scholarly journals Multimaterial 3D Printing for the Fabrication of Functional Stethoscopes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Popkin ◽  
Fluvio Lobo ◽  
Jack Stubbs
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
On Demand ◽  
The World ◽  
Single Use ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Developed World

Stethoscopes are ubiquitous across the healthcare system. For the most part, stethoscopes do not represent a financial burden, mostly throughout the developed world. Further reducing the cost of stethoscopes has both humanitarian and prophylactic goals. The Glia project pioneered the concept of 3D printing stethoscopes for war or poverty-stricken regions of the world. Cross-contamination concerns have led researchers and manufacturers to develop single-use stethoscopes. Our aim is to develop a fully printed, multi-material, functional stethoscope to alleviate these concerns. Our team also seeks to establish a framework for the on-demand manufacturing of medical devices to reduce costs associated with shipping, distribution, and inventory.

scholarly journals 3D Printing to Support the Shortage in Personal Protective Equipment Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostapha Tarfaoui ◽  
Mourad Nachtane ◽  
Ibrahim Goda ◽  
Yumna Qureshi ◽  
Hamza Benyahia
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Tract Infections

Currently, the emergence of a novel human coronavirus disease, named COVID-19, has become a great global public health concern causing severe respiratory tract infections in humans. Yet, there is no specific vaccine or treatment for this COVID-19 where anti-disease measures rely on preventing or slowing the transmission of infection from one person to another. In particularly, there is a growing effort to prevent or reduce transmission to frontline healthcare professionals. However, it is becoming an increasingly international concern respecting the shortage in the supply chain of critical single-use personal protective equipment (PPE). To that scope, we aim in the present work to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest 3D printing efforts against COVID-19, including professional additive manufacturing (AM) providers, makers and designers in the 3D printing community. Through this review paper, the response to several questions and inquiries regarding the following issues are addressed: technical factors connected with AM processes; recommendations for testing and characterizing medical devices that additively manufactured; AM materials that can be used for medical devices; biological concerns of final 3D printed medical parts, comprising biocompatibility, cleaning and sterility; and limitations of AM technology.

scholarly journals FACTORS AFFECTING EFFICIENCY TEACHING AND E-LEARNING POLITICAL THEOR SUBJECTS AT THE INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY OF HO CHI MINH CITY

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
LÊ THANH HÒA ◽  
ĐẶNG THỊ MINH PHƯỢNG
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Political Theory ◽  
Ho Chi Minh City ◽  
The Political ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
On Demand ◽  
The World ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Technology Teaching

Nowadays, with the explosive development of information technology, teaching and e-learning (DHTT) has become a new trend of the world. DHTT brings a lot of advantages, include minimizing the cost of study, travel, and organizing and managing classes; training anytime, anywhere, imparting knowledge quickly on demand; saving time in studying, being proactive and flexible; optimising content and systemising courses participation. However, for the political theory subjects, which are theory subjects and are evaluated as tedious and abstract, organization of DHTT is yet a small challenge. In order to effectively organising political theory subjects DHTT, it is of essence to have studies to determine the factors that affect this negatively. ...

Selection and Acquisition of Electronic Resources in Academic Libraries

2019 ◽  
pp. 196-219
Author(s):  
N. K. Khatri
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Publishing ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Parent Body ◽  
Scholarly Journals ◽  
Reading Materials ◽  
The World ◽  
Electronic Access ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Unique Program ◽  
Online Subscription

With information explosion, there has been a rapid increase in the number of e-resources published across the world. In addition to this, the cost of e-resources has risen steeply. This has resulted in libraries finding it difficult to acquire all the required information resources from the budget available from its parent body. The problem of libraries is compounded by the growing costs of maintaining both print and online subscription and issues related to ‘perpetual' electronic access to back files. The print industry in the world is said to be on the decline. People prefer the electronic versions of the reading materials, because they are more portable, accessible and affordable. But there are many challenges/hurdles to this path, which we have to overcome with time, effort and ingenuity. There are certain challenges relating to their selection, acquisition, maintenance and preservation, etc., which need joint efforts of library professionals and associations. Electronic publishing of scholarly journals, emerging of consortia, pricing models of the publishers give new opportunities for libraries to provide instant access to information. Consortium, formed by a group of libraries, is a unique program to facilitate electronic access to scholarly databases and journals. The beneficiaries will be faculty, researchers, students and neighbor institutes engaged in pursuing higher education. Consortia will minimize the financial burden and pave the way for an enormous amount of saving of time, money, and manpower.

