June 28th, 2009
by admin
Practical Control have been using the DICOM standard is recent work whilst displaying X-RAY information held in other proprietary equipment. DICOM stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine and defines how images can be shared between applications. It is used for all types of medical images that include cardiology, dentistry, endoscopy, mammography, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pathology,
pediatrics, radiation therapy, radiology, surgery, etc.
DICOM is an upper layer protocol which sits on TCP/IP. It allows query and retrieval of records/objects and defines the quality and consistency of images botn when displaying and printing.
Security is handled in DICOM by transport layer security (TLS). The TLS standard is currently TLS version 1.2.
DICOM is additionally being trialled for GP access to patient care pathways for recall of images from hospitals. This is being trialled in Hertfordshire. Further information can be found on the NHS Expo website.
June 28th, 2009
by admin
Practical Control is currently working towards ISO 13485:2003. The primary objective of ISO 13485:2003 is to facilitate harmonized medical device regulatory requirements for quality management systems. As a result, it includes some particular requirements for medical devices and excludes some of the requirements of ISO 9001 that are not appropriate as regulatory requirements.
This will further strengthen Practical Control’s position in the product design and development of devices for Telehealth, assisted living and in vitro diagnostics.
All requirements of ISO 13485:2003 are specific to organisations providing medical devices, regardless of the type or size of the organisation.
June 22nd, 2009
by admin
The Continua Health Alliance has announced that it has chosen Bluetooth low energy and Zigbee as the two wireless standards for its next generation of interoperate devices.
The Continua current design guidelines include both Bluetooth and USB. The inclusion of Zigbee and Bluetooth low energy will mean lower powered devices can be developed for heart rate monitors, blood pressure monitors, activity monitors, bed sensors, fall detectors etc…
Continua has more than 190 members worldwide and is committed to interoperable devices for personal health.
June 19th, 2009
by admin
Practical Control are pleased to announce that we are listed as one of the innovation knowledge base providers on Yorkshire Forwards innovation voucher scheme.
This means that we are able to provide specialist help to companies seeking research and feasibility studies that lead to innovation.
A voucher covers upto £3000 expenditure and can be used to purchase an academic’s expertise to help deliver a knowledge solution to an innovation project. This expertise will come from approved suppliers in the knowledge base institutions within the region, including universities, further education colleges and research and technology organisations.
If you are looking to research or undertake a feasibility on an electronic product design, think that you require specialist knowledge based help then find out more here.
June 19th, 2009
by admin
Bluetooth low energy is an emerging technology to enable low power wireless communications between mobiles, PDAs and sensors. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) was previously known as Wibree by Nokia. Chipsets can be either single mode which implement the lighter BLE stack or dual-mode i.e. interoprates with both BLE and conventional bluetooth.
The significant points of BLE are that it:-
is designed for low power, between 10-20 times less power than bluetooth.
has a lower latency, it uses advertising as opposed to discovery
it uses only 3 channels(frequencies) as opposed to the 32 that bluetooth uses
A useful factsheet is available that covers the difference between bluetooth and BLE.
BLE is aimed at low power devices, examples being Telehealth, Fitness, and Personal security.
