Oxigator

The U.S. healthcare system's disparities are caused by its inability to accommodate physiological, economic, and lifestyle differences. This applies to patients of all diseases but especially terminally ill and neurodegenerative disease patients. Many POC communities distrust the medical process due to a history of medical mistreatment and financial limitations. With the prominent usage of oximeters, it continues to perpetuate and affirm this distrust by using a technology that is inherently unsuitable for these groups, e.g., by obtaining inaccurate readings on darker skin tones (FDA 1).

With COVID-19, minorities were disproportionately affected and received inadequate treatment at a high cost, which resulted in higher mortality levels during treatment. Mayo Clinic's COVID-19 infections by race: What's behind the health disparities? reports, "Non-Hispanic Black or African American people and Hispanic people are about twice as likely to need to stay in the hospital due to COVID-19..." (Mayo Clinic, 1). Inaccurate readings meant that during situations like COVID-19, many POC patients had gotten delayed help, directly affecting their mental and physical health. Many families can't afford these trials and tribulations.

Integral medical devices, such as oximeters, are crucial in the treatment and diagnosis journeys. They're in almost every medical and patient care setting. However, due to the insufficient testing on people of color during the developmental stages of the device, it's become harmful to many. For example, The University of Michigan's Institute of Policy and Innovation found that Black individuals are three times more likely to get inaccurate oximeter readings (Valley, Sjoding, Goold 1). Despite 30 years of awareness on this issue, the FDA is only now addressing this issue.

The Oxigator addresses the POC distrust in healthcare by providing a technology accommodating them as a gateway into making the healthcare system more accessible and accommodating. 

The Oxigator is a new oximeter designed to address three critical issues that are often overlooked by the oximeter market: skin thickness, circulation, and skin tone. These issues can lead to inaccurate readings for individuals who rely on regular oxygen readings, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones, poor circulation, and changing skin thickness. The Oxigator uses two new technologies to combat these issues. The first is circulation patches that increase blood flow to the fingertip, allowing for more accurate readings. The second is a magnetoresistive sensor that detects the magnetic discrepancies between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin, providing accurate readings for any skin tone. The device is also constructed with mu-metal foil shielding to prevent interference from external electromagnetic signals.

The overall design of the Oxigator is a simple rounded rectangular body with a finger opening and battery compartment. It will be available in gator print on the back of the clasp and come with many cases to choose from, appealing to younger users who might benefit from an animal design.

The modifications made to the current concept of an oximeter aid a large portion of the world's population, particularly people of color who have faced ongoing racial disparities in the medical field. Pulse oximeters are often unavailable in low-income countries, where they are an essential resource while administering anesthetic. The Oxigator is a reasonably priced option that can decrease this statistic and make preventative care accessible to all.

OptimalX Biotech Solutions, the creators of the Oxigator, will be able to patent the device's combination of technologies and the formula used to convert the found magnetic force into an active pulse/oxygen count, protecting their investment in developing the device.

In summary, the Oxigator is a new oximeter that addresses critical issues overlooked by the current market. It uses two new technologies to combat inaccurate readings caused by changing skin thickness, poor circulation, and skin tone. The device is reasonably priced and aims to make preventative care accessible to all, particularly people of color who have faced ongoing racial disparities in the medical field.

The U.S. healthcare system is plagued with disparities that disproportionately affect patients of color, those from low-income backgrounds, and those with certain lifestyle choices or medical conditions. The inability to accommodate physiological, economic, and lifestyle differences is a significant cause of these disparities. These disparities are especially prevalent in patients with terminal illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases.

Many communities of color have a history of medical mistreatment and financial limitations that have led to distrust in the medical process. The use of oximeters, a vital medical device in many patient care settings, perpetuates and affirms this distrust by providing inaccurate readings on darker skin tones. This problem has been known for over 30 years, yet it has taken the FDA until now to address the issue.

With the onset of COVID-19, minorities have been disproportionately affected and have received inadequate treatment, resulting in higher mortality rates during treatment. According to a report by Mayo Clinic, "Non-Hispanic Black or African American people and Hispanic people are about twice as likely to need to stay in the hospital due to COVID-19." This unequal treatment has directly impacted the mental and physical health of these patients and their families, who are often unable to afford the additional trials and tribulations that come with inaccurate medical devices.

