Hand-held health equipment

The X-PRIZE Foundation recently launched a $ 10 million prize to encourage the development of handheld devices that can assess human health.

Accordingly, the first candidate appeared was Scanadu organization with tricorder equipment. Scanadu was founded in January 2011, with its main base at NASA's Aimes Science Research Center in Mountain View, California, run by Director Walter De Brouwer.

Although the internal activities of Scanadu are kept secret, but with tricorder, there was some initial information. It is a small, compact handset that has powerful processing capabilities combined with the smartphone screen. Not directly exposed, not invasive, but this device can still record important signs such as blood pressure, lung function, body temperature. A spectral super camera with integrated blood test kit can handle different types of fluids to know the condition of the blood and the risk of infection.

Based on different measurements, important parameters provided for the diagnosis and counseling for users are obtained. The data is also easily transmitted remotely to doctors so that they can order, prescribe that the patient does not need to spend time to the office.

The first generation of tricorder aims to provide this device for parents to monitor their children's health. It is not known how successful but initially a group of investors funded Scanadu 2 million USD.

Other tricorder products are followed by smartphone applications, such as Melapp and Handyscope, which use cameras to assess skin signs or iBGStar devices to help control blood sugar.