Investigating the Effects of Intensity and Frequency on Vibrotactile Spatial Acuity.

Vibrotactile devices are commonly used in applications for sensory substitution or to provide feedback in virtual reality. An important aspect of vibrotactile perception is spatial acuity, which determines the resolutions of vibrotactile displays on the skin. However, the complex vibration characteristics of vibrotactile actuators make it challenging for researchers to reference and compare previous study results. This is because the effects of typical characteristics, such as intensity and frequency, are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of intensity and frequency on vibrotactile spatial acuity. Using Linear Resonant Actuators (LRAs), we conducted relative point localization experiments to measure spatial acuity under different conditions. In the first experiment, we found that intensity had a significant effect on spatial acuity, with higher intensity leading to better acuity. In the second experiment, using a carefully designed intensity calibration procedure, we did not find a significant effect of frequency on spatial acuity. These findings provide a better understanding of vibrotactile spatial acuity, allow for comparisons to previous research, and provide insights into the design of future tactile devices.

Real-World Utilization of an Intrauterine, Vacuum-Induced, Hemorrhage-Control Device.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the real-world effectiveness and safety of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared intrauterine vacuum-induced-hemorrhage control device for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) management. METHODS: Sixteen centers in the United States participated in this observational, postmarket registry medical record review (October 2020 through March 2022). The primary effectiveness outcome was treatment success , defined as bleeding control after insertion with no treatment escalation or bleeding recurrence. Additional outcomes included blood loss, time to device insertion, indwelling time, bleeding recurrence, and time to bleeding control. Treatment success and severe maternal morbidity measures (transfusion of 4 or more units of red blood cell, intensive care unit admission, and hysterectomy) were evaluated by blood loss before insertion. To assess safety, serious adverse events (SAEs) and adverse device effects were collected. All outcomes were summarized by mode of delivery; treatment success was summarized by bleeding cause (all causes, any atony, isolated atony, nonatony). RESULTS: In total, 800 individuals (530 vaginal births, 270 cesarean births) were treated with the device; 94.3% had uterine atony (alone or in combination with other causes). Median total blood loss at device insertion was 1,050 mL in vaginal births and 1,600 mL in cesarean births. Across all bleeding causes, the treatment success rate was 92.5% for vaginal births and was 83.7% for cesarean births (95.8% [n=307] and 88.2% [n=220], respectively, in isolated atony). Median indwelling time was 3.1 hours and 4.6 hours, respectively. In vaginal births, 14 SAEs were reported among 13 individuals (2.5%). In cesarean births, 22 SAEs were reported among 21 individuals (7.8%). Three (0.4%) SAEs were deemed possibly related to the device or procedure. No uterine perforations or deaths were reported. CONCLUSION: For both vaginal and cesarean births in real-world settings, rapid and effective bleeding control was achieved with an FDA-cleared intrauterine vacuum-induced hemorrhage-control device. The safety profile was consistent with that observed in the registrational trial (NCT02883673), and SAEs or adverse device effects were of the nature and severity expected in the setting of PPH. This device is an important new tool for managing a life-threatening condition, and timely utilization may help to improve obstetric hemorrhage outcomes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04995887.

Autonomous Care Pathway to Patient Opioid Abstinence: Should All Programs Offer this Approach?

Introduction: The opioid epidemic resulted in vast increase in neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). To mitigate NOWS and opioid dependency among women, staff established a gender specific, patient driven, autonomy based, outpatient therapeutic substitution program. Methods: Prospective observational study of obstetric patients receiving prenatal care 7/1/2016-12/31/2019. Patients underwent universal urine drug screens to identify illicit drug use with dependency and offered addiction counseling with voluntary outpatient therapeutic substitution in an obstetrical-addictions combined clinic to achieve abstinence with oral Buprenorphine tapering protocol. Urine substance screening and cord blood testing were obtained at delivery. Birth outcomes compared among groups who achieved abstinence at birth, were successful at tapering, or continued opioid use. Results: Of 783 births, 165 (20.9%) demonstrated opioid use with 91 (55.2%) participating at some point in pregnancy in therapeutic substitution program. At birth, 14/94 (14.9%) patients completed the program and achieved opioid abstinence, 22/94 (23.4%) still enrolled and actively tapering. 57/94 (34.5%) patients were lost to follow-up, relapsed, or terminated due to non-compliance. Seventy-four of 67 (44.3%) opioid positive mothers chose not to enroll. Of 14 women who completed the program, 0 babies born with NOWS, compared to 11/22 (50%) still enrolled in program and actively tapering, 29/57 (50.9%) lost to follow-up, relapsed, or terminated due to non-compliance, and 28/74 (37.8%) never enrolled in program. Conclusion/Implications: Outpatient therapeutic substitution with oral Buprenorphine with abstinence is possible in pregnant patients and results zero NOWS. More data are needed to confirm findings and explore methods for enhanced success in obtaining abstinence. Support: Appalachian Regional Commission and Prevention (ARC) 1st through Charleston Area Medical Center in cooperation with Charleston Health Education and Research Institute (CHERI).

Animatronics Workshop: a theater + engineering collaboration at a high school.

The Animatronics Workshop is a learning experience in which kids conceive and construct a robotic show. They write the story, build the robotic mechanisms and the set, perform voice acting, and create the motion tracks. This provides a deep cross-disciplinary experience, teaching participants how to think creatively across traditional areas of expertise. In an intensive three-day prototype workshop in summer 2013, 14 high school students created a three-character show.

Novel fused-LEDs devices as optical sensors for colorimetric analysis.

The development of a novel, low power optical sensing platform based on light emitting diodes (LEDs) is described. The sensor is constructed from a pair of LEDs fused together at an angle where one LED functions as the light source and the other LED is reverse biased to function as a light detector. Sensor function is based on the level of light received by the detector diode, which varies with the reflectance of the interface between the device and its environment, or the chemochromic membrane that covers the device. A simple microprocessor circuit is used to measure the time taken for the photon-induced current to discharge the detector LED from an initial 5V (logic 1) to 1.7V (logic zero). This sensing device has been successfully used for colour and colour-based pH measurements and offers extremely high sensitivity, enabling detection down to the sub micro molar level of dyes.