Tag Archives: medical device

Withings BeamO is a compact health monitor that combines thermometer, stethoscope and ECG in one

Posted on by

Withings is bringing a new health gadget to CES 2024 that’s going to garner a lot of attention given its utility. Called the BeamO, this all-in-one diagnostic health monitor for home use is set to shake up the telemedicine space. Just like every year, the French consumer electronics giant known for its gadgets catering to the ‘worried well’ has revealed this medical-grade tool that builds on the popularity of the contact-less thermometer.

The USB-shaped 4-in-1 multiscope is capable of keeping a tab on the vitals of your heart, lungs and temperature. The scope of consumer adoption for the device can be ascertained from their press release that states, “Once, body temperature was the only health scan routinely taken at home. BeamO will revolutionize the measurement of the core vitals carried out during medical visits from the comfort of one’s own home. This crucial data will provide a vital overview of overall health or warning signs of potential areas of concern.”

Designer: Withings

The thermometer of the future will do advanced temperature readings and also give the user the ability to keep an eye on the functions of the heart or lungs. All this from the comfort of your home to provide an overview of the health and any early warning signs of a silently building problem. Under normal circumstances, a person would have these checkups a couple of times a year, but with the Withings BeamO, that’s set to change.

The medical-grade gadget is loaded with ECG, photoplethysmography (PPG), oximeter, thermometer and stethoscope sensors for all the in-depth check-ups. Things included in the scope of measurement beyond the usual measurements include 1-lead electrocardiogram, cardiac sounds, SpO2, respiratory sounds, heart murmurs, lung wheezing and desaturation. On the sides, it comes with electrodes for EKG readings to detect atrial fibrillation.

It is loaded with a standalone display to get quick readings and you can The best thing is, that this medical device keeps track of data of 8 users via the accompanying app. Withings BeamO is currently seeking FDA approvals and is slated for launch in June 2024 for a price tag of $250. Given its ability to combine all majorly required functions for which you would otherwise purchase different devices, the device seems well worth the price.

The post Withings BeamO is a compact health monitor that combines thermometer, stethoscope and ECG in one first appeared on Yanko Design.

Uray tries to make at-home urine analysis more convenient and less embarrassing

Posted on by

We have a lot of new tools and devices today that can help keep tabs on our health even while at home. Not everyone takes advantage of these technologies for reasons that go beyond simple price. Some find these tools just complicated and difficult to use, while others find it too bothersome to fetch the device out of storage. In the latter case, the device is kept in storage because they’re too embarrassing to be seen by anyone else, including family members. Urine analysis tools for the home fall in both categories, which nullifies the benefits of having such a device at home. A new device tries to address those problems and undo the stigma of a urinalysis tool by making it actually look good.

Designer: Andrey Dalakishvili, Dmitry Lyubimov

Most people undoubtedly find urine tests to be uncomfortable, even when done in the privacy of one’s home. While there is no need to draw blood, There is a level of embarrassment attached to the process, especially because of the process required. Unfortunately, that means that most people are at risk of developing kidney diseases that remain undetected until it’s too late. Although there’s no escaping the need to gather urine in a container for the test, Uray promises other ways to convince people to do it more regularly.

For one, there is the element of convenience and simplicity in using the device. You simply collect your urine in a one-time-use container and then put the container inside the device. Just press a button and wait a second for the analysis to be made and the results sent to your phone. On a technical level, it claims to use photonics and AI to deliver instant results that don’t require the use of reagents.

1

The latter is important because it reduces the exposure to your bodily fluid. No chemicals are used, and there is no risk of you accidentally even touching anything but the container and Uray. The device itself doesn’t make contact with the urine inside the container and only uses optical spectroscopy to look for 19 biomarkers. Uray is also easy to clean, according to its creators.

Uray also brings something to the table that many might downplay as unimportant. The device comes in an appealing design that could actually be mistaken for a liquid soap dispenser, especially if attached to a wall. Not only does it make the urine analysis device look more approachable but also less embarrassing to be seen by anyone else. If you don’t have to take it out of storage every time you need to use it, you are more likely to actually use it and test your urine for potential health problems. The colored lower portion not only makes it look more interesting but also leaves room for manufacturer customization.

