FGadgets » Health Gadgets

mChip – Portable Blood Test

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:53:42 +0000

Can u believe that your credit card is capable of diagnosing HIV at a cost of just $1? It’s true, a portable blood test can be performed and the presence of HIV can be instantly indicated by mChip device designed by the scientists of the University of Columbia in New York. mChip is the device on the size of a credit card specially designed for this purpose. Various tests conducted among various majorities of people revels that the test has a perfect 95 % accuracy on an average. The cost is cheaper hence a large set of diagnostic tests is possible and is accessible even for common people. It makes a large difference in the mentality of people who hesitate to go to clinics or hospitals for testing their blood. A pin-prick of blood is taken and optics is used to read the fluid.

The blood passes through ten detection zones for analysis and returns a positive or negative outcome for HIV or syphilis. The time duration taken is about 15 minutes. A simple color-code similar to pregnancy test is used to display the result. mChip extremely cheap and efficient and serves as a major breakthrough in fighting against HIV throughout the world.

Source: TUVIE.com

Mundo Medical Device By Emiel Teesselink

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:29:26 +0000

For people suffering from Rheumatoid arthritis, even the simplest daily chores may at times present the greatest challenges. The long-term affliction is a painful and disabling condition which can lead to an increased loss of mobility and functioning if not treated properly. With no known cure for RA, more and more experts are recommending the use of special tools that improve hand movements and advice patients to perform regular exercises that would maintain joint mobility and make muscles stronger. Other less stressful therapies for immediate pain relief include heat and cold treatments. The Mundo is one such medical concept which aims at providing patients with a specialized device for such a therapy.

The device, created by Dutch designer Emiel Teesselink, uses heat and cold to improve circulation and helps patients manage their discomfort at home. The handheld device comes with a charging station that allows patients to use the device for as long as required without worrying about changing batteries.The spherical center of the Mundo provides a specific focus point with a centerline dividing its visage. The display provides all the necessary information, allowing users to monitor their stats as they go along.

The control panel is located right above the display and allows users to select different modes. An ellipse wing with a slight convex curve allows the device to be easily gripped by patients without putting any undue stress on their joints while horizontal slots along the back of the device allow easy ventilation and prevent excessive heat from harming the electronics.The device is currently just a concept but with alternate therapies gaining ground, we may see it in stores soon enough.

Designer: Emiel Teesselink
Source: Design BUZZ

Buddy Gym By Chan Kang Poh

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:47:42 +0000

Working-out is usually a pretty solitary event. Designer Chan Kang Poh however, in an attempt to turn work-outs social, has come up with gym equipment unlike any other, that needs two people to work-out at the same time. Called the Buddy Gym, this one’s the perfect way for you and your partner to stay in shape and spend quality work-out hours together! With this, you can either work together with your buddy to achieve your pre-set goals of exercising too, staying fit and keeping your partner close and healthy at the same time.A great way to help bonding while burning those calories to your benefit, the Buddy Gym is sure to grow your muscles and your relationship, at the same time.

Designer: Chan Kang Poh
Source: DesignLaunches.com

Fujin – Intelligent Metered Dose Inhaler By Ceri Almrott

admin — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:06:29 +0000

It’s mandatory to carry a metered dose inhaler (MDI) for people suffering from asthma and chronic lung disorders. But, the inhaler has hardly undergone any change ever since it came to life. A designer named Ceri Almrott has come up with an all new intelligent metered dose concept named Fujin.

Present day MDI’s work using a simple method with a lot of loopholes. The instrument usually tilts towards the upper palate while directing the medicine in the mouth, while in actuality it should be directed towards the throat for better results. This leads to a lot of wastage and can even lead to dire consequences. All this happens because of poor handling and operation of the device. However, the designer has tried to omit all this with his concept.

Fujin is oval-shaped that will lend a powerful grip. It will come embedded with two actuation buttons. When the strength of the grip will be increased, these buttons will trigger the canister. A lot of people, especially youngsters, feel ashamed at the thought of using an inhaler in public. It could lead to embarrassing situations, which they tried to avoid. The designer has tried to shun this thought with an eye-appealing and practical device. It will be available in an array of colors and one can choose as per their liking.

