BloodBud
Your Mobile Screening CompanionBloodBud is an ultra low-cost, deep learning and computer vision-based smartphone screening system for hematological diseases like malaria and sickle cell anemia. By merging the two disciplines of 3D printing and machine learning, we have developed a novel and innovative product to combat the lack of accessibility in medical technology for developing nations.
Why is improving blood screening important?
Hematological diseases like malaria, sickle cell disease, and HIV collectively affect 2 billion people globally, and they're responsible for millions of deaths per year. Currently, screening methods to detect these diseases exist, but they require high costs and expensive equipment.
Cool. So how does BloodBud factor in?
We aim to provide accurate, affordable, and accessible diagnostics for hematological diseases. By combining 3D printing with deep learning, we've created a low-cost diagnostic framework accessible to remote or developing areas, without a need for medical training and equipment.
How does BloodBud work?
Using 3D-printing to power up smartphones.
We use a 3D-printed microscope attachment to greatly lower the cost of the screening test, while still retaining a high level of image resolution, on par with traditional screening tests that use laboratory microscopes. We then combine the affordability of this microscope attachment with the convenience and accessibility of a smartphone. Our result is a product that is able to cut down on the cost of medical equipment while retaining the quality of blood cell images for our algorithms.
State-of-the-art deep learning models.
We reviewed hundreds of academic research papers in the field of machine learning (ML) to create BloodBud. Our proprietary algorithm was trained and tested on two high-quality cell image datasets from the Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh and the University of the Balearic Islands, Spain, which collectively provided over 30,000 cell images for analysis.
What makes BloodBud unique?
Cost
Current blood screening methods include microscopy analysis and Rapid Diagnostic Tests, which cost over $6 and $2, respectively. By cutting down on unncessary and expensive equipment, we've made hematological screening affordable and accessible. Our smartphone attachment attains the same image resolution as top alternative screening methods, but the raw-material cost for our product comes in at just $0.49, a fraction of the cost of other solutions. And what's more, since we removed lab-based test components, our product is reusable by nature and can provide years of service with proper care.
Speed
BloodBud is able to quickly and easily analyze a blood sample, providing results in a matter of minutes. This is significantly faster than traditional diagnostic methods, which can take hours or even days to provide results. This speed is particularly beneficial in emergency situations, where quick and accurate diagnosis can be the difference between life and death. Additionally, the speed of BloodBud can also help to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. By providing a rapid diagnosis, the device can help to identify and isolate infected individuals, preventing the disease from spreading.
Accessibility
The accessibility of BloodBud is one of its most significant benefits. The device is inexpensive to produce, which means it can be made widely available to remote and low-income communities. This is particularly important in areas where access to medical facilities and equipment is limited. Additionally, the device is easy to use and does not require any special training, making it accessible to people of all skill levels. This means that people in remote areas can diagnose and treat hematological diseases without having to travel to a hospital or clinic. This can save time and money, and also improve health outcomes.
Accuracy
Our innovation has been tested and has shown to have a high level of accuracy in its results. Its test accuracy is 94.0%, which means that out of 204 samples, 192 of them were correctly diagnosed. Additionally, the device has an Area Under the Curve value of 97.1%, which is a measure of the overall accuracy of a diagnostic test. Additionally, our product scores high on other measurements: it obtains an average of over 95% on the precision, sensitivity, and specificity values. Together, these results indicate that BloodBud is a reliable and accurate diagnostic tool for hematological diseases.
Meet The Team
Alan
Hi! I'm Alan, a junior at the Pingry School. I'm the UX/UI and full-stack programmer for BloodBud's website and the head of finance; I'm responsible for everything you see on the website, and I also manage our company budget and work to cut production costs.
Matthew
Hello! My name is Matthew, and I'm a sophomore at Woodbridge High School. I'm the team captain for BloodBud, which means I'm in charge of designing and improving the current BloodBud technology, ranging from the smartphone microscope attachment to the deep learning algorithm.
Sanjay
Hi! I'm Sanjay, and I'm a senior at Foothill High School. At BloodBud, I'm the mobile application developer and the head of marketing; this entails designing our mobile app, coordinating investor communications, and spearheading marketing initiatives.