Intelligent Networks: Recent Approaches and Applications in Medical Systems

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About the Book

The overt web technology has brought about as a profound revolution in the lives of Internet users, researchers, and medical service providers (MSPs). Information and knowledge that constitute the foundations of most human activities are being constantly altered, updated, and manipulated. Both affect the applications of most disciplines and the practice of most professions. Knowledge coupled with automation and seamless connectivity with standardized procedures makes any discipline and profession amenable to computer-aided practice and perhaps to automation. When the desirable feature of total integrity in practice of professions is overlooked, the use of information technologies can be abused and the information becomes a pursuit of wealth and vanities.

Medical science and profession are exceptions because every doctor is an individual with committed oath to deploy the profession to its best use. In the same vein, every patient is an individual committed to safeguard health and welfare, just as every doctor is unique. An uneasy bilateral symmetry or a balance of power exists. The doctor being (generally) the more knowledgeable has endowed powers of prescription for drugs and services. Conversely, the patient having the capacity to choose the medical services provider holds the grip of moneys (at least in the United States) payable.

In the same vein, this uneasily balanced relationship offers a vast amount of flexibility in the interpretation of medical knowledge and the treatment of patients. On the one hand, the practice of medicine is a science, and every cure is a series of well-planned and sophisticated steps on the part of the medical staff. The procedures, subprocedures, and medical objects (drugs, instruments, equipment, etc.) have a history of innovations and enhancements, and the medical knowledge is classified by the specialty and discipline. However, patients and their reactions are distinctly individualistic. The uncertainty in the chain of a scientific process leading to the cure brings in evaluation and discretion on the part of the medical staff. Uncertain the steps toward cure may be they are logical, inductive, and rational. Discretionary steps of the doctors are always liable to be queried by teams of specialists and medical boards, and unethical practice leaves them open to law suits.

On the other hand, the patients’ role of being cooperative and willing subservient during the treatment makes the position weak, especially during prolonged periods of sickness and treatment. In a sense, Internet and Web knowledge bases have diluted the power of doctors and their position in the exercise of the medical knowledge and information. In a complimentary sense, the distribution of information (via the Internet) and wealth (via the capitalistic society) has made the patients more selective from a larger and more sophisticated pool of MSPs. The delicate dyadic and symbiotic balance between patients and MSPs has shifted from country to country, place to place, and from time to time. The guidelines for reestablishing this delicate balance are currently based on wisdom and ethics rather than on power and monopoly. However, the choice and adherence to the guidelines can vary significantly.

Well conceived and documented scientific procedures directed toward treating patients as unique human beings bring a clear sequence of well-planned steps without too many discretionary choices for the individual doctors and medical staff members. In a sense, the entire global practice of medicine is well founded in science and its ensuing disciplines. Even though there is room for limited discretionary variation in the treatment of patients, the practice of healing patients needs a decisive scientific foundation. It is the object of this book to introduce machines to perform the standardized functions of being logical, inductive, and rational, consistent with web-enabled Internet knowledge bases and resources. It enables the doctors and medical staff be rigorous in their interpretation, diagnosis, and their discretionary choices. The medical machines in this book have their foundations in the procedures within the medical professions as deeply rooted as computers have in the practice of the engineering profession.

There are 3 parts and 12 chapters in this book. Part I provides the technological basis for intelligent networks and for the basis to build intelligent medical processors, machines and their networks. A platform of recent advances and new applications for medical systems is established in this part. Chapter 1 presents a brief introduction to the breakthroughs necessary in IC technologies that make medical processing feasible and in fiber-optic technologies that make communication of medical data, expertise, procedures, and knowledge possible at high enough data rates to make remote surgeries and medical robotics possible in distant locations.

Chapter 2 deals with the processors revolution over the last two decades to comprehend the complex processing of complex medical procedures, subprocedures, and microprocedures on medical super objects, objects, subordinate objects, and microobjects. Such procedures bring about major changes in the objects, such as removing a malignant tissue, curing a patient, and performing surgeries, to very minor changes such as authorizing a prescription and recording the temperature or blood pressure.

Chapter 3 deals with the explosive field of new services that the networks perform without human intervention. Machines that perform switching and network services are introduced and explored for newer medical services. Occasionally, medical services become new extensions of current and feasible network services. When complex medical services are called for, the medical machines partition strings of current/feasible services and assemble the instructions for these machines. Traditional computer system assemblers routinely assemble numeric and logical operations to perform a complex numeric or algebraic function such as an inverse tan function or a summation of a series. The precedence already exists. Chapter 3 further introduces the readers to switching functions in communication networks by examining the logical and number translation functions in traditional communication systems. Database technologies and devices perform much of the legwork, and communication paths for circuit-switched and data-switched networks are performed with high dependability and accuracy.

Part II has five chapters to bridge the gap between two major points in human knowledge: (a) scientific and computational aspects of technology and (b) very human and personal art of medicine. The knowledge banks at the two anchor points of the bridge are derived from knowledge banks in sciences and medicine, respectively. All the switching and routing methodologies of computer and communication systems are invoked to the pathway.

