In tune with the times: MUSEinc's Taal is the most affordable digital stethoscope

Name of the Company - MUSE Diagnostics Private Limited (Commonly known as MUSE or MUSEinc)
Name of the Founder(s) - Arvind Badrinarayanan, Sumukh Mysore
City - Bengaluru
Revenues - NA
Headcount - 7
Industry - Biotechnology & Medical Devices
Investors & amount raised - Four investors, including the two co-founders, invested a capital of Rs 10 lakh. Currently, the company is in negotiations for a pre-seed investment from a major international medical non-profit company.

Wearable technologies and fitness equipments may be a few of the many ways modern advancements in medical technology are allowing people greater access to more data and effective diagnostic options. But, its pervasiveness and sphere of influence is arguable owing to questions around its affordability.

While there may be a price to pay to reap the benefits of new technology, a Bangalore-based startup has been rewriting the rules to offer a product whose utility outstrips its price tag.

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Right tune
MUSEinc's flagship product Taal is the world's most affordable and effective digital stethoscope at just $50. Designed for both medical professionals and patients, it enables a quicker and more accurate diagnosis of the rhythm of the heart.

"One simply has to place it on the chest and let the device do the rest," says co-founder of the medical device startup, Arvind Badrinarayanan. "Taal can also help patients keep track of their heart waves, reducing the time needed for heart patients to measure cardiovascular parameters," he adds.

Digital stethoscopes may not be a novel invention today, but MUSEinc's Taal is unique in the sense that it has a processor inserted into its system that enables automation of the calculation of the heart rate and other sounds from within the body. Moreover, it also gives graphical representation of the heart waves and allows users to share it with medical professionals on the go.

Locally manufactured in Bangalore, it is lightweight and can easily to fit into a pocket. It also has a long, rechargeable battery life of up to 24 hours. Its in-built amplification, volume-control panel and heavy bass earphones offer precise sound filtration, making heartbeats and other internal sounds clearly audible.

"This makes the instrument more accessible, even in places like airplanes where the engine and ambient sounds would otherwise be deafening, as well as in cold regions where rubber tubes of acoustic stethoscopes may not be compatible with the climate," says Badrinarayanan.

Surging ahead
The device uses and produces open source technologies to improve effective diagnostics at an affordable cost. "This means that anyone who wishes to add features to enhance the overall quality of the experience can contribute to the project," says Badrinarayanan.

Taal has raised $5000 and received over 100 orders from 15 countries during its crowdfunding campaign. "We plan on selling it primarily in emerging economies in East Africa, South and South East Asia," says Badrinarayanan. "Additionally, we have significant demand coming in from veterinarians globally - particularly US, Australia and South Korea - as this device is the only solution to specific issues that veterinarians may face," he concludes.

MUSEinc is currently developing two product lines. Taal is a few months away from clinical trials and applying for FDA (American) and CE (European) certification and the second product is in the preliminary stages of prototyping.

Another ambitious project for the startup is making an affordable, portable machine that allows DNA to be amplified, separated and analyzed. It does this by integrating three different machines into a single device - a Thermocycler, a Centrifuge and a Transilluminator. The company hopes this machine will enable anybody to undertake DNA analysis at extremely affordable costs.