Traditional MDI’s are quite visible while taking a dose as they rest above the mouth. But this concept will omit all visible signs by placing the body of the inhaler below the mouth. So, record and monitor results plus kill all stigmas with Fujin.

Designer: Ceri Almrott
Source: Design BUZZ

GlucoMate By Phil Brown

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:03:31 +0000

With the introduction of the all new and innovative gadget, GlucoMate, now diabetic patients will be able to monitor glucose levels in their body without shedding a single drop of blood. This product is safe and easy to use as a new infrared beam is passed through the fingertip and then the gadget measures the amount of light absorbed by the glucose molecules in the blood. And, finally it accurately displays the glucose level in the body.

Diabetes is one of the biggest killer diseases that silently and slowly destroys human organs. The main reason that leads to complications is the increased sugar level in the body, therefore, it is essential to keep sugar levels under a check. Earlier, a tiny drop of blood was extracted from the human body by the medical lab to check the sugar level. But, with the advancement in the technology, patients can easily test the blood within the comfort of their homes by using gadgets like Glucometer.

However, now with the arrival of GlucoMate, the pain-free monitoring of sugar levels is also possible. The gadget is all the more helpful since the patient doesn’t get to know of the increased sugar level in his body unless the level is alarmingly high or low. With the help of GlucoMate, the patient can keep a constant check on the sugar level. Another advantage of using GlucoMate is that the equipment has a USB memory that can store earlier results so that the patient can regulate his diet according to sugar levels in his body.

The new technology will provide a big relief to diabetic patients who have to concurrently get their bodies pricked either for insulin injections or for sugar level testing. Moreover, patients suffering from the advanced stage of the disease are recommended to get their sugar levels tested as frequently as five times a day. This new technology will definitely help these diabetic patients to get rid of the painful method of monitoring sugar levels.

Designer: Phil Brown
Source: DesignBuzz.com

Portable Stretcher By Geim Bernard Eran

admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:19:18 +0000

Medical equipments, like a first aid kit and stretcher, are of utmost importance in case of a medical emergency. Moreover, it generally requires two people for carrying these equipments. As designer Geim Bernard Eran seeks to combine both for an easier approach, he has come up with the Portable Stretcher for solving multiple purposes.

The stretcher has been shaped like a backpack and can be easily carried on the shoulders. Such a design requires less time and manpower as well. Its easy installation won’t consume much time. The lower part of the Portable Stretcher is pulled out in case of an accident. It consists of pipes that have markings, in the form of locks, on them. One has to pull it until the locks appear. When the locks are fully visible, secure the device and extend the lower panel. Headrest will appear when the lower panel is fully pulled out. It is uncomplicated and does not require cumbersome steps. There is enough space to store medical kits that are required during an emergency.

The Portable Stretcher with an easy usability quotient is worth an applause. It will make the operator more independent by subtracting the need of more people.

Designer: Geim Bernard Eran
Source: DesignBuzz.com

Food Allergen Detector By Erik Borg

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:06:59 +0000

Suffering from food allergy has become quite prevalent these days because of negligence. When a person suffers from food aversion, every meal could potentially be detrimental for him. Foods such as milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soy, tree nuts account for nearly 90% of allergic reactions. If the allergy appears to be severe, it could lead to irritations and hives to death. To help people detect such allergens, Erik Borg designed a new device named, the Food Allergen Detector. A strategic design course persuaded in collaboration with Philips led to the invention of this device. The food allergen detector helps to avert severe allergic reactions and alleviate the pressure on hospitals. This handy device helps analyze all vital ingredient present in the dish and displays on to the screen from which an individual can get to know if there are any other allergens present. Thanks to the works of Erik Borg.

Designer: Erik Borg
Source: TUVIE.com

Hybrid Assisted Limb (HAL) Robo-Suit

admin — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:19:16 +0000

Ever dreamed of being at the top of mount Everest. It is practically an impossible task to do despite being physically fit and healthy. The task can only be completed if you have the will power and courage and the desire to make it to the top of the mountain.Well this guy here should be an inspiration to all of you guys, who thinks it is impossible.

Seiji Uchida, 49 and father of two, lost his ability to walk and feel his legs in a car accident 28 years ago. But he never gave up on his dreams and guts, which is why he has decided to pay a visit to heritage site, Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy in the French coast and make his trip of a lifetime.

