Traditional manual testing of ventilator performance is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to errors in data recording, making it difficult to meet the current demands for testing efficiency in the development and manufacturing of ventilators. Therefore, in this study we designed an automated testing system for essential performance parameters of ventilators. The system mainly comprises a ventilator airflow analyzer, an automated switch module for simulated lungs, and a test control platform. Under the control of testing software, this system can perform automated tests of critical performance parameters of ventilators and generate a final test report. To validate the effectiveness of the designed system, tests were conducted on two different brands of ventilators under four different operating conditions, comparing tidal volume, oxygen concentration, and positive end expiratory pressure accuracy using both the automated testing system and traditional manual methods. Bland-Altman statistical analysis indicated good consistency between the accuracy of automated tests and manual tests for all respiratory parameters. In terms of testing efficiency, the automated testing system required approximately one-third of the time needed for manual testing. These results demonstrate that the designed automated testing system provides a novel approach and means for quality inspection and measurement calibration of ventilators, showing broad application prospects.
Ventilators, Mechanical/standards* ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Automation

Diabetes and its complications pose a serious threat to human life and health. It has become a public health problem of wide concern worldwide. Currently, diabetes is mainly treated with insulin injection in clinic. However, manual insulin injection still has many shortcomings. In recent years, with the deepening of research, it has been found that an automated insulin delivery system (AID), which combines a continuous glucose monitoring device with an insulin pump, can significantly improve the effectiveness of diabetes treatment and reduce the incidence of complications in patients. This paper firstly introduces the composition of the AID system and its working principle, and then details the development history and current status of the related technologies from the aspects of continuous glucose monitoring technology, insulin pumps and the development of closed-loop control algorithms, etc. Finally, this paper looks forward to the application prospect and future development of AID system in the field of diabetes treatment, providing theoretical reference for further research.
Humans ; Insulin Infusion Systems ; Insulin/administration & dosage* ; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring/instrumentation* ; Diabetes Mellitus/drug therapy* ; Algorithms ; Hypoglycemic Agents/administration & dosage* ; Blood Glucose/analysis* ; Pancreas, Artificial ; Automation

Against the backdrop of "Internet+" and Made in China 2025, Chinese medicinal processing equipment embraces various opportunities and develops to an unprecedented level. In the 20 years of the new century, the processing equipment has gradually developed in the direction of high efficiency, energy saving, environmental protection, integration, and automation, and this field has tended to highlight the establishment and application of the linkage production line for the processing of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces. Integrating automation control technology, online detection technique, and the internet of things technology, the online detection system of Chinese medicinal processing equipment and the computer information management system of Chinese medicinal proces-sing are the mainstream development trends of Chinese medicinal processing equipment. Standard Chinese medicine processing equipment is the prerequisite for the standardization of processing parameters. A standard system for processing equipment and processing parameters is the key to the modernization of Chinese medicinal decoction pieces. This paper summarized the research and application of Chinese medicinal processing equipment in the 20 years of the 21 st century and predicted the development trend, which is expected to serve as a reference for the technological innovation and development of the processing equipment.
Automation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

We use a dense and fully connected convolutional network with good feature learning in small samples, to automatically pre-deline CTV of cervical cancer patients based on CT images and evaluate the effect. The CT data of stage IB and IIA postoperative cervical cancer with similar delineation scope were selected to be used to evaluate the pre-sketching accuracy from three aspects:sketching similarity, sketching offset and sketching volume difference. It has been proved that the 8 most representative parameters are superior to those with single network and reported internationally before. Dense V-Net can accurately predict CTV pre-delineation of cervical cancer patients, which can be used clinically after simple modification by doctors.
Automation ; Female ; Humans ; Machine Learning ; Patients ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging*

