Thomas Gabella from the HEIG-VD has presented a mock-up of the mechanical stand during a workshop at EPFL on the ergonomics of the x-ray device. The mock-up aims to prove that an entirely mechanical stand with no electrical controls can fully meet the ergonomic and functional requirements. Electrical controls are indeed one of the main sources of device failure in the South.
Several concepts for the design of the radiography table, as well as a simulator of the software, have also been presented by Prof. Carole Baudin, Leslie Biston and Laura Maillard from EDANA (HE-ARC). The software mock-up was developed to validate the flow of the radiography process by means of a simple and intuitive interface that integrates specific tutorials developped by Jonathan Marquis from the HedS.
The workshop gathered together radiology specialists from the Health School of the HES-SO (HedS), the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), international organizations such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the WHO, and a Professor from Yaoundé University Hospital, who was invited to Switzerland for this event. These experts challenged the work of the GlobalDiagnostiX team from a user’s perspective, taking into account the specific constraints of hospitals in developing countries. The simulations and discussions resulted in very important suggestions that will shortly be implemented to improve the device features and ergonomics. The team is planning to build a complete prototype by the end of the year, which will be replicated in Cameroon for further testing.