scholarly journals Design and Adoption of Low-Cost Point-of-Care Diagnostic Devices: Syrian Case

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 882
Author(s):  
M. Munzer Alseed ◽  
Hamzah Syed ◽  
Mehmet Cengiz Onbasli ◽  
Ali K. Yetisen ◽  
Savas Tasoglu
Keyword(s):  
Civil Wars ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Efficient Solutions ◽  
Humanitarian Crises ◽  
Technology Experience ◽  
The Cost

Civil wars produce immense humanitarian crises, causing millions of individuals to seek refuge in other countries. The rate of disease prevalence has inclined among the refugees, increasing the cost of healthcare. Complex medical conditions and high numbers of patients at healthcare centers overwhelm the healthcare system and delay diagnosis and treatment. Point-of-care (PoC) testing can provide efficient solutions to high equipment cost, late diagnosis, and low accessibility of healthcare services. However, the development of PoC devices in developing countries is challenged by several barriers. Such PoC devices may not be adopted due to prejudices about new technologies and the need for special training to use some of these devices. Here, we investigated the concerns of end users regarding PoC devices by surveying healthcare workers and doctors. The tendency to adopt PoC device changes is based on demographic factors such as work sector, education, and technology experience. The most apparent concern about PoC devices was issues regarding low accuracy, according to the surveyed clinicians.

scholarly journals Prophylactic role of ivermectin in SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyamadhaba Behera ◽  
Binod Kumar Patro ◽  
Biswa Mohan Padhy ◽  
Prasanta Raghab Mohapatra ◽  
Shakti Kumar Bal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Risk ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Absolute Risk ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Absolute Risk Reduction ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Adjusted Relative Risk ◽  
Kaplan Meier

Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are vulnerable to getting infected withSARS-CoV-2. Preventing HCWs from getting infected is a priority to maintain healthcare services. The therapeutic and preventive role of ivermectin in COVID-19 is being investigated. Based on promising results of in vitro studies of oral ivermectin, this study was conducted with the aim to demonstrate the prophylactic role of oral ivermectin in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infectionamong HCWs at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar.Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, which provides both COVID and Non-COVID care since March 2020. All employees and students of the institute who provided written informed consent participated in the study.Uptake of two-doses of oral ivermectin (300 μg/kg at a gap of 72 hours) was considered as exposure. The primary outcome of the study was COVID-19 infection in the following month of ivermectin consumption diagnosed by RTPCR as per Government of India testing criteria guidelines.The log-binomial model was used to estimate adjusted relative risk, and the Kaplan-Meier failure plot was used to estimate the probability of COVID-19 infection with follow-up time.Results Of 3892 employees, 3532 (90.8%) participated in the study. The ivermectin uptake was 62.5% and 5.3% for two-doses and single-dose, respectively. Participants who took ivermectin prophylaxis had a lower risk of getting symptoms suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection(6% vs 15%). HCWs who had taken two-doses of oral ivermectin have a significantly lower risk of contracting COVID-19 disease during the following month (ARR 0.17; 95% CI, 0.12-0.23). Females had a lower risk of contracting COVID-19 than males (ARR 0.70 95% CI, 0.52-0.93). The absolute risk reduction of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 9.7%. Only 1.8% of the participants reported adverse events, which were mild and self-limiting.Conclusion and relevance Two-doses of oral ivermectin (300 μg/kg given 72 hours apart) as chemoprophylaxis among HCWs reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection by 83% in the following month. Safe, effective, and low-cost chemoprophylaxis have relevance in the containment of pandemic alongside vaccine.

scholarly journals A Real-Time Health Monitoring System for Remote Cardiac Patients Using Smartphone and Wearable Sensors

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priyanka Kakria ◽  
N. K. Tripathi ◽  
Peerapong Kitipawang
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Monitoring System ◽  
Health Monitoring ◽  
Data Security ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Wearable Sensors ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Cardiac Patients ◽  
The Cost

