MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

P.O Box 7062 Kampala-Uganda Telegram: “MEDMARK”

COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SCHOOL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY

BACHELORS OF SCIENCE IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

COURSE: COMPUTER-BASED MEDICAL SYSTEMS

TUTOR: Dr. COSMAS MWIKIRIZE

TAKE HOME TEST

BY

INGABIRE ANNITAH

21/U/04801/PS
Computer-Based Medical Systems in Uganda's Healthcare
Electronic Medical Records System: This system is used to digitally store and manage patient
medical records, including medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and laboratory results.
Picture Archiving and Communication System: Used for storing and sharing medical images, such
as X-rays and CT scans, digitally.
Hospital Information System: Used to manage and integrate various administrative, financial, and
clinical aspects of hospital operations, including patient admissions, scheduling, billing, and
inventory management.
Telemedicine System: Allows healthcare providers to remotely diagnose and treat patients through
video consultations, reducing the need for in-person visits and increasing access to medical care,
especially in remote areas.
Pharmacy Inventory Management System: Helps in tracking and managing medication inventory,
ensuring the availability of essential medicines, and avoiding stockouts.
Clinical Decision Support System: Provides healthcare professionals with evidence-based
guidelines and recommendations to aid in clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.
In-service training system for health professionals: Provides online training and educational
resources for healthcare workers, helping to improve their skills and knowledge.
Remote Patient Monitoring System: Allows healthcare providers to monitor patients' vital signs
and health data remotely, allowing for early detection of potential issues and timely interventions.
Laboratory Information System: Manages laboratory test results, including ordering, tracking,
and reporting. It automates the workflow for laboratory testing, reducing turnaround time and
improving patient care.
Healthcare Analytics System: Collects and analyzes healthcare data to identify trends, patterns,
and insights that can guide strategic decision-making and improve overall healthcare delivery and
outcomes.
Why ultrasound could be a suitable modality for monitoring disease progression and/or
recovery in COVID-induced pneumonia and severe lung injury:
Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a non-invasive, portable, and radiation-free imaging modality that can
be performed at the bedside, making it well-suited for monitoring patients with COVID-induced
pneumonia and severe lung injury. LUS can provide real-time imaging of the lungs, allowing for
the assessment of lung aeration, consolidation, and pleural effusions.
Advantages of LUS for monitoring COVID-induced pneumonia and severe lung injury
Early detection of lung involvement: LUS can detect lung abnormalities early in the course of
COVID-19, even before chest radiographs show significant changes.
Assessment of lung aeration: LUS can assess the extent of lung aeration, which can help monitor
disease progression and response to treatment.
Detection of complications: LUS can detect complications such as pleural effusions and
pneumothorax.
Real-time imaging: LUS provides real-time imaging, allowing for dynamic assessment of lung
function.
Point-of-care availability: LUS can be performed at the bedside, which is particularly useful for
critically ill patients.
Examples of probable pathological findings and their corresponding image features in lung
ultrasound images:
Consolidation: B-lines (acoustic shadows)
Airway collapse: Alveolar collapse
Pleural effusion: Echogenic fluid collection between the visceral and parietal pleura
Four key improvements to design a next-generation ultrasound transducer that performs
better than conventional percutaneous 2D ultrasound for chest imaging:
Increased spatial resolution: Improve the spatial resolution of the transducer to allow for better
visualization of small lung structures, such as alveoli and bronchioles. This could be achieved by
using higher-frequency transducers or by developing new transducer array configurations.
Enhanced contrast resolution: Improve the contrast resolution of the transducer to better
distinguish between different tissue types, such as air, fluid, and consolidated lung tissue. This
could be achieved by using new imaging techniques, such as chirp pulse imaging or contrast-
enhanced ultrasound.
Improved penetration depth: Increase the penetration depth of the transducer to allow for better
imaging of deeper lung structures, particularly in patients with obesity or pleural effusions. This
could be achieved by using new transducer materials or by developing new transducer array
designs.
Real-time image processing: Implement real-time image processing algorithms to enhance the
quality of the ultrasound images and to provide quantitative information about lung function. This
could include algorithms for speckle reduction, noise reduction, and automated lung segmentation.
Limitations of X-ray imaging
Limited Soft Tissue Contrast
X-rays are excellent at visualizing bones and dense tissues, but they struggle to differentiate
between soft tissues like muscles, fat, and organs. This is because soft tissues have similar densities
and attenuation properties, making it challenging to distinguish between them on an X-ray image.
Alternative Imaging Modality: Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the body's internal structures.
Unlike X-rays, ultrasound is sensitive to the differences in acoustic impedance of different tissues,
allowing it to provide excellent contrast between soft tissues. This makes ultrasound particularly
useful for imaging muscles, tendons, ligaments, and internal organs.
Two-Dimensional Images
Conventional X-rays produce two-dimensional (2D) images, which can limit their ability to
provide a comprehensive view of the body's internal structures. 2D images can obscure depth
information and lead to misinterpretations, especially when complex anatomical structures are
involved.
Alternative Imaging Modality: Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
CT scans utilize a narrow X-ray beam that rotates around the body, collecting multiple cross-
sectional images. These images are then reconstructed to create a three-dimensional (3D)
representation of the body's internal structures. CT scans provide superior anatomical detail and
depth information compared to conventional X-rays, making them valuable for diagnosing a wide
range of medical conditions.
Radiation Exposure
X-rays produce ionizing radiation, which can damage cells and increase the risk of cancer. While
the risk of developing cancer from a single X-ray is low, repeated exposure can increase the
cumulative risk.
Alternative Imaging Modality: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the body's internal
structures. Unlike X-rays and CT scans, MRI does not use ionizing radiation, making it a safer
imaging modality for both patients and healthcare providers. MRI is particularly useful for imaging
soft tissues, including the brain, spinal cord, and joints.
Major technical differences between digital and analog X-ray
Analog X-ray systems use a fluorescent screen to convert X-ray photons into visible light. The
light then exposes an X-ray film, creating an image. This process is inherently less efficient and
produces lower image quality compared to digital systems while Digital X-ray systems use an
electronic detector, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or CMOS sensor, to directly capture
X-ray photons. The detector converts the X-rays into electrical signals, which are then digitized
and processed to create an image.
Advantages of digital X-ray system over analog system
Improved image quality: Digital X-ray systems produce images with superior resolution, contrast,
and dynamic range, leading to better visualization of anatomical structures. This improved image
quality can aid in more accurate diagnoses and reduce the need for repeat examinations.
Reduced radiation exposure: Digital X-ray systems typically require lower radiation doses to
produce high-quality images compared to analog systems. This reduction in radiation exposure is
beneficial for both patients and healthcare providers, as it minimizes the risk of radiation-induced
health effects.
Enhanced workflow efficiency: Digital X-ray systems streamline the imaging process, as images
are available almost instantly and can be easily stored, shared, and manipulated electronically. This
faster workflow improves patient care and reduces the time spent on image processing and
distribution.