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SCANADU SCOUT BRINGS MEDICAL TRICORDER TO LIFE

Star Trek-inspired device captures key health signs

Watching Star Trek isn’t just way of passing the time, in fact one American-based entrepreneur claims it provided him with an actual business plan. Mathematician and entrepreneur, Walter De Brouwer, was inspired by the experience he and his family endured in 2005, when his five year old son fell 11 metres from his bedroom window and received serious head injuries. Together with his wife Sam he set up a company, Scanadu, to develop a medical device for consumer’s personal use. The Scanadu Scout is a scanning device that links with your smartphone to give a you your blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and SpO2 (blood oxygenation level) in a matter of seconds. It is like you’re getting a physical from Dr. McCoy! De Brouwer, a Belgian now living in California, created a mathematical algorithm that converts the body signs to a simple read out on a smartphone.

De Brouwer believes the most revolutionary feature is that it can be used by anyone: “We’ve medicalised your smartphone. You can now check your health as easily as your email. People will no longer ask if there’s a doctor on the plane, but if there’s a Tricorder.” Smartphones are being increasingly used to power and connect medical devices, and offer a unique way to diffuse technology among a large number of people, right around the world. Scanadu has already begun shipping its device to people who backed its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, however, the company will have to wait for FDA approval before the device can go on sale.

Scanadu is one of ten finalists competing in the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE competition that challenges entrants to come up with a handheld device that can accurately diagnose 16 health conditions and capture five real-time health signs. The winner will be announced in January 2016 and will receive a cheque for USD$10 million.

Scanadu tutorial video

Details

  • NASA Research Park, Building 20, Second Floor, Moffett Field, CA 94035, United States
  • SCANADU SCOUT