From a simple wooden pipe in 1816 to a device that’s undergone several improvements today, the stethoscope has been a doctor’s close friend. And in the 200th year of its invention, a digital innovation by a Bengaluru start-up holds the promise of bringing it home for the first time.
The device, called Taal, has been designed for both medical professionals and patients to use by MUSEinc, a two-year-old start-up.
“With many features, it increases accuracy and efficiency for medical professionals and revolutionizes how we look at stethoscopes,” say the makers, who wish to keep the technology in the open source, allowing others to make use of it too.
Most doctors today still choose between acoustic and electronic stethoscopes. Not that digital stethoscopes haven’t hit the market but what this team has done to it is insert a processor that enables automation of the calculation of the heart rate and recording of other sounds from within the body.
Not only does it provide for a reading on the device, but also gives one graphical representation of heart waves on the mobile, and allows users to send it to doctors. The patient needs no additional training to understand what he/she is hearing from the earplugs of the stethoscope.
“You simply place it on your chest and let the device do the rest. It’s about time we bring the stethoscope into the house“, MUSEinc CEO Dr Arvind Badrinarayanan said.
According to Chief Biotechnology Officer Sumukh Mysore, Taal has precise sound filtration; it isolates S1 (first heart sound) and S2 sounds from ambient noise, making heartbeats and other internal sounds clearly audible.
“The concept is good and I think it will make the stethoscope a household device like glucometer. Digitalization helps enhance accuracy, but we’ll have to see how doctors like it“, Dr Ajith Benedict Rayan, Medical Director, Hosmat Hospital said.
Sumukh, while stating they’ve been consulting several professionals, said, “A couple of doctors from the US are using our device. Dr George Cherian, consultant cardiologist, Narayana Hrudayalaya, had a deep look, gave us advice and lent his digital stethoscope to test against Taal. Jakob Kandlhoft, scientist logistical aid,National Science Foundation’s McMurdo Station, Antarctica, will be using it at McMurdo Hospital.“
Monitoring heart waves
“Taal can also help patients keep track of their heart waves over time, and even allow for reliable remote monitoring of patients with heart conditions,” Badrinarayanan said.
Its sound filtration, combined with volume control and heavy bass earphones, allows the user to focus on heart/body sounds. “Taal also has modes to switch between heart sounds and other internal sounds,” Badrinarayanan said.
This, he said, helps bring the stethoscope also into environments that previously weren’t accessible, like airplanes (the engine and ambient sounds would be deafening with an acoustic stethoscope) and extreme cold climates (the rubber tubes aren’t compatible with the climate).
Useful for docs, patients
- Taal is 3D printed & locally made in Bengaluru. Innovators wish to keep the technology in the open source
- From compact size to lightweight and the app interface, it’s designed for comfort; has a long, rechargeable battery life of up to 24 hours
- OLED display and app displaying heart waves, increases accessibility for hearing impaired medical professionals
- Socially enabled: Users can record & share sounds on Taal with others with the app, or download and email it
- Can help doctors in remote areas get a second opinion, or come to a better diagnosis with help from a hospital in a bigger city
Source: Times of India
