Simulated and experimental approaches to the development of novel test phantoms for radiofrequency heating of implanted medical devices

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has cemented itself as the gold standard for imaging of soft tissues and is only increasing in popularity. Given the rising number of MRI scanners and medical device being implanted into patients, it is becoming increasingly likely that patients undergoing MRI will have an implanted medical device (IMD). The presence of an elongated metallic IMD inside a scanner could result in dangerous interactions with the radiofrequency fields during MRI, thus some of these IMDs preclude the patients from being scanned. Orthopedic devices typically fall into this category due to their high potential for RF induced heating, and typically perform poorly in the current standard test method for RF heating. That said, there exists a subset of orthopedic IMDs that still ‘fail’ the current safety testing by heating slightly above the current acceptance criterion. It is hypothesized that such IMDs are not truly a hazard to the patient but are likely failing due to the conservative nature of the current RF heating test (ASTM F2182-19a). In this thesis, novel test platforms are presented for more realistic evaluation of RF heating in orthopedic IMDs, which were used to experimentally challenge the behavior of their simulated counterparts. These test platforms were designed to address the simplifications in the current ASTM test standard that led to exaggerated heating compared to what is expected in patients, namely geometry/material mimicking and perfusion cooling. Heating of a sample implant was simulated (Sim4Life) in these novel test platforms, along with experimental verification of two phantoms to determine agreement with simulation. Simulations (and experimental work) indicated that IMD heating in these realistic phantoms could be anywhere from 20-50% lower than the current ASTM phantom, which is a reasonable estimate of the magnitude of the safety margin involved. It appears perfusion cooling is most effective at reducing IMD heating (compared to geometry/tissue mimicking differences), though improved experimental verification is required before these simulations can influence regulatory change. Introducing empirical evidence of perfusion cooling to regulatory conversations around implant safety would improve access to MRI for the millions living with such marginally unacceptable orthopedics

Evidencing the development of distributed leadership capacity in the quality management of online learning environments (OLEs) in Australian higher education

The poster will present findings from the first year of a two-year nationally funded Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC) project, Building distributed leadership in designing and implementing a quality management framework for Online Learning Environments undertaken by Deakin University, Macquarie University, University of South Australia, University of Southern Queensland and RMIT University. The project is running over 2011-2012. This project aims to design and implement a framework that uses a distributed leadership approach for the quality management of Online Learning Environments (OLEs) in Australian higher education. The distributed leadership approach enables the development of the framework and in turn contributes to its implementation. The framework is the vehicle for building leadership capacity. The national project team itself represents a broad range of educational, technical and managerial expertise

Quality management of online learning environments : final report of the project : Building distributed leadership in designing and implementing a quality management framework for online learning environments

&nbsp;The project developed and disseminated, through a distributed leadership approach, an overall framework for the quality management of online learning environments (OLEs) in Australian higher education. The Six Elements of the Online Learning Environment (6EOLE) Quality Management Framework and its guidelines was constructed based on various data collection methods deployed in the project.The 6EOLE Quality Management Framework, displayed on page six, and accompanying guidelines (i.e. An evidence-based approach to implementation, and A condensed guide) can be used to guide management action to assure and continuously improve the quality of an organisation&rsquo;s OLE where environmental factors are relatively stable, at least for a period....This report shows how the project&rsquo;s objectives were achieved through the project approach and methodology, which in turn led to a set of project outcomes and key deliverables. Moreover, a consideration of these key outcomes and deliverables has led to the presentation of recommendations to the Office for Learning and Teaching and the higher education sector. We argue these recommendations are pertinent to the consideration of distributed leadership and the quality management of OLEs at any tertiary institution.</div

Quality management of online learning environments: An evidence-based approach to implementing the 6EOLE Quality Management Framework

This project will design and implement a framework using a distributed leadership approach for the quality management of online learning environments in Australian higher education. The distributed leadership approach will enable the development of the framework and, in turn, contribute to its implementation. The framework will be the vehicle for building leadership capacity. The project will draw upon the combined expertise and strengths of five universities using different learning management systems and approaches to social networking and which are at various stages of deploying their next-generation online learning environments. The universities involved represent different groupings of institutions in the sector and each is reliant on disparate leadership groups to successfully implement and sustain their environments. The project will determine the key components of such a quality management framework and the key sources of evidence needed to ensure that institutional investments generate good student learning experiences

Quality management of online learning environments. Final report

This project will design and implement a framework using a distributed leadership approach for the quality management of online learning environments in Australian higher education. The distributed leadership approach will enable the development of the framework and, in turn, contribute to its implementation. The framework will be the vehicle for building leadership capacity. The project will draw upon the combined expertise and strengths of five universities using different learning management systems and approaches to social networking and which are at various stages of deploying their next-generation online learning environments. The universities involved represent different groupings of institutions in the sector and each is reliant on disparate leadership groups to successfully implement and sustain their environments. The project will determine the key components of such a quality management framework and the key sources of evidence needed to ensure that institutional investments generate good student learning experiences

Quality management of online learning environments: a condensed guide to building distributed leadership for the quality management of online learning environments

This project will design and implement a framework using a distributed leadership approach for the quality management of online learning environments in Australian higher education. The distributed leadership approach will enable the development of the framework and, in turn, contribute to its implementation. The framework will be the vehicle for building leadership capacity. The project will draw upon the combined expertise and strengths of five universities using different learning management systems and approaches to social networking and which are at various stages of deploying their next-generation online learning environments. The universities involved represent different groupings of institutions in the sector and each is reliant on disparate leadership groups to successfully implement and sustain their environments. The project will determine the key components of such a quality management framework and the key sources of evidence needed to ensure that institutional investments generate good student learning experiences