Some developing countries rely on the funds and donations to buy even the most basic amenities needed in an ER wing of a hospital. Take a stethoscope, for example. It was not uncommon for doctor Tarek Loubani to hold his ears to the patient’s chest to hear their heartbeats. What costed $200, is now affordable in just $5 thanks to Loubani and his team.

The inspiration struck when Laubani realised how clear his nephew’s toy stethoscope was. If a cheap toy could be that efficient, why couldn’t a handy model be provided in the hospitals at this rate? So, he and his team of doctors and hackers of Gaza, set to work in a project they named the Glia project. This team had been at this for three years now, with incredibly promising result, better than the current quality of industrial stethoscopes.

The head of the stethoscope was 3D printed at the mere cost of 30 cents. Further adding a tube and an earphone, would bring the cost up to $5 USD. Laubani has been testing a acoustic ability of this re-modelled out-of-patent product with tests designed by him, and is confidant that it would ace the final audio tests. What is left for it to be complete, is a y-piece which splits sound coming from the main tube, and goes in the examiner’s both ears.

Glia project is already turned its attention to another medical device that they hope can be bought down to a lower cost: an open-source pulse oximeter (a device that monitors blood oxygen levels) and an electrocardiogram. All the date and code of this project is stored in GitHub and accessible worldwide to all doctors and medical professionals to consult and provide their opinions.

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Author:Technology Blog