Scanadu Scout (credit: Scanadu)
Scanadu has announced updates to its Scanadu Scout, the “first medical Tricorder,” a prototype device designed to measure vital signs; and the launch of an indiegogo campaign.
A first-edition Scout can be reserved on indiegogo and will be available in March 2014.
The Scout is sold as an exploratory tool. “By helping us collect data, we can file our application to the FDA for market approval as an over-the-counter consumer-grade diagnostic tool,” the company said.
How it works
Dr. Martin Zizi, Scanadu Director for Health, Science & Integration, explained to KurzweilAI that the device includes a visible and near-IR LED and sensor (for pulse oximetry, to measure oxygen saturation and other parameters), ECG sensor for electrical heart signals, far-IR sensor for temperature, and a microphone (for heart and respiratory sounds. The device is held briefly on the forehead and chest.
Using data fusion, algorithms on the included microprocessor can then derive pulse wave transit time, blood pressure, heart rte, respiratory rate, emotional stress, and other parameters. Data is displayed to the patient via Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Low Energy on Android and iOS devices
Scanadu display app (credit: Scanadu)
The new device is built on Micrium, NASA’s real-time operation system for SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars) on the Rover Curiosity.
The company also announced updates today to ScanaFlo, a low-cost tool that uses the smartphone as a urine analysis reader, and unveiled the first design of the product. The small white, disposable paddle with multi-colored test strips and a QR code built into the device tests for levels of glucose, protein, leukocytes, nitrates, blood, bilirubin, urobilinogen, specific gravity, and pH in urine. It will also test for pregnancy.