This medical gadget is a good example of how an advanced product can actually be more effective if it looks and operates in a simpler manner. It hides its complexity and sophistication inside a nondescript but aesthetic body, encouraging people to make use of it more often. Just like with smartwatches and fitness trackers, these don’t replace professional medical tools and doctor checkups, but it does offer a broader and more frequent overview of your health in general.

The post Uray tries to make at-home urine analysis more convenient and less embarrassing first appeared on Yanko Design.

This asthma inhaler concept makes it easier to take your life-saving puff

Posted on by

There is nothing more natural than breathing, so this inhaler uses that to make it easier to take a puff of medicine.

Compared to diabetics that have to routinely inject themselves with insulin, asthmatics have it easier with their inhalers. Despite that, a lot of people afflicted by this chronic lung disease are still unable to administer their medication properly themselves. Despite advancements in medical science and technology, the asthma inhaler’s design has remained the same for decades, and so has the inability of people to use them in the correct way. Fortunately, there are some designers who are able to think outside the box and utilize simple modern technologies to design an inhaler where you wouldn’t even have to think hard or silently count down to make sure you’re actually getting an effective dose of that medicine that could be a matter of life or death for the patient.

Designer: Roger Bartra Baron

Hollywood has probably made taking a puff from an inhaler look too easy. A hyperventilating character simply presses the canister and holds his or her breath, and that’s it. In reality, however, multiple things have to happen all at once, and certain steps have to be taken carefully; otherwise, a precious puff is wasted. Patients have to be sure to empty their lungs fully before they start, and they have to time their inhalation right when they press the canister. Then they have to hold their breath for the right amount of time, or else they have to repeat the steps all over again.

Although it sounds simple, imagine having to keep in mind and do all of those when you’re already stressed and deprived of oxygen. Unfortunately, almost all inhalers aren’t designed to make life easy for asthmatics, which makes this concept design a life-saving grace. And it utilizes that action that comes so naturally to humans, even those under an asthma attack.

Mae is an inhaler that integrates some electronics to make sure a user gets the exact right dosage they need. It also includes a display that guides them throughout the process so they won’t have to stress over forgetting a step. The most important part, however, is that it is driven by the natural breathing cycle of the person. They don’t have to make sure to time everything perfectly. They just need to inhale, and the electronics detect that and administer the dose as necessary. You’ll still have to hold your breath after, but now there’s a timer on display for your convenience.

The concept is also quite creative in making sure that it doesn’t make conventional cartridges or canisters obsolete. It can easily be replaced by any cartridge that fits inside the inhaler because it actually works the same way as traditional manual inhalers. The canister is still depressed, except it’s automated in Mae’s case. In fact, if the inhaler runs out of battery, you can still use it in the old-fashioned way. And, yes, Mae is battery powered, but it charges over USB-C, so you won’t have to worry about carrying spares.

Mae also has a bit of customizability in its design, at least as far as colors are concerned. This should make the idea easier to sell to pharmaceutical companies that distinguish their brands through colors. Sadly, Mae remains just a concept, but it is one that could definitely change people’s lives for the better if some company tries to make it happen.

The post This asthma inhaler concept makes it easier to take your life-saving puff first appeared on Yanko Design.

Home breath analysis concept makes the gadget easier and prettier

Posted on by

Most of the at-home medical devices that we have are more functional and not design-focused. The important thing for most users is that it does what it’s supposed to do, whether it’s measuring blood pressure or taking your oxygen saturation level. But what if the design of the device actually contributes to how regularly the “patient” will be using it and how regularly they use it is connected to early detection and diagnosis?

Designer: Lucas Couto

This is the idea behind the concept for a Home Breath Analysis device by designer Lucas Couto. Anyone who has taken care of a patient at home, whether a family member or a professional, knows how hard it is sometimes to make them use a device that is supposedly good for their health. Breath analysis has been one of the most important things used for early-stage detection and can also be recommended for some as a monitoring tool for related diseases or conditions.

Detecting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and other aerosols are used to detect things like cancer, respiratory diseases, liver conditions, and even our metabolic health. Monitoring these is especially important for aging populations but they can also sometimes be the most stubborn when using breath analysis devices. So the emergence of new technologies has been a boon for at-home care and this design concept for a Home Breath Analysis device combines technology and the design factor.

