Author: yvette mirabal

Diagnostic Lab-in-a-Backpack

May 2008

“This is really important because so many people who are willing to go and help people don’t have the materials to do the job….The potential of this to save lives is really quite staggering.”
- Former President Bill Clinton, CGI U 2008

Beyond Traditional Borders

Rice University
6100 S. Main St. - MS142
Houston, TX 77005
Ph: 713-348-4549
Fax: 713-348-5877
E-mail: beyondtraditionalborders@rice.edu

Diagnostic packs ready to go to 7 more locations.

This initiative is made possible by a grant to Rice University from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Undergraduate Science Education Program.

Global Health Challenge
Physicians delivering healthcare to rural communities in developing countries face a number of challenges. Poor infrastructure and the remote locations of villages prevent medical teams from bringing electronic diagnostic equipment. Additionally, tuberculosis, AIDS, and malaria are rampant through segments of the population. A 2007 UNAIDS reported 22.5 million cases of AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since follow-up visits are difficult, doctors need the tools to make an accurate diagnosis during the initial visit. Collaboration with Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) and Baylor Shoulder to Shoulder physicians provided the background for the design of a portable Diagnostic Lab-in-a-Backpack.
Appropriate Solution
The original backpack was developed by a team of senior bioengineering design students in a course at Rice University and was field tested in Honduras. Subsequently, the design was updated to improve the features and power source and included tools specific to the needs of Central America or Sub-Saharan Africa. The Lab-in-a-Backpack contains tools necessary for diagnose major health issues in these locations. The tools include an efficient 100x oil emersion microscope, a centrifuge, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, glucometer, pulse oximeter, sphygmomanometer, and several rapid diagnostic tests. These tools are powered through a power control unit by an integrated battery that is recharged with wall or solar power. Dr. Maria Oden, Dr. Rebecca Richards-Kortum and the partnering doctors physicians have been pivotal to the implementation of this design.
Current Status
The Diagnostic Lab-in-a-Backpack has been delivered to physicians in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi. These physicians will use the pack and provide feedback to further enhance the design. Additionally, new types of specialized equipment will be designed and included in future versions of the pack. Other types of treatment packs are also planned, including dental, ophthalmologic and gynecologic packs.

Physician using medical equipment in rural Nicaragua.

An initiative for the advancement of appropriate, high-value innovations in global health biotechnology

Student Design Team
Please insert your team name, team logo, and individual team member names.
In the dark gray box on the left hand side of the document, replace the black diamond with your team logo. List the individual team member names as specified below the logo.

2) Partner Organizations
Please insert any of the following logos from the organizations that your team partnered with for the project.
Place the logo(s) on the left hand side of the document, in the space below the team member names and above the HHMI logo.

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Rice University
6100 S. Main St. - MS142
Houston, TX 77005
Ph: 713-348-4549
Fax: 713-348-5877
E-mail: beyondtraditionalborders@rice.edu

Beyond Traditional Borders