Department of Biomedical Engineering
Tulane University
500 Boggs Center
New Orleans, LA 70118
http://www.bmen.tulane.edu
Department Chair: Donald P. Gaver
Supervising Professor: David A. Rice
rice@tulane.edu
http://www.tulane.edu/~rice
BME-IDEA Team 2009-2010 project:
Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Device
Diagnosis of malaria is problematic due to the non-specificity of
signs and symptoms of severe malaria. The over-diagnosis of
malaria is becoming increasingly prevalent, and administering
anti-malarial drugs to patients with other severe diseases delays
appropriate treatment and is not cost-effective. Studies on
malarial retinopathy have identified several signs highly
specific to malaria, including retinal whitening and retinal
vessel discoloration.
Due to the specificity of retinopathy observed in patients with
malaria, we propose a comprehensive low-cost diagnostic tool to
aid health care workers in high risk areas with malaria
diagnosis. Using a procedure similar to ophthalmoscopy, the
retina of a patient may be viewed by projecting a light source
onto the retinal area and measuring the levels of reflected light
with photodiode photodetectors. The absorption profile of the
patient's retina will be analyzed with a programmable integrated
circuit. The vessel discoloration associated with cerebral
malaria has been shown to absorb very specific wavelengths, thus
forming a unique absorption profile. When this signature
absorption profile is present, a visual cue (i.e. red or green
light) will indicate positive or negative diagnosis.
This device will be completely non-invasive and designed to fit
snugly over the eye of the patient, providing for accurate
readings with minimal interference from outside light sources and
performing the diagnosis within seconds.
IDEA Team Members:
Donald Campbell, Austin Dobbins, Alison Douglas, John Huck, Xun Liu, Joseph Majdi, Josh Thieman
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