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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Automated fabrication of mobility aids: review of the AFMA process and VA/Seattle ShapeMaker software design.

Computer-aided design and manufacture of prosthetic and orthotic devices has recently moved out of the laboratory into clinical use. The Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development Service has directed coordinated evaluation and development projects of this emerging technology under the name: Automated Fabrication of Mobility Aids or AFMA. One of the major results of the effort was the creation of mobility aid design software (ShapeMaker) concurrent with AFMA clinical testing of preexisting systems and development efforts. In order to provide a foundation for future discussions regarding AFMA, this paper provides a descriptive review of the AFMA processes and a review of the conceptual basis for the ShapeMaker AFMA software development.

Artificial Limbs↗

Building quality into medical product software design.

The software engineering and quality assurance disciplines are a requisite to the design of safe and effective software-based medical devices. It is in the areas of software methodology and process that the most beneficial application of these disciplines to software development can be made. Software is a product of complex operations and methodologies and is not amenable to the traditional electromechanical quality assurance processes. Software quality must be built in by the developers, with the software verification and validation engineers acting as the independent instruments for ensuring compliance with performance objectives and with development and maintenance standards. The implementation of a software quality assurance program is a complex process involving management support, organizational changes, and new skill sets, but the benefits are profound. Its rewards provide safe, reliable, cost-effective, maintainable, and manageable software, which may significantly speed the regulatory review process and therefore potentially shorten the overall time to market. The use of a trial project can greatly facilitate the learning process associated with the first-time application of a software quality assurance program.

California↗

Expertise in professional software design: a process study.

Forty professional software designers participated in a study in which they worked on a software design task and reported strategies for accomplishing that task. High performers were identified by a peer-nomination method and performance on a design. Verbal protocol analysis based on a comparison of 12 high and 12 moderate performers indicated that high performers structured their design process by local planning and showed more feedback processing, whereas moderate performers were more engaged in analyzing requirements and verbalizing task-irrelevant cognitions. High performers more often described problem comprehension and cooperation with colleagues as useful strategies. High and moderate performers did not differ with respect to length of experience. None of the differences between the two performance groups could be explained by length of experience.

Achievement↗

PROBER: oligonucleotide FISH probe design software.

UNLABELLED: PROBER is an oligonucleotide primer design software application that designs multiple primer pairs for generating PCR probes useful for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). PROBER generates Tiling Oligonucleotide Probes (TOPs) by masking repetitive genomic sequences and delineating essentially unique regions that can be amplified to yield small (100-2000 bp) DNA probes that in aggregate will generate a single, strong fluorescent signal for regions as small as a single gene. TOPs are an alternative to bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) that are commonly used for FISH but may be unstable, unavailable, chimeric, or non-specific to small (10-100 kb) genomic regions. PROBER can be applied to any genomic locus, with the limitation that the locus must contain at least 10 kb of essentially unique blocks. To test the software, we designed a number of probes for genomic amplifications and hemizygous deletions that were initially detected by Representational Oligonucleotide Microarray Analysis of breast cancer tumors. AVAILABILITY: http://prober.cshl.edu

Algorithms↗

Validation of a software designed for computed tomographic (CT) measurement of lung water.

OBJECTIVE: The in-vitro validation of a computed tomographic (CT) software specifically designed for quantifying the volume of water contained in the lung. DESIGN: An in-vitro, ex-vivo study. In 1993, a postmortem left pneumonectomy was performed in a patient who died from acute respiratory distress syndrome. The lung was fixed, inflated and dried according to a technique proposed by Markarian and Dailey in 1975 aimed at producing a lung specimen spongy in texture and suitable for radiography. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: In 1999, 13 CT scans of this lung specimen were performed corresponding to different bronchial instillations of known volumes of water and albumin 4%. The different lung weights resulting from the successive bronchial instillations were calculated using a specially designed software, Lungview, adapted for CT measurements and compared with the actual lung weight measured by an electronic scale. The increase in lung weight measured by Lungview was closely correlated with the actual increase in lung weight resulting from bronchial instillation of water and albumin (y = 0.99x - 23, r = 1 for water and y = x - 17, r = 1 for albumin 4%) and the precision of the bias was 7 g for water and 3 g for albumin 4%. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the CT software Lungview accurately measured the volume of lung water present within an air-dried exsanguine human lung.

