MIT Solve

Solution Overview

Solution Name

In Monitor

One-line solution summary.

A wearable and portable device which decodes, analyze, monitor and interprets the brain waves, neuroanatomical and neurovascular bio-markers and its dysfunctions in neurodevelopmental and chromosomal anomalies.

Elevator pitch

What is your solution?

Just like the normal brain, the brain affected with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Chromosomal anomalies also produce brain oscillation waves, cortical maps and their corresponding blood flow. Our aim is to find out—

a. Dysfunctional state in the brain oscillation in the brains of Neurodevelopmental disorders and chromosomal anomalies and to asses early emergence of key electrophysiological marker.

b. To find out the dysfunction in cellular proliferation (synaptic pruning) in the key areas of brain of Neurodevelopmental disorders and chromosomal anomalies.

And use this data to create a wearable and portable device that will help in diagnosis, treatment and remediation.

Since our device will monitor brain oscillation waves, cortical maps and blood flow and also use these as bio- markers, the technology we will be using are EEG for measuring brain oscillation waves; MAPSeq, cortical simulation mapping and CortiQ for finding cortical mapping and synaptic pruning and Time domain functional near-infrared spectroscopy (TD-FNIRS) for measuring blood flow and changes in the oxygenation of blood.

What specific problem are you trying to solve?

All physical illnesses are assessed by assessing their respective organs. But when it comes to disorders related to brain, the current system of diagnosing, managing and remediation of Neurodevelopmental and Chromosomal syndromes heavily relies in the external signs and symptoms exhibited in the course of developmental stages

Eg: - Decline in speech language in ASD at two - three years

- Abnormal expansion of cortical structures in Soto Syndrome phenotype.

- Stuttering in Downs Syndrome.

All these symptoms stems from the neuroanatomical locus of different regions in brain. Our device will directly look into these neuroanatomical structures and biological markers in neurodevelopmental and chromosomal anomaly affected brains.

1 in 3 of recent birth in India showcases neurodevelopmental and chromosomal anomalies, out of which a good number is contributed by malabar region of kerala, India.

Socio economic factors such as early marriages, poverty, lack of education and more importantly still our medical system is relying on conventional knowledge to diagnose nd remediate these issues. Our system still lacks a well established mechanism which is based on neuroscientific principles and laws in the time of phenotypic diversity and complexity. Cost of treatment is also high.

Since the population in this is highly understudied, a rough statistics provided in the year 2016 by Poovathinal SA and team, shows a prevelance of ASD of 23.3 in 10, 000 in the age group of 1 - 30 and the studies for prevelance of other neurodevelopmental and chromosomal anomalies are highly scarce to none.

Who does your solution serve? In what ways will the solution impact their lives?

The solution will effect two main population, 1. the population effected with Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Chromosomal anomalies in the Malabar region of Kerala, India. Especially in diagnosing and remediating the issues. 2. This solution will also effect our medical system. We are introducing a techno based approach which will help the medical wing in improving the accuracy, efficiency and excellence in managing these anomalies.

We are trying to incorporate this approach ( a combined bio psycho social plus a techno blended ) which is affordable.

Lack of awareness, phenotypic complexity and diversity and lack of application of neuroscientific principles and laws makes them undeserved.

The solution wil address their need by developing a novel approach that actually diagnoses the effected organ, the Brain.

What steps have you taken to understand the needs of the population you want to serve?

Interacted with the population in a local community special school. Academical and theoretical understanding.

Which aspects of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Improving healthcare access and health outcomes; and reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities (Health)

Our solution's stage of development:

Concept: An idea being explored for its feasibility to build a product, service, or business model based on that idea

Explain why you selected this stage of development for your solution—in other words, what have you accomplished to date?

Lack of proper mentorship.

Where our solution team is headquartered or located:

Calicut, Kerala, India

Team Lead:

Joshua Wilson