First-Of-Its-Kind Smartphone Technology Noninvasively Measures Blood Hemoglobin Levels at POC

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 15 Nov 2024

Image: The smartphone technology measures blood hemoglobin levels from a digital photo of the inner eyelid (Photo courtesy of Purdue University)

Blood hemoglobin tests are among the most frequently conducted blood tests, as hemoglobin levels can provide vital insights into various health conditions. However, traditional tests are often underutilized due to the need for expensive equipment, specialized consumables, and trained professionals to collect blood, process the sample, and interpret the results. This limitation has led to an increased prevalence and severity of conditions related to blood hemoglobin, such as anemia, which affects more than 25% of the global population despite being easily treatable and preventable. A new mobile health solution now offers a way to make blood hemoglobin testing more accessible and affordable by leveraging a device most people already own: a smartphone. With this technology, users can quickly and noninvasively measure their blood hemoglobin levels by simply taking a picture or screenshot of the lower inner eyelid, providing immediate and reliable testing at the point of care and beyond.

HemaChrome LLC (West Lafayette, IN, USAhas developed a smartphone-based solution that utilizes algorithms to instantly and noninvasively assess blood hemoglobin levels. Developed in collaboration with Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN, USA), this machine learning-powered technology transforms a smartphone or computer camera into a hyperspectral imager by using spectroscopy and computational algorithms. The system enables users to quantify and evaluate blood hemoglobin content from a digital image of the inner eyelid, making it possible for clinicians to perform point-of-care, home-based, and remote diagnostics at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.

To ensure high accuracy, HemaChrome’s technology incorporates a groundbreaking patent-pending process that extracts true colors from a digital image with an unprecedented level of precision. While the noninvasive, affordable technology can benefit all users, it will be particularly impactful for underserved populations where anemia is widespread. Anemia often indicates the presence of several health conditions, making early diagnosis crucial. However, many individuals, especially in low-resource areas, lack access to proper testing and remain unaware of their condition. HemaChrome's technology offers a cost-effective and accessible solution to address this diagnostic gap, helping ensure timely treatment for vulnerable groups. HemaChrome is continuing to refine its algorithms and plans to release a minimally viable product by late 2025.

Related Links:
HemaChrome LLC
Purdue University