How A Surprisingly Simple Patch Could Revolutionize Respiratory Care
Manage episode 494328394 series 3483610
Did you know that asthma attacks actually build up over weeks, not minutes? Most of us envision asthma attacks as sudden emergencies, but the truth is far more complex - and understanding this could save lives.
Dr. Awesome sits down with Sharon Samjitsingh, CEO of Health Care Originals, to discuss their groundbreaking wearable technology that listens to deep organ sounds in real-time. This innovative patch, worn discreetly under clothing, can predict asthma attacks up to three months in advance by detecting subtle changes in lung sounds that occur weeks before visible symptoms appear.
Key highlights from the conversation:
- How Health Care Originals developed a wearable device that processes organ sounds on-board rather than streaming to the cloud
- The science behind using acoustic monitoring to detect respiratory changes weeks before traditional symptoms appear
- Sharon's personal experience with asthma and how it drove her to create technology that could have prevented her own near-death experiences
- The Nightingale Virtual Respiratory Care system that combines early detection with personalized intervention
- Commercial milestones including becoming the exclusive virtual respiratory care supplier for a purchasing coalition managing 400,000 lives
Sharon shares her journey from winning a business plan competition to securing millions in funding, including her current community-focused fundraising round on WeFunder that allows everyday investors to participate alongside venture capitalists.
The conversation also explores broader implications for healthcare technology, including the potential for democratizing access to health data, the role of AI in reducing administrative burdens, and how wearable technology could transform our understanding of the human body beyond respiratory conditions.
Whether you're interested in health tech innovations, wearable devices, or the future of personalized medicine, this episode offers valuable insights into how simple technology can address complex health challenges.
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