Aged↗

Three-dimensional reconstruction of histological sections using modern product-design software.

BACKGROUND: Computer-based, three-dimensional reconstruction of histological sections is necessary for solving a diversity of questions in morphology and anatomy. Programming software for this purpose is difficult and time-consuming. Therefore, we tested if commercially available product-design software is useful for reconstructing anatomical virtual models. METHODS: We used Alias Wavefront Studio software on a Silicon Graphics workstation. Sections were projected with a newly developed microslide projector on a digitizing board and digitized interactively. Alternatively, pictures of sections were digitized on screen. The resulting set of contours was used as scaffold around which a surface was created manually. RESULTS: Repeated creation of the same object and subsequent measurements gave results that will be sufficiently reliable for many purposes. The visual presentation of objects satisfy highest demands. Little time is needed to reconstruct simple objects, and the time used for complex virtual models is acceptable. Manipulation of objects on screen is nearly in real time and rendering speed is high. CONCLUSIONS: Product-design software packages are a readily available and useful option for anatomists who want to do virtual reconstructions quickly without programming software themselves.

Animals↗

The advantage of modular software design in computerized ECG analysis.

In the early 1970s, modular software design was advocated as a means to obtain better structured and more reliable software systems. Such a modular approach was also introduced for computerized ECG processing in 1972. The TNO Modular ECG/VCG interpretation system was developed along these lines. During the last decade, the algorithms of this system were thoroughly improved and evaluated. This resulted in 1983 in a new version of this system named MEANS (Modular ECG ANalysis System). This paper outlines the ideas of the modular approach as they were originally defined in 1972 and developed over the years. The usefulness and advantages of these ideas will be discussed based on 12 years of experience. It appeared that modularity is the ideal approach to the development and maintenance of complex systems such as for ECG/VCG interpretation.

Computers↗

[A software design for standard grayscale printout of China-made automatic static quantitative TBC visual field analyser].

A method of "TBC GRAPH" software design for standard grayscale printout of TBC static quantitative perimetry is introduced. The software is operated in IBM PC/XT or PC/AT compatible computer, using Chinese Character Disk Operating System (CCDOS) which has widespread users in China. Symbols were established by using CCDOS word--make function, and sectoral as well as symbolic matrix were made, which realized the standard grayscale printout. The software is recommended for use in ophthalmic clinic and education.

Humans↗

Task analysis for the investigation of human error in safety-critical software design: a convergent methods approach.

An investigation was conducted into sources of error within a safety-critical software design task. A number of convergent methods of task- and error-analysis were systematically applied: hierarchical task analysis (HTA), error log audit, error observation, work sample and laboratory experiment. HTA, which provided the framework for the deployment of subsequent methods, revealed possible weaknesses in the areas of task automation and job organization. Application of other methods within this more circumscribed context focused on the impact of task and job design issues. The use of a convergent methods approach draws attention to the benefits and shortcomings of individual analysis methods, and illustrates the advantages of combining techniques to analyse complex problems. The features that these techniques should possess are highlighted.

Ergonomics↗

'Ten golden rules' for designing software in medical education: results from a formative evaluation of DIALOG.

Evaluation of educational material has become very important in a climate where there is increasing concern with assessing and maintaining quality. DIALOG (acronym for Distance Interactive Learning in Obstetrics and Gynaecology) is an electronic program on CD-ROM for continuing education. A formative evaluation of DIALOG was carried out to determine whether DIALOG was achieving its educational objectives. The results of the evaluation helped to suggest '10 golden rules' for designing software for the purpose of CPD for medical practitioners. These 'rules' should help in designing future software in medical education. They highlight the importance of content, presentation, design, use of hypermedia and multimedia and reduced cost in order to facilitate appropriate use of such programmes.

CD-ROM↗

Software design to facilitate information transfer at hospital discharge.

