We have developed to cancer screening algorithm of the cell cycle, evaluated by the flow cytometry. Our previous research using our ‘the domain method’ algorithm showed a sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 82% to screen cancer cells. The present study aimed to validate our previous findings by using a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) on other tissues collected from 70 patients with colorectal cancer (60 cancer tissues; 58 normal tissues). The results showed about a 7% decrease in sensitivity from our previous research, thus indicating a need to improve the diagnostic algorithm.

In the present study, aiming to improve the algorithm, called as the domain method, we focused and applied following new features of the cell cycle findings: The second largest peak (PK2) to largest peak (PK1) ratio (PK2／PK1), the G0／G1 and Pseudo domain cell counts, and half-width of the largest peak. These features and our previous features (i.e., debris, S, G2／M, Over G2／M) of the cell cycle were evaluated by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Features for which distributions were judged to discriminate cancer cells from normal cells were adopted. Our findings demonstrated that the adopted features are the PK2／PK1, debris, S, G2／M, and over G2／M domain cell counts.

The statistical analysis was subsequently conducted after screening based on the original histogram largest peak address and presence or absence of a second peak in which PK2／PK1 exceeded 1／2. As the result, the new algorithm showed a sensitivity of >85% and specificity of >95%.

Drip-control type infusion pump causes a flow rate error when the volume of the droplet dropping in the drip chamber changes. The purpose of this study is to accurately measure the volume of one drop when the drip nozzle is tilted. For measurement of droplet volume, a drip nozzle tilting mechanism and a droplet bypassing device were prototyped. The measurement error of the droplet volume was ± 0.1 mm³ or less. When the tilting angle of the drip nozzle increasing, the droplet volume gradually decreased. When the drip nozzle tilted at 20°, the droplet volume decreased by about 4%. Therefore, attention must be paid to flow rate error due to the inclination of the drip chamber when using drip-control type infusion pump. It is considered that the cause of the droplet volume decrease is that the constricted part of the droplet changes to an elliptical shape.

Aim: The commercialization of cellular products for the regenerative medicine business has already begun. However, the profitability between the regulated aseptic production cost and insurance reimbursement price might be a major hurdle. Automated culture devices are developed for improving the cultural- and cost-efficiency. In this study, we investigated the automated culture devices to discuss the approach to overcome the existing problems and simulated the reduction of operating time with culture assist devices.

Method: Web and literature surveys were performed to investigate the automated culture devices and their functionalities. Based on the investigation, the simulation was conducted by integrating the operation time in each culture steps via culture assist devices.

Result: Automated culture devices for adherent cells, floating cells, and liquid handlers were developed. In Japan, the devices for adherent cells were majorly produced, and these devices used single- or double-arm robots for complete automation. A reduction of 22.5 min in the medium replacement step was achieved after simulation with the culture assist devices for injection and drainage.

Conclusion: Since the present cellular products were approved of working with humans, the culture assist device for working with human is preferable and can contribute in reducing the working hours and cost.

The purpose of this study is to analyze risk factors of medical treatment accidents and near miss cases related to medical gases, consider education contents to avoid human errors and provide a proposal pertaining to the improvement of educational training for preventing medical treatment accidents.

The analysis results show that, as a medical treatment safety measure, educational training for risk aversion with the purpose of preventing human errors is necessary pertaining to clinical usage of oxygen tanks, and we propose simulation based learning including problem handling to obtain high educational effects.

Accordingly, simulation based learning such as responses during problems pertaining to overall medical treatment gas tanks except oxygen tanks is necessary when training workers to safely manage medical treatment gas. It is important to carry out continuous investigations and research on risk analysis of medical treatment gas and its application to the management, carry out educational training to reduce errors, and improve environment in man-machine interface.

We assessed the effects of augmented reality (AR) on learning. We developed an AR manual installed on smart glass and compared it with the conventional paper manual. Forty-nine students in clinical engineering, without experience in hemodialysis priming were randomly recruited to prime hemodialysis units using either a conventional manual (CM; n = 28; male, n = 15) or the AR manual (n = 18; male, n = 7). We measured the amount of the time required to complete the task, accuracy (number of failed processes/number of total processes), and the ratio of persons who did not complete the task. The results were compared between the CM group (CMG) and the AR group (ARG) at baseline and after two and four weeks, and the abilities of both groups to perform the task without a manual were compared three months later. The time in the ARG shortened faster. Accuracy in the ARG was initially inferior, but improved each time, eventually, it was superior to the CMG. The ratio of ARG was superior, but when the tasks were done without the manual, the CMG was superior. These results suggested that AR may be effective for learning medical technologies.

Shadowless lights using Light Emitting Diode (LED) have been widely introduced in surgical operation rooms. LED lighting devices contain a switching power supply, but they may cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) with wireless communications. In the surgery, EMI with electromagnetic navigation systems (EMNS) was reported. Then, we investigated the effects of using LED shadowless lights on the EM environment around an EMNS. Most of the magnetic fields intensities radiated from the LED shadowless lights not exceeded the background noise at a distance over 1 m. But that were higher than that in the near field. EMI with the EMNS by the magnetic field radiated from the LED shadowless light was not observed. An EMNS enables to locate surgical instrument to be tracked using EM field radiated from emitter. The maximum magnetic field intensity of the EM emitter was 140 dBµA/m at a distance of 10 cm. LED shadowless lights are generally used in the operative field at a distance of 1 m. The maximum intensity of the magnetic field radiated from LED shadowless lights was less than that of the EM emitter. Therefore, we concluded that LED shadowless lights will rarely interference with EMNSs.