Hey y’all! It’s my 6th day in Kenya, and I wanted to update on my experience so far. This week, I started my internship at Medevice! I was a bit nervous going in as I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but everyone there was super friendly and welcoming. Medevice only has eight employees currently, which makes it easier to get to know everyone and to feel at home. It has been nice getting to enjoy freshly cooked Kenyan meals together at lunch and learning more about the team.
Medevice’s goal is to improve the healthcare landscape in Africa, and they are constantly looking for opportunities to innovate. One project they have researched is developing an improved pulse oximeter for melanated skin. Pulse oximeters are used to quickly and non-invasively estimate a patient’s blood oxygen saturation; oxygen saturation levels below 95% are considered abnormal, and those below 90% often require immediate medical treatment. Red and infrared lights are shone through the skin, and a photodetector sensor determines how much of these lights are absorbed by oxygenated and de-oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood. However, in more pigmented skin, higher amounts of melanin lead to more of the red light being absorbed, so when the measured values are compared to a standard calibration curve, the estimated value of blood oxygen saturation is higher than the actual value. This can cause melanated patients to appear in the normal range when they are actually experiencing low oxygen saturation requiring medical care.
The goal of my project this summer is to create an improved pulse oximeter that can overcome this limitation and accurately measure oxygen saturation for patients with darker skin tones. I began work this week by doing a literature review on how pulse oximeters work, limitations of current devices, and different methods to approach this problem. Today, I was able to visit Pumwani Maternity Hospital in Nairobi to observe the pulse oximeters used in the neonatal unit. Because the babies are so small, rather than using finger probes to measure oxygen saturation, the neonate pulse oximeters have a sensor that can be strapped to the infant’s foot. The oxygen saturation is typically measured once per hour to make sure the babies are doing well. However, since there are limited pulse oximeters and lots of babies, the straps are constantly being loosened and tightened which makes them wear out quickly. I am looking forward to incorporating these observations as I continue the project this summer.
In addition to work, I have also had time to explore more of what Kenya has to offer while keeping up with hobbies I enjoy. On Monday, Jasmine, Colin, and I went to Village Markets, a large shopping mall with numerous restaurants. We enjoyed Persian food and the beautiful weather in Kenya. I also joined a local gym, AfroFit, so that I can continue my gym routine. I love lifting weights, so I am excited to have access to a nice gym with friendly staff. I can’t wait to see what else Kenya has in store!
