Design of Low-Cost Endoscope Based On Novel Wire-Driven Rotary Valve and Water-Jet Mechanism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoyu Ma ◽  
Siyang Zuo ◽  
Jianbin Liu
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Primary Component ◽  
Water Jet ◽  
Step Motor ◽  
Rotary Valve ◽  
Phantom Experiment ◽  
Middle Income

Abstract To improve the prevalence of screening for gastric cancer in low-income areas, a low-cost endoscope based on a novel wire-driven rotary valve and water-jet mechanism is proposed. The primary component of this endoscope is a rotary valve whose core is driven by a step motor through a flexible wire, which controls the direction of the water jet. This enables it to reach any point in the workspace by controlling the valve core angle and water jet intensity. The envelope surface of the endoscope tip trajectory is likely a hemisphere. The horizontal diameter of the working space projection is approximately 350 mm, which is sufficient to observe most parts of the greater curvature of the stomach. The image-acquisition performance of the designed endoscope was satisfactory in a phantom experiment. The introduction of the novel rotary valve greatly simplifies the structure and reduces the cost of the proposed endoscope. With low cost and high portability, this endoscope provides a good alternative for early gastric cancer screening in low- and middle-income areas.

scholarly journals Is palliative care cost-effective in low-income and middle-income countries? A mixed-methods systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor Anderson Reid ◽  
Olga Kovalerchik ◽  
Karen Jubanyik ◽  
Stuart Brown ◽  
Denise Hersey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Healthcare Utilisation ◽  
High Income ◽  
Original Research ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Patient Reported

IntroductionOf the 40 million people globally in need of palliative care (PC), just 14% receive it, predominantly in high-income countries. Within fragile health systems that lack PC, incurable illness is often marked by pain and suffering, as well as burdensome costs. In high-income settings, PC decreases healthcare utilisation, thus enhancing value. Similar cost-effectiveness models are lacking in low-income and middle-income countries and with them, the impetus and funding to expand PC delivery.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search of seven databases to gather evidence of the cost-effectiveness of PC in low-income and middle-income countries. We extracted and synthesised palliative outcomes and economic data from original research studies occurring in low-income and middle-income countries. This review adheres to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and includes a quality appraisal.ResultsOur search identified 10 eligible papers that included palliative and economic outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries. Four provided true cost-effectiveness analyses in comparing the costs of PC versus alternative care, with PC offering cost savings, favourable palliative outcomes and positive patient-reported and family-reported outcomes.ConclusionsDespite the small number of included studies, wide variety of study types and lack of high-quality studies, several patterns emerged: (1) low-cost PC delivery in low-income and middle-income countries is possible, (2) patient-reported outcomes are favourable and (3) PC is less costly than the alternative. This review highlights the extraordinary need for robust cost-effectiveness analysis of PC in low-income and middle-income countries in order to develop health economic models for the delivery of PC, direct resource allocation and guide healthcare policy for PC delivery in low-income and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Double standards in healthcare innovations: the case of mosquito net mesh for hernia repair

2020 ◽  
pp. bmjinnov-2020-000535
Author(s):  
Mark Skopec ◽  
Alessandra Grillo ◽  
Alvena Kureshi ◽  
Yasser Bhatti ◽  
Matthew Harris
Keyword(s):  
Hernia Repair ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Surgical Care ◽  
Biomechanical Properties ◽  
Double Standard ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Mosquito Net ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

With over two decades of evidence available including from randomised clinical trials, we explore whether the use of low-cost mosquito net mesh for inguinal hernia repair, common practice only in low-income and middle-income countries, represents a double standard in surgical care. We explore the clinical evidence, biomechanical properties and sterilisation requirements for mosquito net mesh for hernia repair and discuss the rationale for its use routinely in all settings, including in high-income settings. Considering that mosquito net mesh is as effective and safe as commercial mesh, and also with features that more closely resemble normal abdominal wall tissue, there is a strong case for its use in all settings, not just low-income and middle-income countries. In the healthcare sector specifically, either innovations should be acceptable for all contexts, or none at all. If such a double standard exists and worse, persists, it raises serious questions about the ethics of promoting healthcare innovations in some but not all contexts in terms of risks to health outcomes, equitable access, and barriers to learning.

