Extending the capabilities of mobile device based pulse oximetry

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Mobile Health (mHealth) refers to the use of mobile phones to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. In a world of 7 billion people and 6.8 billion mobile phones, mHealth represents a remarkable avenue for screening and care delivery. Our team from UBC has created an innovative mHealth solution called the Phone Oximeter, which uses a phone app and a finger sensor to measure blood oxygen saturation. Blood oxygen saturation is an important vital sign and by combining it with answers to a few simple questions we can help diagnose and monitor patients, and provide decision-making support to healthcare providers in resource-poor settings. The technical innovation of this solution is in the application of complex principles of biomedical engineering and medical physiology to the creation of a low-cost, accurate and effective device that is easy to use in the field with minimal training and maintenance.