Help Bring Life-Saving Surgery Tech to Madagascar

Hi, I’m Taeil Kim, an assistant professor at Baylor University and an innovator passionate about bringing better healthcare to the places that need it most. I’m reaching out for your support to develop a low-cost, battery-powered monitoring device for surgeries in low-resource settings like Madagascar. With $70,000, we can design, build, and test this device in the field, delivering safer care to communities too long overlooked. I need your help to make this happen.

About 13 years ago, I worked as an engineer in Madagascar and met inspiring missionaries there. More recently, I’ve connected with medical missionaries serving in the region who’ve highlighted a critical need for patient monitoring devices. Their stories fuel my drive to act.

In rural Madagascar, breathtaking landscapes contrast with harsh realities. Many clinics lack reliable electricity and basic surgical tools. Surgeons often operate without monitors to track vital signs—heartbeats, oxygen levels, the essentials that can mean life or death. Young children with injuries and mothers in labor face unnecessary risks, not because of their condition, but because of where they are. Inspired by their resilience, I’m designing a solution: an affordable, portable, battery-powered device that delivers real-time data—no power grid required. It’s simple, rugged, and built for the toughest conditions.

We’re targeting $70,000 to bring this vision to life. The first phase ($35,000) will fund a basic prototype with core features, while the second ($35,000) will expand its capabilities, test it in the field, and produce a small batch. A detailed cost breakdown is included below.

This isn’t just a device—it’s a lifeline. If we succeed, it could transform care in underserved regions worldwide. Crowdfunding makes this possible, and every contribution counts. A $10 donation could buy a component; $50 might power a test run; $100 brings us closer to production. Whatever you give, you’re investing in a future where healthcare isn’t a privilege.

I can’t do this alone. Please donate what you can and spread the word—share this on social media, tell your friends, rally your community. Every share and dollar drives us forward. Imagine a doctor in Madagascar glancing at a screen we helped provide, seeing a patient’s steady pulse post-surgery—that’s the moment we’re working toward. You’ll get updates on every step, from prototype sketches to field reports, because this is our journey together.

Thank you for standing with me. Let’s create something transformative—a tool that proves no one’s life should depend on access to power or wealth. With $70,000, we can equip Madagascar’s clinics with a device small in size but monumental in impact. Together, let’s save lives, one surgery at a time—starting today.

[Cost Breakdown]

Project 1: Initial Prototype Development

Objective: Build a basic prototype with core functions (Heart Rate (HR), Pulse, and Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)) to demonstrate feasibility.

Scope: Focus on three measurable parameters using low-cost sensors, laying the groundwork for additional feature enhancements later.

Target Amount: $35,000

Cost Breakdown:

1. Research and Design: $15,000

- Develop circuitry and software for HR, pulse, and SpO2.

2. Components and Materials: $8,000

- Low-cost pulse sensor, SpO2 sensor, battery, microcontroller, basic display.

3. Prototype Fabrication: $8,000

- Build 1~2 units with a 3D printed casing and integrate software for data display.

4. Preliminary Testing: $3,000

- Conduct lab tests to ensure accuracy of HR, pulse, and SpO2.

5. Miscellaneous: $1,000

- Cover documentation and planning for next steps.

Outcome

- A working prototype measuring HR, pulse, and SpO2, showcased to donors as a foundation for the full device.

Project 2: Expanded Functionality, Field Testing, and Small Production

Objective: Add ECG, respiration, and blood pressure, refine the device, test in Madagascar, and produce a small batch.

Scope: Enhance functionality, conduct field testing to validate in real-world conditions, and produce 5-10 units with all six features.

Target Amount: $35,000

Cost Breakdown

1. Expanded Functionality Development: $12,000

- Integrate ECG, respiration, and blood pressure features.

2. Components and Refinement: $8,000

- Add ECG module, additional sensors, upgraded microcontroller, and improved casing.

3. Limited Field Testing: $10,000

- Test in 1~2 Madagascar clinics, covering minimal travel/logistics, validate all six parameters.

4. Small Production: $4,000

- Produce 5~10 units using cost-effective methods.

5. Miscellaneous: $1,000

- Provide documentation and donor updates.

Outcome

- A refined device with ECG, HR, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and SpO2, field-tested and ready for small-scale use.