Future Now
The IFTF Blog
Cameroonian Engineer Invents Medical Tablet
A 24 year old Cameroonian engineer, Arthur Zang, has invented the Cardiopad, a touchscreen medical tablet used to perform tests similar to a traditional electrocardiograph. The Cardiopad can wirelessly transmit the results of a heart test from a remote location to specialists typically located in urban centers.
When compared to the traditional electrocardiograph, The Cardiopad has the added functionality of having digitized test results that can be saved electronically and sent to a distant cardiologist. The cardiologist can then interpret the test from his or her remote location (using a smart phone, computer, or other wirelessly connected device) and send the diagnosis along with prescribed treatment back to a nurse working in remote areas.
While hugely helpful to countries like Cameroon—that has a meager 30 cardiologists for a country of 20 million people—and other developing nations with similar access issues, the Cardiopad can also be used in countries like Australia with large swaths of remote areas where patients also have to travel long distances to see specialists. The Cardiopad will cut down on costs of diagnostic tests on multiple levels. Obviously it will eliminate the actual cost of long distance travel as well as cut down on lost time from that travel, the Cardiopad is also drastically cheaper than a traditional electrocardiograph that provides the same service with less functionality. Arthur Zang is intending to sell the device for 1500 euros, as opposed to the 3800 euros needed for a traditional electrocardiograph device in Cameroon.
Accounting for unstable electricity within Cameroon, the Cardiopad is equipped with a battery that has about a 7-hour life. Enough for a full day of work.
The Cardiopad is currently in production and will be available for hospitals in July. Arthur Zang was looking for VC funding when the story broke a few days ago, if you’re looking to fund a surefire product that meets an essential need for people around the world, now might be your
chance.
Screen grabs taken from YouTube video of Arthur demoing the Cardiopad in French.
Story from allafrica.com