Photo Credit: Goran Samardziski

The University of British Columbia's Electrical & Computer Engineering in Medicine has developed what it calls a low cost, robust prototype pulse oximeter device that pairs with mobile devices. The researchers explain that pulse ox devices can help clinicians detect signs of hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) as a result of anesthesia. Hypoxemia can lead to brain damage or death if not discovered quickly. In the developing world, death rates from anesthesia are 100 time to 1,000 times higher than the developed world, according to the researchers' website.

The PhoneOximeter has already been used in trials in Uganda.

"The Phone Oximeter combines an FDA approved pulse oximeter sensor and module with a cell phone. Our low cost, robust prototype pulse oximeter device conveys the quality and trend of physiological data over time through its intuitive user interface. The ease of use, presentation of warning signals and reliance on symbols mean that it can aid any clinician, regardless of language, in detecting clinical events and making clinical decisions. The future integration of clinical expertise into the software will allow non-specialist healthcare workers to monitor anesthesia with confidence," the researchers wrote on their website.

The researchers believe that pairing pulse oximeters with mobile phones will help move pulse oximetry from hospital to non-hospital settings. The team believes the device is inexpensive enough and easy enough to use that non-specialist healthcare workers and patients would use it home.

"The primary goal of this Phone Oximeter project is to demonstrate the potential for enhanced delivery of information from a pulse oximeter to enhance the safety of anesthesia care throughout the developing world," the researchers wrote.

More on the PhoneOximeter project here.