Juan J. Pérez

Solar Inexhaustible Power Source for Wireless Sensor Node

Currently the appearance of really low power wireless transceivers is motivating the use of renewable energies to power embedded wireless sensor nodes in many applications. Nevertheless, energy storage and its degradation still keep on being the main issues in the design of any battery powered device. We present an autonomous power source based on a new system architecture, which uses the energy scavenging to replenish two different rechargeable energy buffers instead of the conventional single one. Combining appropriately a degradable large backup battery (Lithium-Ion) and a shorter but non degradable storage element (Supercapacitor), the lifetime of the group can be widely extended to what we can call near perpetual operation, for such a changing technology. This paper analyses and describes the keys of the design and the optimal hardware selection to implement an inexhaustible power source. Finally we implement a real one that takes advantage of the sunlight energy and intelligently manages both energy buffers, without the human intervention and without depending on any programmable device like microcontrollers.

Evaluation of a Real, Low Cost, Urban WSN Deployment for Accurate Environmental Monitoring

There are many areas where Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) can offer innovative solutions for environmental monitoring applications and the meteorological community, but due to their complexity in terms of energy constraints and low performance devices, very few real deployments can be found. In this paper we will explain in detail the design, implementation and performance evaluation of a sparse WSN that has been working maintenance-free for over 12 months. The network has been designed for environmental monitoring purposes, and several motes, attached to lampposts, accurately measure the Temperature and Relative Humidity at various locations in a local street. Our contribution is an enhanced data gathering application for environmental applications. We will present the different arguments and tradeoffs to be taken into account when designing a network of this type, such as the type of sensors and their calibration, choice of mote and operating system, power supply, special housing required for the mote, data sampling frequency, requirements for the data sink, the structure of the database at the central site, and different issues relating to the exploitation of the meteorological results. We show that a reliable, low cost WSN deployment for environmental monitoring that takes into account the main properties of these networks, such multi-hop routing, low maintenance, low cost and long mote lifetimes, is achievable.

Quantification of intracranial contribution to rheoencephalography by a numerical model of the head.

OBJECTIVES Partial contributions of intracranial and extracranial circulation to rheoencephalography (REG) remain uncertain. The main goal of this work is to determine theoretically the capability of REG techniques to reflect intracranial blood flow. METHODS Head and current injection electrodes were computationally modeled to assess REG sensitivity to brain and scalp conductivity changes. Data obtained were related to tissue perfusions to calculate the partial contribution of cerebral blood perfusion to REG I, REG II and monopolar REG and to assess their amplitudes. RESULTS When REG I and monopolar REG were used, the theoretical maximum of intracranial contribution was reached with large current injection electrodes, being 8% for REG I and 12% for monopolar REG. However, some specific REG II electrode arrangements showed a nil contribution of the extracranial circulation and a minimum influence of the electrode size. CONCLUSIONS These results may explain the disagreement on REG origin and suggest a theoretically optimum electrode arrangement.

Influence of the scalp thickness on the intracranial contribution to rheoencephalography

In spite of the great efforts made by the scientific community, up to now there is no agreement about the rheoencephalography (REG) capability to reflect cerebral blood flow (CBF). Moreover, a standard procedure and the optimal electrode arrangement have not been established yet. In a previous study, we found, using a classical four-shell spherical model of the head and solving it by numerical methods that, theoretically, there could exist an electrode arrangement to register an REG II free of extracranial contribution. In this paper, we have studied the influence of scalp thickness on the intracranial contribution to REG II. The study has been performed by solving the head model, using in this case analytical methods, and then estimating the partial contribution of CBF pulsatility to REG for a given set of scalp thicknesses. Although our theoretical results validate the previous finding and suggest that, in some cases, an optimal electrode arrangement to register REG II exists, such an arrangement, and even its existence, is very sensitive to the subjects scalp thickness. According to this, there could not exist a universal electrode arrangement suitable for all individuals to register an REG II free of extracranial contribution, since it depends on the subjects physical constitution. This fact could explain the lack of agreement in the literature about REG interpretation.

Spatiotemporal pattern of the extracranial component of the rheoencephalographic signal

The use of rheoencephalography (REG) in the clinical practice to evaluate cerebral blood flow is conditional on the finding of a method for removing the extracranial interference caused by the scalp blood flow. To remove this undesirable influence, digital processing based on statistics could be an effective technique if the appropriate data model were applied. This paper focuses on the analysis of the spatiotemporal features of the extracranial REG component, by comparing its morphology and phase shift at several scalp sites. For this purpose, a numerical model of the scalp was employed to assess tissue impedance changes caused by the inflow of a stepwise blood pulse wave. These results were compared with the experimental impedance waveforms recorded on six pairs of adjacent electrodes. The correlation coefficients between each pair of impedance recordings of each subject were always greater than 0.942, showing a mean value of 0.986. This result suggests that the extracranial REG component can be considered as morphologically invariant. On the other hand, negligible phase shifts were observed when mean electrode distances, measured in the blood flow direction, were relatively small, although temporal corrections in the data model would be advisable for longer distances.

