The sensor processor circuit has been developed for hand-held devices used in industrial and environmental applications, such as on-line process monitoring. Thereby devices with SAW sensors or MEMS resonators will benefit from this processor especially. Up to 8 sensors can be connected to the circuit as multisensors or sensor arrays. Two sensor processors SP1 and SP2 for different applications are presented in this paper. The SP-1 chip has a PCMCIA interface which can be used for the program and data transfer. SAW sensors which are working in the frequency range from 80 MHz to 160 MHz can be connected to the processor directly. It is possible to use the new SP-2 chip fabricated in a 0.5(mu) CMOS process for SAW devices with a maximum frequency of 600 MHz. An on-chip analog-digital-converter (ADC) and 6 PWM modules support the development of high-miniaturized intelligent sensor systems We have developed a multi-SAW sensor system with this ASIC that manages the requirements on control as well as signal generation and storage and provides an interface to the PC and electronic devices on the board. Its low power consumption and its PCMCIA plug fulfil the requirements of small size and mobility. For this application sensors have been developed to detect hazardous gases in ambient air. Sensors with differently modified copper-phthalocyanine films are capable of detecting NO2 and O3, whereas those with a hyperbranched polyester film respond to NH3.
In the event of an accident, in today’s vehicle belt and airbag systems and steering columns absorb the kinetic energy of occupants in front crashes. Most steering columns are equipped with a deformation device, which provides additional forward displacement of the steering wheel when being impacted dynamically by the occupant. As these features perform on predefined force levels, they deform less when loaded with lower energy, e.g. when impacted by a smaller occupant. So especially for occupants of lower kinetic energy the maximum available forward displacement is not provided, so they will be decelerated on a higher g-levels than needed. This study investigates for different dummies how the force level of the steering column must be designed to keep the standard injury criteria as low as possible. The aim is to make a statement about the required optimized force levels of the steering column in order to examine technical feasibility in subsequent studies. To carry out these investigations, a parameter study is carried out in Siemens Madymo and the results obtained are interpreted. Subsequently, the limitations of this study are pointed out and further improvements are suggested.
Primum-type defects are due to abnormal development of the endocardial cushions and are often associated with other cardiac abnormalities. Atrial septal defects (ASD) closure in the catheterization laboratory can be guided with transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and more recently, intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). ICE imaging is usually performed in the laboratory using a phased array transducer catheter. ICE is increasingly being used as the preferred imaging modality during ASD closure. Comparison of transesophageal echocardiographic to ICE can be divided into comparison of imaging, comparison of risks and limitations, comparison of the cost involved, and the comparison of administrative or non-medical benefits. Operators have reported that the ICE probe can image virtually all aspects of the pertinent cardiac anatomy during the ASD closure procedure. ICE imaging may be interrupted during the manipulation of various catheters in the right atrium during the ASD or patent foramen ovale closure procedure.
Congenital coronary artery abnormalities are rare but important finding in neonates. They may be isolated or associated with other cardiac abnormalities. In neonates, echocardiography remains the primary non-invasive and diagnostic imaging modality. Other non-invasive imaging modalities such as CT are now also being used.
Background: Surgical aortic valve replacement in small aortic annuli (SAA) ≤21 mm represent a technical challenge. Especially in stented valves, due to the struts and sewing rings, the inner diameter of a prosthetic valve is 5–7 mm smaller than expected resulting in a high risk of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM). The aim of this study was to analyze hemodynamics and perioperative outcomes of patients with SAA undergoing SAVR using sutureless Perceval (Corcym, Saluggia, Italy) size S and M (PER) versus aortic root enlargement (ARE).
