Scanadu Scout – The First Medical Tricorder

By . in Gadgets. Updated on .

Update: Scanadu Scout is no longer available.

If you’re a Star Trek fan, you’ll remember Dr. Leonard McCoy’s tricorder, a device that quickly scans a person to check their health. While it seemed like pure science fiction back then, a company is now turning this concept into reality.

Scanadu, a startup from Singularity University, has developed the Scanadu Scout, a real-life medical tricorder. Just place it near someone’s forehead, and it will send their vital stats to a smartphone via Bluetooth. It’s like having an emergency room in your pocket!

Here’s what the Scanadu Scout can measure:

  • Heart rate
  • Body temperature
  • Respiratory rate
  • Blood pressure
  • Electrocardiography (ECG)
  • Oxygen levels
  • Emotional stress
Scanadu Scout device

The device uses passive sensors like electrodes, IR light sensors, and thermistors and takes only about 10 seconds to get your vitals.

Using Scanadu Scout on forehead

The data is sent to your smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0 Smart Low Energy (LE) and displayed through the Scanadu Scout app, which is not yet available for download.

Scanadu Scout app interface

The Scanadu Scout comes with a rechargeable battery and a micro-USB port for charging. It takes less than an hour to fully charge and can last up to a week if used sparingly. While it’s not waterproof, you can easily clean it with a damp cloth.

Back view of Scanadu Scout

You can support this project and get your own Scanadu Scout for $199 on Indiegogo. The device and its app are expected to be available by the end of 2013.

Front view of Scanadu Scout

Please note that the Scanadu Scout is not yet FDA approved due to its current accuracy levels. However, by supporting the project, you can help improve the device by participating in official clinical studies.

More Information

Aside from the Scanadu Scout, the team is also working on another device called the Scanadu Scanaflo. This is a urine test kit that can measure various health indicators, including glucose, blood, protein, pH levels, and even pregnancy tests. More details will be available as the focus is currently on the Scanadu Scout.

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