Effects of Blood Pressure on Brain Tissue Pulsation Amplitude in a Phantom Model.

Objective: The precise mechanism and determinants of brain tissue pulsations (BTPs) are poorly understood, and the impact of blood pressure (BP) on BTPs is relatively unexplored. This study aimed to explore the relationship between BP parameters (mean arterial pressure [MAP] and pulse pressure [PP]) and BTP amplitude, using a transcranial tissue Doppler prototype.

Methods: A phantom brain model generating arterial-induced BTPs was developed to observe BP changes in the absence of confounding variables and cerebral autoregulation feedback processes.

Improving communications in PPE: a solution for 'landline' telephone communication.

Background: Emergency care staff wearing elastomeric respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE) report difficulties in communicating by telephone. We developed and tested an affordable technological solution aimed at improving telephone call intelligibility for staff wearing PPE.

Methods: A novel headset was created to enable a throat microphone and bone conduction headset to be used in combination with a standard hospital 'emergency alert' telephone system.

Are portable ankle brachial pressure index measurement devices suitable for hypertension screening?

Objective: In a large-scale population cardiovascular screening programme, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and hypertension would ideally be rapidly assessed using a single device. The ankle-brachial pressure index (ABPI) is calculated by comparing the ankle and brachial blood pressure (BP). However, it is currently unclear whether brachial BP measurements provided by automated PAD screening systems are sufficiently accurate for simultaneous hypertension screening.

Development of a Flow Phantom for Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Quality Assurance.

Anecdotal evidence was recently brought to our attention suggesting a potential difference in velocity estimates between transcranial Doppler (TCD) systems when measuring high velocities (∼200 cm/s) close to the threshold for sickle cell disease stroke prevention. As we were unable to identify a suitable commercial TCD phantom, a middle cerebral artery (MCA) flow phantom was developed to evaluate velocity estimates from different devices under controlled conditions. Time-averaged velocity estimates were obtained using two TCD devices: a Spencer Technologies ST Doppler system (ST PMD150, Spencer Technologies, Seattle, WA, USA) and a DWL Dopplerbox (DWL Compumedics, SN-300947, Singen, Germany).