Efficient behavioral assays are crucial for understanding the neural mechanisms of cognitive functions. Here, we designed a high-throughput automatic training system for spatial cognition (HASS) for free-moving mice. Mice were trained to return to the home arm and remain there during a delay period. Software was designed to enable automatic training in all its phases, including habituation, shaping, and learning. Using this system, we trained mice to successfully perform a spatially delayed nonmatch to sample task, which tested spatial cognition, working memory, and decision making. Performance depended on the delay duration, which is a hallmark of working memory tasks. The HASS enabled a human operator to train more than six mice simultaneously with minimal intervention, therefore greatly enhancing experimental efficiency and minimizing stress to the mice. Combined with the optogenetic method and neurophysiological techniques, the HASS will be useful in deciphering the neural circuitry underlying spatial cognition.
Animals ; Automation, Laboratory ; instrumentation ; Behavior, Animal ; Equipment Design ; Habituation, Psychophysiologic ; Male ; Memory, Short-Term ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Spatial Memory

BACKGROUND: Collisions involving workers and mobile machines continue to be a major concern in underground coal mines. Over the last 30 years, these collisions have resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities. Recently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) proposed a rule that would require mines to equip mobile machines with proximity detection systems (PDSs) (systems designed for automated collision avoidance). Even though this regulation has not been enacted, some mines have installed PDSs on their scoops and hauling machines. However, early implementation of PDSs has introduced a variety of safety concerns. Past findings show that workers' trust can affect technology integration and influence unsafe use of automated technologies.METHODS: Using a mixed-methods approach, the present study explores the effect that factors such as mine of employment, age, experience, and system type have on workers' trust in PDSs for mobile machines. The study also explores how workers are trained on PDSs and how this training influences trust.RESULTS: The study resulted in three major findings. First, the mine of employment had a significant influence on workers' trust in mobile PDSs. Second, hands-on and classroom training was the most common types of training. Finally, over 70% of workers are trained on the system by the mine compared with 36% trained by the system manufacturer.CONCLUSION: The influence of workers' mine of employment on trust in PDSs may indicate that practitioners and researchers may need to give the organizational and physical characteristics of each mine careful consideration to ensure safe integration of automated systems.
Automation ; Coal ; Employment ; Mining ; Occupational Health

BACKGROUND: The transition from manual processing of patient samples to automated workflows in medical microbiology is challenging. Although automation enables microbiologists to evaluate all samples following the same incubation period, the essential incubation times have yet to be determined. We defined essential incubation times for detecting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDRGN), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). METHODS: We monitored the growth kinetics of MRSA, MDRGN, and VRE between two and 48 hours on chromogenic media to establish the time points of first growth, single colony appearance, and typical morphology for 102, 104, 106, and 108 colony forming units/mL. Subsequently, we imaged plates inoculated with 778 patient samples after 20, 24, and 36 hours. RESULTS: The first growth, single colony appearance, and typical morphology time points were inoculum-dependent. First growth appeared after 6–18 hours, 4–18 hours, and 8–48 hours for MRSA, MDRGN, and VRE, respectively, and single colonies appeared at 12–18 hours, 6–20 hours, and 12–48 hours, respectively. Typical morphology was visible at 14–22 hours and 12–48 hours for MRSA and VRE, but was not determined for MDRGN. By examining patient samples, ≥98% of MRSA and MDRGN were visible 20 hours after the start of incubation. Following 24 hours of incubation, only 79.5% of VRE were clearly visible on the respective plates. CONCLUSIONS: An incubation time of 20 hours is sufficient for detecting MRSA and MDRGN. VRE growth is much slower and requires additional imaging after 36 hours.
Automation ; Automation, Laboratory* ; Bacteria* ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Humans ; Kinetics* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