Integral medical devices like oximeters are crucial in the treatment and diagnosis of various medical conditions. However, due to insufficient testing on people of color during the developmental stages of these devices, they have become harmful to many. Research by The University of Michigan's Institute of Policy and Innovation found that Black individuals are three times more likely to receive inaccurate oximeter readings. This lack of testing is unacceptable and perpetuates the systemic inequities within the healthcare system.

In conclusion, the healthcare system's disparities are deeply rooted in a lack of accommodation for physiological, economic, and lifestyle differences. This problem is especially prevalent among patients of color, those from low-income backgrounds, and those with terminal illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases. The use of integral medical devices like oximeters perpetuates these disparities by providing inaccurate readings, directly impacting the mental and physical health of patients and their families. It's time for the healthcare industry to address these systemic inequities and ensure that medical devices are tested and designed with the diversity of patients in mind.

The healthcare system has long been plagued by disparities, particularly for disadvantaged populations. Our team was formed out of a shared interest in uplifting these populations and addressing the challenges they face when it comes to accessing quality healthcare. We are a group of primarily women of color who feel a deep resonance with this issue, and we see MIT Solve as a way to begin making a real difference now.

Several members of our team have a background in the biological sciences, including Gauri and Paige. Their expertise in this area has been instrumental in helping us develop solutions that are tailored to our target market. They have also been invaluable in initiating progress and keeping the team grounded as we work towards our goals.

Neelasha is another key member of our team, responsible for compiling information and working through any roadblocks that we encounter. Her ability to organize and synthesize data has been crucial in keeping us on track and moving forward.

Srivalli brings a wealth of business knowledge to the team, and she has been instrumental in motivating us and providing a multidisciplinary perspective on our work. Her insights have helped us to think beyond our technical expertise and consider the practical and social aspects of what we are trying to achieve.

Finally, Ashika's experience in tech has been invaluable in helping us to develop our innovation. She has a strong background in research, and this has allowed us to approach our work with a rigorous and analytical mindset.

As a team, we are driven and focused on our goal of creating meaningful change in the healthcare industry. Our diverse skill set allows us to engage in all aspects of our company, including the technical, social, and practical components, with a clear and unified purpose. We are confident that we have the tools and the drive to succeed in this industry and make a real difference in the lives of those who have been historically marginalized and underserved.

MIT Solve provides us with the platform to showcase our innovative solutions and work towards a more equitable healthcare system. As a global community of problem-solvers, MIT Solve offers the resources, expertise, and network we need to scale our impact and make a real difference. We are excited to be a part of this community and look forward to collaborating with like-minded individuals and organizations to create lasting change in the healthcare industry.

The Oxigator is a prototype that has been developed to a functional level but requires further testing and refinement to become a market-ready product. As a future prototype, the device has been designed and built using specific materials and components to demonstrate its functionality and potential use in real-world scenarios. However, additional testing and refinement are needed to ensure that it meets the desired performance specifications and user requirements.

The focus of the future prototype is on improving the technology and optimizing its performance for a commercial market. This includes testing the device in various conditions and environments to identify potential issues and make necessary improvements. Additionally, the prototype will be refined based on user feedback to ensure that it is user-friendly and meets the needs of its target audience.

While the Oxigator has moved beyond the initial concept stage, it is not yet ready for commercialization. It will require additional development and testing before it can be manufactured in large quantities and made available on the market. The goal of the future prototype is to create a product that not only meets the technical specifications but is also commercially viable.

In conclusion, the Oxigator is a prototype that requires further testing and refinement to become a market-ready product. The focus of the future prototype is on improving the technology and optimizing its performance for a commercial market. While the device has moved beyond the initial concept stage, it will require additional development before it can be made available on the market. The goal is to create a product that not only meets technical specifications but is also user-friendly and commercially viable.

The potential audience for our device is diverse and wide-ranging, with the potential to reach individuals and organizations in a variety of fields and industries. Our device has been designed to address a specific need or challenge, and as such, its potential audience is likely to be those who face that same challenge or have a similar need.

For example, if our device is a medical device designed to assist with a particular condition, our potential audience may include medical professionals, patients with the condition, and caregivers or family members of those with the condition. In this case, our device would need to meet the specific needs and requirements of these groups, such as being easy to use and understand for patients, providing accurate and timely information for medical professionals, and being reliable and durable for caregivers.

Alternatively, if our device is a piece of technology designed to improve efficiency or productivity in a particular industry, our potential audience may include businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers in that industry. In this case, our device would need to address specific pain points or challenges faced by those in the industry, such as streamlining processes, reducing costs, or increasing output.

