Ugandan students have devised a gadget that can scan women’s wombs and detect problems such as ectopic pregnancy or abnormal foetal heartbeats. The ultrasound is carried out via a smartphone wired up to a funnel-shaped pinard horn, which is pressed against the abdomen. The WinSenga phone app then interprets the sounds and display data on the baby’s age, weight and position. It’s hoped that this invention will significantly cut maternal deaths. And with equipment costs at just $6 (plus a smartphone) it’s far cheaper – and more mobile – than standard ultrasound machines, which come in at a whopping $13,000.
allafrica.com