How exactly is this possible for a man who is paralyzed from waist down? This he does with the help of the Hybrid Assisted Limb(HAL) robo-suit. This one of a kind robo-suit can be worn on a person with the help of which he can lift anyone up to tenfold his strength. Uchida will need the help of a companion and the HAL to make it to the top of the Mount Saint-Michel.The companion can lift up Uchida and help him complete his mission and dream.

This smart piece of technology is a contribution from the University’s professor Yoshiyuki Sankai in his laboratory in Tokyo suburb. The technology is inspired from cybernetics, which is gaining considerable importance in the field of research and development in Japan. The Cyberdyne Corporation in Japan has already begun its venture to supply these suits in bulk for assistance to people who are facing these kinds of difficulties in walking. An invention of this kind of cybernetic body suit helps to enhance body movement and boost up a person’s strength.

The working of the HAL suit is by detection of minute bio-electrical signals in the pads located on different parts of the body.When the signals give messages to these pads, the HAL suit moves according to the wish of the carrier. As the person moves, brain sends nerve signals to the muscles and helps move the musculoskeletal system .The very minute bio-signal created at this moment is sensed by the skin.

The HAL suit gets hold of these signals through the sensor in the carrier. Depending on the signals gained, the power unit is managed by the carrier for daily activities.This gadget does not cause any cramp or hurt the carrier or the traveler. It is made of soft material so that the traveler can sit safely and enjoy the journey.

Source: DesignBuzz.com

Bandage Reveals Infection Or Healing

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:49:05 +0000

Health and technology are coming together like never before with the latest advances in the field. Sometimes the devices is very fancy and high tech and sometimes it is surprisingly simple.

Whether you are talking about the new apps that Ford is planing to put in their new cars that will monitor everything from your heartbeat to the pollen count in the air, or a more advanced approach to healthy living and integration with technology thanks to Nutrismart’s “eat smart” campaign; tech plays a big role. Of course for the most part both of those pieces of technology are more the preventative care type of health tech. A new bandage that has just been produced in Australia is preventative in another way, in that it will change colors when placed over a wound to show if the wound is healing or – god forbid – getting infected.

While the smart bandage, developed by researchers in Melbourne will certainly help patients find out quicker if their wounds are healing properly, this particular device will also save health systems a ton of money, lowering the cost of health care for everyone who uses the device on a widespread scale. According to the Australian government these new bandages will be able to save them up to $500 million in chronic wound care.

Louise van der Werff who is the lead researcher for the project says that they’ve “created a fabric that changes colour in response to temperature – showing changes of less than 0.5 of a degree. We expect that, when incorporated into a bandage it will allow nurses to quickly identify healing problems such as infection or interruptions to the blood supply, which are typically accompanied by a local increase or decrease in temperature.”

At the moment they have fabric and in the next few months that fabric will be turned into an actual bandage and in a few months after that the bandage will be distributed on a wide scale by the Australian government as long as the testing and development works out to plan. Robin Cranston, another researcher on the team describes the bandage technology as being important because, “having the ability to collect a broader range of data on a wound’s status will have a significant impact on the understanding of chronic wounds and how best to treat them.”

Source: Walyou.com

‘The Aid’ To Monitor Health And Assist People With Disabilities

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:50:37 +0000

Elderly and trauma struck people, lack the confidence to move out of their house independently. They become inactive and mostly stay isolated, inside the four walls of their dwellings. This can lead to depression as they cut themselves from the social world. Egle Ugintaite, keeping these factors in mind, has designed, ‘The Aid.’

As the name signifies, the walking stick will support or assist such people and unfurl a new experience. The Aid is like a smart device, which will guide a user and also monitor his/her health. It comes embedded with a navigator and an SOS button, generating a sense of security. Users strap the device around their wrist and the in-built sensors continuously examine the pulse, blood pressure and body temperature. The health data is displayed on a screen and in case of an emergency the SOS button sends a message to the help center.

The user, with the help of a headphone, gets to choose the best way to reach a place. All he has to do is to connect the phone and internet with a service provider, which gathers data and sends it to, ‘The Aid.’ The consumer gets information through the headphone and can reach his destination as he gets full assistance for the purpose.

The Aid will make people, with restricted lifestyles, more independent and confident.

Designer: Egle Ugintaite
Source: Design BUZZ