scholarly journals Manual Borehole Drilling as a Cost-Effective Solution for Drinking Water Access in Low-Income Contexts

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1981
Author(s):  
Pedro Martínez-Santos ◽  
Miguel Martín-Loeches ◽  
Silvia Díaz-Alcaide ◽  
Kerstin Danert
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Water Access ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages

Water access remains a challenge in rural areas of low-income countries. Manual drilling technologies have the potential to enhance water access by providing a low cost drinking water alternative for communities in low and middle income countries. This paper provides an overview of the main successes and challenges experienced by manual boreholes in the last two decades. A review of the existing methods is provided, discussing their advantages and disadvantages and comparing their potential against alternatives such as excavated wells and mechanized boreholes. Manual boreholes are found to be a competitive solution in relatively soft rocks, such as unconsolidated sediments and weathered materials, as well as and in hydrogeological settings characterized by moderately shallow water tables. Ensuring professional workmanship, the development of regulatory frameworks, protection against groundwater pollution and standards for quality assurance rank among the main challenges for the future.

scholarly journals Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 medical solid waste treatment: A need for efficient and effective strategies in low-resourced settings

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2199873
Author(s):  
Saverio Bellizzi ◽  
Paola Murgia ◽  
Antonella Angioi ◽  
Gualtiero Canu ◽  
Catello M Panu Napodano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Sustainable Protection

Understanding infections related to handling healthcare waste products is of critical importance and the application of simple and low-cost strategies remain a priority in low-income and middle-income countries to protect healthcare workers. We examined the potential effect of relative humidity (RH), air temperature and ultraviolet irradiation (UI) to establish an efficient and effective way to facilitate disposal of medical waste. Literature is emerging on the effect of high RH and high temperature, which would increase airborne mass deposition and decrease the viability of viruses in both airborne particles and on surfaces. On the other hand, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has been proven to be susceptible to UI when suspended in air like other coronaviruses. An innovative approach utilizing environmental conditions might represent an effective and efficient way to ensure better and sustainable protection of the healthcare workers in low-resourced settings.

scholarly journals An Overview of Affordable Low Cost Housing in Nigeria; a Case for Stabilised Compressed Earth Block (SCEB)

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1023-1028
Author(s):  
Anthony Maduabum ◽  
Charles Munonye
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Political Interference ◽  
Compressed Earth Block ◽  
Low Cost Housing ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Earth Block

Over the years, the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria mounted ‘low-cost’ housing schemes that were expected to be affordable to the low income earners. By the time some of these schemes were completed they were priced beyond the reach of the low-income earners, and even that of the middle-income earners. Various research works that looked into the failure of the provision of the ‘low-cost’ housings in Nigeria found out that the reason for the failure are political interference and corruption. This paper overviewed the various building materials used in building construction and concluded that the objectives of providing housing affordable ‘low cost’ housing schemes in Nigeria can be achieved if local building materials such as Stabilized Compressed Earth Block (SCEB) is used in the construction. The paper concludes that if professionals in the building sector are given the free will to do their jobs, it will also enhance the objective of providing affordable ‘low cost’ houses.

Intratumoral Photosensitizer Delivery and Photodynamic Therapy

Nano LIFE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (02) ◽  
pp. 2130003
Author(s):  
Chen-Hua Ma ◽  
Jeffrey Yang ◽  
Jenna L. Mueller ◽  
Huang-Chiao Huang
Keyword(s):  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
The Body ◽  
Light Sources ◽  
Short Article ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Administration Routes ◽  
Step Procedure

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a two-step procedure that involves the administration of special drugs, commonly called photosensitizers, followed by the application of certain wavelengths of light. The light activates these photosensitizers to produce reactive molecular species that induce cell death in tissues. There are numerous factors to consider when selecting the appropriate photosensitizer administration route, such as which part of the body is being targeted, the pharmacokinetics of photosensitizers, and the formulation of photosensitizers. While intravenous, topical, and oral administration of photosensitizers are widely used in preclinical and clinical applications of PDT, other administration routes, such as intraperitoneal, intra-arterial, and intratumoral injections, are gaining traction for their potential in treating advanced diseases and reducing off-target toxicities. With recent advances in targeted nanotechnology, biomaterials, and light delivery systems, the exciting possibilities of targeted photosensitizer delivery can be fully realized for preclinical and clinical applications. Further, in light of the growing burden of cancer mortality in low- and middle-income countries and development of low-cost light sources and photosensitizers, PDT could be used to treat cancer patients in low-income settings. This short article introduces aspects of interfaces of intratumoral photosensitizer injections and nano-biomaterials for PDT applications in both high-income and low-income settings but does not present a comprehensive review due to space limitations.

