This volume covers protocols related to both pluripotent and somatic stem cells, including the ethical procurement of tissues and cells for the provision of "seed stock," standardized methods for deriving hESCs and iPSCs, isolating mesenchymal stem cells, cell culture and cryopreservation, in addition to quality assurance and information management. Stem Cell Banking: Concepts and Protocols aims to contribute to the development of this field by providing information that is essential to establishing a bona fide stem cell bank. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and thorough, Stem Cell Banking: Concepts and Protocols is a valuable resource for stem cell scientists and novices to the field, and will help strengthen and maximize their use of existing and future stem cell resources.

This book presents state-of-the-art works and systematic reviews in the emerging field of computational intelligence (CI) in electronic health care. The respective chapters present surveys and practical examples of artificial intelligence applications in the areas of Human-Machine Interface (HMI) and affective computing, machine learning, big health data and visualization analytics, computer vision and medical image analysis. The book also addresses new and emerging topics in CI for health care such as the utilization of Social Media (SM) and the introduction of new intelligent paradigms in the security and privacy domains, which are critical for the health sector. The chapters, while of course not exhaustively addressing all the possible aspects of the aforementioned areas, are indicative of the dynamic nature of interdisciplinary research being pursued. Accordingly, the book is intended not only for researchers in the respective fields, but also for medical and administrative personnel working in the health sector, as well as managers and stakeholders responsible for making strategic decisions and defining public health policies.

This book studies the production of indole alkaloids in the important medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don, commonly known as periwinkle. The anticancer alkaloids, viz. vinblastine and vincristine, are mainly present in the leaves of C. roseus and inhibit the growth of cancer cells by hindering the formation of mitotic apparatus during cell division. Further, vinblastine helps increase the chance of surviving childhood leukemia while vincristine is used to treat Hodgkin's disease. Great efforts have been made to produce these alkaloids at a large scale by the culture of plant cells. In view of this worldwide demand for commercial use, this book explores how to maximize the production of anticancer alkaloids from C. roseus. This reference book will be helpful for research students, teachers, ethnobotanists, pharmacologists and herbal growers who have a strong interest in this anticancer medicinal plant of paramount importance.

This monograph concisely but thoroughly introduces the reader to the field of mathematical immunology. The book covers first basic principles of formulating a mathematical model, and an outline on data-driven parameter estimation and model selection. The authors then introduce the modeling of experimental and human infections and provide the reader with helpful exercises. The target audience primarily comprises researchers and graduate students in the field of mathematical biology who wish to be concisely introduced into mathematical immunology.

Recent years have seen the development of two significant trends namely: the adoption of some Traditional Chinese Medicine Practices into mainstream Allopathic Western Medicine and the advent of the internet and broad band networks leading to an increased interest in the use of Telemedicine to deliver medical services. In this book, we see the convergence of these two trends leading to a semantically-based TCM Telemedicine system that utilizes an ontology to provide sharable knowledge in the TCM realm to achieve this. The underpinning research required the development of a three-layer architecture and an Ontology of the TCM knowledge. As TCM knowledge like all medical knowledge is not frozen in time it was important to develop an approach that would allow evolution of the Ontology when new evidence became available. In order for the system to be practically grounded it was important to work with an industry partner PuraPharm Group/HerbMiners Informatics Limited. This partnership was initiated through Professor Allan Wong and the Chairman of PuraPharm Group Mr. Abraham Chan. This led to the system being utilized in more than 20 Mobile Clinics in Hong Kong and 300 Hospitals in China. In order for these different deployments of the system to be coherent with the main core Ontology, it was necessary for us to develop an Ontology Driven Software System Generation approach.

This collection provides researchers and scientists with advanced analyses and materials design techniques in Biomaterials and presents mechanical studies of biological structures. In 16 contributions well known experts present their research on Stress and Strain Analysis, Material Properties, Fluid and Gas mechanics and they show related problems.

