NMR studies of helium adsorbed on graphite

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Lending Division - LD:D54164/85 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Development of vertebral metrics: an instrument to analyse the spinal column

IFMBE Proceedings of the 13th Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing - MEDICON: Seville: sept. 25-28, 2013In order to outline prevention and intervention strategies in the PublicHealth area it is crucial to determine the quantitative characteristics of biomechanical changes in the spinal column. Most researchers links rachialgiae aetiology to these biomechanical modifications, but these studies are limited due to the invasive nature of the technics available for quantification of the spinal column anatomic parameters. For this reasons it is important to develop non-invasive methodologies that can be applied to general population. Most of existing non-invansive techniques have the handicap of not providing an overall view of all biomechanical parameters of the spine In order to fill this gap, it was built the Vertebral Metrics, a mechanical instrument designed to identify the X, Y, and Z positions of each spine apophyses (vertebrae), in a standing position. After its validation, the need has arisen to further develop this equipment in order to automate the data acquisition reducing the acquisition time and increasing its reprodubility. Therefore, a semi-automatic and non-invasive instrument was designed to detect the position of the spine apophyses (vertebrae). The aim of this paper is to describe the automation process concerning the collection of data with Vertebral Metrics

Development of a mechanical instrument evalute biomechanically the spinal coloumn in pregnant women

Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Biomedical Electronics and Devices-BIODEVICES: Porto, Portugal: jan. 14-17, 2009The incidence of problems related to rachialgiae is so frequent and usual that it must be studied as if it were an epidemic and social disease (Knoplich, 2003). Instruments that evaluate the spinal column in a standing position, in a global way, are needed to attain a better insight into this problem. This work presents a completely safe instrument to assess the evolution of all the vertebra locations throughout time, in order to study the biomechanical changes in women during pregnancy. A mechanical system, registered as Vertebral Metrics, with the objective of evaluating the curvatures and lateral deviations of the spinal column in the standing position was built. A measuring part, which is the body of the instrument, and a supporting part, where the previous part is mounted, constitute the new non-invasive instrument. The measuring part consists of 17 identical adjustable mechanical blocks that allow us to reproduce the position of each vertebra of the spinal column, from the first cervical vertebra o the first sacral vertebra. Vertebral Metrics was originally planned and built to be applied to pregnant women. However, after redefining dimensions of the different parts it can be applied to any type of population, in the future

A framework for advancing sustainable magnetic resonance imaging access in Africa

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology has profoundly transformed current healthcare systems globally, owing to advances in hardware and software research innovations. Despite these advances, MRI remains largely inaccessible to clinicians, patients, and researchers in low-resource areas, such as Africa. The rapidly growing burden of noncommunicable diseases in Africa underscores the importance of improving access to MRI equipment as well as training and research opportunities on the continent. The Consortium for Advancement of MRI Education and Research in Africa (CAMERA) is a network of African biomedical imaging experts and global partners, implementing novel strategies to advance MRI access and research in Africa. Upon its inception in 2019, CAMERA sets out to identify challenges to MRI usage and provide a framework for addressing MRI needs in the region. To this end, CAMERA conducted a needs assessment survey (NAS) and a series of symposia at international MRI society meetings over a 2-year period. The 68-question NAS was distributed to MRI users in Africa and was completed by 157 clinicians and scientists from across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). On average, the number of MRI scanners per million people remained at less than one, of which 39% were obsolete low-field systems but still in use to meet daily clinical needs. The feasibility of coupling stable energy supplies from various sources has contributed to the growing number of higher-field (1.5 T) MRI scanners in the region. However, these systems are underutilized, with only 8% of facilities reporting clinical scans of 15 or more patients per day, per scanner. The most frequently reported MRI scans were neurological and musculoskeletal. The CAMERA NAS combined with the World Health Organization and International Atomic Energy Agency data provides the most up-to-date data on MRI density in Africa and offers a unique insight into Africa's MRI needs. Reported gaps in training, maintenance, and research capacity indicate ongoing challenges in providing sustainable high-value MRI access in SSA. Findings from the NAS and focused discussions at international MRI society meetings provided the basis for the framework presented here for advancing MRI capacity in SSA. While these findings pertain to SSA, the framework provides a model for advancing imaging needs in other low-resource settings