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Low dose digital X-rays for primary health care:
limited angle computed tomography and population screening
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UCT
(University of Cape Town) |
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Proposal number: |
32261 |
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Focal area: |
Value Addition |
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Total funding: |
R 7,625,000 |
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Funding year 1: |
R 1,814,000 |
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Funding year 2: |
R 2,914,000 |
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Funding year 3: |
R 2,897,000 |
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Four of the major health care problems facing South Africa are
trauma, cancer, tuberculosis (TB), and the acquired immune
deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Medical imaging has the potential to
improve significantly the correct and expeditious diagnosis of
these conditions, thereby facilitating the appropriate treatment
of patients. One hundred years after Röntgen's discovery of
X-rays, the digital revolution is sweeping through the medical
imaging field. However, existing imaging systems in South Africa
and elsewhere have four main drawbacks;
- high cost (of both consumables and
sophisticated equipment);
- significant infrastructure required for film
processing;
- lack of efficient algorithms to assist in the
visualisation and analysis of images; and
- danger of ionising radiation (for both
patients and health care workers).
With a world-wide replacement value of
film-based X-rays estimated to be a staggering US$35 billion, this
is a unique opportunity to capitalise on an innovative technology,
known as LODOX (acronym for "low dose X-rays"), that has
been conceived and developed here in South Africa. LODOX obtains
extraordinary quality digital images using a very low radiation
dose. We plan to develop LODOX-CT, a state-of-the-art system that
can generate 3D images based on limited angle computed tomography
(CT). Its major applications will be in the diagnosis and
treatment of trauma and cancer patients. We will also develop
LODOX-TB, a low risk high-throughput screening system, which will
contribute to the treatment of TB and AIDS patients. |
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Project Coordinator: |
Prof Kit Vaughan
Phone: +27 (0)21 406 6238
Email: kvaughan@anat.uct.ac.za |
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