Here is a mock-up of the final prototype, created by Chris Esser of the mechanical engineering department.  The prototype is currently displaying a pulse oximeter signal.  Would Doctors in developing countries be interested in a device like this?

A number of engineers including myself have began an organization appropriately named MEDECAL (MEdical Devices for Emerging Countries Available for Low-cost). The Biomedical Engineering Department has been nice enough to grant us space in the department where we have set up shop.  We are also working under the guidance of one of the best and brightest in the field of Medical Instrumentation, Dr. John G. Webster.

Last semester we had three seperate undergraduate teams working under our direction. Each of these groups began the design and development of three different low-cost medical devices: pulse oximeter, thermometer, and spirometer.

These groups were able to accomplish quite a bit, but the projects are continuing during this summer.  A team of students from across the United States and a couple students from Lebanon (yes, the country of) have come to Madison to continue working on these medical devices over the summer.  I hope too soon start posting some of the designs that we have began to come up with to get input into our designs.

Also please feel free to contact me in you are interested in helping out ono this project.  Any engineers who are interested in learning please take a look at our supplemental training curriculum.  This is a program one member of the MEDECAL team setup to assist students in the design and development process.