The process of matching a person who has a disability with the most appropriate assistive technology requires a series of assessments, typically administered by multidisciplinary teams at specialized centers for technical aid. Assistive Technology Assessment Handbook fills the need for a reference that helps assistive technology experts perform assessments that more effectively connect the person and the technology. Emphasizing the well-being of the individual with a disability, the book proposes an ideal model of the assistive technology assessment process and outlines how this model can be applied in practice internationally. Organized into three parts, the handbook: Gives readers a toolkit for performing assessments Describes the roles of the assessment team members, among them the new profession of the psychotechnologist, who is skilled in understanding individuals and their psychosocial and technological needs and preferences Reviews cutting-edge technologies for rehabilitation and independent living, including brain-computer interfaces and microswitches The book synthesizes information scattered throughout the international literature, focusing on aspects that are particularly representative or innovative. It also addresses the challenges posed by the variety of health and social care systems and the different ways that individuals who need aid are defined-are they users, patients, clients, or consumers, and how does that affect the assessment? Edited by Stefano Federici and Marcia J. Scherer, internationally renowned leaders in the field of assistive technology assessment, this cross-cultural handbook includes contributions from leading experts across five continents. Guiding readers in matching the person and the appropriate assistive technology, it offers a framework for future practice and research. Listen to Stefano Federici talk about the handbook.

This volume serves as a valuable handbook for the development of nanomedicines made of polymer nanoparticles because it provides researchers, students, and entrepreneurs with all the material necessary to begin their own projects in this field. Readers will find protocols to prepare polymer nanoparticles using different methods, since these are based on the variety of experiences that experts encounter in the field. In addition, complex topics such as, the optimal characterization of polymer nanoparticles is discussed, as well as practical guidelines on how to formulate polymer nanoparticles into nanomedicines, and how to modify the properties of nanoparticles to give them the different functionalities required to become an efficient nanomedicine for different clinical applications. The book also discusses the translation of technology from research to practice, considering aspects related to industrialization of preparation and aspects of regulatory and clinical development.

This book covers the fundamentals of biomechanics. Topics include bio solids, biofluids, stress, balance and equilibrium. Students are encouraged to contextualize principles and exercises within a "big picture" of biomechanics. This is an ideal book for undergraduate students with interests in biomedical engineering.

This book describes an ECG processing architecture that guides biomedical SoC developers, from theory to implementation and testing. The authors provide complete coverage of the digital circuit implementation of an ultra-low power biomedical SoC, comprised of a detailed description of an ECG processor implemented and fabricated on chip. Coverage also includes the challenges and tradeoffs of designing ECG processors. Describes digital circuit architecture for implementing ECG processing algorithms on chip; Includes coverage of signal processing techniques for ECG processing; Features ultra-low power circuit design techniques; Enables design of ECG processing architectures and their respective on-chip implementation.

Today, over 500,000 medical technologies are available in hospitals, homes, and community care settings. They range from simple bandages to complex, multi-part body scanners that cost millions of dollars to develop. Yet a typical technology has a lifecycle of just 21 months before an improved product usurps it-the healthcare ecosystem is rapidly advancing and driven by a constant flow of innovation. And those innovations need innovators. With $21 billion made available for investment in the digital healthcare industry in 2020 (a 20x increase on 2010), entrepreneurs, investors, and related actors are entering the healthcare ecosystem in greater numbers than ever before. Last year alone, over 17,000 medical technology patents were filed, the third highest of all patent types. Each of those has a dedicated team of entrepreneurs behind it. Yet with increasingly strict regulations and pharmaceutical giants growing more aggressive, many thousands of entrepreneurs fail before even the patent stage: just 2% secure revenue or adoption. Healthtech Innovation: How Entrepreneurs Can Define and Build the Value of Their New Products is a down-to-earth survival guide for entrepreneurs struggling to secure a strategic position within the healthtech ecosystem. Which is expected that by 2026, the global digital health market size will be around $657 billion. This book is designed to help innovators navigate this complex and newly volatile landscape. It covers business strategy, marketing, funding acquisition, and operation in a global regulatory context. It is written in simple language, evidenced by the latest academic and industry research, and explained using real-world examples and case studies.

