Problem being addressed
Early detection of preeclampsia is key so as to prevent eclampsia, a high blood pressure disorder and the second-leading cause of maternal deaths in the developing world. However, early detection is a rarity in developing countries because of the lack of affordable hypertension detectors and also because unskilled health workers find it difficult to operate and read conventional devices. Thus, there is a need for simple detection of hypertension for mothers in low-resource settings.
Detailed description of the solution
Jhpiego, a non-profit international health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, has developed a durable, easy-to-use, and affordable detector containing a mechanical crank that produces either a green or red light to signal hypertension. The device utilizes oscillometry to detect blood pressure. The detector can be utilized in peripheral level health care settings or homes.
Designed by
- Designed by: Jhpiego.
- Manufacturer location: Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, USA
When and where it was tested/implemented
Field testing was conducted in 2010 in Nepal.
Funding Source
This device received funding from the USAID Innovation Award.
References
Other internally generated reports
Jhpiego Innovations Program: Development, Delivery and Impact at Scale. (n.d.). Jhpiego: Innovating to Save Lives. Retrieved January 1, 2013. Link available here.
M. Trachtenberg, M., Lee, S. Jayaram, G., Acharya, S., Thakor, N. Sangvi, H. (n.d.). Hypertension Detector for Developing Countries. Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved January 1, 2013. PDF available here.
Externally generated reports
Hypertension Detector for LDCs. (2011, March 3). Maternova: Tools and ideas that save mothers and newborns. Retrieved January 1, 2013. Link available here.