The importance of timely diagnosis and replacement of medical equipment in healthcare institutions

2022 ◽  
pp. 6-14
Author(s):  
I.P. Abysheva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Medical Equipment ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
High Quality ◽  
The World ◽  
Provision Of Services

The health care system around the world, both in developed and developing countries, is struggling with the problem of managing the provision of health care in conditions of limited resources. The availability and use of various medical equipment at all levels of the healthcare system were emphasized for the efficient and high-quality provision of services. The main purpose of this review article is to assess the availability and use of medical devices and identify the registered causes affecting the availability and use of medical devices in healthcare institutions.

Collaboration between libraries, archives and museums in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kagiso Mabe ◽  
Andrea Potgieter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
South African ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The World ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Good Number

Background: Many libraries, archives and museums (LAMs) all over the world have begun digitising their collections, and with a good number of these institutions failing to sustain their digitisation projects because they cannot afford to, it is best to find ways to lessen the financial burden that comes with digitisation.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the possible benefits and challenges if LAMs in South Africa were to collaborate on digitisation efforts.Method: A mono-method qualitative study was undertaken. The objectives were addressed by making use of a literature review and by conducting non-standardised, semi-structured interviews with 21 interviewees located at different LAMs.Results: It was found that funding for digitisation projects was a major problem, while collaboration between LAMs would involve sharing the financial burden among several institutions. In addition, reasons preventing LAMs from forming collaborative partnerships for the purpose of digitisation were also identified. A lack of collaborative digitisation policies and funding, both internally and between LAMs, was found to be a major obstacle for the formation of such partnerships. In determining the relevance of the research, it was important to determine whether or not LAMs in South Africa were open to collaboration and responses to this question were positive. It can thus be concluded that the results of this study can be used to motivate and guide collaboration partnerships for the purpose of digitisation between South African LAMs.Conclusion: It was concluded that collaboration could indeed appreciably alleviate problems related to digitisation, the most prominent being the cost associated with such endeavours.

scholarly journals Are Australian Aboriginal Communities Adapting to a Warmer Climate? A Study of Communities Living in Semi-Arid Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Digby Race ◽  
Supriya Mathew ◽  
Matthew Campbell ◽  
Karl Hampton
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Financial Pressure ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
The World ◽  
Semi Arid Region ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Low Income Households

<p>Communities around the world adapt to warming climates in a number of ways. Adaptations can often be energy intensive or dependent on expensive infrastructure to cope with harsh weather, so the use of renewable energy and energy efficient housing is becoming an increasing feature in conversations about climate change adaptation. The cost of energy for households continues to increase, with this cost adding considerable financial pressure on low-income households in both developed and developing countries. The concept of ‘energy poverty’ is gaining utility around the world to highlight the prevalent dilemma faced by low-income households that they cannot afford the level of energy use to maintain their desired livelihood. In regions of the world with extended periods of extreme weather, households can allocate as much as 20 per cent of their budget on energy consumption to maintain comfortable housing. Research by the authors indicates that effective adaptation must not add to the financial burden on low-income households, if the liveability of Australia’s semi-arid region is to be sustained.</p>

scholarly journals Issues affecting refurbishment and re-use of pacemakers

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Medical Devices ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Draft Report ◽  
The World ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Legal And Ethical Issues

This paper discusses the problems associated with the refurbishing and re-use ofmedical devices which are sold by manufacturers as ?single use items? by focusingin particular on the re-use of pacemakers. Re-use of single-use devices such aspacemakers does occur in Australia, and in many other parts of the world, but therehas been little public awareness of this fact. The paper explains and discussesmedical, legal and ethical issues which arise through the re-use of pacemakers. Italso discusses the recommendations of the 1995 ?Draft report of the NHMRCExpert Panel on Re-Use of Medical Devices Labelled as Single Use?.