In Chapter 4, the metallic transmission media is reviewed to establish the constraint of transmission technology on the speed and extent of (medical) data through the medium. In some environments, this is the only means of communication, and the extent of possible services is easily envisioned. Signal degradation and possible errors are also explored.

Chapter 5 presents the fiber-optic media and its capabilities. Fiber-optic technology has become a default standard for most data transmission network facilities. The chapter offers a scientific basis for the very high rates and very high quality of data through such networks. For medical applications, the reasons for the choice of fiber optics barring the initial cost are established in this chapter.

Chapter 6 introduces and presents fundamental issues in microwave technology and systems. As an alternative technology, it competes favorably with fiber optics under special circumstances. Microwave mode of communication can be effectively used in remote and isolated regions. The limits and possible means of communication of medical data are presented here. Existing mobile networks are covered to indicate the bandwidth and their limitations.

Chapter 7 introduces the next-generation mobile networks (NGMN) and third-generation partition project (3GPP) around the world to integrate the medical machines and networks. The purpose is to lay the foundations and prepare the medical facilities to operate on local and a global level. Geographical and physical constraints are eliminated in the design of the NGMNs and the location of the antennas. Handover protocol and its implementation issues are being standardized by the system architecture and long-term evolution of the NGMN. In the global implementation of mobile networks, satellite communication becomes an integral part of the universal mobile telecommunications systems (UMTS) and the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN).

Chapter 8 covers the evolution and status of worldwide intelligent networks entirely. These networks serve as a basis of the intelligent medical networks proposed in the book. All aspects of artificial intelligence (AI) (i.e., expert systems, pattern recognition, computer graphics, computer vision, and intelligent agents) and their deployment in communication networks are covered. The path-routing algorithms in communication systems and traditional AI in computer science are blended to construct the framework for intelligent medical information machines and systems.

Part III has four chapters totally dedicated to medical machines and networks. The four chapters in Part III deal with medical machines based on the design philosophy of medical processors, medical networks, AI in the science of medicine, and the deployment of nationally and internationally distributed medical knowledge bases.

Chapter 9 contains the methodology that the computer scientists have very diligently pursued in developing the architecture and composition of computers from its very inception during the late 1940s to the newer multiprocessor, multithreaded infused chip-based machines, as many as 64-bit processor VLSI chips are on the horizon. Functionality, role, and architectures of processors, bus structures, and the other three functions of three remaining components, i.e., memories, I/Os, and global Internet switches, that are now performed external to the processor chip are covered in Chapters 12 and 13 to lead up the medical machines.

Chapter 10 evolves and covers the functionality, role, and architectures of processors, bus structures of medical machines. The medical processor chip(s) plays the most crucial part. In conjunction with memories, I/O systems and global Internet switches, the medical machines will play the role of networked computers in global computing environments. Medical machines can be built in many ways as computers are built. Unfortunately, there are no centralized or standard committees to suggest global medical protocols or interfaces. Hospitals and medical centers follow their own style of conducting the medical practice as they fit. The local software designers will write medicalware macros and utilities as they see fit, and the IT engineers and network designer will simply adhere to the local directions rather than following the global medical standards.

Chapter 11 tackles the issues in the design of medical processors. These processors can only be in a genesis of computer processors and extensions of object processors. Medical processors deal with a rich array of medical subfunctions, utilities, and procedures. In addition, they contend with a rich variety of medical objects (drugs, nurses, doctors, staff, patients, accountants, etc.) that are unique and distinctive. If the medical functions are treated as verb functions and objects are treated as noun objects, then the syntactic and semantic rules become complicated but not insurmountable for compiler designers to handle. The rules and grammar of medical language will thus be handled with a extended rules and grammar of the medical compiler.

Chapter 12 revisits the medical machines from the perspective of practical procedures in hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes, etc. If the procedures have a distinct medical code, then this code drives the machine in an error proof, sophisticated, efficient, and an optimal fashion. The subprocedures become the microcode that is assembled in view of the human and resource limitations of the hospital or the medical center where the machine is located. The composition of the subprocedure is by itself a layer of the medicalware and the compiler design.

From the hindsight of the processor technology of the last decade, the modern processors can indeed serve as medical processes. It is a debt that computer scientists owe to the medical community to provide a methodology for the programming of the medical procedures and subprocedures that can then be encoded as threads and elementary microprograms. Such micro programmable steps when aggregated as macro procedures become steps in the global process of curing ailments, treating specific medical conditions or even inventing new cures for patients. These medical microprograms reside in the caches of the new processors, and the operating systems of the medical computers guide the threads through the processes that the modern processors are built to execute.

Processor development over the last decade integrates numerous processors. These new processors integrate numerous interdependently interwoven threads because the many subfunctions in processes (graphics, visualization, MRI, surgery, etc.) were first established in the various disciplines and then presented to the computer scientists to unify these procedures as strings and threads for execution.

