Two new devices developed by AKU faculty and staff have received US patents, bringing the total number of US patents earned by faculty and staff to 10. In addition, an AKU-developed mobile app received first prize at an international competition.
THE GLOVE
The Glove is a three-in-one wearable device that can be used to measure oxygen saturation via an infrared sensor and blood pressure via an inflatable cuff, while also recording an electrocardiogram via electrodes. It can therefore take the place of a pulse oximeter, a sphygmomanometer and an electrocardiogram machine. Readings are sent wirelessly to a smartphone application and an algorithm generates a diagnosis. The Glove is comfortable, washable – its electronic components are waterproof – and easy to use. It has received a US patent and researchers are working to engage a company to build prototypes that can be used in a clinical trial. The Glove was funded by Grand Challenges Canada and developed by Professor Ayeesha Kamran Kamal, Senior Instructor Ambreen Gowan and a team of researchers at the Digital Health Resource Centre that included Saleem Sayani, Hafiz Imtiaz Ahmed, Hafsa Talat and Muhammad Abdul Muqeet.
PORTABLE ECG DEVICE
Roughly the size of a thumb drive, the ECG On-the-Go can be used at home by patients to record an electrocardiogram and send it via a mobile app to their physician, enabling the detection of a variety of heart problems. As patients do not always exhibit symptoms when a scheduled electrocardiogram is performed, the flexibility the device permits can enable the detection of issues that might otherwise be overlooked. The US-patented device features a rechargeable battery and retractable electrodes and can be used with either dry or gel electrodes. Researchers are working to engage a company to build prototypes that can be used in a clinical trial. The ECG On-the-Go was developed by Saleem Sayani, Muhammad Abdul Muqeet, Hafiz Imtiaz Ahmed, Hafsa Talat, Professor Ayeesha Kamran Kamal, Ambreen Amir Ali and Naeem Sheikh.
PUMPING HEART SIMULATOR
Cardiac surgery trainees can benefit from practicing procedures on heart simulators, yet most such simulators are unable to mimic blood flow and are therefore insufficiently lifelike. An AKU team was able to create a higher-fidelity simulator that pumps a blood-like fluid through a cow’s heart. The device was created by Professor Saulat Fatimi, Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery; the late Professor Charles Docherty, who prior to his untimely passing in early 2023 was Director of the Centre for Innovation in Medical Education; and Dr Mohammad Bin Pervez, a graduate of the MBBS programme and a former chief resident in cardiothoracic surgery. The simulator is housed within the Anatomy and Surgery Learning Studio and is being used by cardiac surgery residents. “The pumping heart simulator represents a significant breakthrough in cardiac surgery training,” said Dr Fatimi, who hopes to eventually market the device to other institutions. “While earlier simulators were limited to training procedures designed for the surface of the heart, our simulator allows trainees to practice procedures inside the heart.” A US patent has been applied for.
HAYAT MOBILE APPLICATION
The Hayat mobile application is used by 1,850 Lady Health Workers in rural Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. Lady Health Workers are government-employed community health workers who provide basic health services to women, children and families during home visits. As they visit households, workers use the Hayat app to record details of the services they deliver, while a geomapping feature tracks their location. The data can be analyzed and used for decision-making by supervisors and policymakers. In addition, individuals receive a card with a QR code that LHWs can use to instantly pull up their patient records. Hayat won the top prize in the maternal and neonatal Commonwealth Digital Health Awards. Support for the development of the devices was provided by the University’s Technology Innovation Support Centre and Digital Health Resource Centre.