Adrian Wilson
Head of Technologies, Element Six
Today’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies,
aiding the measurement of illness diagnose and treatment,
even when stretched to their limits, have not allowed for
resolution beyond a few micrometers and traditionally require expensive
and bulky equipment. This is due to the restricted spatial resolution that
can be achieved due to the limited sensitivity of the detectors.
Techniques to image processes on the cellular level require the ability
to image magnetic fields on the nanoscale, and would enable a new revolution in medical science, for example, by allowing the study of protein
structure or for detailed imaging of a living cell.
Using Element Six’s chemical vapor deposition techniques (CVD)
diamond engineered with a specific defect—known as a nitrogen vacancy
(NV) defect—researchers have been able to use quantum-assisted techniques to control this single defect. This milestone result has identified
the ability to measure magnetic fields at room temperature on a nano
level—dubbed diamond enabled nano-MRI.
Further research has developed a technique with the ability to measure
real-time observations of internal cellular processes such as cell death,
evolution and division, and how cells are affected by disease.
These new diamond techniques hold the potential for the future
development of an NV scanning probe magnetometer with nanometer
resolution, providing for the first time a tool for investigating neural science with applications in Alzheimer or other neurodegenerative research
and in pharmacology. MDT
Dave Beckstoffer
Product Manager, Portescap
High end ventilation and BPAP equipment continually
require high efficiency at high speeds for optimum
flow generation. As the equipment strives to improve
on performance without being noticed by the patient,
advancements in motion technology must drive this.
A new coil technology, developed by Portescap, utilizes an
enhanced high efficiency magnetic circuit (up to 91% efficient) that
drastically reduces both iron and recirculation losses to offer low
operating temperatures at high speeds. The new patent pending motor coil also achieves higher available torque and mechanical power
than similar size high speed motors in the market.
As a result, the new ECS motor stays up to 30% cooler, thus
extending the life and reliability of the blower, and allows overall
ventilator size reduction. Finally, by being capable of being driven
harder, ECS allows for the design of ventilators that more closely
match a patient’s breathing pattern by reducing pressure-rise time
down to 90 to 100 milliseconds, enhancing their comfort level and
therapy acceptance. MDT
Steve Spatig
General Manager, Electronic Access
Solutions, Southco
With HIPAA audits scheduled to
begin in 2014, many healthcare
providers are concentrating their efforts on their
approach to how patient information is secured.
With audits focusing on breach notification, it
is essential that healthcare providers have the
appropriate systems in place to protect patient
data and demonstrate compliance. Under new
HIPAA rules, non-compliant providers face penalties of up to $1.5 million per year for security
breaches, making access control a top priority.
HIPAA’s Security Rule requires that healthcare providers have the appropriate physical
safeguards in place to ensure the security of
electronic health information. Intelligent electronic locking systems can provide the necessary
physical access control for equipment that stores
sensitive patient data or narcotics by creating
an electronic signature that can provide user
authentication, audit trail, and reporting capabilities to demonstrate compliance. Electronic
access solutions can also be connected to an
existing security network to remotely monitor
access to the equipment, and time and duration
of the event, simplifying security administration
and eliminating opportunities for physical security breaches. MDT