The concept moved away from the usual medical device-looking analyzers which can look scary and intimidating for some. The goal is to come up with something that is simple-looking, that would feel comfortable when being used, and can even blend with the environment and look like part of your home decoration. And of course, have a working and accurate breath analysis device. What he came up with is a circular device that doesn’t look at all like the others in the market.

The docking station is also well-designed but the purpose is to protect the mouthpiece from dust and other particles. It of course charges the device as well through induction. Basically, the entire thing looks “non-medical” even as it’s supposed to bring a medical solution to home monitoring situations. Once the doctor gives the device to the patient, they can easily set it up at home without any medical personnel needed. There’s also an app that will connect to their Electronic Medical Records and which the doctor will have access to.

If this does become a product, it would be interesting to see if the design factor does make it easier for patients to use a breath analysis device at home. If ever it comes to a point that I would need to use one, I’d definitely prefer to use that rather than the ones that I had to use at the hospital.

The post Home breath analysis concept makes the gadget easier and prettier first appeared on Yanko Design.

A solar-powered weighing scale concept to help save the lives of babies in remote communities

Posted on by

It’s easy to take for granted simple things like keeping track of our weight. For babies in hard-to-reach areas, however, that can be a matter of life or death, and this portable solar scale tries to help tip the scales in the baby’s favor.

The first few weeks of an infant’s life are critical not only to their growth but also to their survival. Many parents might take for granted the many tools and resources available to them in watching over babies during this crucial period, conveniences that are not even accessible to remote and socio-economically challenged communities. Even something as basic as a weighing scale for infants is rare and difficult to come by, something that this product concept is trying to solve in the most efficient way possible.

Designer: Craig McGarrell

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 2.4 million children around the world died within the first month of their lives. While there are many factors that contributed to this number, a very big factor in remote regions is the ability to monitor the baby’s weight during that month. Weighing scales used in these areas are often old-fashioned analog scales that can be inaccurate and too heavy to move from one community to another easily. This makes it difficult or nearly impossible for healthcare workers to keep a close watch on babies’ weights, leading to unfortunate neonatal deaths.

The ROOTS Solar Scale concept is an attempt to modernize this critical medical equipment without making them too complicated to use or too expensive to maintain. For one, it is completely digital, which removes the risk of getting inaccurate readings over time. It is also solar-powered so that electricity won’t be an issue.

The design is also meant to be lightweight and easy to carry around, even on foot, taking the form of a backpack when not in use. The weighing bowl inside creates a safe structure for the infant to lie in, while the stiff hinge prevents the lid from accidentally closing with the child still inside.

The Solar Scale is meant to be a cost-effective solution that is easy to make and repair, thanks to having very few parts. Despite relying mostly on solar power, the design isn’t completely sustainable, as it relies heavily on plastic, particularly to give the weighing bowl a smooth surface that will be gentle on the baby’s skin while also easy to clean.

The post A solar-powered weighing scale concept to help save the lives of babies in remote communities first appeared on Yanko Design.

This insulin pen cap concept tries to make diabetes management less tedious

Posted on by

There’s still no escaping having to prick yourself to deliver life-saving insulin, but that doesn’t mean keeping track of your diabetes data has to be stuck in the past either.

Smartwatches and fitness trackers have become a lot more sophisticated in the past few years, but there are still some medical conditions that are still outside the grasp of these devices. Accurately measuring blood pressure, for example, still requires some sort of inflatable cuff. Diabetes management is even more painful, almost literally, because of the need to draw blood and inject the medication. We’re still far from reaching that non-intrusive goal of diabetic management, but one seemingly innocuous product is trying to make that process a little bit smarter.

Designer: Luca Lili Takacs, Csilia Antal for X-Plast

Injecting insulin into the body used to require some medical know-how, but anyone with diabetes can now administer a dose on their own. There are also more alternatives these days to the typical syringes and pumps, with the insulin pen becoming to most convenient and most stylish option. All of these methods, however, still require no small amount of manual data tracking, something that the INDOO smart insulin pen caps are trying to address.

These caps look like gigantic versions of typical pen caps, which isn’t surprising given how insulin pens are equally gigantic compared to the handwriting tool. A box contains different caps designed to fit the different types of insulin pens available in the market today. This makes it easy to switch brands without having to buy a new set. The electronics part can simply be transferred from one cap to another.