Can Fat Deposition After Myocardial Infarction Alter the Performance of RF Catheter Ablation of Scar-Related Ventricular Tachycardia?: Results from a Computer Modeling Study.

The outcomes of catheter ablation of scar‐mediated ventricular tachycardia (VT) remain far from perfect. The presence of fat as a component of the underlying substrate for scar‐mediated VT could be relevant since this entity can seriously impede the passage of RF current due to its low electrical conductivity.

Numerical analysis of thermal impact of intramyocardial capillary blood flow during radiofrequency cardiac ablation

Abstract Purpose: The thermal effect of the intramyocardial blood perfusion on the size of lesions created by radiofrequency cardiac ablation (RFCA) has not been adequately studied to date. Our objective was to assess the impact of including this phenomenon in RFCA computer modelling in terms of the thermal lesion depth created. Methods: A computer model was built and computer simulations were conducted to assess the effect of including the blood perfusion term in the bioheat equation. This term mimics the intramyocardial blood flow (i.e., blood perfusion) in the cardiac wall at the site at which the RFCA is being conducted and hence represents a heat removing mechanism. When considered, blood perfusion rates ranged from 609 to 1719 ml/min/kg. Two electrode design and modes were considered: a non-irrigated electrode with constant temperature mode and an irrigated electrode with constant power mode. Results: All the depths computed without including the blood perfusion term were larger than those that did include it, regardless of perfusion rate. The differences in lesion depth between ignoring and including blood perfusion increased over time; for a 60 s RFCA they were 0.45 and 1 mm for minimum and maximum perfusion rate, respectively. The differences were more or less independent of blood flow in the cardiac chamber, electrode type and ablation mode. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the heat-sink effect of blood perfusion should be taken into account in the case of ablations (>1 minute) such as those conducted in RFCA of the ventricular wall.

Graphical Development of Software for Programmable Logic Controllers

Graphical languages are standard in the field of computer programming. Complex software development is best handled by graphically connecting pre-built, fully tested and highly specialized software components, instead of writing and debugging thousands of lines of code. Modern programming environments include complete libraries of such components. In the field of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), this is not the case. PLC programs can be developed using graphical languages, as Ladder Diagrams (LD) or Function Block Diagrams (FBD), but the standard libraries are very limited, so the programmer must develop his own libraries, building software objects from scratch. In this paper, a framework is presented for automatically building complex software modules using based on two key pillars: on the one hand, using object oriented concepts as encapsulation, inheritance and generic programming, and, in the other one, closely following the physical model of the objects used in building electrical control cabinets (ECBs).

Quadtree Meshes Applied to the Finite Element Computation of Phase Inductances in An Induction Machine

In this paper, the quadtree data structure and recent advances on the construction of polygonal finite element Interpolants are applied to the study of an induction machine. Quadtree is a hierarchical data structure that is computationally very attractive for adaptive numerical simulations. Mesh generation, adptive refinement and direct data feeding from CAD drawings in pixel format are straightforward for quadtree meshes. Efficient multigrid methods can be used because of the regularity of the resulting grid. However, finite elements are non-conforming on quadtree meshes due to level-mismatches between adjacent elements, which produce the so called “hanging nodes”. Meshfree (Laplace) basis functions have been used to over-come this problem, and a quadtree mesh has been applied to the evaluation of the winding inductances of an induction motor.

RF-energised intracoronary guidewire to enhance bipolar ablation of the interventricular septum: in-silico feasibility study

Abstract Purpose: Although bipolar radiofrequency (RF) ablation (RFA) is broadly used to eliminate ventricular tachycardias in the interventricular septum wall, it can fail to create transmural lesions in thick ventricular walls. To solve this problem, we explored whether an RF-energised guidewire inserted into the ventricular wall would enhance bipolar RFA in the creation of transmural lesions through the ventricular wall. Methods: We built three-dimensional computational models including two irrigated electrodes placed on opposing sides of the interventricular septum and a metal guidewire inserted into the septum. Computer simulations were conducted to compare the temperature distributions obtained with two ablation modes: bipolar mode (RF power delivered between both irrigated electrode) and time-division multiplexing (TDM) technique, which consists of activating the bipolar mode for 90% of the time and applying RF power between the guidewire and both irrigated electrodes during the remaining time. Results: The TDM technique was the most suitable in terms of creating wider lesions through the entire ventricular wall, avoiding the hour-glass shape of thermal lesions associated with the bipolar mode. This was especially apparent in the case of thick walls (15 mm). Furthermore, the TDM technique was able to create transmural lesions even when the guidewire was displaced from the midplane of the wall. Conclusions: An RF-energised guidewire could enhance bipolar RFA by allowing transmural lesions to be made through thick ventricular walls. However, the safety of this new approach must be assessed in future pre-clinical studies, especially in terms of the risk of stenosis and its clinical impact.