Online telemedicine systems are useful due to the possibility of timely and efficient healthcare services. These systems are based on advanced wireless and wearable sensor technologies. The rapid growth in technology has remarkably enhanced the scope of remote health monitoring systems. In this paper, a real-time heart monitoring system is developed considering the cost, ease of application, accuracy, and data security. The system is conceptualized to provide an interface between the doctor and the patients for two-way communication. The main purpose of this study is to facilitate the remote cardiac patients in getting latest healthcare services which might not be possible otherwise due to low doctor-to-patient ratio. The developed monitoring system is then evaluated for 40 individuals (aged between 18 and 66 years) using wearable sensors while holding an Android device (i.e., smartphone under supervision of the experts). The performance analysis shows that the proposed system is reliable and helpful due to high speed. The analyses showed that the proposed system is convenient and reliable and ensures data security at low cost. In addition, the developed system is equipped to generate warning messages to the doctor and patient under critical circumstances.

scholarly journals eFisioTrack: A Telerehabilitation Environment Based on Motion Recognition Using Accelerometry

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Ruiz-Fernandez ◽  
Oscar Marín-Alonso ◽  
Antonio Soriano-Paya ◽  
Joaquin D. García-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Waiting Lists ◽  
Physical Rehabilitation ◽  
Software Platform ◽  
Adherence To Treatment ◽  
Motion Recognition ◽  
Rehabilitation Plan

The growing demand for physical rehabilitation processes can result in the rising of costs and waiting lists, becoming a threat to healthcare services’ sustainability. Telerehabilitation solutions can help in this issue by discharging patients from points of care while improving their adherence to treatment. Sensing devices are used to collect data so that the physiotherapists can monitor and evaluate the patients’ activity in the scheduled sessions. This paper presents a software platform that aims to meet the needs of the rehabilitation experts and the patients along a physical rehabilitation plan, allowing its use in outpatient scenarios. It is meant to be low-cost and easy-to-use, improving patients and experts experience. We show the satisfactory results already obtained from its use, in terms of the accuracy evaluating the exercises, and the degree of users’ acceptance. We conclude that this platform is suitable and technically feasible to carry out rehabilitation plans outside the point of care.

scholarly journals Handyfuge-LAMP: low-cost and electricity-free centrifugation for isothermal SARS-CoV-2 detection in saliva

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Li ◽  
Adam Larson ◽  
Anesta Kothari ◽  
Manu Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lamp Assay ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Rna Detection ◽  
Open Hardware ◽  
Point Of Care Diagnostics ◽  
Simple Protocol ◽  
Specialized Equipment ◽  
The Cost

AbstractPoint of care diagnostics for COVID-19 detection are vital to assess infection quickly and at the source so appropriate measures can be taken. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay has proven to be a reliable and simple protocol that can detect small amounts of viral RNA in patient samples (<10 genomes per μL) (Nagamine, Hase, and Notomi 2002). Recently, Rabe and Cepko at Harvard published a sensitive and simple protocol for COVID-19 RNA detection in saliva using an optimized LAMP assay (Rabe and Cepko, 2020).This LAMP protocol has the benefits of being simple, requiring no specialized equipment; rapid, requiring less than an hour from sample collection to readout; and cheap, costing around $1 per reaction using commercial reagents. The pH based colorimetric readout also leaves little ambiguity and is intuitive. However, a shortfall in many nucleic acid-based methods for detection in saliva samples has been the variability in output due to the presence of inhibitory substances in saliva. Centrifugation to separate the reaction inhibitors from inactivated sample was shown to be an effective way to ensure reliable LAMP amplification. However, a centrifuge capable of safely achieving the necessary speeds of 2000 RPM for several minutes often costs hundreds of dollars and requires a power supply.We present here an open hardware solution- Handyfuge - that can be assembled with readily available components for the cost of <5 dollars a unit and could be used together with the LAMP assay for point of care detection of COVID-19 RNA from saliva. The device is then validated using the LAMP protocol from Rabe and Cepko. With the use of insulated coolers for reagent supply chain and delivery, the assay presented can be completed without the need for electricity or any laboratory scale infrastructure.

scholarly journals Development of a Single-Board Computer High-Resolution Microendoscope (PiHRME) to Detect Cervical Cancer in Low-Resource Settings