The present book entitled "Novel Frontiers in the Production of Compounds for Biomedical Uses" can perhaps be placed in its best perspective by the Shakespearean character in The Tempest who exclaimed" What's past is prologue." Indeed, this compilation of some of the outstanding presentations in the field of biomedicine made at th the 9 European Congress on Biotechnology (Brussels, Belgium, July 11-15, 1999) not only reflects the achievements of the recent past, but provides a privileged glimpse of the biotechnology that is emerging in the first decade of the new Millennium. It is becoming increasingly apparent that biotechnology is offering biomedicine novel approaches and solutions to develop a sorely needed new generation of biopharmaceuticals. This is all the more necessary because in recent years, new diseases have emerged with extraordinary lethality in all corners of the globe, while age-related chronic illnesses have filled the gap wherever biomedicine has made successful inroads. The rise of antibiotic resistance also poses major threats to public health. Thus, as disease patterns evolve, the rational development of new drugs is becoming urgent, not only for the clinical outcome of patients, but also in optimising the allocation of scarce health care resources through the use of cost-effective productions methods. It is in response to all these challenges that biotechnology offers new strategies that go beyond the more traditional approaches. By the mid-1990's, the number of recombinant products approved annually for therapeutic use reached double digits. With the advent of the genomics revolution.

Handbook of Vascular Motion provides a comprehensive review of the strategies and methods to quantify vascular motion and deformations relevant for cardiovascular device design and mechanical durability evaluation. It also explains the current state of knowledge of vascular beds that are particularly important for the medical device industry. Finally, it explores the application of vascular motion to computational simulations, benchtop testing and fatigue analysis, as well as further implications on clinical outcomes, product development and business.

Replacement of a failing hip joint or other defective organs in the human body by artificial 'spare parts' has significantly improved our quality of life. These spare parts have to meet a wide spectrum of mechanical, chemical and design requirements. In this book, the properties and selection of materials for such `spare parts' are deduced from case studies at the start of each chapter. Hard tissue replacements (joints, long bones, dental), soft tissue (heart valves) and tissue engineering are included. The chapters also detail the three generic classes of materials: alloys (including shape memory alloys), ceramics & glasses and polymers. Separate chapters are devoted to the toxicity of implants, the metals zirconium(-zirconium oxide), tantalum, niobium and metallic glasses, soluble metals and Rapid Prototyping techniques for the fabrication of custom made prostheses. The book concludes by a chapter on water as water is always 'there' and conditions the interaction between body and implant. Water is the very matrix of life on earth. A peculiarity of the book is its 'perspective view', meaning that the authors looked behind the present biomaterials' decor and included historical backgrounds (real and mythological), future developments, and the relation to nature (plants and geology).

This book describes automatic methods for the design of droplet microfluidic networks. The authors discuss simulation and design methods which support the design process of droplet microfluidics in general, as well as design methods for a dedicated droplet routing mechanism, namely passive droplet routing. The methods discussed allow for simulating a microfluidic design on a high-abstraction level, which facilitates early validation of whether a design works as intended, automatically dimensioning a microfluidic design, so that constraints like flow conditions are satisfied, and automatically generating meander designs for the respective needs and fabrication settings. Dedicated methods for passive droplet routing are discussed and allow for designing application-specific architectures for a given set of experiments, as well as generating droplet sequences realizing the respective experiments. Together, these methods provide a comprehensive "toolbox" for designers working on droplet microfluidic networks in general and an integrated design flow for the passive droplet routing mechanism in particular. Provides both a comprehensive "toolbox" for designers working on droplet microfluidic networks in general and an integrated design flow for the passive droplet routing mechanism in particular; Describes for the first time CAD methods for droplet microfluidic networks, along with the first integrated design process; Includes open source implementations, in order to reach the largest possible user group within the domain of microfluidics.

Written in a versatile, contemporary style that will benefit both novice and expert alike, Biological and Biomedical Coatings Handbook, Two-Volume Set covers the state of the art in the development and implementation of advanced thin films and coatings in the biological field. Consisting of two volumes -- Processing and Characterization and Applications -- this handbook details the latest understanding of advances in the design and performance of biological and biomedical coatings, covering a vast array of material types, including bio-ceramics, polymers, glass, chitosan, and nanomaterials. Contributors delve into a wide range of novel techniques used in the manufacture and testing of clinical applications for coatings in the medical field, particularly in the emerging area of regenerative medicine. An exploration of the fundamentals elements of biological and biomedical coatings, the first volume, Processing and Characterization, addresses: * Synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of nanocoatings * The sol-gel method and electrophoretic deposition * Thermal and plasma spraying * Hydroxyapatite and organically modified coatings * Bioceramics and bioactive glass-based coatings * Hydrothermal crystallization and self-healing effects * Physical and chemical vapor deposition * Layered assembled polyelectrolyte films With chapters authored by world experts at the forefront of research in their respective areas, this timely set provides searing insights and practical information to explore a subject that is fundamental to the success of biotechnological pursuits.