scholarly journals 1121 Single Use Nasal Endoscopes – A Review of The Cost and Organisational Implications Based on Department Size

2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_6) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Wallace ◽  
V Evans ◽  
A Sanu ◽  
A Howard ◽  
S Berry
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Image Quality ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Cross Contamination ◽  
Upper Aerodigestive Tract ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Department Size ◽  
Single Use ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Storage

Abstract Aim Single use nasal endoscopes have become increasingly popular since the COVID-19 pandemic. By avoiding the risk of cross contamination and reducing exposure by eliminating the need for re-processing, the disposable scopes have clear safety benefits. Despite ENT UK guidelines recommending that disposable nasal endoscopes be available in every department for use in emergencies, they have often been considered prohibitively expensive. The aim of this study was to analyse the costs associated with traditional nasal endoscopes and compare them to the single use scopes. Method A micro costing exercise was undertaken in three ENT departments: 2 university hospitals, and 1 district general hospital. The outcomes were compared and discussed with relation to the logistics of the departments, as well as organizational considerations. Results Cost per procedure varied according to the reprocessing methods used in the different departments. The cost of the disposable nasal endoscopes appears high, however there are many hidden costs associated with the traditional scopes, which can be difficult to quantify accurately. Conclusions Although disposable endoscopes appear costly, reprocessing and frequent repairs required for re-usable scopes account for the comparable cost per procedure. The high risk of COVID-19 transmission from examining the upper aerodigestive tract means that the safety benefits bear more weight in the current climate. However, concerns regarding environmental impact, image quality and storage of examinations also need to be considered.

Distribution of Selected Health Technology in Regions of Slovakia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1872-1886
Author(s):  
Beata Gavurova ◽  
Matus Kubak
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Over Time

The health system's performance consists of three components: efficiency, availability, and resilience. These three economic categories are also influenced by the distribution of medical devices and equipment, both by the quality of satisfaction of medical needs, by geographical availability and by the cost - the degree of financial burden on the health system. However, only few research studies deal with the issue of regional disparities in the use of selected medical technology. The aim of presented study is to map the distribution of the magnetic resonance imaging scans in Slovak republic within the timespan 2008-2017 on NUTS 3, respectively NUTS 4 level. Correspondence analysis shows hidden associations between the analysed variables. Our results show that magnetic resonance imaging scans are highly concentrated in two big cities. Generally, the number of magnetic resonance imaging scans has increased over time from 0.6 scans per 100 000 habitants in 2008 to approximately 0.94 scans per 100 000 habitants in 2017.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Solutions Are Climate Solutions: Lessons From Reusable Gowns

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Baker ◽  
Rebecca Bromley-Dulfano ◽  
Joshua Chan ◽  
Anshal Gupta ◽  
Luciana Herman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
The United States ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
American Hospital ◽  
American Hospital Association ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Single Use

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the inadequacy of the U.S. healthcare system to deliver timely and resilient care. According to the American Hospital Association, the pandemic has created a $202 billion loss across the healthcare industry, forcing health care systems to lay off workers and making hospitals scramble to minimize supply chain costs. However, as the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) grows, hospitals have sacrificed sustainable solutions for disposable options that, although convenient, will exacerbate supply strains, financial burden, and waste. We advocate for reusable gowns as a means to lower health care costs, address climate change, and improve resilience while preserving the safety of health care workers. Reusable gowns' polyester material provides comparable capacity to reduce microbial cross-transmission and liquid penetration. In addition, previous hospitals have reported a 50% cost reduction in gown expenditures after adopting reusable gowns; given the current 2000% price increase in isolation gowns during COVID-19, reusable gown use will build both healthcare resilience and security from price fluctuations. Finally, with the United States' medical waste stream worsening, reusable isolation gowns show promising reductions in energy and water use, solid waste, and carbon footprint. The gowns are shown to withstand laundering 75–100 times in contrast to the single-use disposable gown. The circumstances of the pandemic forewarn the need to shift our single-use PPE practices to standardized reusable applications. Ultimately, sustainable forms of protective equipment can help us prepare for future crises that challenge the resilience of the healthcare system.

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