Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Description

Aarhus University wants to buy a Sim4Life software license for research purposes from Zurich Med Tech. The aim of the research is overall to facilitate research with Aarhus University 's magnetic resonance imaging facilities placed at Aarhus University Hospital in a pursuit of applications on radio frequency parallel transmission, electromagnetic hyperthermia and magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound. Aarhus University collaborates with Physikalisch-Technische Bundeanstalt in Berlin, Germany, on developing a parallel transmission hardware prototype, which will be installed at Aarhus University Hospital 's magnetic resonance imaging system. The Sim4Life software is aiding the design in Physikalisch-Technische Bundeanstalt and Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital of the hardware and its applications thereafter. Hyperthermia treatment of deep seated brain tumors facilitated by radio-frequency parallel transmission in magnetic resonance imaging has been a research topic for the past 4 years. The project is now at a stage where a parallel transmission hardware prototype together with experts from Physikalisch-Technische Bundeanstalt is being developped. Key in the design of such a prototype is a software that can simulate the underlying physics, preferable in numerical models of humans and large animals. Software simulations are essential and can map out the electromagnetic fields and subsequently specific absorption rate metrics, which are not possible get in the design process nor in the final use of the prototype thereafter. As such this type of electromagnetic simulation software may be considered an integral part of the hardware prototype, at least for the design and later for some applications. This project being a collaboration between Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital and Physikalisch-Technische Bundeanstalt, however, outline two important demands for the choice of software that fulfills the project purposes. Using the software with confidence requires extensive training. Each commercial software has a steep learning curve. Physikalisch-Technische Bundeanstalt is currently using Sim4Life and can therefor provide support to Aarhus University/Aarhus University Hospital on generating and interpreting data from Sim4Life immediately. The collaboration cannot tolerate misunderstandings and misinterpretations in the communication between the sites, simply based on use of two different softwares. Observed errors must on stem from actual errors, not different practices of using different softwares and with different levels of expertise.