Javier Pérez Turiel

An alternative decision rule for threshold based T-wave measurement algorithms based on second derivative extrema

QT interval is a surface ECG measure which has been the subject of great research interest. Usually, a prolongation of the QT interval beyond the normal value is associated with bad cardiac prognosis. In this paper we revisit the wavelet transform based method. Rather than using a threshold related or the highest inflection point of the derivative, we use the extreme on the second derivative which appears ahead of the inflexion point. This rule differs from the thresholds one in its simplicity of application and its potential for real time analysis. The algorithm detects the end of the T-wave by using the first and second derivative on the fifth scale. Results for the T wave obtained in simulations give a mean error of -6.73 +/- 14.5 ms (-7.80 +/- 21.04 ms when adding white noise in a SNR of approximately 4 dB) whereas results in Physionetpsilas QTDB give (-1.22 +/- 38.85 ms) in the case of T end locations. The results for the threshold method were (-1.6 +/- 18.1 ms).

Influences of robot maintenance and failures in the performance of a multirobot system

In a multirobot system (MRS) several robots can operate simultaneously on the same product, and allow the accomplishment of tasks that a single robot could not approach due to restrictions associated to the product and/or the robot. We propose a MRS consisting of three robots and four different working platforms, that allows the characteristics of joint operation to be maintained even if a robot is out of service. In order to make a detailed analysis of the operating characteristics of the MRS we propose to use timed Petri nets (GSPN and DSPN), than allow the efficiency of the system to be evaluated. This paper analyses the influence of the robot maintenance and failures on the throughput of an MRS, under different conditions of operative configuration, number of subtasks, degree of interference, operation mode on the product, etc.

Transnational lifelong education course in robotic systems

Robotics constitutes a multidisciplinary area, congregating knowledge from different scientific domains. The learning of robotic systems requires the acquisition of multidisciplinary scientific bases, and high integration and synthesis abilities, which is not an easy task. This paper describes the implementation of a lifelong course that aims to provide a global insight on robotics field, introducing the concepts and technologies for different domain applications, namely industrial robotics, autonomous mobile robotics and robotics applied in medicine. This is accomplished in an international framework where individual knowledge and experiences will be confronted in a multidisciplinary level and intercultural environment.

Neural network application to the development of a novel diabetic neuropathy diagnosis tool using the valsalva index and the SCR

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that displays hyperglycaemia and that is strongly linked to micro and macro-vascular complications and neuropathic ones. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that there are around 171 million diabetic patients in the world, its also estimated that this amount will double by 2030. We have performed a preliminary study on 35 volunteers, including diabetic patients and controls, whose results suggest that the skin conductance response (SCR) measured during the Valsalva maneuver could be used in the development of a diagnosis index of diabetic neuropathy. The phasic component and the Valsalva index of each patient were used as input for a neural network to identify patients with diabetic neuropathy. Preliminary results indicate that the index obtained through the neural network is indeed a viable approach to a fast subject classification.

Characterization of Hand Movements using a Sensing Glove in Hand Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

The past thirty years have seen increasingly rapid advances in the field of laparoscopic surgery, in part because of the use of robots. A well-known example is the da Vinci surgical system. However, far too little attention has been paid to Hand Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery (HALS), a surgery in which the surgeon introduces the non-dominant hand into the abdomen of the patient. The risk of collision between the hand of the surgeon and the tool moved by the robot is the reason why these robots for laparoscopic surgery are not appropriate for HALS. On the other hand, in recent years, there has been an increasing interest in wearables, which have been introduced in our daily life. This interest and the lack of surgery robots for HALS are the reasons to develop a sensing glove which co-works with a collaborative robot in this kind of surgery. The aim of this paper is to study the use of a sensing glove which will provide information of the movements of the surgeons hand to the collaborative robot. This information determinates the actions that the robot will carry on. The first step was to define different movements of the hand which could be identified. An algorithm identifies these movements using the data given by the sensing glove. For the purpose of algorithm accuracy measurement, 4 persons wearing the sensing glove made a sequence with different movements. The evidence from this study suggests that a sensing glove can be used to send information of the movements of the surgeons hand to a collaborative robot during a HALS.

Parallel computing for real time gauze detection in laparoscopy images

Automatic systems are crucial for expanding the capabilities of surgeons, especially in minimally invasive surgery. In this paper we present an image processing system that detects in real time the surgical sponges in the video captured by the endoscope. This application is the first part of an automatic system to avoid the risk of inadvertent retention of gauzes in the patient body after the operation. The detection algorithm present real time capabilities using an affordable multicore hardware.

Integration solution for the communication with Healthcare devices in Intensive Care Units

Abstract This paper presents a free Critical Care Information System (CCIS) that shows an essential infrastructure for critical care medical and nursing practice. Specifically, a Patient Integral Analysis Aid System (SAIP) in Intensive Care Units (ICU) has been developed to cover the needs discovered in these scenarios. An importart part of this system is related to medical equipment that offers important information to help in medical diagnosis. ICU patients are usually connected to several of these devices which register their physiological parameters. The integration of these devices, in order to exchange the generated information, is difficult because they are developed by different manufacturers and with different communication protocols and information representations. To reach this objective, the developed drivers have a common interface for the access and collection of medical device data. The main goal of the present paper is to show the work done to obtain a real interoperability among medical devices from different manufacturers and with different communication protocols in ICU services for automatic data collection, storage and retrieval.

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE HEART RATE VARIABILITY AS A INDICATOR OF THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE GLYCAEMIA REGULATION SYSTEM AND THE AUTONOMOUS NERVOUS SYSTEM

Abstract There have been numerous improvements to optimize the insulin treatment of patients with Diabetes Mellitus during the last years. Several model-based algorithms to regulate the insulin flow from a pump, given a sensor measurement have been developed. Our opinion is that this kind of algorithms can be improved with information about the state of the autonomous nervous system and in this way we could improve the treatment of these patients. A scheme of glycaemia regulation considering the influence of the Neuro-Endocrine system is proposed here. The results of a preliminary experiment designed to study the relationships between both systems is presented.