SOMA

What it does

Pneumonia is curable when caught early but deadly for many children if missed. Soma’s easy-to-use, reusable kit helps non-professionals detect it sooner so children get timely care. It is also very simple to use.

Your inspiration

The inconvenience began with the fact that diagnostic kits supplied in low-income countries are single-use, requiring a new kit for every test. This economic burden not only reduces the frequency of testing but also leads to fewer opportunities for early diagnosis. It also increases environmental strain due to growing medical waste, and most kits are difficult to use without professional expertise. Soma was created to address these challenges—designed to be reusable and easy for non-professionals to operate.

How it works

The FSR (Force Sensitive Resistor) pressure sensor operates on the principle that current flows when semiconductive ink between electrodes comes into contact under pressure. This device measures pressure changes caused by abdominal expansion and contraction during breathing. Measurement begins by recording the average baseline pressure after the belt is properly worn. Over 30 seconds, it counts the number of significant pressure changes linked to inhalation and exhalation to calculate breaths per minute (BPM). If the measured BPM is below the expected range, a second measurement is performed using the average pressure difference from the first attempt as the new threshold. Finally, users can check whether their breathing rate falls within the normal range by referring to the age-specific standard chart displayed on the product.

Design process

It all started with a documentary showing children suffering from pneumonia. While pneumonia is relatively easy to treat when detected early, children living in poor conditions often die without even having the chance to receive treatment. To help with early detection, we developed Soma, a diagnostic kit. We designed Soma to be reusable in order to reduce the financial burden caused by traditional single-use kits. To achieve the most energy-efficient solution, we chose Arduino for the system and built the product using commonly available materials. A belt secures the sensor to the abdomen, and Velcro positioned above the sensor ensures accurate placement and stability. The usage is simple. wrap the belt around the abdomen, press a button, and wait for the measurement. This simplicity allows non-professionals in low-income regions with limited medical access to use it without assistance from healthcare providers. With its reusable design and easy-to-follow instructions, we believe Soma will become a valuable diagnostic support tool for pneumonia, accessible to many.

How it is different

Automatic Respiratory Rate Measurement Manual respiratory rate measurement requires on-site healthcare workers, is difficult, and prone to errors. However, Soma has automated this process using Arduino code. As a result, it can be used easily by anyone, anywhere, without the need for extensive manpower. Cost Pressure Alleviated Through Reusable Design One of the reasons low-income countries struggle to use kits is the cost pressure from disposable kits (cartridges, kits, etc.). In response, Soma has effectively reduced this financial burden through a hardware-centered design that allows for repeated use. Non-Invasive / No Handling of Bodily Fluids Since it measures respiration based on pressure, it is a non-invasive system that does not require blood, saliva, nasopharyngeal, or other samples. This significantly reduces the risk of infection and the burden of infrastructure needed to process samples, making it safe and easy to use.

Future plans

We have completed a prototype with basic measurement functions. In the next phase, we will distribute the kits to children with pneumonia and evaluate performance based on key indicators such as convenience and accuracy. Clinical data and user feedback will guide future improvements. We will also collaborate with local hospitals and health centers to provide the kits to pediatric patients and assess performance, durability, and cleanability. Ultimately, insights from field testing will support refining the design and developing a practical tool suitable for real-world medical use in low-income countries.

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