Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine RSS feedThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Examining arterial pulsation to identify and risk-stratify heart failure subjects with deep neural network
AbstractHemodynamic parameters derived from pulse wave analysis have been shown to predict long-term outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Here we aimed to develop a deep-learning based algorithm that incorporates pressure waveforms for the identification and risk stratification of patients with HF. The first study, with a case –control study design to address data imbalance issue, included 431 subjects with HF exhibiting typical symptoms and 1545 control participants with no history of HF (non-HF). Carotid pressure waveforms were obtained from all the participants using applanation tonometry. The HF score, repre...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 15, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Automated angular measurement for puncture angle using a computer-aided method in ultrasound-guided peripheral insertion
AbstractUltrasound guidance has become the gold standard for obtaining vascular access. Angle information, which indicates the entry angle of the needle into the vein, is required to ensure puncture success. Although various image processing-based methods, such as deep learning, have recently been applied to improve needle visibility, these methods have limitations, in that the puncture angle to the target organ is not measured. We aim to detect the target vessel and puncture needle and to derive the puncture angle by combining deep learning and conventional image processing methods such as the Hough transform. Median cubi...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 15, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Prediction of treatment response in major depressive disorder using a hybrid of convolutional recurrent deep neural networks and effective connectivity based on EEG signal
In this study, we have developed a novel method based on deep learning and brain effective connectivity to classify responders and non-responders to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressants in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients prior to the treatment using EEG signal. The effective connectivity of 30 MDD patients was determined by analyzing their pretreatment EEG signals, which were then concatenated into delta, theta, alpha, and beta bands and transformed into images. Using these images, we then fine tuned a hybrid Convolutional Neural Network that is enhanced with bidirectional Long Short-Ter...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 15, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

A Q-transform-based deep learning model for the classification of atrial fibrillation types
AbstractAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is emerging as a global epidemic, which has resulted in a need for techniques to accurately diagnose AF and its various subtypes. While the classification of cardiac arrhythmias with AF is common, distinguishing between AF subtypes is not. Accurate classification of AF subtypes is important for making better clinical decisions and for timely management of the disease. AI techniques are increasingly being considered for image classification and detection in various ailments, as they have shown promising results in improving diagnosis and trea...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 14, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

The effects of distance between the imaging isocenter and brain center on the image quality of cone-beam computed tomography for brain stereotactic irradiation
This study aims to investigate the effects of the distance from the brain center to the CBCT isocenter (DBI) on the image quality in STI. An anthropomorphic phantom was scanned with varying DBI in right, anterior, superior, and inferior directions. Thirty patients undergoing STI were prospectively recruited. Objective metrics, utilizing regions of interest included contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) at the centrum semiovale, lateral ventricle, and basal ganglia levels, gray and white matter noise at the basal ganglia level, artifact index (AI), and nonuniformity (NU). Two radiation oncologists assessed subjective metrics. In th...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 14, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Fetal QRS extraction from single-channel abdominal ECG using adaptive improved permutation entropy
AbstractFetal electrocardiogram (fECG) monitoring is crucial for assessing fetal condition during pregnancy. However, current fECG extraction algorithms are not suitable for wearable devices due to their high computational cost and multi-channel signal requirement. The paper introduces a novel and efficient algorithm called Adaptive Improved Permutation Entropy (AIPE), which can extract fetal QRS from a single-channel abdominal ECG (aECG). The proposed algorithm is robust and computationally efficient, making it a reliable and effective solution for wearable devices. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm, w...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 8, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Healthy human skin Kelvin-Voigt fractional and spring-pot biomarkers reconstruction using torsional wave elastography
The objective was the identification of the most effective method for the estimation of mechanical parameters. Initially, the most appropriate rheological model for the simulation of skin tissue behavior was determined through the application and comparison of two models, spring pot (SP) and Kevin Voigt fractional derivative (KVFD). A numerical model was developed using the chosen rheological models. The collection of experimental data from 15 volunteers utilizing a TWE sensor was crucial for obtaining significant information for the reconstruction process. The study sample consisted of five male and ten female subjects ra...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 6, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

