UltraPortable X-ray / UPX for outreach screening
"Portable” radiographic systems are a subset of “mobile” radiographic equipment, which mainly impact the system portability, management and clinical applications. Designed to be used mainly when the planned diagnostic and/or screening activities are located far from health structures for e.g. outreach interventions. Various new ultra-portable X-ray systems called UPX are available on the market to reach out to key populations in remote and hard to reach areas. Solar-powered battery packs and offline CAD allow for environmentally friendly, rapid and accurate screening for active TB also in resource constrained setting.
Community-based screening efforts with mobile/portable digital X-ray have the potential to identify people very early in their disease course and to substantially increase TB notification rates. In addition ultra-portable X-ray / UPX systems remove from the patients the burden (cost and time) of transportation by taking screening services to the people. Facilitated by CAD/AI to instantly and accurately read chest radiographs, ultra-portable X-ray contributes to infection control and is transforms screening for active TB worldwide including for childhood TB.
According to WHO, the use of portable X-ray (UPX) in combination with compatible AI (Artificial Intelligence)-powered Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) software solutions could significantly increase the diagnostic capacities of the system, efficacy and efficiency, and its appropriateness and advantages of use [1]. These digital and AI-powered innovations support the WHO plan to End the Global TB Epidemic by 2035, by finding the missing people with TB early, including those living in remote areas.
Ultra-portable X-ray/UPX: 29 kg Backpack UPX system
At the UNION Conference in The Hague in 2018, the innovative Delft Light Backpack X-ray was introduced as the next generation portable digital X-ray system. It is optimized for TB screening projects at remote locations. This system comes with a portable X-ray unit allowing for high quality X-ray images. All required components can be powered with a portable (6kg) solar/powerpack. The solar power pack and internal battery capacity recharge the X-ray and detector batteries and power the laptop and CAD4TB tablet during a full day of operation. Spare batteries or external power can further extend the outreach uptime. The backpack solution typically includes a high resolution flat panel detector, notebook, protection apron and lightweight X-ray unit.
Key technical specifications
- The complete UPX system is fully battery-powered and now weighs about 29 kg.
- The energy-efficient 90 kV generator allows for about 250 exposures @ 90kV per day (fully charged) battery only.
- Batteries are solar panel rechargeable for off grid use in the field
- Very portable: can be taken anywhere in a car on motorbike or by walking.
- The UPX can also be used to diagnose fractures in extremities.
- Fit for easy & safe transport on motorbikes and kanos.
- Operable in any remote setting designed for use in areas with high ambient temperatures and elevated humidity.
- Electrical power 1.35 kW @ 90 kV, 15 mA (high power mode 30 mA)
- Tube voltage 40-90 kV (2 kV steps)
- Exposure time range 0.01-1.0 sec (0.01 sec steps)
- Duty cycle 1:60 (one 0.2 sec exposure every 12 seconds)
- Dual laser positioning pointer: Class III-a laser diode
- Battery charging time (empty to full) 4 hours. 'Low battery’ indicator / alarm on display panel
- Foldable, twistable and rotatable stand
- Large wheels for easy movement
- Vertical travel range 36 – 213 cm
- Purpose: general radiography; Scintillator: CsI
- Detector effective imaging area 35x43 cm
- Detector Image display time < 5 seconds; gray scale 4096
- Detector image matrix size: 2496 x 3040 pixels; scatter correction software (no need for GRID)
- Detector battery-type Lithium ion
2023 ultra-portable X-ray introduction: 90 kV Delft Ultra compact UPX
This addition to the ultra-portable X-ray (UPX) landscape solution portfolio was announced at the 2023 UNION Conference in Paris and aims to provide access to truly ultra-portable digital X-ray with fully integrated CAD compatibility. This next generation UPX system is compact, ultra-portable and allows the operator to take low cost digital X-ray images almost everywhere. It acquires images and wirelessly transmits these to an archive (PACS) via the on-board workstation, hosted within the camera. By combining this UPX with CAD software, rapid and accurate TB screening is possible in the most remote and resource-constrained areas to reach 90% of the most vulnerable, underserved and at-risk populations. In addition this next generation portable digital X-ray system further supports the objective of cost-effectiveness and affordability of active case finding by TB programs as its capital investment cost is significantly below other ultra-portable systems (UPX) used for higher daily throughput TB screening.
