Integrating medical devices in the operating room using service-oriented architectures.

Abstract With the increasing documentation requirements and communication capabilities of medical devices in the operating room, the integration and modular networking of these devices have become more and more important. Commercial integrated operating room systems are mainly proprietary developments using usually proprietary communication standards and interfaces, which reduce the possibility of integrating devices from different vendors. To overcome these limitations, there is a need for an open standardized architecture that is based on standard protocols and interfaces enabling the integration of devices from different vendors based on heterogeneous software and hardware components.

Invasive home mechanical ventilation, mainly focused on neuromuscular disorders.

Introduction And Background: Invasive home mechanical ventilation is used for patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. This elaborate and technology-dependent ventilation is carried out via an artificial airway (tracheal cannula) to the trachea. Exact numbers about the incidence of home mechanical ventilation are not available.

The impact of microsurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy in the treatment of meningiomas depending on different localizations.

Scientific Background: Meningiomas are the most common benign intracranial neoplasms with a slow growth presented as the intracranial lesion. These tumors are without any symptoms for a long time. At the time of diagnosis it is frequently an asymptomatic tumor.

A software framework for the development of Web-based medical education using learning object classes.

A software framework for the development of Web-based medical education is proposed. The objective is to optimize the development process by introducing Learning Objects (LO) and Learning Object Classes (LO Classes) so that the content preparation can be separated from the educational issues, ergonomic design, and technical realization. Based on the concept of case-based, problem-oriented education, different learning scenarios were analysed and then modelled as different LOs.

Evaluation of deformable models for femoral neck surgery.

Objective: Using fluoroscopic images alone, it is difficult to guarantee that screws are positioned within the femoral head and neck. This study evaluates whether the introduction of deformable 3D models limiting the planning and navigation space is a helpful approach to minimizing the incidence of misplaced screws, thereby enhancing patient safety.

Background: Even though a screw may appear to lie within the femoral head and neck on fluoroscopic images, this may not, in fact, be the case.