PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Fennigkoh

Publications and source records attributed to L Fennigkoh.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Grip responses to object load perturbations are stimulus and phase sensitive.

Responses to load changes of a held object that challenge grasp stability are known to be adept and fast, but the responses to changes in load where grasp stability is not challenged are not well understood. In order to compare responses to these functionally opposite perturbations, the grasp response to increases and decreases in the load of a held object was examined. A pulling force used to create object load was abruptly altered so that it felt lighter (decreased load) or felt heavier (increased load). The perturbation occurred either during movement of the object (lift) or when the object was held steady (hold). Grip force modulation was earlier, larger, had a faster maximum rate and a smaller change in relative safety margin when load increased. Also, the grip force modulation was earlier, larger, had a faster maximum grip force rate and a smaller change in relative safety margin when the perturbation occurred during active lift. In the decreased loading condition, participants were not required to make a grip force adjustment to maintain grip. Interestingly, participants chose to make the adjustment (decreasing grasp force), albeit more slowly. During the lift phase, the nature of the task is more dynamic and the resulting additional mechanical stimulation may have lead to a facilitated response. The results point to the greater functional significance of increasing load for grip force modulation and the potential for greater sensory or motor facilitation during dynamic lifting.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A survey of persons certified in clinical engineering and their thoughts on the profession.

A questionnaire was sent to 346 persons certified in clinical engineering (CCEs) worldwide. An impressive 72% return revealed the following: 57% of the CCEs are employed by hospitals, 15% by manufacturers, and 12% by academic institutions; 13% are consultants in private practice. Half of them have been with their current employer for over 9 years; their average age is 44.3 years. Thirty-six percent left hospitals for their present jobs. The median salary of the hospital-based CCEs was in the range of +40,000-45,000/year, whereas that of their non-hospital counterparts was in the range of +50,000-55,000/year. Of the nonhospital CCEs, 25% earned over +70,000/year, while only 3% of the hospital CCEs earned salaries in this category. The mean age of the hospitals CCEs is, however, 4.8 years less than that of the non-hospital CCEs. Although some comments on the profession were particularly critical, the respondents believed strongly that clinical engineering remains a viable career choice and has contributed significantly to health care. Underutilization of clinical engineering talents, particularly in the hospital setting, continues to be the predominate concern and greatest source of job-related frustration.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The electronic clipboard: an automated system for accurately recording events during a cardiac arrest.

An electronic clipboard has been developed which is simple to used and allows for the accurate timing and recording of events during a cardiac arrest. A flowsheet made of translucent 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches paper is clipped to a plastic board. Along the left margin of the flowsheet is a list of common events and therapies which should be recorded during a cardiac arrest (ie, cardiac rhythm, defibrillation, intubation, intravenous (IV) therapy, medications, etc). Across the page next to each category are columns of boxes, illuminated from below automatically by bars of light from the clipboard at one-minute intervals. Comparison of the events recorded during the first 20 minutes of cardiac resuscitatioon in an emergency department in 18 patients using the electronic clipboard method versus 18 randomly selected, matched patients with conventional recording methods demonstrated the superiority of the newer technique. More total events were recorded with the electronic clipboard (P less than 0.005), especially in the following categories: use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation Thumper, cardiac rhythm, defibrillation, sampling of arterial blood gases, IV insertion, and use of medications. The flowsheet is a superb instrument for reconstructing events for scientific analysis, legal documentation, and education.

Electric Countershock↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A medical equipment replacement model.

A simple mathematical model has been developed to identify and prioritize medical equipment in need of replacement. The model contains a total of ten attributes addressing four primary replacement issues: equipment service and support; equipment function; cost benefits; and clinical efficacy. Sensitivity to incomplete or subjective data is significantly reduced through the use of a "yes-no" (0,1) scoring scheme. Decision-making validity does not appear to be compromised with such a technique. When tested on a sample of 146 medical devices in five different categories, the model recommended that two devices be replaced within the existing fiscal year and eight in the following year, and that fifteen devices be placed in an advisory category. The model's recommendations appear to be compatible with existing subjective criteria.

Capital Expenditures↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The burned-out clinical engineer.

Considerable stress can be induced within hospital-based clinical engineers whenever unrealized expectations combine with a dynamic, goal-oriented personality. Unmanaged, this stress becomes the mental overload that eventually burns these clinical engineers out. As a result, in part, clinical engineering is losing its most valuable resource; for as clinical engineers( and BMETs) burn out, they tend to migrate from the hospital to industry, taking a wealth of talent and leadership with them. Understanding the etiology of clinical engineering burnout and its symptoms can alert personnel to modify expectations and life-styles to cope with the problem. Prevention techniques include self-awareness of expectations and needs, vacations, peer group discussions, outside interests-and ultimately job or career changes.

Biomedical Engineering↗