Our Research

Ken Iloka, June Madete et al., Kenyatta University, Kenya

Overview: An unnecessary loss of human life is caused by jaundice in 15% of infant deaths in the developing world. This can be stopped with phototherapy, but commercial systems are expensive. Kenyatta University has developed a low-cost light therapy box, but to use it clinically, it must be calibrated inexpensively.

Impact: Develop an open-source, photo-therapy sensor device.

Partner: Joshua Pearce, Engineering, Western

Joshua Pearce, Engineering, Western
Overview: Surgical fracture tables cost >US$200,000. We have previously designed, built and tested an open-source surgical fracture table with specialty components being 3-D printed for $3000. In this study we will replicate the device in Uganda using locally-available materials and tools.

Impact: Develop a manufacturing tool to cut the costs further and get clinical feedback on the device.

Partners: Robert Ssekitoleko, Julius Mugaga, Rebecca Kaaya, Makerere University, Uganda; Glia; Bow PLLC

Amare Yimer et al., Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

Overview: This project will design and develop an affordable portable electrical & power supply system based on solar photovoltaic (PV) technology for portable oxygen concentrators applicable in developing countries.

Impact: The PV systems will be open source modular and able to be fabricated locally in makerspaces.

Partner: Joshua Pearce, Engineering, Western

Mamadou Diop, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western

Overview: Neonatal injury major concern. Develop a wearable device that can monitor cerebral blood oxygenation of neonates in low resource settings without puncturing the head, using safe red and infrared light.

Impact: Early detection of adverse events to prompt interventions that can prevent neonatal encephalopathy. Other potential applications include assessing the effects of adverse environmental factors on early neurodevelopment.

Partners: Moctar Faye and Arame Boye, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

Ana Luisa Trejos (P.I), Lorie Donelle, Mary Jenkins, Michael Naish, Parisa Daemi, and Olusoji Ogunbode, Engineering, Western

Overview: Support people living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), this project aims to optimize a wearable PD symptom monitoring system following frugal design techniques.

Impact: Low-cost system to track and monitor Parkinson’s disease symptoms adaptable to user needs

Partners: Adegbenro S. Ajani, Kwara State University, Nigeria

Michael Rieder, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western

Overview: Develop a non-invasive system to characterize and count blood counts at point of care in real time without the need for a laboratory.

Impact: Health care providers in remote & resource-constrained settings to determine blood count at point of care for better guidance for clinical decisions and response to therapy.

Partners: Benson Ouma & Cissy Kityo Mutuluuza,
Joint Clinical Research Centre, Uganda

Ian Cunningham, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western

Overview: Develop digital microscope with 1-µm resolution and 1-mm field of view for ~ $100 as point-of-care malaria test in rural settings.

Impact: Completed proof-of-concept demonstration of 1-µm resolution using 3-D printed device with computational optics technology on Raspberry Pi computer.

Partners: William Wasswa, Mbarara University & Abraham Birungi, Pathology, Mbarara Regional Hospital, Uganda

Noha Gomaa, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western

Overview: Periodontal disease is one of the most common causes for tooth loss globally. Diagnosis & treatment is costly; requires specialized personnel and equipment.

Impact: Implement a low-cost, colorimetric diagnostic test for periodontal inflammation in low-resource settings.

Partners: Regina Mutave, University of Nairobi, Kenya Michael Glogauer, University of Toronto, Canada

Tarek Loubani, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western

Overview: To create an open-source ECG that meets or exceeds the gold standard.

Impact: Increase access to life-saving ECG in clinics, hospitals and operating rooms; Improve capacity to manufacture and QA devices locally.

Partners: Palestinian Ministry of Health (Gaza), FAST, Department
of Medicine

Amare Yimer et al., Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Ethiopia

Overview: Design and development of assistive devices for developing countries using rapid prototyping technology

Impact: Improve the quality of life of amputees by allowing social, personal and professional advancement through use of easily-available custom prosthetics, that are functional.

Partners: Tarek Loubani, Schulich School of Medicine, Western

Jennifer Guthrie, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western

Overview: Current laboratory methods take up to 8 weeks for
full diagnostic and antimicrobial susceptibility results.
High-incidence TB settings such as Nigeria do not have the
laboratory capacity for this, particularly in rural and remote settings.

Impact: With adaptation of the pocket-sized Oxford Nanopore
VolTRAX V2b, this project will enhance the speed & accuracy of TB antimicrobial
susceptibility testing.

Partners: Public Health Ontario; Infectious Disease Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

James Lacefield, Director, School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University 
Western Engineering Biomedical Club, & Frugal Dentistry Summer Student Team (Jeffrey Donado, Fadi El-Richani, Tasnia Nabil), Western

Overview: Low-cost smart toothbrush (top figure) will help
children with neuro-developmental challenges develop effective
brushing skills and habits. Low-cost tele-dentistry system will
enable community health workers identify caries and refer
patients for dental treatment.

Partners: Regina Mutave James & Oral Health Club, University of Nairobi

Emily Lalone, Engineering, Western

Overview: It is difficult to correctly position the wrist for proper X-rays. In low-resource
settings allied health professionals are often the primary radiographers without specialized
training

Impact: Our tool helps radiographers accurately and repeatably
position the wrist for common wrist X-rays which reduces medical
waste and image requisitioning

Target Audience: Radiographers & Allied Health Professionals
in medically remote Indigenous Communities
across Northern Canada

David Holdsworth & Ian Cunningham, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western

Overview: International guidelines recommend annual testing of x-ray
units, to ensure adequate image quality and limit patient exposure.
These tests may not always be performed, due to the prohibitively high
cost of test equipment.

Impact: We address this by development of a low-cost ($200 CAD),
battery-powered x-ray sensors for use in quality assurance programs in
low-resource settings.

Partner: William Wasswa, Mbarara University, Uganda