Memory aids and techniques [Summary] (Report 05057)

The aim of this report is to identify the memory management methods used by carers, professionals and memory aid users, and report their comments on their positive and negative features.

Devices marked as memory aids and products in development are also listed with their features and functions. The information was compiled in tables to enable users and providers of memory aids to develop a system to meet the needs and abilities of users.

The report includes information on cueing devices; note-based memory aids; strategies used to aid memory; telephone and electronic devices; medication management; reviews of products marketed at the time of the study, including pill dispenser’s, blisterpacks, NeuroPage and Memo Minder (voice reminder alarm); and products in development (packaging design for tablets, Memojog, Neurotxt, an object locator, a bath monitor and a cooker monitor).

 

CDx SensoCard Plus talking blood glucose system (Report 05088)

This is an evaluation of the CDx SensoCard Plus blood glucose meter with the SensoCard test strip which is intended for home use for diabetics.

Image: http://diabetes-mellitus-info.com

The system, which uses non-wipe biosensor technology to measure glucose in capillary blood, has the ability to provide instructions and test results via synthesised speech for visually-impaired people with diabetes. The system requires 0.5 l of blood, has a measurement time of five seconds, is simple to operate and requires minimal maintenance.

In the clinical study when results were compared with those obtained using the hexokinase method, there was a significant variation in bias between the results from the two batches of test strips. However, there was no significant meter-to-meter variation in bias. Error grid analysis against the hexokinase-adjusted results would classify the system as clinically acceptable for both meters tested, with all of the results falling into Zone A. The system also met the criterion for acceptable imprecision and acceptable total error.

 

Digital detectors for general radiography (Report 05078)

Direct digital radiography (DDR) systems are replacing film/screen radiography for general radiographic examinations in many hospitals and its use is likely to rapidly increase with the national programme for the installation of picture and archiving systems (PACS) across the NHS, scheduled for completion in 2007.

This report summarises evaluation data on a range of digital detectors: Canon CXDI-31, Delft ThoraScan, GE Revolution, Hologic DirectRay, SwissRay dOd HP and Trixell Pixium 4600.

The pre-sampled modulation transfer function (MTF) shows the faithfulness of the transmission of the incoming signal of the detector. The Hologic has a much better MTF than the others while the Delft is poorer in the scan direction of the scan array and there is a slight difference between directions for the SwissRay which uses lens and mirror coupling.

The Hologic detector also has a very different normalised noise power spectra (NNPS) frm the others, with good transmission of high frequency information but also of high frequency noise. But all of the detectors are satisfactory for measurements of detective quantum efficiency (DQE).

The GE Revolution an dthe Trixell Pixium 4600 have the highest peak of DQE of the six detectors. The Hologic DirectRay shows variability of DQE with dose, which indicates significant structural noise in the image.