Marshall.Summar@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu 

Paul.Harris@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu 

Mark.Courey@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu 

Continuation of Design of an Ambulatory Brace for Children with Spinabifida project.

see Dr. King or Barnett for contact information

Benjamin.Johnson@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu 

Dr. William Walsh
Bill.Walsh@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu 

Dr. Dan Lindstrom

Dan.lindstrom@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu 

Dr Lindstrom and Walsh are interested in developing a system that records the continuous oxygen saturation from an infant, compares it to the heart rate from a different HP monitor and determines the validity of the Oxygen sat.  We then want to analyze the output to determine what percent of time the infant spends outside standard range. If the infant spends any significant  time with hypoxia they may be at risk to develop retinal damage. A feedback controller could then be developed to protect the baby. The student project would be to analyze the output of the sat monitor. Would be happy to present to the class.

Interested in projects involving NICU monitoring?  If so, maybe I can resurrect the NICU SIMON system.  At the moment, I believe the wires between the data server and the NICU are not connected...But could be... Dan L.

The sleep -mate could be developed further, there is a commercial niche for a combination bed monitor that could pick up heart beats through a wireless system.  See: http://vubme.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/King/sleepmate.htm

and

dana.janssen@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu 

waitman@vuse.vanderbilt.edu

 Customize the stuff I developed for HP and BIS to offer a complete view of Room 18.  Integrate the HP, BIS, TEG and other device data into a DB and display via web as a chart or via Java applet.  Right now I have the MSChart control approach working.  This would be mainly a database retrieval and charting project  Tools for either project:  Microsoft Visual Basic or C++, Microsoft Access, possibly SQL.

 Interface to Marquette Monitors  This would involve specifying and implementing a system and programs to collect data from all the Marquette monitors in MCE and the Heart rooms.  It would be similar to what I have developed for the HPs in TVC, FEL and the main OR.   Probably write in VB or VC++.

  KDD Project  This is basically my original second aim of my proposal.  Display discovered knowledge to the clinician.  I have rule data.  Figure out which rules are applicable to a new case.  Illustrate the cases covered by a given rule.  Display over the web.  This project could have a several of facets to choose from.  The student (s) could focus on different areas.  For instance, one area might be developing a method to rephrase the rules in a more understandable manner.  Another area would be developing good charting or graphing techniques for demonstrating rule coverage.  The basic problem of retrieving applicable rules for a new case is pretty much a database oriented project.  I think this would make a nice paper if completed.  Probably write in VB, Active Server Pages, or Java.  

2. Develop a system to track asthmatic patients in time and space, and monitor their respiratory status real-time.  Augment with an air-sampling system in the case of an asthmatic attack.

Calley Hardin

Project Engineer

Nova Bionics, Inc.

cah@novabionics.com

Phone: 615-250-1658

Fax: 615-250-1695

PROJECT 2:  Research and design 
BACKGROUND:  The VU pharmacology department is currently using implantable ECG monitoring devices that have one lead to transmit the ECG signal of a lab mouse and one lead for ground.  Nova Bionics, Inc. is currently developing a transmitter with three (3) leads to transmit ECG signals and one (1) for ground.  This will provide 3D-location information by deriving an electrical vector of cardiac function.  
DESCRIPTION: Students will implant the 3-lead device when a prototype is available.  From data taken after implantation, students will be able to prove the advantages of taking ECG measurements with an implanted device vs. external electrodes as well as the advantage of using 3-leads vs. 1-lead. 

Dr. Lloyd King, Dermatology

Mr. Richard Fries

Problem:  In epidural or spinal nerve blocks, catheters are introduced to precise location and drugs are infused to the patient through the catheter.  Currently, clinicians rely on their understanding of the anatomy, tactile feel and years of practice to successfully accomplish this task.  Even then, success is not always guaranteed.  The sensitivity to touch of the tissues that the needle has to traverse varies with patient and with multiple needle sticks.   Is there another method of "visualizing" the position of the catheter?

Problem  In regional nerve blocks, needles are introduced to precise location and drugs are infused to the patient through the catheter.  Currently, clinicians rely on their understanding of the anatomy, tactile feel and years of practice to successfully accomplish this task.  Even then, success is not always guaranteed.  The sensitivity to touch of the tissues that the needle has to traverse varies with patient and with multiple needle sticks.   Is there a device that can improve the tactile sensitivity?

Project Goal  Investigate and design a device that uses the ENG as oppose to EMG signal to help with the placement of the needle.  Compare the relative merit of the two approaches.

Project Goal  Design a cost effective, light weight, conveniently carried and user friendly device that will allow the clinician to listen to mixed audible information (tone, voice, messages, etc) sent only by the device that is connected to the patient through a wireless headset.  The design must take into consideration the work environment in the OR (e.g. background noise, electrical interference, cross talk) and the types of information anticipated. This device will be used in other human factors experimentation to explore the man-machine interface using wireless communication media. As such, this design do not need to reproduce the exact content of the information, merely the types of content needed for the studies.

Project Goal To develop a method of identification of drugs when administered to a patient intravenously.

Problem  When it is necessary to ventilate a patient in the field or in emergency situations the normal practice is to manually bag with a re-inflatable bag and mask. This requires a person fully occupied ventilating the patient. An electro/mechanical replacement would free up that person to conduct other vital duties.

Project Goal To develop an electro/mechanical replacement for the currently used ‘Ambu’ bag and mask system when used in ambulatory and emergency situations.

Dr. Morimoto

Dr Cynthia Paschal

Art Wheeler, MD, Associate Professor, Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Goal: This project’s goal is to develop a computerized, bedside decision support tool using standardized physiologic variables to provide recommended therapies for the treatment of circulatory abnormalities in critically ill patients.  Ideally, this system will also track rates of improvement, stability and deterioration.  The ultimate goal is to develop a marketable tool to assist nurses and physicians decision making in the care of patients with circulatory instability.

Background:  More than one million critically ill patients develop unstable circulatory status each year.  Unfortunately, circulatory instability proves fatal in 40-80% of these victims. Additionally, annual treatment costs exceed  1 billion dollars.  Thus the human and financial burden is clear
Despite the fact that only four major patient derived variables: Mean arterial pressure, urine output, perfusion effectiveness, and cardiac filling pressure are typically used by physicians to choose therapies, management is often perceived to be complex.  Surprisingly, the frequency of patient assessment and treatment of a given circulatory situation is not consistent and sometimes at odds with accepted treatment principles.  
Interestingly the four major input variables drive only five potential responses: observation (no intervention), fluids, diuretics, vasopressor (blood pressure raising drugs) or cardiotonic drugs (cardiac output boosting ) drugs. 

Resources:  An appropriate schedule for assessment of the input variables and a matrix of appropriate responses to each hemodynamic situation exist.  Dr. Wheeler, a critical care physician, will work with the student to frame the problem and help educate the student in circulatory disease.  Dr. Higgins, a biomedical engineer, will work with the student on technical aspects of support tool development.