JivaScope

What it does

JivaScope is a pocket-sized, AI-powered device that enables anyone to screen for heart and lung issues in minutes. It solves the rural healthcare gap by offering clinical-grade diagnostics without needing a doctor, internet, or electricity.

Your inspiration

During field visits in rural Bihar, I saw patients waiting days for basic chest exams, with just one doctor serving thousands across villages. Many cases of asthma, heart failure, or pneumonia were going undetected until it was too late. Speaking to over 60 rural doctors revealed a shared frustration—no reliable tools for early screening. That’s when the idea for JivaScope was born: an affordable, AI-powered device that anyone could use, anywhere. We believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege—and JivaScope brings that promise closer to reality.

How it works

JivaScope powers on with a haptic button and connects to the mobile app via Bluetooth 5.2. The app guides users through four standard chest zones using infrared LEDs and haptic feedback to ensure accurate placement. Once positioned, MEMS-based acoustic sensors capture low-frequency heart and lung sounds (20–2000 Hz), while real-time noise cancellation filters out background interference. These sounds are processed by an onboard ARM Cortex-M processor running AI models trained on thousands of clinical samples. Within seconds, the app generates an AI-based report highlighting any abnormal patterns such as murmurs, wheezes, or crackles, along with zone-wise visuals and health recommendations. The system works fully offline and syncs data to the cloud when internet becomes available. JivaScope also allows users to store, export, and share reports with doctors remotely—making advanced diagnostics accessible anytime, anywhere.

Design process

The journey of creating JivaScope began with fieldwork in rural Bihar, where we saw firsthand the lack of accessible diagnostic tools—one doctor often serves over 6,000 people. We defined key needs: self-usable, accurate, portable, affordable, and offline-capable. Interviews with 63+ rural doctors, ASHA workers, and telemedicine experts shaped our design brief. We studied existing auscultation tools and began with rapid 3D-printed prototypes. Over 20 iterations helped refine the acoustic chamber for sound clarity. MEMS sensors and an IR-guided placement system with haptic feedback ensured user-friendly operation. Simultaneously, we built an app with a simple step-by-step scanning flow. AI models trained on thousands of heart and lung recordings were optimized to run on ARM Cortex-M processors for real-time, offline analysis. Testing with rural users helped us refine ergonomics, sealing, and battery life. We improved the UI for low-literacy environments. Clinical validation is underway in partnership with healthcare centers. Through a frugal, user-centered approach, JivaScope has evolved into a reliable, AI-powered diagnostic tool—bringing clinical-grade auscultation to underserved communities.

How it is different

JivaScope stands apart through its clinical-grade accuracy, affordability, portability, and ability to function without doctors or constant internet. While traditional stethoscopes require trained hands and digital devices depend on hospital infrastructure or cloud AI, JivaScope is built for self-use in underserved rural areas. It uses IR-based auto-guidance, MEMS sensors, and on-device AI to scan four chest zones and generate instant, zone-wise reports—no internet or expertise needed. Unlike telemedicine apps that lack physical diagnostics, JivaScope bridges the gap by enabling real-time screening and remote data sharing. With a 12-hour battery, compact form, and cost of just ₹3,000 (~$36), it's over 10x cheaper than similar AI tools. Designed through frugal innovation, JivaScope delivers professional-grade screening at home—empowering millions to detect diseases early and access care faster.

Future plans

To scale JivaScope, we’ll begin field trials in 5+ districts with 500+ users to optimize AI accuracy under real-world conditions. Using this data, we’ll expand training on 10,000+ samples and pursue clinical validation with hospitals. We're shifting to injection-molded enclosures and local sourcing to reduce cost from ₹3,000 ($36) to under ₹2,000 ($24). Integration with eSanjeevani and telehealth networks is underway. Patent filings and CDSCO/CE approvals are in progress. Within 24 months, we aim to scale to 10+ states and introduce multilingual and biosignal-enhanced versions.

Awards

JivaScope was awarded the "FrugalMedTech Innovator of the Year 2024" at the National Rural Health Innovation Summit for its breakthrough in affordable AI-powered diagnostics.