In its continued efforts to respond in the battle against the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) delivered 106 multicomponent RxBox units to the Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) last week.
RxBox is an innovative biomedical device capable of measuring a patient’s temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, uterine contractions and electrocardiogram readings.
With the highly infectious Covid-19, the use of RxBox can reduce contact between patients diagnosed with Covid-19, especially those in severe or critical conditions who need continuous monitoring, and the healthcare workers as it provides an efficient way for healthcare workers to monitor multiple patients at once.
The device is an innovation developed by researchers from University of the Philippines Manila and UP Diliman with support from the DOST through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.
The RxBox units were manufactured in partnership with IONICS EMS Inc., a local manufacturing company in Laguna.
The device was originally intended to facilitate identification of patients needing management of chronic noncommunicable diseases and to support maternal and child health care in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Specific to the country’s Covid-19 response, RxBox will be used for bedside monitoring of vital signs.
Here are the features of DOST’s RxBox:
- Temperature sensor—measures a patient’s body temperature to help detect fever, a common medical sign of infection and other disease conditions;
- Blood pressure monitor—measures the patient’s blood pressure to detect cardiovascular problems especially hypertension;
- Pulse Oximeter—measures the level of oxygen in the patient’s blood and can help detect lung and cardiovascular problems;
- Electrocardiogram—monitors the heart’s movement to pump blood throughout the body, helpful for those with acute and chronic heart problems;
- Fetal heart monitor—measures the baby’s heart rate while in the womb; and
- Maternal tocometer—measures the strength of a mother’s uterine contractions during labor and delivery.
The DOST Calabarzon Regional Office is the implementing agency that will coordinate with other regional offices for the distribution of the remaining 894 RxBox units to selected health care facilities. S&T Media Service