Handheld Acoustic Diagnostic Device for Tuberculosis Screening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnostic methods for tuberculosis, such as sputum microscopy and Gene Xpert, are not 100% reliable, time-consuming, or expensive, and lack a cost-effective, portable solution for epidemic screening, especially in developing countries.

Innovation Solution

A handheld device that uses audible sound to diagnose medical conditions through audiometric analysis by creating and transmitting standardized percussion sounds, analyzing resonated sounds using a microphone and diaphragm, and generating audiometric graphs to differentiate between normal and tuberculosis-positive subjects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sputum microscopy is used for tuberculosis diagnosis, then diagnostic capability is provided, but reliability is not 100% and time is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic reliabilityVSAvoiddiagnosis time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual percussion technique with an automated electronic device that generates standardized percussion sounds through a speaker or transducer. This mechanical-to-electronic substitution eliminates human variability in percussion force and frequency, providing consistent, reproducible diagnostic measurements with immediate results, thereby improving both reliability and reducing diagnosis time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device creates standardized percussion sounds that replicate the manual percussion technique but with precise control over frequency, amplitude, and duration. By copying the essential characteristics of manual percussion while adding electronic precision, the system achieves reliable diagnostic results without the time loss associated with manual examination variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If Gene Xpert technique is used for tuberculosis diagnosis, then diagnostic speed is improved, but cost increases and availability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis speedVSAvoidcost effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a simple, low-cost electronic device with a speaker, microphone, and basic signal processing components that can be manufactured inexpensively and deployed widely. This disposable-like approach to diagnostics—using simple, replaceable electronic components—drastically reduces cost while maintaining diagnostic speed, making it suitable for epidemic screening in resource-limited settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

By replacing complex molecular biology techniques (Gene Xpert) with a simple acoustic measurement system, the patent achieves comparable diagnostic speed using inexpensive electronic components rather than expensive laboratory equipment, thereby improving cost-effectiveness and availability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If manual percussion technique is used for clinical examination, then diagnostic capability is provided, but limited human abilities and skills restrict accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepercussion accuracyVSAvoidhuman skill requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual percussion technique performed by clinicians with an electronic device that automatically generates standardized percussion sounds. This substitution eliminates the need for skilled manual percussion technique, removing the barrier of human skill variability and providing consistent, precise measurements regardless of operator expertise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs the percussion function autonomously without requiring human skill or judgment. The electronic system self-regulates the percussion parameters and automatically processes the resonant sound analysis, making the diagnostic capability independent of human skill levels while maintaining high measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Provides a rapid, cost-effective, non-invasive, and portable diagnostic tool for tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases, capable of differentiating between sputum positive and negative cases, and other medical conditions, facilitating epidemic screening and telemedicine applications.

Implementation Method 1

the resonated sound depends on the underlying medical condition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic resonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

a diaphragm that can be placed firmly on the surface of the human body for audiometric analysis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound vibration detection: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS9962088B2Non-invasive diagnostic device based on audiometric analysis

Publication Date: 2018.05.08 RAJESH LAB PVT LTD

AI summary

The handheld device is useful in the diagnosis of diseases and medical conditions based on audiometric analysis of resonated sound. This device has a mechanism to create a sound with the particular characteristics, a mechanism to transmit the sound into the human body at the given anatomical surface area, a system to pick up or receive the resonated sound, an audiometric analyzer and a display to display the results based on the audiometric analysis of resonated sound.