Discharge communication between inpatient and outpatient physicians is often an inefficient and error-prone process. Adverse events result from poor communication at the time of discharge. The objective of this study was to describe development of discharge software to overcome communication barriers. The secondary objective was to assess factors that influence the time to complete tasks with the software. Methods were a performance improvement model and database analysis of 336 discharges. Software design specifications included computerised physician order entry, immediate utility, minimal development and deployment costs, acceptability to physician-users, and satisfaction of primary care physicians, patients and pharmacists. Design features included simple 'just-in-time' prompts and point-of-care prescribing resources. The dependent variable for analysis was physician time to complete discharge prescriptions and instructions while using the software. General linear and mixed-effects regression models adjusted for physician effects and other predictors. Results revealed that physician factors significantly affected the time to complete a discharge while using the software. As the number of accesses (log-ins) and free text typing increased, then time to complete the computerised discharge increased. Patient-related factors that increased physician time were discharge diagnoses, prescriptions and length of stay. In conclusion, discharge software can help inpatient physicians transfer timely, complete and legible information to outpatient physicians, pharmacists and patients. Physician and patient factors influence the time to complete discharges using the software.

Adolescent↗

Software design patterns for information visualization.

Despite a diversity of software architectures supporting information visualization, it is often difficult to identify, evaluate, and re-apply the design solutions implemented within such frameworks. One popular and effective approach for addressing such difficulties is to capture successful solutions in design patterns, abstract descriptions of interacting software components that can be customized to solve design problems within a particular context. Based upon a review of existing frameworks and our own experiences building visualization software, we present a series of design patterns for the domain of information visualization. We discuss the structure, context of use, and interrelations of patterns spanning data representation, graphics, and interaction. By representing design knowledge in a reusable form, these patterns can be used to facilitate software design, implementation, and evaluation, and improve developer education and communication.

Algorithms↗

Simple and inexpensive software designed for the evaluation of color.

PURPOSE: To report on new software that was specially designed to evaluate color. METHODS: Software development and observational case report. Each pixel on a computer screen is composed of three colors: red, green, and blue (RGB). Our software analyzes the intensity of each RGB component in a specific area chosen by the user. To test our software, we evaluated the color level of the irises of a subject, which became darker as a side effect of Xalatan (latanoprost; Pharmacia Corporation, Peapack, New Jersey) eyedrops. RESULT: We successfully expressed the level of the color of the iris by number. CONCLUSION: This software measures the color of a lesion and thereby provides an objective evaluation of color. The software we developed is downloadable, without cost, from http://www.isao.com.

Antihypertensive Agents↗

Computer software design for pediatric practice. A modular approach.

Practical applications for using computers in everyday medical practice have not kept pace with the technical developments that now make this tool available to the pediatric practitioner. A modular approach to user-developed applications software is presented as a model for computerizing the pediatric office. Benefits have included lower cost, greater data reliability and validity, standardization of office and medical procedures, and automation of jobs formerly requiring much personnel time. Some patient services have improved, and other new services have become possible, through the application of computer software designed in accordance with our practice philosophy.

Computers↗

RNAsoft: A suite of RNA secondary structure prediction and design software tools.

DNA and RNA strands are employed in novel ways in the construction of nanostructures, as molecular tags in libraries of polymers and in therapeutics. New software tools for prediction and design of molecular structure will be needed in these applications. The RNAsoft suite of programs provides tools for predicting the secondary structure of a pair of DNA or RNA molecules, testing that combinatorial tag sets of DNA and RNA molecules have no unwanted secondary structure and designing RNA strands that fold to a given input secondary structure. The tools are based on standard thermodynamic models of RNA secondary structure formation. RNAsoft can be found online at http://www.RNAsoft.ca.

Base Sequence↗

A new approach to PLC software design.

This paper presents a model-based approach to PLC software development. The essence of this approach is the introduction of a new procedural modeling language called ProcGraph. In contrast to commonly used methods, ProcGraph deals with the procedural aspect of the control system and allows software specification at a higher level of abstraction. The modeling language has been supported with the development of a software tool which facilitates graphical model design and automatic code generation. The specification notation has been tested in the development of software for industrial applications. The supporting tool has been tested in a laboratory environment.

Journal Article↗