Key technical specifications
- Wireless and ultra-portable AI empowered X-ray screening for TB disease in key populations and difficult to reach areas.
- Package consists off; Xray tube with integrated mini PC, detector, holder and tripod stand.
- Xray technique; fixed 90kV, 2-5 mA, expose time 0,05-1,3 seconds.
- Weight < 10 kg for complete system (excluding accessories).
- Integrated easy to use solution for rapid set-up in the field; easy to assemble, setup takes around 5 minutes.
- CAD4TB can be integrated in the compact X-ray camera, so no need for the CAD4TB box.
- Use case: household screening and outreach programs accessible by motor, canoe or walking.
- Accessories: integrated powerpack and solar panel, tube and detector stands.
- Maximizes productivity in the field with long-lasting battery performance and solar panel recharging; up to ~150 images per working day.
- FDA 510(k) cleared system guarantees the safety of X-ray operations.
- Low cost state-of-the-art fully digital X-ray system for affordable active TB case findings.
UPX for facility and outreach TB screening in Kenya
The Goal: Active TB case finding in hard-to-reach communities in Kenya with free services.
Introducing New Tools Project (iNTP): Kenya, June 2022. “One major benefit of the machines is portability hence improving access to TB screening and diagnosis at lower-level health facilities and at the community level. These portable radiology devices are characterized with reduced exposure to radiation and cost-effectiveness thus being user friendly. This patient-centred provision of free services is likely to reduce the time to diagnosis, reduce the number of tests needed to diagnose a TB patient as well as reducing the catastrophic cost incurred due to diagnosis.”
Improving TB Case Finding through the use of UPX and CAD4TB in Siaya County, Kenya:
Source: Division of National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung
Disease program - June 2023:
Introducing New Tools Project (iNTP) accelerated efforts to find the missing cases by rolling out CAD4TB
for Chest X-ray at amongst others Madiany sub-county Hospital.
Ultra-Portable X-Ray (UPX) for outreach TB screening in Nigeria
The Goal: To increase active TB case finding in hard-to-reach communities in Nigeria within the TB LON Regions.
KNCV applied the below algorithm whereby the Delft Light (UPX) was used to identify presumptive TB cases based on the CAD4TB abnormality score. Any subject with a CAD abnormality score > 60 was eligible for Xpert MTB/RIF testing.
Webinar of StopTB Focus Group on AI based imaging for TB
Implementing CAD and Ultra-Portable X-ray in Nigeria
- With DL backpack X-ray we see no issue to screen up to 250 per day with fully charged battery.
- Being able to operate both offline and online allows for DL to be deployed in hard to reach areas without mobile phone or internet connectivity.
- Image quality is comparable to the WoW Truck and other stationary X-ray systems.
- Delft Light image resolution at its best.
- Detector and hanger / frame is highly adoptable and easy to use.
- Operational presumptive TB threshold is CAD4TB score 50+ based on prior experience..
- Local technical service center plus local equipment parts needed.
Ultra-Portable X-ray in Bangladesh
Source: Rahman, M. (2023, November 15-18). Ultra-portable
X-ray with artificial intelligence for TB screening and facilitating TB preventive therapy in
Bangladesh [Conference session]. The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2023, Paris,
France
“Ultra-portable X-rays with CAD4TB can be a game-changer in detecting TB cases early, including
asymptomatic cases. They also help save cartridges and ensure equitable access to quality care. NTP can
scale up this technology to diagnose missing TB cases in remote locations and for nationwide TPT
roll-out.”