scholarly journals Hypothermia for encephalopathy in low-income and middle-income countries: feasibility of whole-body cooling using a low-cost servo-controlled device

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. e000245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vânia Oliveira ◽  
Jaya Raman Kumutha ◽  
Narayanan E ◽  
Jagadish Somanna ◽  
Naveen Benkappa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Body Cooling ◽  
Whole Body Cooling

scholarly journals Comparative evaluation of a novel solar powered low-cost ophthalmoscope (Arclight) by eye healthcare workers in Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Blundell ◽  
David Roberts ◽  
Evridiki Fioratou ◽  
Carl Abraham ◽  
Joseph Msosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Eye Disorders ◽  
Solar Powered

This study compared a novel low-cost solar powered direct ophthalmoscope called the Arclight with a traditional direct ophthalmoscope (TDO). After appropriate training, 25 Malawian eye healthcare workers were asked to examine 12 retinal images placed in a teaching manikin head with both the Arclight ophthalmoscope and a traditional direct ophthalmoscope (Keeler Professional V.2.8). Participants were scored on their ability to identify clinical signs, to make a diagnosis and how long they took to make a diagnosis. They were also asked to score each ophthalmoscope for ‘ease of use’. Statistically significant differences were found in favour of the Arclight in the number of clinical signs identified, correct diagnoses made and ease of use. The ophthalmoscopes were equally effective as a screening tool for diabetic retinopathy, and there was no statistically difference in time to diagnosis. The authors conclude that the Arclight offers an easy to use, low cost alternative to the traditional direct ophthalmoscope to meet the demands for screening and diagnosis of visually impairing eye disorders in low-income and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals The Light Houses of Kashmir

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1650-1656
Author(s):  
Er. Tajamul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Housing Cost ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Construction Methods ◽  
Income Groups ◽  
Housing Materials ◽  
Low Cost Housing

Abstract: Home is a basic necessity for everyone and becomes one the critical challenges faced by the developing countries. India is currently facing a shortage of about 17.6 million houses and the situation is no different in Kashmir if not more prominent owing to the geographical and climatic conditions of the valley. Presently in Kashmir, We witness that the Middle income groups, low income groups and economically weaker sections of the society, which are growing in size, are struggling to have their own houses. Concrete and steel housing cost a fortune so low cost and sustainable buildings are much needed in Kashmir. Low Cost Housing’ refers to those housing units which are affordable by that section of society where income is below MHI (Median Housing Income). It includes the use of construction methods that are cost effective, innovative and environment friendly and allow for a speedy construction. The paper deals with the present and the future trends about low cost housing materials and technologies in Kashmir. These technologies & materials, if implemented, can reduce the present housing problems up to some extent. Keywords: AAC, GFRG, filler slabs, SPW, CEB

scholarly journals Under-Five Mortality Causes and Prevention

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Tekin
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Perinatal Care ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Birth Complications ◽  
Pregnancy And Childbirth ◽  
Mortality Causes

The under-five mortality rate (U5MR) represents children who die before reaching the age of 5 per 1000 live births. It is directly related to the development and economic income levels of countries. For this reason, high rates are observed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The neonatal period deserves more attention as the decline in mortality rates has recently stalled. The most common causes of death under 5 years old are acute respiratory infections, diarrhea, malaria, and birth complications. Although neonatal disorders and birth complications have recently come to the fore, among these reasons, deaths due to infections are still high in LMICs. The crucial topics in prevention are perinatal care and vaccination. Apart from these, access to medicine, food, and clean water is essential in preventing deaths under 5. For preventive services to achieve their goal, these services must reach everyone. Ending preventable child deaths is only possible by improving access to well-equipped healthcare professionals during pregnancy and childbirth, life-saving interventions such as vaccinations, breastfeeding and the provision of low-cost medicines, and access to water and sanitation, which are now lacking in low-income countries.

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