Medicine Jim, but not as we know it

Developers worldwide have been challenged to create their version of Star Trek’s medical tricorder in the hope that it will spark more innovation in health technology.

Three different versions of the tricorder featured on the show, but they all enabled doctors to diagnose diseases and collect bodily information about a patient by simply scanning them with a detachable hand-held scanner.

The Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize is offering $10m (£6.5m) to any developer that can create a similar device.

The winning device will need to be able to capture key health data, which can then be used to diagnose a set of 15 diseases. The information gathered could include metrics such as blood pressure, respiratory rate and temperature.

Developers will also need to prove that the device can keep an accurate, high-frequency log of the health data.

While Star Trek’s tricorder managed to diagnose and treat diseases without contact, competition entrants have been given a little more leeway.

They will be able to use elements such as wireless sensors, imaging technologies and other portable, but non-invasive, laboratory replacements. The only stipulation is that the device must be no heavier than 2.3kg.

The competition was launched in response to a lack of innovation in developing healthcare technology, and is hoped that it will spark the creation of markets and products that offer medical detection, prevention, and management as well as more complete diagnostics.

Whilst aimed at the US health consumer, developers from across the globe are encouraged to enter the competition. They’ve got more than two years to enter the qualifying round, with the final round expected to occur in 2014.