The Qualcomm Tricorder Xprize competition is down to the final round, with competition between the Dynamical Biomarkers Group team and Basil Leaf Technologies’ Final Frontier Medical Devices team. The final round includes a diagnostic competition on 20 to 39 consumers per team, a vital signs competition, a consumer experience evaluation; and proof of adequate high-frequency data logging of vital signs.
Yesterday, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) announced that Chung-Kang Peng, PhD, who leads the Taiwan-based Dynamical Biomarkers Group team, will present data on his team’s tricorder prototype in a special session at the 69th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo in San Diego this summer.
He will also be joined by Qualcomm Tricorder Xprize semi-finalist Eugene Chan, MD. In addition to sharing the research behind their mobile diagnostic devices, the two will discuss the potential future of their inventions, as well as the hurdles they encountered in bringing their ideas to life.
“We are thrilled that the Qualcomm Tricorder Xprize’s visionary scientists will present their technology at the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting,” said AACC CEO Janet B. Kreizman, as reported at Newswise. “Every year, laboratory medicine experts and healthcare leaders from around the world come to AACC to learn about the advancements in clinical testing that could improve patient care. That makes this the ideal forum for the Qualcomm Tricorder Xprize innovators to introduce these revolutionary devices to the healthcare community.”
According to the prize rules, a qualifying tricorder would weigh five pounds or less an would be expected to monitor vital signs continuously and wirelessly log data to a cloud. The device would also be able to diagnose core conditions; one that could diagnose elective conditions as well would be more competitive.
The vital signs include blood pressure, electrocardiography (heart rate/variability), body temperature, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation.
Core conditions include anemia, urinary tract infection, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, otitis (ear infection), leukocytosis, and finally, absence of core conditions.
Elective conditions include pertussis, hypertension, mononucleosis, hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism, food-borne illness, shingles, melanoma, strep throat, cholesterol, and HIV.
