Blogs
The Future of Video Inspection System Products Looks Bright
June 19, 2012 10:35 am | by Jim Norton | CommentsIn recent years, many electronics manufacturers have been adopting the use of video inspection systems. These systems utilize digital cameras to perform many of the visual inspection functions formerly performed with optical microscopes. Digital camera technology has improved to the point where the image quality now rivals that of optical instruments for many applications.
A Systems Approach for Safe – But Not Too Safe – Medical Devices
June 19, 2012 10:26 am | by John Gardner | CommentsIs it possible to be too safe? When it comes to features for medical device, the answer is yes. Oftentimes, medical devices have too many safety components or not enough – both can be hazardous to patients. By applying clinical insights, field experience and utilizing a requirements-driven systems approach, along with verification and validation (V&V) procedures from the beginning of the project, safety evaluations can produce optimum safety with minimum cost.
How to use market intelligence to innovate more effectively
June 19, 2012 10:21 am | by Hans Hedin | CommentsMarket intelligence involves the collection and analysis of information that will impact a business’s current and future market environment. Companies often don’t use market intelligence enough for product innovation and fail to drive greater value and create greater competitive advantage.
Medical visualization technologies: 3D Endoscope
June 19, 2012 10:13 am | by Dr. Euan Morrison | CommentsTaking a deeper dive into some of the specific technologies that have improved medical visualization and as a follow up to my post titled Medical Visualization Technologies, here is an overview of how the 3D endoscope in particular has promoted these advances.
Understanding EMC principles saves medical compliance testing costs
June 19, 2012 9:57 am | by Donald L. Sweeney | CommentsFred is a well respected engineer in the medical industry. He has worked hard designing a new IV Pump and proudly presents it to a test lab for its final compliance testing. But to his dismay it utterly fails its EN 60601-1-2 EMC testing.
I Want My M(D)TV
June 15, 2012 11:29 am | by Sean Fenske | CommentsLike the slogan for the music channel that used to actually play music (rather than being an entertainment channel, but that discussion is for another day…and website), I want my M(D)TV!
Is Open Source Software the Solution for Medical Devices?
June 5, 2012 11:00 am | by Sean Fenske | CommentsI was just reading an article from The Economist on open source software as a solution to security and safety in medical devices. I then looked through the comments and was led to a video on the topic. After digesting both...
Wi-Fi Security and HIPAA
June 4, 2012 12:00 am | by Laird Technologies | CommentsConnecting medical devices to a hospital’s Wi-Fi network improves workflow on both the clinical and financial path. With networked devices, a hospital delivers better care to more patients while billing those patients, and their insurance companies, quickly and accurately.
What OS is best For a Medical Device?
June 4, 2012 12:00 am | by Laird Technologies | CommentsAccording to Alan Cohen, the director of systems engineering at Logic PD, Android is a good operating system (OS) choice for some medical devices. Cohen’s column in Medical Electronics Design states that Android “stacks up well against” traditional mainstream OS competitors such as Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact (CE) and Linux.
Tablets to Kill CoWs?
June 4, 2012 12:00 am | by Laird Technologies | CommentsFor several years, computers on wheels (CoWs) have been the de facto mobile computing device in many hospitals. CoWs place computing power at the point of care, which facilitates adoption of healthcare information technology. By combining mobility, usability, and performance, CoWs increase efficiency and reduce errors with tasks such as entering patient data, gaining access to patients’ electronic medical records, reviewing lab results or radiology reports, and checking drug compatibility.
Wi-Fi Direct: Safe for Hospital Use?
June 4, 2012 12:00 am | by Laird Technologies | CommentsThe Wi-Fi Alliance positions Wi-Fi Direct™ as “a game-changing new technology enabling Wi-Fi devices to connect…to one another without joining a traditional home, office or hotspot network.” While Wi-Fi Direct has several benefits, especially for consumer devices, it may introduce unforeseen security threats when used in a hospital.
Embedded Vision In Medicine: Let Smartphone Apps Inspire Your Design Decisions
May 14, 2012 5:37 am | by Brian Dipert | CommentsEmbedded vision refers to the ability of equipment to extract meaning from (and appropriately respond to) visual inputs. It's quickly becoming the hottest trend in electronics technology, fueled by the emergence of increasingly capable high-performance, energy-efficient, and affordable processors, image sensors, memories, and other semiconductor building blocks, along with optics, illumination LEDs, and other subsystems. Advancements in these areas, along with software and algorithms, have enabled engineers to implement robust image analysis and understanding capabilities in a system that fits in the palm of your hand, versus the traditional approach of using high-end workstations.
Safety in Question
May 7, 2012 11:55 am | by Sean Fenske | CommentsA quick web search of “medical device safety” instantly tells the story of how much controversy there is currently swirling around regarding the testing of medical devices and the general level of safety provided in their operation. There’s no shortage of coverage, from industrial silicone found in breast implants to the hacking vulnerabilities of wireless devices to government officials, consumer groups, and the general public calling for stronger oversight.
Extending the Life of Electronics
April 26, 2012 11:04 am | by Jeff Spence | CommentsOf power related events that damage electronic equipment, approximately 0.5% are caused by voltage surges and spikes, and a small percentage of failures actually results from power outages themselves. These daily disturbances include a complex array of voltage sags, brown outs, over voltages, power outages and voltage surges and spikes. No two disturbances are the same, and the increased complexity of these disturbances has proven to be catastrophic to the lifespan and reliability of medical equipment.
Driving Next-Generation Medical Devices
April 17, 2012 12:07 pm | by Alix Paultre | CommentsCreating medical electronics that incorporate the latest technology is a challenging proposal today, as the application spaces served extend far beyond the simple diagnostic and electromechanical needs of the past. For example, older technologies gain new life with improved implementation, new technologies move from the fringe to the mainstream...