The INDOO isn’t just decorative, of course, and it turns any insulin pen into a smart insulin pen. It helps with the management and tracking of doses and insulin levels, a critical activity that can mean life or death for a diabetic patient. As with any smart accessory, it has to be paired with a smartphone app that will offer notifications, warnings, and suggestions that could save the person’s life.

There are some insulin pens that are starting to offer smart features, but the INDOO offers a solution that won’t force you to change brands unless you really need to. Considering how some insulin pens do get thrown out after a period of use, these savings add up in the long run.

The post This insulin pen cap concept tries to make diabetes management less tedious first appeared on Yanko Design.

This 3D-printed prosthesis helped a dog who couldn’t walk for over 7 years, to run!

Posted on by

This dog-friendly prosthesis prototype was 3D-printed and designed for a dog who previously couldn’t run for over seven years.

While dogs are some of the most resilient and adaptable creatures around, human-designed products aid them through life challenges like arthritis and missing limbs. When joints and ligaments break down in humans, we have braces and slings that can be picked up from our local pharmacy, making the day-to-day a little easier. Bringing that medical attention into the realm of doggos, Printthinks designed and 3D-printed two prototypes of prostheses for dogs who might need some extra help walking and running.





 

Inspired by a dog who couldn’t run for over seven years due to a missing leg, Printthinks committed to research and design study periods that led to the creation of their 3D-printed prosthesis prototype. Printed from a material called PETG and solely recycled materials, Printthinks created a solution that’s both eco-conscious and pet-friendly.

The sole, for instance, is cut and printed from a recycled bicycle wheel, guaranteeing maximum grip and secure footing. Describing the print process and the materials used during it, Printthinks notes, “The piece is printed on an Ultimate3 at a layer height of 0.3 mm and the other materials are nylon, rubber, and sewing thread.”

While everyone wants their products to look good, thoughtful design boils down to the tangible contributions it brings to the world. In designing their dog-friendly prosthesis, Printthinks set out to change the life of a dog who couldn’t run, let alone walk, for over seven years. Once the initial prosthesis prototype was printed, Printthinks saw their contribution running on all four legs and looking good while doing it.

Designer: Printthinks

The post This 3D-printed prosthesis helped a dog who couldn’t walk for over 7 years, to run! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This wearable gadget measures skin oxygen levels to detect and diagnose early signs of illness

Posted on by

An aesthetically designed medical gadget to detect all the problems that prop up from the dysfunction of underlying skin tissues and capillaries which can be problematic in the long run.

Detecting the first signs of ailment is a determinant in the future treatment and the overall health of an individual. For people with some kind of disease related to peripheral capillaries like peripheral arterial disease (PAD), it becomes even more important to take proactive action once it is identified. Designer Deokhee Jeong has come up with a wearable medical gadget to help patients suffering from this problem to keep a close tab on the earliest signs. This is done by measuring the skin oxygen levels accurately courtesy of the wearable patch Deokhee calls the Transcutaneous Oxygen Sensor.

The wearable medical gadget is still in the concept prototype stage but unlike other designs, this is created in complete synergy between the design team who give direction to the aesthetic requirements and the technology team who ideate the concept. The end result, a functional gadget that solves the intended purpose while being aesthetically ideal for practical usage. Here it is, the accurate detection of blood oxygen levels of the skin tissue and underlying vessels and capillaries. The oxygen detector is designed for ASON Co. Ltd. and it is highly likely it will make it to the mass consumer market in a couple of years.

Transcutaneous Oxygen Sensor uses luminescent gas sensing and soft electronics technology to make the readings. It is far more superior to the SPO2 sensor and much simpler than some of the methods used to detect the disease by medical professionals. Things like Pulse volume recording (PVR) waveform analysis, Photoplethysmography (PPG), Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) or Doppler ultrasound flow studies.

The design team and the techie minds come together to blur out all the hassle of these methods and consolidate them inside this compact medical gadget that’s wearable. The patient has to simply stick it onto the back of the hand and the wrist area to do the test. When everything is done, simply put it in the pocket or the closet for next time use. It is that compact!

Designer: Deokhee Jeong

This ultra-portable oxygen concentrator the size of a hard disc straps on to your backpack with almost 0 weight

Posted on by

An ultra-compact oxygen concentrator machine tailored for places like high mountains where the oxygen levels drop with every step. The best thing, it doesn’t add to the carrying load of the wearer. which is a big advantage!

