Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to E B Allely.
This paper outlines the differences between telemedicine applications in terms of their synchronous or asynchronous nature. The differences in the demands of these two forms of telemedicine are significant and should be considered in the development of any telemedicine system. It is the asynchronous applications that are most likely to provide real change in the practice of medicine.
Current techniques for imaging chest deformity are limited to two-dimensional representations, and clinical testing for lung volume measurements are based on pulmonary function studies that are effort-dependent. The authors evaluated spine deformity and lung volume by using a new three-dimensional microcomputer imaging technique. Results from preoperative and postoperative chest computed tomograms underwent boundary detection by expert human observers. Data were then processed by polygon surface tiling to create three-dimensional color images of the spine and lungs for display. This computer technique allowed: 1) visualization of the anatomic relationships from any angle, 2) assessment of spinal deformity in relation to lung volume, and 3) measurement of individual lung volumes. Three-dimensional microcomputer imaging is a useful technique in objectively measuring lung volume and assessing postoperative changes.
Over 50 years of risk-reduction efforts for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) exist as a foundation for Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease Syndrome (AIDS) prevention programs in the military, yet very few innovative prevention concepts have been generated. However, the military has used interactive media successfully in medical education to supplement instructional lessons, demonstrate surgical procedures, and train soldiers in mass casualty and combat trauma. The Department of Defense plans to use interactive media in the military's STD clinics for AIDS education. The media combines the visual flexibility of an interactive videodisc with the storage and retrieval capabilities of a computer to display text, graphics, photos, and full-motion media. Rather than a completely descriptive or didactic approach to STD and AIDS prevention activities, a novice user can see and interact with an immediate-motion video representation on the screen. This is important in modifying behavior patterns and demonstrating their relationship to the transmission of the AIDS virus. The development of an interactive videodisc on HIV prevention for use in the military's STD clinics will be discussed, as well as the expedience of their multifaceted use in delivering AIDS information.
Rapid and effective medical intervention in response to civil and military-related disasters is crucial for saving lives and limiting long-term disability. Inexperienced providers may suffer in performance when faced with limited supplies and the demands of stabilizing casualties not generally encountered in the comparatively resource-rich hospital setting. Head trauma and multiple injury cases are particularly complex to diagnose and treat, requiring the integration and processing of complex multimodal data. In this project, collaborators adapted and merged existing technologies to produce a flexible, modular patient simulation system with both three-dimensional virtual reality and two-dimensional flat screen user interfaces for teaching cognitive assessment and treatment skills. This experiential, problem-based training approach engages the user in a stress-filled, high fidelity world, providing multiple learning opportunities within a compressed period of time and without risk. The system simulates both the dynamic state of the patient and the results of user intervention, enabling trainees to watch the virtual patient deteriorate or stabilize as a result of their decision-making speed and accuracy. Systems can be deployed to the field enabling trainees to practice repeatedly until their skills are mastered and to maintain those skills once acquired. This paper describes the technologies and the process used to develop the trainers, the clinical algorithms, and the incorporation of teaching points. We also characterize aspects of the actual simulation exercise through the lens of the trainee.