ACPSEM position paper: pre-treatment patient specific plan checks and quality assurance in radiation oncology
AbstractThe Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) has not previously made recommendations outlining the requirements for physics plan checks in Australia and New Zealand. A recent workforce modelling exercise, undertaken by the ACPSEM, revealed that the workload of a clinical radiation oncology medical physicist can comprise of up to 50% patient specific quality assurance activities. Therefore, in 2022 the ACPSEM Radiation Oncology Specialty Group (ROSG) set up a working group to address this issue. This position paper authored by ROSG endorses the recommendations of the American As...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 5, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Construction and validation of an infant chest phantom for paediatric computed tomography
AbstractPaediatric imaging protocols should be carefully optimised to maintain the desired image quality while minimising the delivered patient dose. A paediatric chest phantom was designed, constructed and evaluated to optimise chest CT examinations for infants. The phantom was designed to enable dosimetry and image quality measurements within the anthropomorphic structure. It was constructed using tissue equivalent materials to mimic thoracic structures of infants, aged 0 –6 months. The phantom materials were validated across a range of diagnostic tube voltages with resulting CT numbers found equivalent to paediatric ...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 5, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Correction to: Comparison of skin dose in IMRT and VMAT with TrueBeam and Halcyon linear accelerator for whole breast irradiation
(Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine)
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - February 5, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

CT angiography prior to endovascular procedures: can artificial intelligence improve reporting?
In conclusion, our results indicate that AI-algorithms can measure aortic diameters at CT prior to endovascular surgery with high accuracy. AI-assisted reporting promises high efficiency, reduced inter-reader variabilities and time saving. In order to perform optimal TAVI procedure plannin g aortic root analysis could be improved, including annulus dimensions. (Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine)
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - January 31, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Additive manufacturing of patient specific bolus for radiotherapy: large scale production and quality assurance
AbstractBolus is commonly used to improve dose distributions in radiotherapy in particular if dose to skin must be optimised such as in breast or head and neck cancer. We are documenting four years of experience with 3D printed bolus at a large cancer centre. In addition to this we review the quality assurance (QA) program developed to support it. More than 2000 boluses were produced between Nov 2018 and Feb 2023 using fused deposition modelling (FDM) printing with polylactic acid (PLA) on up to five Raise 3D printers. Bolus is designed in the radiotherapy treatment planning system (Varian Eclipse), exported to an STL file...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - January 29, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Multi-resolution auto-encoder for anomaly detection of retinal imaging
AbstractIdentifying unknown types of diseases is a crucial step in preceding retinal imaging classification for the sake of safety, which is known as anomaly detection of retinal imaging. However, the widely-used supervised learning algorithms are not suitable for this problem, since the data of the unknown category is unobtainable. Moreover, for retinal imaging with different types of anomalous regions, using a single-resolution input causes information loss. Therefore, we propose an unsupervised auto-encoder model with multi-resolution inputs and outputs. We provide a theoretical understanding of the effectiveness of rec...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - January 29, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Development of a 3D printed phantom for commissioning and quality assurance of multiple brain targets stereotactic radiosurgery
In conclusion, an SRS QA phantom was designed, and 3D printed and its use for performing complex MBT patient specific QA in a single delivery was demonstrated. (Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine)
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - January 29, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research

Evaluation of robustness of optimization methods in breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy using TomoTherapy
AbstractIntensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has become a popular choice for breast cancer treatment. We aimed to evaluate and compare the robustness of each optimization method used for breast IMRT using TomoTherapy. A retrospective analysis was performed on 10 patients with left breast cancer. For each optimization method (clipping, virtual bolus, and skin flash), a corresponding 50  Gy/25 fr plan was created in the helical and direct TomoTherapy modes. The dose-volume histogram parameters were compared after shifting the patients anteriorly and posteriorly. In the helical mode, when the patient was not shifted,...
Source: Australasian Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine - January 24, 2024 Category: Biomedical Engineering Source Type: research