Reprint from RCPSC Dialogue, Vol. 14, No. 10, October 2014
When Star Trek: The Original Series debuted in the late 1960s, it’s visionary tricorder — a portable device capable of scanning, sensing, computing and recording data — was the substance of dreams. Those dreams are quickly becoming a reality.
Sonny Kohli, MD, FRCPC, and his team at Cloud DX have been named one of 10 team finalists for the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE®. This global competition, announced in 2012, will award 10 million in development money to the team that creates the best medical tricorder device, based on the prize parameters.
“I really view us as almost a David vs. Goliath because we’re a really small team, not a lot of money, but we managed to go from almost 300 teams down to 10,” said Dr. Kohli, team lead and attending physician in intensive care and Internal Medicine at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.
“I don’t know if we’ll win, but we’ve gone a long way.”
About the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE
The teams face a challenging task. The Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE® is seeking a device that
- is able to continuously monitor five health vital signs: heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature and breathing rate.
- can accurately diagnose 16 conditions — 13 required core conditions and a choice of three elective conditions that Dr. Kohli has broadly categorized as common ailments (e.g. bladder, ear or throat infections), chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol) and conditions significant in a global-context (e.g. tuberculosis and HIV).
- can be used independent of a health care worker or health care facility.
- does not exceed five pounds in weight.
(photo courtesy of Cloud DX)
Every team has a different approach to their solution and that diversity is encouraged. Throughout the competition, teams have had access to staff at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and user interface experts who have answered questions, provided basic training and general principles to guide the development of their devices. Ultimately, the goal is to award a device that meets the FDA’s rigorous safety standards, would be approved for home use, and able to provide a simple and valuable user experience.
The difference is in the detail
When asked what makes Cloud DX’s submission different than those of the other nine finalists, Dr. Kohli points to blood pressure.
“All the other entries have very interesting pieces of the puzzle and they’re all exceptional in their own right, but the one thing that none of them have is the blood pressure figured out. Nobody else has a bona fide way to measure blood pressure that is already approved by the FDA — we do and we’re already selling that product [Pulsewave® Health Monitor]. We’re just taking that current technology and making it more portable and wireless.”
Pulsewave® is the foundation of Cloud DX’s “Vitaliti” XPRIZE® submission. It is a multi-function device and cloud diagnostic application capable of measuring and transmitting blood pressure, heart rate and other vital sign data from a wrist cuff to a personal computer, tablet or smartphone.
In addition to this wearable, wireless device, the other component of the team’s submission is a portable home-based lab. This kit will enable the diagnosis of conditions that require blood, urine or saliva samples or other simple diagnostic tests.
“The real challenge is teaching people how to monitor their health and doing it in a way that’s easy. Without question, there will be a little bit of education; but just like smartphones, eventually it became intuitive.”
The endgame
Dr. Kohli’s goal is widespread use of the Vitaliti device by as diverse people as a flight attendant, trying to determine if the plane needs to be grounded; individuals on a boat or camping in the woods; someone climbing Everest; someone working in a remote medical clinic; home care workers or outreach nurses in retirement or long-term care homes; or even parents at home.
“Ultimately, if we win or not is almost irrelevant to me; really, the goal is to get it to market so that one day people in Haiti and India, my mother, my wife — we’re all using this thing. That, to me, is the real prize.”
Dr. Kohli and his team are now building their prototype, before the final prize judging in fall 2015. The winning team is expected to be announced in January 2016.
Visit the XPRIZE® homepage for news and a competition overview. You can also visit the Cloud DX website to learn more about Dr. Kohli and his team’s device.
