Evaluating the diameter of eyedropper tips using a computer vision system / Avaliação do diâmetro de bicos de conta-gotas de colírios por visão computacional

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study aimed to determine the variation in diameters of outer and inner apertures of eyedropper tips using a computer vision system. Standardizing the size of eye drop nozzles is crucial to reduce the treatment cost of chronic eye diseases and to ensure a continued use of medication. An eyedropper volume of >20 µL (maximum storage of the conjunctival sac) causes medication wastage and increases treatment costs. Methods: We measured the diameters of the outer and inner apertures of eyedropper tips and evaluated variations in diameters using a computerized visual inspection system. Results: The computer visual inspection system identified anomalies in the apertures of eyedropper tips that resulted in diameter variations. Conclusions: The results of the present study show discrepancies in diameters of eyedropper tips, suggesting a variation in eyedropper size and medication wastage.

RESUMO Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a variação dos diâmetros das aberturas externa e interna dos bicos conta-gotas utilizando sistema de visão computacional. A padronização do tamanho dos colírios conta-gotas é importante para reduzir o custo do tratamento de doenças crônicas e garantir o uso contínuo de medicamentos. O volume da gota maior do que 20 µl (volume de armazenamento máximo do saco conjuntival) gera desperdício da medicação e aumenta o custo do tratamento. Métodos: Medimos os diâmetros das aberturas externa e interna das pontas dos conta-gotas e avaliamos as variações no diâmetro usando um sistema de inspeção visual computadorizado. Resultados: O sistema de inspeção visual por computador identificou anomalias nas aberturas dos bicos dos frascos conta-gotas que resultaram em variações de diâmetro. Conclusões: Os resultados do presente estudo mostram discrepâncias nos diâmetros dos bicos dos frascos dos conta-gotas, sugerindo uma variação no tamanho das gotas e no desperdício de remédios.

Integration and Evaluation of Clinical Decision Support Systems for Diagnosis Idopathics Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) / 대한의료정보학회지

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop clinical decision support systems (CDSS) that are integrated with hospital information systems for the differential diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). METHODS: The integrated CDSS were validated and evaluated by physicians. Knowledge modeling for diagnosing IPF was performed by knowledge working groups, composed of radiologists and respiratory specialists. In order to develop the model for CDSS diagnosis, the clinical cases were collected from 290 cases from Seoul National University Hospital and Sevrance Hospital of Yonsei University. For the evaluation of integrated CDSS, interviews were conducted with respiratory specialists and radiologist 2 weeks after applying CDSSs in clinical settings. The CDSS was integrated with the computer vision system (CVS) and diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD), CDSS developed in our previous project. RESULTS: Eighteen cases diagnosed as IPF were applied to the collection of diagnostic knowledge and the refined knowledge, the former diagnosed 1 case (6%) and the latter diagnosed 14 cases (78%). Therefore, the refined knowledge performed better than collected knowledge. The validation results of integrated CDSSs showed that 81 cases (74.3%) were diagnosed correctly. CONCLUSIONS: There were 109 cases of IPF diagnosed and initiated on treatment. The significance of this study is in developing integrated CDSS with PACS by acquiring and redefining the knowledge needed for IPF diagnosis. In addition, it is significant for the integration of CDSS to verification and clinical evaluation.