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7s-7s
Author(s):  
Sonia Parra ◽  
Pelham Keahey ◽  
Kathleen Schmeler ◽  
Mauricio Maza ◽  
Philip Castle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Precancerous Lesions ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cancer Society ◽  
Single Board Computer ◽  
Low Resource ◽  
The Cost

Abstract 35 Almost 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in developing countries, with the highest incidence rates occurring in Central and South America and sub-Saharan Africa.1 While early detection and treatment of cervical precancerous lesions effectively prevent the development of invasive cervical cancer, limited resources and infrastructure make it difficult to implement standard cervical cancer screening methods in low-resource areas. In many low-resource areas, health workers use visual inspection of the cervix following the application of acetic acid (VIA) to identify precancerous lesions. While VIA reduces cervical cancer mortality, it is associated with a low specificity. A number of recent studies have shown that high-resolution optical imaging can identify precancerous lesions in vivo with higher specificity than VIA; however, the cost of these imaging systems is a barrier to wider scale implementation. We therefore have developed a low-cost, high-resolution microendoscope controlled by a single-board computer (PiHRME) to detect cervical precancerous lesions at the point-of-care. The PiHRME allows healthcare providers to image the cervix in vivo and view cervical epithelial cells in real time with sub-cellular resolution. Here we demonstrate that a low cost ($35) single-board computer, the Raspberry Pi, can be used to reduce the cost and improve the mobility of a high-resolution optical imaging system without compromising its spatial resolution. Thus, HRME screening of cervical cancer can be made more accessible in low-resource areas. The PiHRME is currently being evaluated in a pilot study in El Salvador to assess its effectiveness at the point-of-care. 1American Cancer Society. Global Cancer Facts & Figures 3rd Edition. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2015. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Sonia Parra No relationship to disclose Pelham Keahey No relationship to disclose Kathleen Schmeler Research Funding: Cepheid Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: UpToDate Mauricio Maza No relationship to disclose Philip Castle Honoraria: Roche, Cepheid Consulting or Advisory Role: Cepheid, GE Healthcare, Guided Therapeutics, ClearPath, Merck, Genticel, Teva, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Hologic Rebecca R. Richards-Kortum Honoraria: Jannsen Global Services Research Funding: Merck Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Patents

scholarly journals Harmony COVID-19: a ready-to-use kit, low-cost detector, and smartphone app for point-of-care SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuttada Panpradist ◽  
Enos Kline ◽  
Robert G Atkinson ◽  
Michael Roller ◽  
Qin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Viral Load ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Rna Detection ◽  
Point Of Care Test ◽  
Viral Transport ◽  
Viral Particles ◽  
First Time

RNA amplification tests sensitively detect SARS-CoV-2 infection, but their complexity and cost are prohibitive for expanding COVID-19 testing. We developed Harmony COVID-19, a point-of-care test using inexpensive consumables, ready-to-use reagents, and a simple device accommodating up to 4 samples simultaneously. Our ready-to-use, 4-plex reverse-transcription, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) can detect down to 0.38 SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies/μL and can report in 17 min for high viral load samples (5,000 copies/μL). Harmony detected 97% or 83% of contrived samples with ≥0.5 viral particles/μL in nasal matrix or saliva, respectively. Evaluation in clinical nasal specimens in viral transport media (VTM, n=101) showed 100% detection of RNA extracted from specimens with ≥0.5 SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies/μL, with 100% specificity in specimens positive for other respiratory pathogens. VTM is non-ideal for Harmony system, yet extraction-free analysis of VTM specimens (n=29) had 95% success in specimens with ≥1 RNA copies/μL. Usability testing performed first-time by healthcare workers showed 95% accuracy

scholarly journals Point-of-Care Testing for Infectious Diseases: Past, Present, and Future

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 2313-2320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Kozel ◽  
Amanda R. Burnham-Marusich
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Lateral Flow Immunoassay ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Resource Limited Settings ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Potential Use