The four chapters in Part III break down the steps of medical processing into finite and discrete subprocedures that can be indeed executed on modern processors. Even though we present the architecture of medical processors as being the blueprints based on primitive VLSI techniques, the real purpose is to establish a neural pathway for human thought to bridge the gap between the prerequisite medical subprocedures and the programmable strings and threads in the modern processors.

The book covers the current phases of rapidly evolving computer, network, and medical fields. The emphasis has been to combine the AI aspects from computer science and the intelligent Internet aspects from networks and to import them into the medical field. Out of the enormous options available to the system scientists, only the germane and potent combinations are presented. It is possible to recombine the three disciplines and write a document with slightly different but parallel methodologies.

Part 1

Current Technological Foundation

Current Technological Foundation

1 Information and Knowledge Revolution

2 Processor Revolution(s)

3 Services Networks Explosion

Part 1. Current Technological Foundation

The evolution of technology during the last few years has been unprecedented. The nature of growth in numerous areas (VLSI, processors, supercomputers, networks, and global reach) have brought about profound impacts on every phase of human life in direction’s incomprehensible a few decades back. In this part of the book, the three (processing, networking, and electronic network servicing) directions that affect the medical field are presented. The focus is on medical enhancements that are feasible with the current technologies and is emerging in the economic and social arena. The pathways toward medical machines that will facilitate the practice of medicine as much as computer-aided design has facilitated the VLSI or automobile industry. The role of human beings and the medical staff is not underrated nor replaced, instead it is interwoven in the fabric of artificially and naturally intelligent environments. The AI features are embedded in AI software and intelligent agents who scan and modify the system response. The natural intelligence (and wisdom) is enforced by the medical staff that governs and monitors intelligent medical machines. In a sense, the wisdom of human beings tames the knowledge power of the machines processing at superhuman speeds.

Part 1 provides the technological basis for both the intelligent networks and for the basis for build intelligent medical processors, machines, and their networks. A platform of recent advances and new applications for medical systems is established in this part.

1

Information and Knowledge Revolution

1.1 Introduction

This chapter integrates networks and processors. Each plays out its own individual and dominant role in the lives of every individual. Being well founded in sciences, logic, and mathematics, processors and networks each influences the ways of our lives and degree of confidence in the outcome of results. Silicon in processors and erbium in glass each has its own influence. These aspects are introduced for processors (Section 1.2) in modern computers and for networks and their architecture in the Internet age (Section 1.3).

Processors are an integral part of networks. Networks (as in architecture and bus structures within the IC chip) are an integral part of the overall design of chip for processors. From a device and systems perspective, processing into chips is as essential as communications in networks. Processors and networks are two elements in society that have propelled human progress through the last six decades. These two elements are as inseparable as communication processors in networks or as switching networks within the processors.

From a current device and systems perspective at a microscopic level, the processing power embedded in the binary operation codes of any processor chip is as fundamental as the switching of individual communication channels in networks based on the channel address of each cell, packet, or a channel. These two underpinning concepts become evident, if Section 1.2 is read in light of Section 1.3 and vice versa. Even though Sections 1.2 and 1.3 are artificially segregated to convey their own technical significance and scientific integrity, together they convey the synergy between them. For this reason, we suggest that students read these two sections twice and the two following chapters, even though the conceptual linkage may be evident to the expert. The two following chapters have a brief evolutional history but quickly get into the recent developments of either processors in (Chapter 2) or of networks in (Chapter 3).

The numerous impacts of technologies have brought about the Internet age. During the last few decades, the life of almost every individual and social entity has picked up their influence and a great momentum. This synergy and momentum are possibly irreversible. Computers since the days of von Neumann (1945), networks in days of Grosvenor and Wesson (1997), then the symbiotic influence of silicon technology (about 1958) into the current silicon chip architectures, and then the doping of erbium (about 1985) into fibers are presented in this chapter. The introductory background reading material is well published in several books and kept concise in this chapter and this part of the book.

1.2 Silicon and Pentium in Processors

Silicon wafers is the material for planer transistors (Wolf January, 2002) that has been used in the IC industry since its evolution during 1950s. Pentium is the trade label (of Intel) for their ×86-compatible microprocessor architectures, designs, and features. While silicon provides the material foundations of chips, Pentium designs provide the architectural layouts and designs to realize the processor chips.

Pentium chips (Wolf, 2002) followed a long series of microprocessor chips from 8086 to 80486 from the mid-1970s to early 1990s trademarked by INTEL Corporation. During this time, the design, dependence, and low prices of the IC chip vendors have transformed industrial processes from producing gadgets to refining and optimizing the processes that are inherent in the industrial age. The industrial age assumed the size and shape of information age during the 1980s and 1990s. The momentum continues now as the information age is assuming the size and shape of the knowledge age. The common factor in these slow, steady, and sturdy evolutionary processes is the pristine human thought that monitors and facilitates social progress. In a sense, the intelligence that prompted human evolution is doing as well but in the information and knowledge domains. The linkage between the processes of the mind and the processes in the chips is embedded in the knowledge that links their functional integrity of thought and the process integration in the