Ultimately, the potential audience for our device will depend on the specific problem or need it addresses and the industries or groups that are most affected by that problem or need. Our device may have broad applications and appeal to a wide audience, or it may be targeted to a specific niche market. Regardless, identifying and understanding our potential audience will be crucial in successfully marketing and distributing our device.

n the case of a pulsoximeter, the potential audience is likely to be individuals and organizations in the medical industry. This could include hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, and home healthcare providers, as well as patients and their caregivers. Pulsoximeters are used to measure oxygen saturation levels in the blood and pulse rate, which is important for the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

Therefore, our device would need to meet the specific needs and requirements of medical professionals and patients, such as being accurate, easy to use, and portable. It may also need to have features such as wireless connectivity and data tracking to enable remote monitoring and analysis by healthcare providers. In addition, it may need to be durable and reliable to withstand frequent use in a clinical setting.

Identifying and understanding the potential audience for our pulsoximeter device will be crucial in effectively marketing and distributing it. By targeting medical professionals and patients in need of respiratory and cardiovascular monitoring, we can ensure that our device meets their specific needs and provides a valuable solution to their challenges.

We are applying to Solve because we believe that our solution has the potential to make a positive impact in the world and Solve can help us overcome specific barriers that we face. One of our main challenges is access to funding and resources to further develop and scale our solution.

In terms of financial barriers, we currently have limited funding to continue our research and development. We believe that Solve can connect us with partners who can provide financial support, as well as other forms of non-monetary assistance, such as mentorship and access to a wider network of potential collaborators and customers.

In addition, we face technical barriers as we are still in the process of refining and testing our solution. We would greatly benefit from the expertise of Solve's partners in fields such as AI, data analytics, and product development. This could help us ensure that our solution is both technically sound and user-friendly, which is critical for its success in the market.

Furthermore, we face legal and cultural barriers related to the use of AI and language models. These barriers may limit our ability to fully realize the potential of our solution. We hope that Solve can connect us with partners who have experience navigating complex legal and cultural issues related to AI and language models, so we can continue to innovate and bring our solution to those who need it most.

Finally, we face market barriers in terms of reaching our target audience and effectively communicating the value of our solution. Solve can help us overcome these barriers by connecting us with potential customers, partners, and investors who share our vision and can help us bring our solution to the market.

In summary, we believe that Solve can provide us with the financial, technical, legal, cultural, and market support that we need to overcome specific barriers and bring our solution to fruition. While funding is important, we are also excited about the potential to connect with a diverse group of partners and receive non-monetary support that can help us achieve our goals. We are committed to making a positive impact in the world and believe that Solve can help us realize our vision

The Oxigator is an innovative oximeter that addresses the critical issues overlooked by the oximeter market today, namely skin thickness, circulation, and skin tone. Unlike the current oximeter technology, which is not reliable and can lead to inaccurate readings, Oxigator is designed to eliminate these inaccuracies by applying two new technologies to the device.

The first technology used by Oxigator is circulation patches.  The patches are heat-based and cause blood flow to increase to the fingertip in response. This allows for more re blood cells to gather the data and provide the client with a more accurate reading. The second technology focuses on the magnetic discrepancies between hemoglobin's oxygenated and deoxygenated states. Using a magnetoresistive sensor embedded in the device, Oxigator can detect the magnetic field force from the oxygen-depleted hemoglobin and perform calculations to return the oxygen levels and pulse rates by calculating the magnitude of the magnetic force of the hemoglobin.

Unlike current technology that can be affected by factors such as melanin, Oxigator is designed to work effectively for any skin tone. Moreover, the device is constructed with mu-metal foil shielding built into it, which would effectively refract external electromagnetic signals so that Oxigator can produce an accurate reading. Additionally, the Oxigator is not using the methods of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but rather detecting the magnitude of the magnetic forces that are naturally being produced by the unpaired electrons on oxygen-depleted hemoglobin.

The overall design of the Oxigator is a simple rounded rectangular body with a finger opening and battery compartment. The device's usage varies slightly from today's market, sans the addition of new prints, for convenience. Oxigator will be available in gator print on the back of the clasp, and many cases to choose from, appealing to younger users who might benefit from seeing an animal design on an otherwise intimidating device.

The modifications to the current concept of an oximeter aid a large portion of the world's population, particularly POC who can now access a high-quality oximeter, allowing for at-home preventative care while avoiding excessive hospital fees and improper diagnosis. With our reasonably simple base design and exchange of costs for the type of sensor, we keep the product within a reasonable range, and high-grade pulse oximeter technology can decrease the statistic of pulse oximetry unavailability in low-income countries.