ABSTRACT Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics provide rapid actionable information for patient care at the time and site of an encounter with the health care system. The usual platform has been the lateral flow immunoassay. Recently, emerging molecular diagnostics have met requirements for speed, low cost, and ease of use for POC applications. A major driver for POC development is the ability to diagnose infectious diseases at sites with a limited infrastructure. The potential use in both wealthy and resource-limited settings has fueled an intense effort to build on existing technologies and to generate new technologies for the diagnosis of a broad spectrum of infectious diseases.

scholarly journals Portable and Low-Cost Respirometric Microsystem for the Static and Dynamic Respirometry Monitoring of Compost

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (19) ◽  
pp. 4132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette F. Bermudez ◽  
Juan F. Saldarriaga ◽  
Johann F. Osma
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Test ◽  
Organic Waste ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electronic System ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Hierarchical Analysis ◽  
Standard Laboratory ◽  
The Cost

Composting is considered an option for the disposal of organic waste; however, the development of portable and low-cost systems for its monitoring is of high interest. Therefore, in this study, respirometric microsystems were designed and tested including two integrated oxygen sensors for the measurement of compost samples under static and dynamic conditions with high portability and ease of use. The cost of each sensor was calculated as 2 USD, while the cost of the whole respirometric microsystem was calculated as 6 USD. The electronic system for real-time monitoring was also designed and implemented. The designed systems were tested for over 6 weeks for the determination of compost quality using real samples. The respirometric microsystem was compared to a commercial respirometry system and a standard laboratory test using hierarchical analysis which included costs, portability accuracy, analysis time, and integration of new technologies. The analysis showed a global score of 6.87 for the respirometric microsystem compared to 6.70 for the standard laboratory test and 3.26 for the commercial system.

scholarly journals APPLICATION OF SYSTEM-FUNCTIONAL APPROACH IN MANAGEMENT OF INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iryna Perevozova ◽  
Olena Orlova ◽  
Marcel Mainka
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Efficient Solutions ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Innovative Development ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
The Cost

Reducing the cost of construction is a constant goal of the construction industry. One of the ways to reduce the cost of building construction is the innovative development of construction technologies and construction companies that will increase productivity. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the application of a system-functional approach in the management of innovative development of construction companies. It is important to distinguish between cheap or inexpensive and cost-effective production. Cost-effective buildings are buildings that are manufactured at a low cost while maintaining high standards of design and comfort. The hypothesis is that the system-functional approach is advantageous in order to find effective methods of managing the innovative development of construction companies. To achieve a holistic approach, an interdisciplinary approach to research is needed. Approaching effective methods of managing the innovative development of construction companies in terms of system-functional approach, you can achieve optimization with synergy effects and thus find cost-effective and energy efficient solutions. The study also combines a system-functional approach to strategic management with corporate and entrepreneurial thinking. He outlined the further development of the system of identification and classification of opportunities, consisting of three dimensions: 1) the dynamism between specific to the enterprise and industry opportunities, 2) hierarchies of opportunities and portfolios of opportunities, 3) their internal structure. The capacity for innovative development was analyzed in the context of the system-functional approach, technological systems and the type of process of pooling resources (creation of new versus consolidation of existing opportunities). Current portfolio of opportunities and organizational changes at the construction company are described. It also clarifies the mechanism by which companies can influence the balance between knowledge retrieval and the efficiency of knowledge transfer and integration in their daily financial and economic activities, and hence the diversity of their portfolio and the breadth and novelty of the range of services.

Advance Protection for Three Phase Induction Motor using Microcontroller Atmega32

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Karan S Belsare ◽  
Gajanan D Patil
Keyword(s):  
Induction Motor ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Cost Factor ◽  
Protection Scheme ◽  
Three Phase ◽  
The Cost

A low cost and reliable protection scheme has been designed for a three phase induction motor against unbalance voltages, under voltage, over voltage, short circuit and overheating protection. Taking the cost factor into consideration the design has been proposed using microcontroller Atmega32, MOSFETs, relays, small CTs and PTs. However the sensitivity of the protection scheme has been not compromised. The design has been tested online in the laboratory for small motors and the same can be implemented for larger motors by replacing the i-v converters and relays of suitable ratings.

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