States Consider Testing Newborns For Heart Defects

Finally some steps forward. I would love to see this in all states, and I do agree, please don't put the price tag on newborns' lives!

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/babies/story/2011/06/States-consider-testing-newborns-for-heart-defect/48928584/1

Art

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Visit To Lazy 5 Ranch

On Monday we took Abi again to the Lazy 5 Ranch zoo. This time though, we decided to take the wagon ride and to my surprise she absolutely loved it. There were only 2 animals she didn't feel comfortable feeding, but still wasn't too afraid and was not running away.

It was amazing to watch her so fascinated and curious; so happy and joyful!

Below couple pictures from the day of fun at Lazy 5












































Art

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

iPhone app can substitute for expensive Pulse Oximeter

I thought I would share this interesting article here as well. Seems like a great alternative to the expensive Pulse Oximeter.

I love seeing technology made useful, helpful and affordable to CHD parents and doctors.

The Electrical and Computer Engineering in Medicine (ECEM) research group in collaboration with the Pediatric Anesthesia Research Team (PART) at the University of British Columbia have developed a mobile solution to measuring key vital signs — called the “Phone Oximeter”.

The Phone Oximeter uses a traditional FDA approved pulse oximetry sensor, but researchers have modified it to interface with a phone, in this case, your iPhone. Currently the setup is being interfaced with an iPhone for trial studies, but is compatible with Android, and other mobile operating systems.

What makes the Phone Oximeter special is its ability to capture SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation), heart rate, and respiratory rate — then dynamically comprehend the variables using the decision support software, giving medical staff or even laymen individuals key help in making decisions on medical care.

So how would a device like this be useful in the medical setting?

The researchers feel the main utility of this device is for monitoring anesthesia in the developing world, where pulse oximetry can prove expensive:

Lack of training and resources, however, has limited the uptake of pulse oximetry across much of the developed world, where death rates from anesthesia remain 100 – 1,000 times higher than the developed world. Key to wider adoption of this life saving technology is the availability of affordable, robust pulse oximeters that can be used by non-specialist healthcare workers.

The primary goal of this Phone Oximeter project is to demonstrate the potential for enhanced delivery of information from a pulse oximeter to enhance the safety of anesthesia care throughout the developing world.

The research team states the overall mobile solution is cheap, and could widely be implemented in the developing world. Currently trials are being undertaken in Uganda to test the efficacy of the device.

The following is a video the research team made of the device in action. (Warning: It’s a bit over the top, leading us to let out a few chuckles)

Source: www.phoneoximeter.org

http://getbetterhealth.com/iphone-app-can-substitute-for-expensive-pulse-oximeter/2011.05.27

Art

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Little artist

Abi is such a big girl and as it turns out quite an artist.

Enjoy!

J
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday Fun

Just coupe pictures from some of today's activities.

Great time at church in the morning, Birkdale Village and Hope Park in the late afternoon.

Abi was absolutely mesmerized by the water fountains ;-)

























Art

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Morning At The Park

I love spring in North Carolina. Today was another gorgeous day and since I wasn't working until noon I had my friend, Bryan over for coffee at 8 in the morning and then we took Abi and headed to one of the parks that are near us. We went to Jetton Park on the Lake Norman and I gotta admit Abi did not really want to play at the playground today, but wanted to walk.

So off for a walk we went. She was excited about all the birds singing, every dog that passed by, every squirrel she got to see and throwing pine cones into the lake.

We sat on a bench on the shore and she was just enjoying the view, the Canadian Geese and the planes over our heads.

I just wish mommy could be there with us and it would have been a perfect morning.





















































Art

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Family Sunday

It was another gorgeous day in NC. Very sunny, not too hot, just in low 70s; just another perfect day to take my girls out for some ice-cream and to the play ground.
























Art

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone