BP to sugar, a device to monitor it all at home

Elumalai decided to design a device which would be less costly and a better equivalent of the current one that Vijayalakshmi was using and thus ‘MouthLab’ came into existence. 

A certified professional in healthcare and a formally trained health services researcher, Elumalai built a tricorder-style, non-invasive, rapid medical assessment device for monitoring chronic disease patients at home. “With the ability to measure pulse rate, ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, breathing pattern, blood sugar, dehydration and lung function through the mouth, MouthLab is a boon for chronic patients. It can measure everything in less than a minute without the need for any ancillary devices,” Elumalai told DTNext.

“I want to help patients and make a difference in their lives. My mother’s health condition had become erratic and I was having trouble monitoring it properly. Though I designed MouthLab with the preliminary motive of helping my mother, I am sure it will be a great boon for others after its launch by end of 2017,” he added. 

Already having got two patents, Elumalai and his team at a Diagnostics company, are awaiting two other patents. “At present, we are carrying out a pilot programme at John’s Hopkins Medical Institute in the US,” he said, adding, “MouthLab will help measure a patient’s overall health. With this device, she will be able to measure everything in just 30 seconds.” 

The device will soon also benefit others. “An individual will be able to keep track of his health on a regular basis and avoid developing diseases like diabetes,” Elumalai added.