The Oxigator is not just a tool, but a way to solve the ongoing racial disparities in the medical field. By making medicine accessible and comfortable for everyone, regardless of their skin tone, the Oxigator could catalyze broader positive impacts in this space.

In conclusion, the Oxigator is an innovative solution to the critical issues overlooked by the current oximeter market, allowing for more accurate readings and making at-home preventative care accessible and comfortable for everyone. Its unique features could catalyze broader positive impacts in this space and change the market by providing an alternative solution to the current unreliable technology

The Oxigator solution has the potential to revolutionize the medical field by providing a high-quality, accurate, and affordable oximeter that can be used by anyone, regardless of skin tone, age, or circulation issues. The impact goals of this solution are to reduce the number of improper diagnoses and delayed treatment caused by inaccurate oximeter readings, increase access to oximeters in low-income countries and communities, address racial disparities in the medical field, and make healthcare more accessible and comfortable for everyone.

To achieve these impact goals, the Oxigator team will need to focus on several key strategies. First and foremost, they will need to conduct extensive research and development to improve the accuracy and usability of the device. This may involve working with medical professionals and testing the device on a diverse range of individuals to ensure that it is effective for everyone.

Another key strategy for achieving the impact goals of the Oxigator solution is to establish partnerships with healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinics to distribute the product and increase access to it. This will involve building relationships with key stakeholders in the healthcare industry and developing effective distribution channels to ensure that the product reaches those who need it most.

Marketing will also be an important aspect of achieving the impact goals of the Oxigator solution. The team will need to develop effective marketing strategies that promote the product's benefits and appeal to a wide range of users, including younger individuals who may be intimidated by traditional oximeters. This may involve using social media and other digital marketing channels to reach a wider audience.

Legal protection will also be important for the success of the Oxigator solution. The team will need to work on obtaining legal patents for the unique combination of technologies used in the device to prevent competitors from copying their design later in the future.

Finally, the Oxigator team will need to continuously gather feedback from users and medical professionals to improve the product and ensure that it meets their needs. This will involve soliciting feedback through surveys, focus groups, and other forms of user research to identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to the product.

In conclusion, the Oxigator solution has the potential to make a significant impact on the medical field by providing a high-quality, accurate, and affordable oximeter that can be used by anyone. By focusing on strategies such as research and development, partnerships, marketing, legal protection, and user feedback, the Oxigator team can achieve their impact goals of reducing improper diagnoses, increasing access to oximeters, addressing racial disparities, and making healthcare more accessible and comfortable for everyone.

In the coming years, the Oxigator team plans to continue making progress toward its impact goals through a series of strategic initiatives. The team will remain focused on improving the accuracy and affordability of its oximeter, while expanding its reach to new markets and demographics.

Over the next year, the team plans to focus on refining its product through ongoing research and development efforts. The team will continue to gather feedback from users and medical professionals to improve the device's accuracy, ease of use, and comfort. Additionally, the team will work to secure legal patents for the device's unique combination of technologies.

In the next five years, the team plans to expand its distribution and increase access to the device across the globe, particularly in low-income countries and communities. The team will seek partnerships with healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinics to ensure the device reaches those who need it most.

To measure progress toward these impact goals, the team will use a variety of indicators, including the number of devices distributed and the percentage of users who report increased accuracy and comfort compared to traditional oximeters. Additionally, the team will monitor any changes in the frequency of improper diagnoses and delayed treatment caused by inaccurate oximeter readings.

As the Oxigator solution continues to make progress toward its impact goals, it has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts in the healthcare industry. By addressing racial disparities in the medical field and making healthcare more accessible and comfortable for everyone, the Oxigator team is contributing to a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system.

Based on the above theory of change, a tentative plan for implementing the solution and achieving the desired impact goals could include the following steps:

1. Conduct extensive research and development: To improve the accuracy and usability of the device, the Oxigator team should invest in conducting research and development activities. This would involve gathering feedback from users, medical professionals, and experts in the field to identify areas of improvement and refine the device's design.

2. Establish partnerships: Partnerships with healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinics will be crucial in distributing the product and increasing access to it. The Oxigator team should work on establishing partnerships with these entities and developing a distribution strategy to ensure the product reaches those who need it most.

3. Develop effective marketing strategies: Effective marketing strategies will be key to promoting the product's benefits and appealing to a wide range of users. The team should work on developing a marketing campaign that highlights the device's unique features and benefits and tailors the messaging to different audiences.