New technological advances have paved the way for significant progress in automated urinalysis. Quantitative reading of urinary test strips using reflectometry has become possible, while complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology has enhanced analytical sensitivity and shown promise in microalbuminuria testing. Microscopy-based urine particle analysis has greatly progressed over the past decades, enabling high throughput in clinical laboratories. Urinary flow cytometry is an alternative for automated microscopy, and more thorough analysis of flow cytometric data has enabled rapid differentiation of urinary microorganisms. Integration of dilution parameters (e.g., creatinine, specific gravity, and conductivity) in urine test strip readers and urine particle flow cytometers enables correction for urinary dilution, which improves result interpretation. Automated urinalysis can be used for urinary tract screening and for diagnosing and monitoring a broad variety of nephrological and urological conditions; newer applications show promising results for early detection of urothelial cancer. Concomitantly, the introduction of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has enabled fast identification of urinary pathogens. Automation and workflow simplification have led to mechanical integration of test strip readers and particle analysis in urinalysis. As the information obtained by urinalysis is complex, the introduction of expert systems may further reduce analytical errors and improve the quality of sediment and test strip analysis. With the introduction of laboratory-on-a-chip approaches and the use of microfluidics, new affordable applications for quantitative urinalysis and readout on cell phones may become available. In this review, we present the main recent developments in automated urinalysis and future perspectives.
Automation ; Cell Phones ; Creatinine ; Expert Systems ; Flow Cytometry ; Mass Screening ; Mass Spectrometry ; Microfluidics ; Microscopy ; Semiconductors ; Specific Gravity ; Urinalysis* ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections

BACKGROUND: Automated systems are used widely for pre-transfusion tests in blood banks, in an attempt to reduce effort and human error. We evaluated the clinical performance of an automated blood bank system, ORTHO VISION (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Switzerland), for blood cross-matching. METHODS: Saline cross-matching was performed for 93 tests using 56 samples. Coombs cross-matching was performed for 400 tests using 166 samples. Saline cross-matching was compared for the automated ORTHO VISION and manual tube methods. Coombs cross-matching was compared for the automated ORTHO VISION and manual column agglutination technique (CAT) methods. The evaluation of 32 antibody-positive samples using the automated ORTHO VISION and manual CAT methods was compared by performing 97 cross-matching tests. Additionally, the ORTHO VISION efficiency and carryover were evaluated. RESULTS: The concordance rate of the saline cross-matching results between the manual method and automated ORTHO VISION was 100%. The concordance rate of coombs cross-matching results between manual CAT and automated ORTHO VISION was 97.9%. The concordance rate of cross-matching for antibody positive samples between manual CAT and the automated ORTHO VISION was 97.9%. Coombs cross-matching was efficient using ORTHO VISION, whereas saline cross-matching was efficient using the tube manual method. CONCLUSIONS: ORTHO VISION showed reliable results for cross-matching and was more efficient than manual CAT for coombs cross-matching. Thus, ORTHO VISION can be used for pre-transfusion tests in blood banks.
Agglutination ; Animals ; Automation ; Blood Banks ; Cats ; Humans ; Methods

BACKGROUND: There have been some concerns related to manual handling of large items in industry. Manual handling operations of large sheet metal may expose workers to risks related to efficiency as well as occupational safety and health. Large sheet metals are difficult to move and burdensome to lift/transfer, and handling the sharp sheet edges may result in contact stress and/or cut injuries on the workers. METHODS: Through observation, interview, and immersive simulation activities, a few problems related to current handling of sheet metals were identified. A sheet metal trolley-lifter was then designed and fabricated to address these issues. A pilot study on the use of the developed trolley-lifter for handling sheet metals was conducted to compare between the new and traditional handling methods. RESULTS: The pilot study of the trolley-lifter showed promising results in terms of improving the cycle time, manpower utilization, and working postures compared with the traditional handling method. CONCLUSION: The trolley-lifter offers an alternative solution to automation and a mechanized assistive device by providing a simple mechanism to assist the handling of sheet metals effectively and safely.
Automation ; Human Engineering ; Metals ; Methods ; Occupational Health ; Pilot Projects ; Posture ; Self-Help Devices