Handheld Device Brings Medical Technology to Developing Countries

Aug-19-14 A new handheld medical device able to connect to a mobile phone and communicate with a computer anywhere in the world could bring a new measure of relief to medical workers in developing worlds.

The device, developed by researchers at Harvard University, could replace current testing machines that cost up to the tens of thousands of dollars. About the size of a pack of cigarettes, the machine was modeled after today's modern glucose meters and costs about $25 to manufacture. It functions by applying a voltage to the sample in question and then measuring the current flow within the liquid, which enables it to determine the liquid's electrochemical signal.

The standout feature of the device, however, is its ability to work with "low-tech" phones. Many cell phones used in the developing world do not have data capabilities, and so cannot take advantage of the new apps available to Western doctors. To compensate, the research team created software that transforms the data into acoustic tones that can be transmitted by a cell phone by plugging the device into the phone's headphone and microphone jack—just like someone's voice. The data is then decoded at the other end and sent on to the recipient.

More Info about this Invention:

[GIZMAG.COM]
[NEWS.HARVARD.EDU]

---