In the world of *Star Trek*, fans are familiar with the Tricorder—a handheld medical device that allows doctors to quickly and accurately assess a patient's condition without relying on traditional tools like stethoscopes or blood tests. This futuristic gadget can capture all necessary health data in seconds. While it may seem like science fiction, the reality is closer than you think. Thanks to advancements in technology, particularly **3D printing**, scientists are working to bring this vision to life.
Recently, a team of engineers at Johns Hopkins University, led by Dr. Gene Fridman, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering, has developed a 3D-printed medical device capable of measuring a patient’s key vital signs in just seconds. The device uses a thumb pad and mouthpiece to collect data such as blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rate, body temperature, and more. The thumb pad includes a small pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen, while the mouthpiece uses advanced algorithms and multiple sensors to gather additional vital information.
This innovative project has led to the creation of a company called Multisensor Diagnostics, with the device named *MouthLab*. Although still in the prototype phase, many of its components have already been 3D printed, significantly reducing development time and costs.
Dr. Fridman described the device as a “check engine light†for the human body. It can be used at home or in the field, without requiring any special training. He emphasized that the device could collect more health data than traditional methods like ambulances, emergency rooms, or even a doctor’s office during a single evaluation.
The team’s goal is to make the device so simple that users can just breathe normally while holding it, and within 10 seconds, their vital signs will be measured. The final product will display the collected data on a built-in screen and also send the information to a laptop or cloud platform for further analysis.
According to Fridman, *MouthLab* empowers people without medical training to make better health decisions. It has the potential to improve healthcare access in underdeveloped regions, reduce emergency cases, and enable earlier disease detection. With continued development, this technology could revolutionize how we monitor and manage our health on a daily basis.
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Suzhou Herstar Medical Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.hosunherstar.com