the video.
Massively's Beau Hindman streaming 24 hours of gaming for Extra Life charity
It's that time of year again! What time, you say? After all, it's too early for Halloween and Thanksgiving. It's never too early for games, though, and it's time to play them for 24 hours straight and raise money for Extra Life and the Children's Miracle Network Hospital! I've participated in this event for the last several years, sometimes taking along other friends, co-workers and wives. This year is no different and in order to keep me awake and on my toes I will be livestreaming the entire event on our very own MassivelyTV channel. That's right: you can watch as I slowly disintegrate into a pile of goo over the course of the day. Don't fret... a lot of other gamers and developers will be participating, so I won't feel alone. You can join my team if you want to game all day or just donate directly to my page. Starting at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Saturday, October 20th, I will begin broadcasting a list of approximately 24 games randomly chosen throughout the day. There's no real science to it, and if I happen to be having a ton of fun in one particular game then I might just continue playing it. Feel free to come suggest games in the chat room. I might even have another Massively staffer or two jump on the stream with me, or take over the stream when I need to fix a sandwich. The real reason I'll be there is to raise money for sick kids. Every cent goes to the charity, and so far Extra Life has raised millions! Wish me luck, and bring coffee!
BenQ: We're not going back to cellphones and laptops, but check out our luxury lamps!
There was a time when the BenQ brand could be seen on laptops and mobile phones, but nowadays you'd have to turn your eyes to projectors, LCD monitors and cameras (in select markets) in order to spot it. If you're in China, you might have even come across the gigantic BenQ Medical Center in Nanjing. That's right, a hospital; and later this year BenQ will be opening another one in Suzhou, which is where the company's Chinese operation is based. Interesting times, right? But as to whether BenQ has any intention to re-enter the two mobile markets in the near future, the answer is a firm "no."
Sony unveils first medical-grade OLED monitor, surgery gets rendered in all-too-vivid color
OLED screens are virtually everywhere, and they're steadily getting bigger, but it was tough to find any in hospitals until now. While Sony's 25-inch PVM-2551MD might not have the most glamorous name, it's the first and only OLED monitor with FDA approval for use in surgery. No, it's not just to give the doctor something more pleasing (or disgusting) to look at while she's removing a gallstone -- the organic display can be a genuine help for surgery through the higher contrast, virtually non-existent blur and more faithful color reproduction versus the LCDs it's meant to replace. Us patients likely won't see the now-shipping 2551MD for much longer than it takes to go unconscious, so it might be hard to appreciate; if it helps surgeons finish operations faster and with fewer mistakes, however, we could all reap the rewards.
FCC wants to set aside wireless spectrum for medical body area devices, our hearts are literally aflutter
The FCC has been making a big push towards freeing up the airwaves for medical uses, and it just took one of its biggest steps on that front by proposing to clear space for wireless body area networks. Agency officials want to let devices operate in the 2.36GHz to 2.4GHz space so that patients can stay at home or at least move freely, instead of being fenced in at the hospital or tethered to a bed by wires. Devices would still need the FDA's green light, but they could both let patients go home sooner as well as open the door wider for preventative care. Voting on the proposal takes place May 24, which leaves our tech-minded hearts beating faster -- and if the proposal takes effect, we'll know just how much faster.
New medical iPad platform reduces patient check-in time
NIIT Healthcare Technologies of Orlando, Florida introduced a mobile platform that'll speed up check-in times, improve communication and help process payments for hospitals, physician offices, clinics and laboratories. Called MASH for manage, analyze, sustain and harness, the product lets patients and doctors use mobile devices that tie into the facility's backend infrastructure. Patients can check-in autonomously using a tablet and describe their injury or illness, enter health insurance details or even navigate the halls of the facility. This information is then sent to the appropriate medical department which is alerted to the patient's arrival and to the business office for payment processing. This system is already installed in Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster California. "MASH's ability to reduce the waiting time and paperwork in our ER will provide our hospital with life-saving and cost-saving technologies," said Humberto Quintanar, CIO of Antelope Valley Hospital. [Via mobihealthnews]
How the iPad is succeeding in healthcare
Wired has posted a profile of one Afshad Mistri, an Apple employee whose goal is quite focused. As the medical market manager, he's tasked with connecting medical professionals and Apple's technology. Mistri couldn't chat with Wired for the article itself (Apple's less-than-press-friendly reputation is upheld), but according to medical personnel he's working with, Apple is pushing hard on the healthcare industry by setting up iPads and other brand new tech in medical workplaces. That's interesting, as Apple traditionally hasn't aggressively pursued the enterprise, leaving most offices to companies like Microsoft and RIM. But the medical market is different. In addition to Mistri's behind-the-scenes work and stories about organizations using the iPad, Apple has featured medical apps during several public presentations. It's not a big surprise, since the medical industry is tech-friendly (which is right where Apple wants to be) and has deep pockets to fund upgrades. But it is interesting that Apple has chosen to actively pursue medicine. We can probably expect to see more universities and hospitals embracing the iPad and Apple's devices moving forward. [via gigaom]
HCI Roommate III puts Android powered TVs in hospitals
Many companies have tried their hand at Android-powered TVs and set-top boxes outside of the Google TV ecosystem before, but HCI's Roommate III is apparently the first line destined for the sterile environment of hospitals. These 22- to 42-inch wall mounted LCD HDTVs run an unspecified flavor of Android that supports apps, web browsing, and a built-in whiteboard. Things like accreditation status, outcomes studies, and incidence of medical errors will probably still be our main concerns in picking a hospital, but if these displays catch on then our doctors can describe our next elective surgery with the help of Google Body.
New sensor can read your heart from afar, but knows not your feelings
Are you fed up with your current ECG sensor? Tired of all the mess of electroconductive gels, sticky electrodes and tangled wires? How about this: Britain's Plessey Semiconductors offers an ECG sensor that promises heart-monitoring without the hassle. We've seen similar technology before, but according to the company, the Electric Potential Integrated Circuit -- or EPIC, as it's humbly called -- can read heartbeats even through a sweater; future versions might be embedded in hospital gurneys for constant, unobtrusive monitoring. Like an extremely sensitive voltmeter, it detects tiny changes in electric fields, which means it could also be used for Kinect-style motion interfaces. The company even imagines a future system where firefighters can use the EPIC to find humans in a smoke-filled room. If you're thinking, "My, that sounds just like my Deus Ex dreams" -- hey, we're right there with you.
