Print Email Facebook Twitter On-site construction of a point-of-care low-field MRI system in Africa Title On-site construction of a point-of-care low-field MRI system in Africa Author Obungoloch, Johnes (Mbarara University of Science and Technology) Muhumuza, Ivan (Mbarara University of Science and Technology) Teeuwisse, Wouter (Leiden University Medical Center) Harper, Joshua (Universidad Paraguayo Alemana) Etoku, Ivan (Mbarara University of Science and Technology) Asiimwe, Robert (Mbarara University of Science and Technology) Tusiime, Patricia (Mbarara University of Science and Technology) Gombya, George (Mbarara University of Science and Technology) van Gijzen, M.B. (TU Delft Numerical Analysis) Date 2023 Abstract Purpose: To describe the construction and testing of a portable point-of-care low-field MRI system on site in Africa. Methods: All 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. Results: With four instructors and six untrained personnel, the complete project from delivery to first image took approximately 11 days. Conclusions: An 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. Subject Accessibilityhalbach magnetslow field MRIopen-source spectrometerpoint-of-care MRIsustainable design To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:715009fa-d43a-48fd-af36-ec2a89f4f1c7 DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.4917 ISSN 0952-3480 Source NMR in Biomedicine, 36 (7) Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2023 Johnes Obungoloch, Ivan Muhumuza, Wouter Teeuwisse, Joshua Harper, Ivan Etoku, Robert Asiimwe, Patricia Tusiime, George Gombya, M.B. van Gijzen, More Authors Files PDF NMR_in_Biomedicine_2023_O ... Africa.pdf 4.52 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:715009fa-d43a-48fd-af36-ec2a89f4f1c7/datastream/OBJ/view