A sequential compression system with comfort sleeves applied to a patient's legs. Covidien/MA/USA
Researchers have introduced a revolutionary air-powered computer designed to detect malfunctions in medical devices.
This innovative advancement holds the potential to significantly improve both safety and cost-effectiveness in the healthcare sector.
The novel invention uses the power of pneumatic technology for operation. It also issues critical warnings, potentially transforming the way medical equipment is monitored.
The rise of pneumatic precision
The air-powered computer represents a significant departure from traditional electronic-based systems. Instead of relying on costly and often fragile electronic sensors, this new device utilizes compressed air to perform the crucial task of monitoring intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) machines.
IPC machines, commonly used to prevent blood clots and strokes, work by periodically inflating leg sleeves to promote blood flow. Their effectiveness in preventing serious conditions such as blocked blood vessels or strokes is well-established. However, their reliance on electronic components makes them both expensive and complex to maintain.
William Grover, an associate professor of bioengineering at UC Riverside and the corresponding author of the paper, emphasized the financial and operational benefits of their innovation.
“IPC devices can save lives, but all the electronics in them make them expensive. So, we wanted to develop a pneumatic device that gets rid of some of the electronics, to make these devices cheaper and safer,” Grover said in the press release.
By employing pneumatic logic rather than electronics, Grover and his team have created a device that simplifies the monitoring process while making it more robust and affordable.
How it works: Air logic meets error detection
Pneumatic systems, which use compressed air to perform various functions, are well known for applications such as emergency brakes on freight trains and bicycle pumps. The team’s approach integrates these principles with air-powered computing to monitor IPC devices.
The core of this innovation lies in using differences in air pressure across 21 tiny valves to count binary signals—ones and zeroes. This method operates similarly to electronic circuits but without the need for electronic components.
As Grover explains, “Let’s say I want to send a message in ones and zeroes, like 1-0-1, three bits. Decades ago, people realized they could send these three bits with one additional piece of information to make sure the recipient got the right message.”
This extra piece of information is known as a parity bit, which helps verify the accuracy of the transmitted message.
The air-powered computer uses this concept by monitoring air pressure changes to detect errors. If the system identifies an anomaly, it triggers a whistle, alerting users to potential issues with the IPC device.
In a video demonstration, Grover and his team showed the air-powered computer in action, with the whistle sounding promptly when an IPC device was deliberately damaged.
“This device is about the size of a box of matches. It replaces a handful of sensors as well as a computer,” Grover noted in the press release.
“So, we can reduce costs while still detecting problems in a device. And it could also be used in high humidity or high temperature environments that aren’t ideal for electronics.”
Beyond medical monitoring: Future applications
Grover is already envisioning its application in environments that are hazardous for traditional electronic devices. One such project involves creating an air-powered robot for grain silos, a common and perilous job in agriculture.
Grain silos, particularly in the Midwest, pose significant risks due to the need for manual intervention to manage and redistribute stored grains. This often involves entering the silos with a shovel, a practice fraught with danger as shifting grain can trap and suffocate workers.
“A remarkable number of deaths occur because the grain shifts and the person gets trapped. A robot could do this job instead of a person. However, these silos are explosive, and a single electric spark could blow a silo apart, so an electronic robot may not be the best choice,” Grover said.
His goal is to develop an air-powered robot that operates safely in explosive environments, eliminating the risk of sparks and ensuring safer working conditions.
Closeup of the pneumatic logic sensing device. (William Grover/UCR)
Reviving a classic technology
Historically, air-powered systems were used in various mechanical devices, such as pianos driven by punched paper rolls. With the advent of modern electronics, these pneumatic approaches fell out of favor.
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However, Grover’s research demonstrates that century-old technologies can still offer valuable solutions in specific contexts.
“Once a new technology becomes dominant, we lose awareness of other solutions to problems,” Grover reflects. “One thing I like about this research is that it can show the world that there are situations today when 100-plus-year-old ideas can still be useful.”
The research was published in the journal Device.
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Sujita Sinha A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.
