ophthalmic equipment, including surgical instruments and diagnostic devices, can be compared to the maintenance of a motor vehicle, something many of us understand well. If you had a car, would you drive it until the fuel runs out or until a tyre punctures, and then abandon it to buy a new car? Of course not. However, many eye care units purchase (or receive as a donation) expensive and delicat...

Diagnostic ultrasound is a rapidly developing imaging technology widely used in both industrialized and developing countries. For certain diagnostic applications, ultrasound has replaced commonly used radiographic imaging techniques as the method of choice, and it has also made possible new areas of diagnostic investigation. Moreover, equipment for ultrasound imaging tends to be cheaper and mor...

There are many examples of knowledge-based fault diagnosis advisors for corrective maintenance of complex equipment. However, such advisors are only part of an overall maintenance solution. To be used effectively, diagnostic advisors must be integrated with other existing and forthcoming systems, such as Automated Test Equipment and maintenance databases. Successful fielding of knowledge-based ...

A rule-based, system-level fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) method for HVAC systems was developed. It functions as an interface between multiple, equipment-specific FDD tools and a human operator. The method resolves and prioritizes conflicting fault reports from equipment-specific FDD tools, performs FDD at the system level, and presents an integrated view of an HVAC system’s fault status ...