Written in a versatile, contemporary style that will benefit both novice and expert alike, Biological and Biomedical Coatings Handbook, Two-Volume Set covers the state of the art in the development and implementation of advanced thin films and coatings in the biological field. Consisting of two volumes -- Processing and Characterization and Applications -- this handbook details the latest understanding of advances in the design and performance of biological and biomedical coatings, covering a vast array of material types, including bio-ceramics, polymers, glass, chitosan, and nanomaterials. Contributors delve into a wide range of novel techniques used in the manufacture and testing of clinical applications for coatings in the medical field, particularly in the emerging area of regenerative medicine. Building on the theoretical and methodological fundamentals of coatings as presented in the first volume, Applications covers: * Biological/biomedical implants and other applications of carbon-based materials * Control of drug release from coatings * MIcrofluidic and biosensing/bioactive coatings and applications * Surfaces and coatings of orthopedic, dental, and other implants * Sol-gel-derived hydroxyapatite coatings on metallic implants * Impedance spectroscopy With chapters authored by world experts at the forefront of research in their respective areas, this timely set provides searing insights and practical information to explore a subject that is fundamental to the success of biotechnological pursuits.

This book acts as a primer for radiographers upon performing computed tomography (CT) examinations. The focus resides in radiation physics, radiobiology, anatomy, imaging protocols and image evaluation. It seeks to provide readers insight into the practical and innovative approaches within CT, backed up with key literature and examples in practice. Recent innovations and the importance of new technology to acquire enhanced quality remain a focal point. These are essential in understanding the importance of dose optimization, patient anatomy and common pathology observed. Patient care will remain central in this book, supported with a dedicated chapter discussing effective communication, patient education, informed consent, coupled with the assessment of laboratory results and vital signs. The editors draw from recent publications and clinical expertise, supported with the growing trend of technological advances utilized within the CT environment. Critically, this volume focuses on the role of CT for an array of audiences but, more specifically, undergraduate and postgraduate radiographers worldwide.

Written in a versatile, contemporary style that will benefit both novice and expert alike, Biological and Biomedical Coatings Handbook, Two-Volume Set explores the state of the art in the development and implementation of advanced thin films and coatings in the biological field. The set covers advances in the latest understanding, design, and performance of biological and biomedical coatings for a vast array of material types, including sol-gel, bio-ceramics, polymers, glass, chitosan, and nanomaterials. Contributors delve into a wide range of novel techniques used in the manufacture and testing of clinical applications for coatings in the medical field, particularly in the field of regenerative medicine. Topics include: * Implants and implanted devices * Organically modified coatings * Orthopedic and dental implants * Control of drug release * Biosensing and bioactive coatings * Thermal and plasma spraying * Hydrothermal, physical, and chemical vapor deposition * Impedance spectroscopy * Hydroxyapatite nanocoatings With chapters authored by world experts at the forefront of research in their respective areas, this timely set consists of two volumes -- Processing and Characterization and Applications -- to cover a subject that is truly fundamental to the success of biotechnological pursuits.

Developments in the area of biomaterials, bionanotechnology, tissue engineering, and medical devices are becoming the core of health care. Almost all medical specialties involve the use of biomaterials, and research plays a key role in the development of new and improved treatment modalities. This volume focuses on several current trends in tissue engineering, remodelling and regeneration. Leading researchers describe the use of nanomaterials to create new functionalities when interfaced with biological molecules or structures. In addition to coverage of basic science and engineering aspects, a range of applications in bionanotechnology are presented, including diagnostic devices, contrast agents, analytical tools, physical therapy applications, and vehicles for targeted drug delivery. The use of polymers, alloys, and composites, or a combination of these, for biomaterials applications in orthopaedics is also explored. These contributions represent essential reading for the biomaterials and biomedical engineering communities, and can serve as instructional course lectures targeted at graduate and post-graduate students.

