The Momedemameter: An Affordable Preeclampsia Detector For Low Resource Environments

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Devices
• Public Health

Background:

• Preeclampsia is a major global cause of maternal morbidity and mortality.
• Current diagnostic methods for preeclampsia are often costly and require specialized expertise.
• Low-resource environments face significant challenges in preeclampsia screening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost, self-monitorable device for early preeclampsia detection.
• To provide an accessible screening tool for pregnant women in resource-limited settings.
• To utilize edema as a primary indicator for preeclampsia screening.

Main Methods:

• A detection band was designed to be fitted on the wrist or ankle of pregnant women.
• The band is calibrated with a preset expansion limit (e.g., 5%) to indicate swelling.
• Women self-monitor the band for expansion as an early warning sign.

Main Results:

• A prototype device and calibration method were successfully developed.
• The device is designed to be durable, cost-effective, and portable.
• The method requires minimal user knowledge for operation.

Conclusions:

• The developed device offers a simple, accessible method for preeclampsia detection.
• This innovation can significantly improve maternal health outcomes in low-resource settings.
• Self-monitoring of edema via the detection band facilitates early medical intervention.