Felicity Jowitt

Robustness analysis of a smart surgical drill for cochleostomy

There is a need for sensor‐guided robotic devices that discriminate working conditions and media, and control interaction of tool‐points with respect to tissues. At the micro‐surgical scale the need is to control exact penetration through flexible tissues and to control relative motion with respect to moving or deforming tissue targets and interfaces.

Awareness, requirements and barriers to use of Assistive Technology designed to enable independence of people suffering from Dementia (ATD)

This article is available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright @ 2012 IOS Press

A noninvasive continence management system: development and evaluation of a novel toileting device for women.

Purpose This paper describes a project to develop and clinically evaluate a novel toileting device for women called the Non-Invasive Continence Management System (NICMS). The NICMS device is designed to provide an alternative toileting facility that overcomes problems some women experience when using conventional female urinals. Design A single product evaluation was completed; participants used the same device with 1 or 2 interface variants. Subjects and Setting Eighty women from 6 countries who were either mobile or wheelchair dependent evaluated the product over a 15-month period. Results The device was found to be useful in some circumstances for women and their caregivers. Conclusion Significant further development is required for it to work reliably and to provide an acceptable device in terms of reliability, size, weight, noise, and aesthetics.

Urinary Incontinence: A Vibration Alert System for Detecting Pad Overflow

ABSTRACT A sensor and electronics system is described that monitors the leakage of urine from continence pads into surrounding underwear. Urinary incontinence is involuntary loss of urine and occurs when the bladder muscles contract without warning or the sphincter muscles surrounding the urethra are too weak to prevent leakage. The system comprises a wetness sensor and electronics unit. The sensor is stitched into the underwear and detects overspills of urine from the pad. The electronics unit is attached to the underwear and responds by vibrating, signaling to the wearer that pad has failed. This system has application for individuals who use continence pads in the community, but it could also be used in care homes.

The further development of the active urine collection device: a novel continence management system.

Abstract Continence difficulties affect the lives of a substantial minority of the population. Women are far more likely than men to be affected by urinary incontinence but the range of management options for them is limited. There has been considerable interest in developing an external urine collection system for women but without success to date. This paper describes the development and preliminary clinical testing of an active urine collection device (AUCD), which could provide a solution for sufferers. The device uses stored vacuum, protected by a high bubble point filter, to remove urine as quickly as it is produced. This allows a small battery-operated pump to provide the required vacuum, enabling the device to be portable. Two different types of non-invasive patient/device interface were developed, and tested by volunteers: urinal and small pad. The slimline urinal was popular with users although liquid noise was a problem. The pad interface was successful on occasions but further work is necessary to produce a reliable pad. This study has successfully demonstrated that a prototype AUCD liquid handling system can remove urine at clinically relevant flowrates. While further development is required, volunteer tests have shown that the AUCD could be a useful advance in continence management.

The active urine collection device: a novel continence management system focusing particularly on the needs of disabled women.

Purpose : This paper introduces a novel incontinence management system which applies space technology to the problem of urinary incontinence. The purpose of this paper is to invite comments and suggestions from professionals in the disability and rehabilitation field. Method : Severe urinary incontinence is a distressing condition for which there are few satisfactory management solutions. We have been able to develop a compact liquid handling system that can cope with the initial surge of urine which characteristically reaches a high flow rate of around 25 ml/sec. By using a sophisticated system of filters, the device can cope with mixed streams of urine and air which are inevitable when a non-invasive patient/device interface is used. The next phase of the project is to develop prototype devices with the aid of users to produce an effective appliance that users and carers find practical and acceptable to use. Conclusion : With the aid of users, carers and rehabilitation experts we hope to develop an excellent user-friendly product. We believe this device can make a positive contribution to the quality of life of disabled people with continence difficulties.

Vibrating underpants, smell sensors and hospital continence services : tools and technologies for improving the lives of people with incontinence

Studies addressing multiple morbid conditions in elderlypopulations usually focus on disease and physiological indicatorsrelevant for the medical care system. Few studies include bothmedical and fu ...The UK’s population is ageing, and understanding the dynamics of living arrangements in later life and the implications for the provision and funding of appropriate housing and long-term care is critical given the current economic climate which can have an adverse impact on state support for older people. This paper investigates the dynamics of living arrangements amongst people aged 65 years old and over between 1991 and 2008, focussing on the two key housing and care pathways in later life: moving into sheltered accommodation and moving into residential care. The empirical research examines the rates of moving into sheltered accommodation and institutional care and investigates the determinants and probabilities of these transitions in the UK. The paper employs all 18 waves of the British Household Panel Survey data (1991-2008) and uses a discrete-time logistic regression model in order to model the probability of entering sheltered accommodation and residential care. After reading this poster, participants will be able to associate specific factors with each of the two transitions in later life. For example age, health and marital status are significant determinants of a move into residential care, while the move into sheltered accommodation is also associated with housing tenure and education. After reading this poster, participants will be able to discuss the prevalence of each the two kinds of transition at different stages of the latter part of the life course, and to understand the crucial implications for the design of social care provision for older people in the future.This pilot project aimed to try something different - rekindle positive memories of swimming in people with dementia who enjoyed swimming throughout their lives, and involve them in active swimming again using a swimming club intervention. Club members were recruited from two residential aged care facilities in Queensland, Australia (n=25 recruited, n=18 commenced, n=11 (median age=88.4, IQR=12.3; 1 male) completed the intervention). The 12 week program consisted of two, 45 minute sessions per week held at a municipal pool, using a trained instructor and assistants. Measures, taken at baseline, Week 6, Week 9 and post intervention included psychosocial and physical assessments such as the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist, Psychological Well-Being in Cognitively Impaired Persons, Seniors Physical Performance Battery and bioelectric impedance analysis. Stakeholder focus groups determined the barriers and facilitators for the club. Three outcomes have been achieved: 1) the development of a dementia specific, evidence-based, aquatic exercise program. This valuable resource will ensure that the benefits will be maximized with tailored exercises for strength, agility, flexibility, balance, relaxation and stress reduction, 2) improved quality of life for members, with statistically significant improvements in psychological wellbeing (χ2 =8.66, p<0.05), BPSD expression (χ2=16.91, p=0.001) and staff distress (χ2=16.86, p=0.001) and 3) an informative website with instructional video clips and a manual to assist others in implementing and maintaining a Watermemories Swimming Club. This pilot project has provided strong evidence that aquatic exercise can produce positive physical, psychosocial and behavioral outcomes for people with dementia.