Desmond Chambers

Using Zigbee to Integrate Medical Devices

Wirelessly enabling medical devices such as vital signs monitors, ventilators and infusion pumps allows central data collection. This paper discusses how data from these types of devices can be integrated into hospital systems using wireless sensor networking technology. By integrating devices you are protecting investment and opening up the possibility of networking with similar devices. In this context we present how Zigbee meets our requirements for bandwidth, power, security and mobility. We have examined the data throughputs for various medical devices, the requirement of data frequency, security of patient data and the logistics of moving patients while connected to devices. The paper describes a new tested architecture that allows this data to be seamlessly integrated into a user interface or healthcare information system (HIS). The design supports the dynamic addition of new medical devices to the system that were previously unsupported by the system. To achieve this, the hardware design is kept generic and the software interface for different types of medical devices is well defined. These devices can also share the wireless resources with other types of sensors being developed in conjunction on this project such as wireless ECG (electrocardiogram) and pulse-oximetry sensors.

Bayesian ANN classifier for ECG arrhythmia diagnostic system: a comparison study

This paper outlines a system for detection of cardiac arrhythmias within ECG signals, based on a Bayesian artificial neural network (ANN) classifier. The Bayesian (or probabilistic) ANN classifier is built by the use of a logistic regression model and the backpropagation algorithm based on a Bayesian framework. Its performance for this task is evaluated by comparison with other classifiers including Naive Bayes, decision trees, logistic regression, and RBF networks. A paired t-test is employed in comparing classifiers to select the optimum model. The system is evaluated using noisy ECG data, to simulate a real-world environment. It is hoped that the system can be further developed and fine-tuned for practical application.

A JMS Message Transport Protocol for the JADE platform

A prerequisite of joining an enterprise system is the ability to cope with the rigorous demands experienced within such systems. One of the most fundamental of these demands is the requirement for enterprise-level systems to have guaranteed reliable messaging between the participants of the system. Our research involves integrating an agent platform with an enterprise messaging service. This first step in combining agent technology with a mainstream messaging service is vital to the participation of agent systems within the digital enterprise. This paper introduces a new Message Transport Protocol (MTP) for the Java Agent Development (JADE) platform. The new protocol uses the Java Messaging Service (JMS) to deliver inter-platform communication between agent platforms. The paper provides a brief overview of the design of this new MTP, evaluates its performance, and examines the benefits of the MTP in comparison to the other available MTPs; it then concludes and highlights plans for the development of the MTP.

Stream enhancements for the CORBA event service

This paper describes a number of enhancements for the standard CORBA Event Service. The basic service definition has been extended to support stream events, multimedia data flows, event fragmentation, quality of service definition, as well as multicast event delivery. The paper evaluates the service performance and describes experiences using the enhanced service in the development of a test application.

Approximate k-Mer matching using fuzzy hash maps

We present a fuzzy technique for approximate k-mer matching that combines the speed of hashing with the sensitivity of dynamic programming. Our approach exploits the collision detection mechanism used by hash maps, unifying the two phases of “seed and extend” into a single operation that executes in close to O(1) average time.

Clinical Trials of a Wireless LAN Based Patient Monitoring System

This paper describes the design, development and clinical trials completed on an ambulatory, wireless ECG/vital signs monitor, which was designed to work on standard wireless LAN networking systems (802.1 Ib). It discusses the trials, results collected from two prototype sensor devices, the limitations of the system in place due to architecture and site location. Future works identified from the clinical trials completed is also discussed

Lightweight PnP ECG sensor for monitoring of biomedical signals

This paper describes the design and implementation of a single-channel, low cost ECG sensor for home use. ECG monitoring is traditionally done in hospitals as the equipment involved is bulky, difficult to use and expensive for home usage. The presented sensor enables ECG home monitoring as it fulfills a number of criteria related to home usage: safe to use in home environment, lightweight, cheap and easy to use. The ECG sensor operates over a frequency range of 0.05 - 40 Hz or 0.05 - 100 Hz and includes 50 Hz - 60 Hz Notch filters to remove mains induced interference. The component specifications were chosen such that the circuit currents and voltages satisfy the standards of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). Tests were performed, and the acquired raw ECG data was verified to be acceptable.

ARMAdA: creating a reflective fellowship (options for interoperability)

With the development of numerous adaptive and reflective middleware platforms, inter-platform interoperability is a desirable next step. At present, little or no interoperability is possible at the meta-layer of reflective middleware. The emergence of an open standard for meta-layer interaction is imperative to support the development of next-generation middleware that can express their needs and capabilities to platforms with which they interact. In this paper, we describe the foundations of the ARMAdA interaction standard for adaptive and reflective middleware platforms.

A multimedia enhanced distributed object event service

We describe enhancements for the standard CORBA Event Service, extending support for multimedia data flows, quality-of-service definition, a capability-based security mechanism, and multicast event delivery. The resulting service specification is flexible, efficient, and widely applicable. It provides a useful framework for integrating multimedia content with a standard event-based messaging service.

Fast and Accurate Genome Anchoring Using Fuzzy Hash Maps

Although hash-based approaches to sequence alignment and genome assembly are long established, their utility is predicated on the rapid identification of exact k-mers from a hash-map or similar data structure. We describe how a fuzzy hash-map can be applied to quickly and accurately align a prokaryotic genome to the reference genome of a related species. Using this technique, a draft genome of Mycoplasma genitalium, sampled at 1X coverage, was accurately anchored against the genome of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The fuzzy approach to alignment, ordered and orientated more than 65% of the reads from the draft genome in under 10 seconds, with an error rate of <1.5%. Without sacrificing execution speed, fuzzy hash-maps also provide a mechanism for error tolerance and variability in k-mer centric sequence alignment and assembly applications.