Climbing high peaks brings with it a set of unique challenges – low oxygen levels being the major one. This can cause breathing difficulties and in extreme cases fatalities in people with underlying medical conditions. That’s how important carrying oxygen reserves to high-altitude places actually is. This is turn gives rise to a new set of challenges – carrying bulky oxygen cylinders which can be laborious and take up a lot of useful space that could otherwise be used to store important supplies. Even using portable oxygen cylinders doesn’t have much merit.

I always imagined an oxygen concentrator machine that would be able to provide the necessary assistance while not being bulky or even look like a medical device, to be frank. This ultra-portable oxygen machine conceptualizes the dire need for a medical device capable of assisting climbers and trekkers in a form factor no bigger than your portable HHD. The compact outdoor equipment reduces all the extra bulk in a slim design that can be hooked right onto the backpack’s shoulder strap or your waist. It is so lightweight and small, you won’t even notice it is even there.

Dubbed OXYGIO, the portable oxygen concentrator designed by Yifeeling Design extracts the oxygen molecules from the air, filters, and compresses them to channel pure oxygen via the nasal cannula to the wearer. The medical equipment looks more like a modern gadget which is another advantage for people who like their things to be aesthetically pleasing. The digital display on the front shows the SPO2 levels and the remaining battery percentage.

While the designers don’t detail the operational time of the medical gadget, I presume it should be good for 3-4 hours. Also, the logical assumption is, it could be plugged into a battery bank to charge in around an hour or so . I seriously believe this should be the way to go for portable oxygen concentrator manufacturers who’ve stuck to the boring design for the most part. It would be the ideal situation if they can achieve the slim and ultra-compact form factor of the OXYGIO .

Designer: Yifeeling Design

These portable medical devices are designed be a completely incognito health monitoring setup

Posted on by

Lunit is a collection of portable medical devices designed to be inconspicuous for comfortable use in public settings.

Portable medical devices are trusted by those of us with health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Recontextualizing the portable medical device to be more accessible and tactful, designers Dayeon Jang and Sungchae Park created Lunit, a collection of portable medical devices designed for use in public settings.

Lunit is comprised of four medical devices: an inhaler, blood glucose meter, insulin syringe, and a blood pressure oximeter. Jang and Park took on the portable medical device because they noticed a lack of ergonomics and comfort in the antiquated medical devices still on the market today. Each device of Lunit is inspired by the dark side of the moon to be inconspicuous at first glance, laced in smoky black and gray tones and wrapped in translucent coverings reminiscent of evening mist.

Lunit’s inhaler comes in the same familiar shape as traditional inhalers, but a tubelike build with rounded corners and edges gives it a smoother grip and more ergonomic handling shape. The translucent coverings on both ends of the inhaler also work to give it a more obscure look.

Jang and Park reinterpreted the blood glucose meter as a household product that could be taken on the go as easily as the inhaler. The insulin syringe also finds a bit of obscurity through translucent, foggy coverings that conceal the full function of the syringe, giving it a design as discreet as a pen’s. Finally, the blood pressure oximeter is small enough to fit inside your breast or back pocket and comes with all the functions of a traditional oximeter.

Designed to fit inside your pocket, portable medical devices like inhalers and insulin syringes allow users to take care of restricted airways and high blood sugar levels from anywhere, but sometimes the device’s aesthetic design is less user-friendly than their portability. In prioritizing a discreet look for Lunit, the designers hoped to dampen the staring eyes and stigma typically associated with portable medical devices.

Speaking to this, the designers suggest, “When using medical devices outside, users can [become] nervous or uncomfortable because they are worried about what people think about them or their actions. We want to solve [this] through design so that users with underlying diseases can no longer hide and take care of their health with confidence.”

Designers: Sungchae Park and Dayeon Jang

The ribbed, translucent covering of Lunit’s insulin syringe gives it inconspicuous concealment.

When covered, the insulting syringe from Lunit looks like a pen. 

The blood pressure oximeters are adorned with yellow dots similar to a starry night.

Small enough to fit into any pocket, Lunit’s oximeter can be taken anywhere.

The household blood glucose meter looks just like a portable radio.

Equipped with their own carrying case, each device from Lunit is designed to make taking care of yourself look as good as it feels.