YO, a FDA cleared smartphone based app that enables sperm test from comfort of your home.

Courtesy: yospermtest.com

Studies indicate that 30% of infertility cases are related to male reproductive issues. The impact of  being diagnosed as infertile or sub fertile and repeatedly going to pathology lab for tests is like a roller-coaster journey for men. They are often reluctant to get the needed pathological test done, especially the semen analysis.

Medical Electronic System (MES) recently announced the launch of its Yo Home Sperm Test, unsurprisingly the first sperm tester to be powered by a smartphone application.  

MES is a Los Angeles based company specializing in rapid automated sperm analysis systems. All the products are CE and FDA cleared and are sold through extensive worldwide network of   distributors. [1]

The YO Sperm Test uses an app and a detachable mini-microscope "clip" that fits on the top of your I phone or Samsung phone. The device uses phone’s light, focus and recording system.

The testing kit includes everything needed, including the sample collection cup, slide, pipette and liquefying powder.

The patient has to prepare a sample on the slide and insert it into the clip, and in 2 minutes you can actually visualize the motility of sperms on the screen and save the video. The result will be ready in another minute and will be stored in the app along with the video.

Marcia Deutsch, CEO of Medical Electronic Systems says "The technology is able to read the sperm sample 99 percent of the time, as long as the instructions are followed. [If it can read the test] the results are more than 97 percent accurate based on FDA studies of 316 participants."

The tests also report motility according to WHO guidelines of sperm motility as low, moderate or normal. [2]

The YO sperm test does not replace a lab results as it does not give us any idea about sperm morphology. But, it gives 97% accurate results for those who do not want to go to a doctor or lab.

It’s available from the Medical Electronic Systems website, two testing sets come together in a box and will cost $49. It will be available in the market from January 31, 2017.

The other sperm test SpermCheckFertility Home Sperm Test is available in US market since 2012.

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[1] http://www.newswise.com/articles/medical-electronic-systems-announces-the-release-of-the-new-sqa-vision-automated-sperm-quality-analyzer

[2] http://www.aab.org/images/aab/pdf/2014/crbppt14/who.pd

UE LifeSciences’ iBreastExam – portable, painless and radiation-free device is revolutionizing breast cancer detection.

Courtesy: 3imagescoroflot.com

UE Lifesciences developed this high-tech, portable and easy to use breast examination device based on patented ceramic sensors invented at Philadephia’s Drexel University, USA. The tactile sensors in Intelligent Beast Exam (iBreastExam )detect subtle variations in stiffness and tissue compression of the breast tissue.

iBE™Quick Facts

• Bilateral breast exam within 5 minutes (with results at the point-of-care)
• Accuracy to detect clinically relevant breast lesions higher than 85%
• Usable by any health-worker or doctor. No pain, No radiation.

 Lifesciences has also developed NoTouch BreastScan™

courtesy : http://www.ibreastexam.com/

Mihir Shah, Founder and CEO, UE LifeSciences is a Computer Engineer from Drexel University. His interest was aroused in this field because of a close family member suffering from Breast Cancer. It also made him aware of the disparities regarding access to healthcare facilities in developed and developing world. [i]

It has offices both in India and USA. The device can be used by community workers and paramedics in rural and low resource settings. It is compact, low cost, pain free and easy to operate. It can connect with smart phone app, which displays the results simultaneously as the procedure is performed.

In 2013, Breast cancer claimed approximately 70,000 lives in India which was 43% increase in 5 years. Research are projecting an addition of approximately 750,000 new breast cancer cases by 2020. India also has shortage of radiologists, high cost of mammograms and cultural taboos related to breast health delaying detection of breast cancer in its early stage. In west more than ¾ patients are diagnosed in early stages increasing longevity and quality of life.

Indian Journal of Gynaecologic Oncology (IJGO) published a study by Somashekhar SP et al in which the ibreastExam device outperformed physician performing manual breast examination by 19% because it also picked up non-palpable lesions. The study reported high Specificity (94 %) ,NPV (98 %) Sensitivity (84%)  and PPV 94%.

The authors concluded "iBreastExam can be a promising tool to provide clinically effective and standardized breast examinations in low-resource settings to detect breast lesions at early stages.

The device can also be an effective screening tool for younger women with dense breasts.”[ii]

The device is currently available in big cities Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. It received a recent approval form National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHRSC) of India.

UE LifeSciences’ in collaboration with non-profits have already administered 20,000 exams in rural Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Delhi.

The cost of a single screening in private set up is Rs. 700-1000 and in Non-Profit units  is Rs. 100. They are trying to bring down the cost to under  Rs.100 in private set up also.

iBreastExam received FDA 510k clearance as a "Breast Lesion Documentation System" in April 2015 and is commercially available in USA and India since October 2015.

Two Promotional Video by UE LifeSciences regarding iBreastExam.

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[i] http://www.uelifesciences.com/

[ii] http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40944-016-0057-1