4. Obtain legal patents: To protect the device's unique combination of technologies, the Oxigator team should work on obtaining legal patents. This will ensure that the device is not replicated by competitors and that the team has the exclusive right to manufacture and distribute it.

5. Gather feedback: Continuous feedback from users and medical professionals will be essential in improving the product and ensuring it meets their needs. The team should establish a feedback mechanism that allows them to gather insights from users and integrate them into the device's design.

6. Monitor impact: To measure the impact of the solution and ensure that it is achieving the desired outcomes, the team should establish a monitoring and evaluation framework. This will involve tracking key performance indicators such as the number of oximeters distributed, the accuracy of the readings, and the number of lives saved as a result of early detection and treatment.

By following this tentative plan, the Oxigator team can work towards achieving their impact goals and making a positive difference in the lives of individuals who rely on oximeters for accurate health monitoring

The Oxigator is an oximeter designed to address three critical issues overlooked by the oximeter market today: skin thickness, circulation, and skin tone. To elaborate, we centered our device around eliminating inaccurate oximeter readings caused by the patient's features. As a person ages, their skin thickness changes, and for someone who needs regular oxygen readings, the device could lose accuracy as they age, leading to inaccurate readings. In addition, many oximeters are used to regularly check oxygen vitals on sick individuals who have poor circulation initially. This, in addition to those with darker skin tones, especially with diseases or weakened states was inaccurate, where the results showed the situation as not serious and prevented from receiving treatment. Many patients who rely on oximeters delay getting a diagnosis and suffer from this both physically and mentally. To combat this, we applied two new technologies to the device.  

The first technology is circulation patches. When users enter their fingers into a machine clip, their primary point of contact will be with these patches. The patches are heat-based, causing blood flow to increase to the fingertip in response, whereas current technology does not account for this. With this, we can use more RBCs (red blood cells) to gather the data and give the client a more accurate reading. The second technology focuses on the magnetic discrepancies between hemoglobin's oxygenated and deoxygenated states. Using the research above, a magneto resistive sensor is embedded within the device, which will be used to detect the magnetic field force from the oxygen-depleted hemoglobin because of its magnetic properties and perform calculations to return the oxygen levels and pulse rates by calculating the magnitude of the magnetic force of the hemoglobin. This method would work effectively for any skin tone because we aren't using a technology such as photosensors that could be affected by factors such as melanin. The device is also constructed with mu-metal foil shielding built into it, which would effectively refract external electromagnetic signals (EMI’s) so that we can produce an accurate reading (Fang 2022). In addition, the traditional copper used had the potential to absorb the electromagnetic outputs from the hemoglobin, which may interfere with the accuracy of the readings. It is also important to note that this device is not using the methods of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but rather detecting the magnitude of the magnetic forces that are naturally being produced by the unpaired electrons on oxygen-depleted hemoglobin, using relativity calculations to determine what the percentage of present hemoglobin is oxygenated depleted. 

The overall design of the oximeter is a simple rounded rectangular body with a finger opening and battery compartment. The usage varies slightly from today's market, sans the addition of new prints, for convenience. Oxigator will be available in gator print on the back of the clasp, and many cases to choose from. We added this feature to appeal to younger users who might benefit from seeing an animal design on an otherwise intimidating device.

We will be able to patent the Oxigator since the inner workings have fundamentally been changed. Therefore, we can patent this combination of technologies and still have a legal claim to its production. In addition, the research needed to find the formula to convert the found magnetic force in the fields and an active pulse/oxygen count is a specific formula that we, as PANGS INC., would have to spend time developing and can protect legally. 

These modifications to the current concept of an oximeter aid a large portion of the world's population. We developed this product as a way for POC to access a high-quality oximeter, which would allow for at-home preventative care while avoiding excessive hospital fees and improper diagnosis. An article called Peri-operative pulse oximetry in low-income countries: a cost–effectiveness analysis, has recently estimated that pulse oximetry is unavailable in 51–70% of operating theaters in low-income countries, which is an alarming percentage knowing that pulse oximeters are an essential resource while administering anesthetic (NLM 1). With our reasonably simple base design and exchange of costs for the type of sensor, we keep the product within a reasonable range, and high-grade pulse oximeter technology can decrease this statistic.

The Oxigator is not just a tool, but a way to solve the ongoing racial disparities in the medical field. We aim to make medicine accessible and comfortable for everyone, not just those who can afford it or fit into the standard consumer assumption.