Problem / Objective

Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever and difficulty breathing. The severity of the condition is variable. Pneumonia is usually caused by infection with viruses or bacteria, and less commonly by other microorganisms. Identifying the responsible pathogen can be difficult. Diagnosis is often based on symptoms and physical examination. Chest X-rays, blood tests, and culture of the sputum may help confirm the diagnosis. The disease may be classified by where it was acquired, such as community- or hospital-acquired or healthcare-associated pneumonia.

Pneumonia has troubled the world for decades, with deaths mounting when early detection is missed. The World Health Organization estimates that each year the number of people affected by pneumonia is nearly 450 million, with the number of deaths reaching 4,000,000 per year, mostly in the developing world. These numbers represent a lot of pain, lost dreams and grief for people everywhere, and can be mitigated. 

So far, the detection of pneumonia is achieved by using x-rays, chest scans or extracting blood serum in extreme cases. BUT this requires time, resources, skilled personnel, and it is expensive! 

Solution / Approach

I’ve been working on a solution that harnesses low-cost hardware and software that can deliver effective detection for people everywhere, regardless of location, skill and affordability.

With complete open-source SDK's and hardware devices the project can be easily used and developed by anyone.

Impact / Implementation

This project will be superbly useful to doctors and will help them for a faster checkup and treatment with up to 80 percent accuracy. (Doctor's can give up to 30% only)

No need for the internet or a power source. The device can run from a single coin cell battery for months/years.