
Meet Asha,
Bedridden for 2 months
due to hip bone fracture
Cause: Slipping and falling on the bathroom floor
Underlining cause: Undetected osteoporosis
This is not just Asha's story.

In India an estimated
43 million
women suffer
from Osteoporosis
It's time to change these numbers
The objective of the project is to provide accessible osteoporosis detection facilities in rural Indian ecosystem.
SCOPE
Studying current healthcare ecosystems to identify elements that help detect and manage the disease to design a relevant intervention
On mapping the entire ecology of osteoporosis concerning the patient, the caregiver network, and external service providers, I observed that the current rural health care system is not sufficiently equipped to detect and prevent the disease at an early stage. The objective was to design an accessible osteoporosis detection facility that benefits the patient as well as the caregiver networks involved.
Tools
Principle
Illustrator
Photoshop
Hand sketches
Duration
4 weeks
Key skills
Design research
Systems design
End to end product design
Motion Study
INTRODUCING
Portable bone density scanner
PDexa

RESEARCH
Understanding the disease, its trigger, detection processes, and treatment modules.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis occurs when bone density reduces due to the lower rate of bone matter deposition, which results in weak bones that may break from a fall.

Currently, Osteoporosis gets detected by performing a bone mineral density (BMD) assessment using a dual-energy, X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA scan. The scan highlights Z Score and T Score to detect osteoporosis.
How is it detected?
T Score
The T-score on the patient's bone density report shows how much their bone mass differs from the bone mass of an average healthy 30-year-old adult, which serves as a point of reference for good health.
Z Score
A Z-score shows how much the patient's bone mass differs from the bone mass of an average person belonging to the same age, gender, and overall body structure.

CAREGIVER NETWORK STUDY
Mapping the urban caregiver network highlighted the importance of access to testing centers as the main source for diagnosing and managing the disease at an early stage
![Dexa Proto copy [Recovered]-43.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd05a6_9499460a070246f1a4a69d20e2d1c528~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_1686,h_461,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Dexa%20Proto%20copy%20%5BRecovered%5D-43.png)
CAREGIVER NETWORK STUDY
Primary health care clinic infrastructure does not support osteoporosis testing facilities
The rural population does not have access to proper testing facilities. They depend on primary healthcare clinics with minimum infrastructure. The lack of proper care prevents early detection of osteoporosis, eventually causing long-term damage.
![Dexa Proto copy [Recovered]-44.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd05a6_d915f9fc8f0642f09476a9a480507e8e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_1686,h_461,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Dexa%20Proto%20copy%20%5BRecovered%5D-44.png)
How might we design a portable bone density scanner that can be operated at a pop up primary healthcare clinic with limited infrastructure?
SOLUTION
P-Dexa is a portable osteoporosis detector that can be used in primary healthcare clinics
Wrist bone mineral density (BMD) has a significant correlation with other skeletal sites and it could be used as a diagnostic method for osteoporosis.
![Dexa Proto copy [Recovered]-26.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bd05a6_b3d1ea5387ba463cb9d65748789174f0~mv2_d_2550_1651_s_2.png/v1/fill/w_1033,h_669,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Dexa%20Proto%20copy%20%5BRecovered%5D-26.png)
CONCEPTUAL MAP
Mapping the information flow between the wearable device and website

FORM EXPLORATION
Ideating on an ergonomic and feasible wearable device

KEY SCREENS
Designing a cohesive UI system across various touch points
The color scheme used was based on the screens being used for medical purpose . Since the product lied in the healthcare domain, the Primary color selected was a variation of green.
Dark grey and white are paired with primary color to achieve maximum contrast, especially on the wearable device.
The typeface for brand name P - Dexa is made to resemble the font used on x-rays
to create familiarity.

KEY SCREENS
Interactive wearable interface and website

WEARABLE DEVICE - HOME SCREEN
The home screen on the wearable displays the text ‘Start Scan’ which indicates the device is ready to scan.
Scanning can be initiated through the primary action button.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Identifying the right technology and components to support the functioning of P-Dexa

Transmitter and Receiver
of high-frequency waves that penetrate the skin
Micro Controller (uC)
Converts reflected data into an image
LED display
Interactive touch pad
Wifi chip
connects with nearest router to transfer data to website
Leveraging the data collected to support nutrition camps to aid prevention
FUTURE SCOPE
Once P-dexa gets used on a wide scale at different primary health care clinics the system would start gathering data around average bone density levels amongst women in different villages and its relation to demographics. This analyzed data can be utilized to design targeted nutritional education programs run by Government and Nonprofits in villages.

Analysis of data gathered from villages.
Identifying leverage points and Designing within limitations
KEY LEARNINGS
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While addressing a challenge that is embedded in a large ecosystem and interwoven with different components, the key is to identify a leverage point that can enable maximum impact.
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Value of information and how it can be utilized to benefit the system by feeding it back in.
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Designing within limitations of feasibility and viability.
PROJECTS
CONTACT
If you are interested in my work, have an opportunity to discuss or just want to say hello! Please contact me via any medium that suits you.
Tel: (510) 240 0097