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March 26, 2013

Bucknell University Students Develop Health App with Orthopedic Surgeon



Bucknell University students have successfully developed a mobile application called Heel Thy Tendon, with the help of an orthopedic surgeon. This application can diagnose and treat foot and ankle problems afflicting many people.

The team of 16 Bucknell University students developed this mobile app to enable patients to easily recognize symptoms, and get to know common treatments and typical stages of recovery regarding various foot and ankle injuries.

The idea was the brain child of Professor of Computer Science Xiannong Meng at Bucknell University, and orthopedic surgeon John Furia. The mobile app was developed by the students engaged in Meng’s Computer Science design project.

Meng said, “This was one of the times where the professor knew less than the students. He and the students pointed out that they learned a lot about the app-making process from each other. We came up with ideas that would cover what Dr. Furia wanted to do, but also what we could or could not do.”

Heel Thy Tendon has been designed to study four regions on the foot and ankle that are usually afflicted. The areas are Achilles tendinopathy; planter fasciopathy; posterior tibial tendinopathy and peroneal tendinopathy.

Depending on which area of the foot or ankle is giving problems, the individual can select the picture that represents the area. This is followed by a series of prompts that offers suggestions on the likely cause of the injury.

Also, since the app has a camera feature, the patient can take pictures and document the condition.

The mobile application has been designed and developed to work on most smartphone platforms. This was achieved by dividing the student team into three groups. One worked on developing an iPhone app, another for Android and the third to develop a hybrid HTML5 version.

The last can be used on either platform or on a Web browser, added officials.

Bucknell senior Dana Germano said, “Dr. Furia provided all of the documents for us to use, but it was up to us to arrange them in the way that they would be best viewed. We had to be knowledgeable with the material to be able to do that. We discovered there is so much to think about that you never worry about when you just open up an app.”

In related news, Regulus Communications launched the CareAPP Health Information Network, a mobile Web portal for patients and consumers, to access health information via a mobile device – including a notebook PC, an iBook, a digital tablet, an iPad, a smartphone or a digital reader.




Edited by Braden Becker
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