The sixteen chapters included in this book were written by invited experts of international recognition and address important issues in Medical Image Processing and Computational Vision, including: Object Recognition, Object Detection, Object Tracking, Pose Estimation, Facial Expression Recognition, Image Retrieval, Data Mining, Automatic Video Understanding and Management, Edges Detection, Image Segmentation, Modelling and Simulation, Medical thermography, Database Systems, Synthetic Aperture Radar and Satellite Imagery.

Different applications are addressed and described throughout the book, comprising: Object Recognition and Tracking, Facial Expression Recognition, Image Database, Plant Disease Classification, Video Understanding and Management, Image Processing, Image Segmentation, Bio-structure Modelling and Simulation, Medical Imaging, Image Classification, Medical Diagnosis, Urban Areas Classification, Land Map Generation.

The book brings together the current state-of-the-art in the various multi-disciplinary solutions for Medical Image Processing and Computational Vision, including research, techniques, applications and new trends contributing to the development of the related areas.

Molecular Biomarkers in Cancer Detection and Monitoring of Therapeutics, Volume One, Discovery and Technologies discusses how molecular biomarkers are used to determine predisposition, facilitate detection, improve treatment and offer prevention guidelines for different cancer types. This first volume in the series focuses on techniques and approaches recently developed to assist in the decision of which biomarker to use for specific conditions. Topics covered include circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA, exomes, tumor microenvironment, gene editing, artificial intelligence and robotics. In addition, the book discusses the development and applications of organoids and precision medicine. This book will be a valuable resource for cancer researchers, oncologists, graduate students and members of the biomedical field who are interested in the potential of biomarkers in cancer research.

Quantitative Perfusion MRI: Techniques, Applications, and Practical Considerations, Volume 11 clearly and carefully explains the basic theory and MRI techniques for quantifying perfusion non-invasively in deep tissue, covering all aspects of perfusion imaging, from acquisition requirements to selection of contrast agents and appropriate pharmacokinetic models and for reliable quantification in different diseases and tissue types. Specifically, this book enables the reader to understand what microvascular functional parameters can be measured with perfusion MRI, learn the basic techniques to measure perfusion in different organs, apply the appropriate perfusion MRI technique to the organ of interest, and much more. This complete reference on quantitative perfusion MRI is highly suitable for both early and experienced researchers, graduate students and clinicians wishing to understand how quantitative perfusion MRI can apply to their application area of interest.

Sensors were developed to detect and quantify structures and functions of human body as well as to gather information from the environment in order to optimize the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and quality of healthcare services as well as to improve health and quality of life. This book offers an up-to-date overview of the concepts, modeling, technical and technological details and practical applications of different types of sensors. It also discusses the trends for the next generation of sensors and systems for healthcare settings. It is aimed at researchers and graduate students in the field of healthcare technologies, as well as academics and industry professionals involved in developing sensing systems for human body structures and functions, and for monitoring activities and health.

By definition Biomechanics is the application of engineering methods to study the mechanical aspects of living beings. Mostly the life scientists have the questions but lack of the specialized methods. The engineers on the other hand can handle very specialized equipment and methods, but lack in the biological thinking. If both sides are able to adapt to each other, Biomechanics is a classical field of interdis ciplinary cooperation. In the beginning, most biomechanical research was done in the field of orthopaedics. But other areas like cardiovascular research, dentistry, sports and many others gain increasing importance. This situation is clearly reflected in this book, which contains a selected number of papers which were presented at the Fifth Meeting of the European Society of Biomechanics, held in September 1986 in Berlin. Meanwhile these meetings have become a well accepted forum and a place of interdis ciplinary discussion for scientists in Biomechanics on the one side and surgeons and other peoples interested in biome chanical solutions on the other. It is the third time that the proceedings are published as a book and the editors are sure that this volume will help to establish this series "Developement in Biomechanics" as a valuable tool for all people involved in Biomechanics. The Fifth Meeting of the ESB also marks the tenth anniversary in the short history of the European Society of Biomechanics."