GAFAMS, STARTUPS & INNOVATION IN HEALTHCARE by PHARMAGEEK

The range of medical peripherals available for the iPhone is growing rapidly. We have IBGStar for blood glucose measurements, AliveCor for heart rhythm checks, and many more. Add to that list ThermoDock.

Many healthcare providers will be familiar with the temporal artery probe used in many hospitals, which use infrared technology to measure body temperature. These devices are especially useful for intubated patients and children; frankly, they are probably more comfortable for most patients than holding a thermometer in their mouths (let alone some of the other places temperature is measured).

ThermoDock, developed by German device maker Medisana, goes one step further (or perhaps one step back) and measures body temperature without even touching the patient. Using a small peripheral for the iPhone or iPad, ThermoDock uses similar infrared technology to the temporal artery probe to calculate body temperature.

It is part of a suite of devices made for the iPhone and iPad including blood glucose monitors, blood pressure monitors, and weight scales that can already be purchased in the United States. But there are some important factors to consider before you rush out to get one or suggest it to your patients.

According to the technical specifications supplied by Medisana, ThermoDock can measure body temperature to an accuracy of +/- 0.2-0.3 degrees celsius in about 4 seconds. They also cite that the “clinical repeatability” as 0.19 degrees celsius. To do all of this, the device is powered by the connected iPhone or iPad.

The app collects and displays data in the free VitalDoc app which can store data, display trends, and transmit information via email.

Medisana also makes several other products for iOS devices including the CardioDock, GlucoDock, and the inexplicably named Targetscale Body Analysis Scale with Target Function. Data from all of these devices is collected and displayed in the VitalDock app.

ThermoDock is available throughFirebox, where it can be purchased for $96 plus tax and shipping. Other Medisana products can be purchased here as well – the Targetscale goes for about $200 plus tax and shipping.

However, its unclear what sort of clinical testing the device has actually undergone. It has not yet received FDA approval. The device does have CE certification (CD 0483) for sale in Europe. The same appears to be true of the other devices marketed by Medisana. Its not entirely clear whether FDA clearance is something that Medisana is pursuing though other infrared thermometers have certainly sought 510(k) clearance in the past.

Nonetheless, this device certainly continues the march towards medical technology that embraces form as much as it does function.

http://www.imedicalapps.com/2012/04/thermodock-temperature-easy-owning-smartphone/

 

Via dbtmobile, Philippe Loizon

Dr. Eric Topol, the chief academic officer of Scripps Health took to the stage with Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) Chairman and CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs, to talk ARM and smartphone's emerging roles as medical tools.

I. Ditch the Doctor, Get Technology

Dr. Jacobs isn't much of a fan of the traditional medical system, which he complain is "inefficient, bureaucratic, and at worst even inaccurate."

He points to the fact that it typically takes 21 days in the U.S. to just get a doctor's appointment, and then another 2 hours in the waiting room to see the doctor. As an alternative Qualcomm is pushing mobile self-diagnosis devices, which will help remove some of the reliance on unreliable medical professionals.

Dr. Topol -- author of the new book The Creative Destruction of Medicine -- had quite an exciting bag full of gadgets to back Dr. Jacobs claims. First he showed off a prototype of a hand-held, clip-on smartphone electrocardiogram (EKG) reader, made by Qualcomm-funded AliveCor. Apparently, Dr. Topol -- currently trialling the Alive Core device in the real world -- was able to use it to quickly diagnose that an airplane passenger having chest pains was having a heart attack, and not just indigestion. The airplane made an emergency landing, allowing the man's life to be saved.

The good doctor also showed off an Android widget that received real-time, continuous information from a glucose monitoring device. He also showed off a device from Sotera called Visi Wireless, which monitored in a non-intrusive way, continuously, as well as tracking other characteristics (blood oxygen, etc.) all from a slick watch package. Dr. Topol brags, "It's like an ICU on the wrist."

The Alive Core is seen here in hand, while the Visi Wireless blood-pressure and biometrics watch is seen worn on Dr. Topol's wrist.

Dr. Topol hinted that by using nanosensors you could detect a heart attack well in advance via certain cellular cues. The system could send a text message to your phone. Dr. Jacobs quipped, "That's one text message I don't want to get."

He wrapped up by showing a slick device from DNA Electronics that is a handheld DNA analyzer, capable of sequencing specific sequences of interest within seconds. Dr. Topol says he expects the device to soon be in the field at pharmacies, detecting genetic incompatibilities with certain medications, such as the heart medication Plavix.

II. Making the World's First "Real World Tricorder"

While Qualcomm clearly has its chips and loan dollars in a lot of interesting projects, the mobile chipmaker is stepping up its efforts to the next level with the "Tricorder X-Prize". The X-Prize follows successful X-Prize competitions for space travel, fuel efficiency, and oil spill cleanup -- competitions which produced solutions far superior to any existing ones.

The goal of the competition is to provide "self-diagnosis without the hospital."

The first team who can design a device capable of a broad self-diagnosis, while maintaining "fun" and "easy to use" design paradigms, will take home a check for $10M USD, courtesy of Qualcomm.

Of course it won't be a true Star Trek tricorder unless it can scan and diagnose you without touching the skin. But Qualcomm is allowing that to slide for now, for the sake of getting real products on the market.

Via dbtmobile

The FDA has granted a 510(K) Class II clearance to San Francisco-based AliveCor’s iPhone-enabled heart monitor, which has been commonly known as the “iPhoneECG” since it first made an appearance at CES two years ago. The company announced the clearance as the mHealth Summit kicks off this week in the Washington DC area. AliveCor will begin pre-selling the $199 clinical-quality, ECG monitor, which has the form factor of an iPhone case that fits iPhone 4 and 4S devices, directly from its website starting today, December 3rd.

Via SNJMG