Improving Hearing Performance for Cochlear Implant Recipients with Use of a Digital, Wireless, Remote-Microphone, Audio-Streaming Accessory

Background: Cochlear implant (CI) recipients experience difficulty understanding speech in noise. Remote-microphone technology that improves the signal-to-noise ratio is recognized as an effective means to improve speech recognition in noise; however, there are no published studies evaluating the potential benefits of a wireless, remote-microphone, digital, audio-streaming accessory device (heretofore referred to as a remote-microphone accessory) designed to deliver audio signals directly to a CI sound processor. Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare speech recognition in quiet and in noise of recipients while using their CI alone and with a remote-microphone accessory. Research Design: A two-way repeated measures design was used to evaluate performance differences obtained in quiet and in increasing levels of competing noise with the CI sound processor alone and with the sound processor paired to the remote microphone accessory. Study Sample: Sixteen users of Cochlear Nucleus 24 Freedom, CI512, and CI422 implants were included in the study. Data Collection and Analysis: Participants were evaluated in 14 conditions including use of the sound processor alone and with the remote-microphone accessory in quiet and at the following signal levels: 65 dBA speech (at the location of the participant; 85 dBA at the location of the remote microphone) in quiet and competing noise at 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, and 75 dBA noise levels. Speech recognition was evaluated in each of these conditions with one full list of AzBio sentences. Results: Speech recognition in quiet and in all competing noise levels, except the 75 dBA condition, was significantly better with use of the remote-microphone accessory compared with participants’ performance with the CI sound processor alone. As expected, in all technology conditions, performance was significantly poorer as the competing noise level increased. Conclusions: Use of a remote-microphone accessory designed for a CI sound processor provides superior speech recognition in quiet and in noise when compared with performance obtained with the CI sound processor alone.

Stent retriever thrombectomy with the Cover accessory device versus proximal protection with a balloon guide catheter: in vitro stroke model comparison

BackgroundRecently, an in vitro cerebrovascular occlusion model of the intracranial circulation was developed for testing thrombectomy devices. The Cover accessory (Lazarus Effect; Campbell, California, USA) is a novel nitinol braided mesh device that surrounds the stent retrieval device and thrombus during the retrieval process to help prevent clot fragmentation and embolization.MethodsUsing the in vitro model, after introducing fresh clot into the middle cerebral artery, we compared rates of target vessel recanalization and embolization in new territories (areas in which clot had not been introduced) achieved with the Solitaire Flow Restoration (FR) stent retriever (Covidien, Irvine, California) in conjunction with the use of a conventional guide catheter (control group), a balloon guide catheter (BGC group), and the Cover device (Cover group).ResultsIn a total of 51 thrombectomy experiments (20 in the control group, 20 in the BGC group, and 11 in the Cover group), successful recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2b–3) was achieved more frequently in the Cover group than in the control group or in the BGC group (p=0.047 and p=0.020, respectively). Embolization of new (previously unaffected) territories occurred in five (25%) experiments from the control group and in three (15%) experiments from the BGC group, whereas no embolization of new territories was seen with Cover device assisted thrombectomy.ConclusionsApplication of the Cover device in this experimental model resulted in higher successful recanalization rates, no embolic events, and was more effective than use of the conventional guide catheter or BGC.

Evaluation of Appropriate Body Placement and Notification Modality of a Wearable Clip-on Notifier Using an Experimental Platform

We have designed and developed an experimental infrastructure capable of interacting with different wearable information terminals for delivery of timely push information based on the user profile. Focusing on the evaluation of the body placement, we have developed a wearable clip-on notifier which can be placed on different parts of the human body. It is a small accessory device capable of producing visual, buzzer-audio and tactile-vibrator effects with a natural and relatively small form-factor in a shape of a paper clip that can be attached or be worn as a pendant. In order to evaluate the best placement and modality for the clip-on notifier, we have selected a number of position candidates and have performed in-situ notification experiments while the subjects performed different activities. We have presented a good hierarchical system for subjective evaluation of the notifier placements, and our device was shown as potential solution for personalized information notification.

The Study on the Flow in a Horizontal Pump by 3D-PIV Experiments

In order to investigate the flow conditions in a horizontal open pump sump, and to validate chest wall with different angles on preventing the vortex, and to find the key factor to the entrained vortex generating from the free surface, 3D PIV experiments were carried out in the pump sump. In the research, 3D PIV system was used to measure the flow near the free surface in the sump with different chest wall with angle of 0° and 30°. In the research, the refractivity-revised method was applied to get clear images in different media. In the method, an accessory device was used to eliminate the refractive effect between air and water. In the experiments, the multi-step calibrated method was applied to improve the measurement precision of the W vector. For each kind of chest wall, the experiments were performed under three operation conditions with different flow rates. From the experiments, the 3D flow conditions on the measuring plane can be obtained, such as velocity, streamline, and W velocity component. Analyzing those results, it can be concluded that the chest wall with angle of 30° can improve the flow conditions obviously and weaken the entrained vortex flow in the sump. Analyzing the experimental results, it can be found that the entrained vortex are more depended on ratio of the W velocity to the total velocity than other factors.

A new fixation device for the Leksell stereotaxic system

✓ A device is presented that permits several applications for the Leksell stereotaxic system. The patient is fixed in this new system by means of a rectangular instrument that connects to the standard Leksell stereotaxic coordinate frame and maintains spatial orientation after the frame itself is removed. Specific uses for this device include stereotaxic radiosurgery and stereotaxic guidance during microsurgery. Other attractive features of this device are its capability of being precisely reapplied, its compatibility with both computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and the availability of an accessory device to adapt it for animal stereotaxis.