On‐site construction of a point‐of‐care low‐field MRI system in Africa

Author:

Obungoloch Johnes1,Muhumuza Ivan1,Teeuwisse Wouter2,Harper Joshua3,Etoku Ivan1,Asiimwe Robert1,Tusiime Patricia1,Gombya George1,Mugume Chris1,Namutebi Mary Hellen1,Nassejje Mary Anthony1,Nayebare Maureen1,Kavuma Joseph Mark1,Bukyana Benedicto1,Natukunda Faith1,Ninsiima Patience1,Muwanguzi Abraham4,Omadi Phillip4,van Gijzen Martin5,Schiff Steven J.6,Webb Andrew2ORCID,O'Reilly Tom2

Affiliation:

1. Department of Biomedical Engineering Mbarara University of Science and Technology Mbarara Uganda

2. Department of Radiology Leiden University Medical Center Leiden The Netherlands

3. Universidad Paraguayo Alemana San Lorenzo Paraguay

4. Ugandan National Planning Authority Kampala Uganda

5. Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics Technical University of Delft Delft The Netherlands

6. Department of Neurosurgery Yale University New Haven Connecticut USA

Abstract

PurposeTo describe the construction and testing of a portable point‐of‐care low‐field MRI system on site in Africa.MethodsAll of the components to assemble a 50 mT Halbach magnet‐based system, together with the necessary tools, were air‐freighted from the Netherlands to Uganda. The construction steps included individual magnet sorting, filling of each ring of the magnet assembly, fine‐tuning the inter‐ring separations of the 23‐ring magnet assembly, gradient coil construction, integration of gradient coils and magnet assembly, construction of the portable aluminum trolley and finally testing of the entire system with an open source MR spectrometer.ResultsWith four instructors and six untrained personnel, the complete project from delivery to first image took approximately 11 days.ConclusionsAn important step in translating scientific developments in the western world from high‐income industrialized countries to low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) is to produce technology that can be assembled and ultimately constructed locally. Local assembly and construction are associated with skill development, low costs and jobs. Point‐of‐care systems have a large potential to increase the accessibility and sustainability of MRI in LMICs, and this work demonstrates that technology and knowledge transfer can be performed relatively seamlessly.

Funder

European Commission

National Institutes of Health

Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Spectroscopy,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging,Molecular Medicine

Cited by 17 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3