65% of Americans say that healthcare is too expensive and almost 9% of adults have no medical insurance coverage. In fact, more than one third of Americans have claimed not to visit their doctor when they should have because of cost. Bongiovi Acoustic Labs aims to show that audio technology can be applied affordably to medical devices, to make healthcare more accessible.

Bongiovi's algorithm has the ability to remaster audio in real time. It allows the Aria to instantly map the shortcomings lost in digital conversation, restore frequency responses and deliver advanced audio quality. Through our customized telemedicine platform, the Aria offers remote patient monitoring to healthcare professionals and patients across the globe.

The Bongiovi Aria is a telemedicine stethoscope, powered by Bongiovi’s patented Medical Digital Power Station (MDPS) Algorithm. The mobile app translates audio signals to waves and the Bluetooth headphones can be used to hear the auscultation. The customized cable acts as a connector between the acquisition unit, mobile app and the headphones. The Aria’s cost-effective, 3D-printed acquisition unit captures vital sounds as naturally as possible, allowing MDPS to process the audio signal in real-time. The algorithm’s 120 calibration points optimizes sound quality by adding definition, depth, clarity and stereo imaging. The disposable hygienic shield that covers the acquisition unit can be used to prevent the transfer of bacteria from one patient to another.

In order to maintain cost-efficiency and maximize scalability, we chose to design the mobile telemedicine platform for Android devices. Most of the device’s functionality, like hearing, visualizing, recording, and storing patient data is possible without an internet connection, but once connected those file can be shared. As Bongiovi Acoustic Labs continues to engage on a legitimate path to obtain FDA and CE approvals, the Aria is still technically considered a prototype.

Based on the conservative pricing of the Aria, almost 160,000 doctors in the US are likely to find the product’s proposition relevant for benefits that impact both a healthy community and a healthy wallet, proving that cost-effective telemedicine can be profitable. Medicare and Medicaid patients benefiting from the use of the modestly priced Aria could also simultaneously generate $222.6mm with device sales, while doctors could receive $1.1bn from US government for monitoring device outputs. If incentives extend to Group/Non-Group insureds, an additional $2.1bn dollars could be generated. Aria's ability to monitor from home would minimize office visit frequency and its costs, while potentially increasing doctors' ability to check on patient progress. The current design is scalable into a number of specific use cases and price points. These include clinical, telemedicine, rural medicine and home health care. This research is continuing today.

The Bongiovi Aria is a prototype of a digital stethoscope and a design approach to audio innovation in telemedicine. It applies technology from the music industry into healthcare for the first time, so vital sounds can be heard in their purest form. With the Aria, we aim to show that audio technology can be made available to more people, in more affordable ways.

January 2012 – BMHT is formed to explore uses of the patented DPS technology in the Medical fields.

2012 - 2013 – Research is conducted to better understand the acoustical characteristics of modern stethoscopes. Based on research with the CDC, NIH and WHO it is found that there are no proper performance standards for stethoscopes. It is also found that there is no standard protocol to measure these devices.

Early 2013 – BMHT designs a device to reliably measure the human biological audio. This device simulates the density of the human body and specialized jigs are made to ensure consistent measures can be taken regardless of the configuration. This analog allowed BMHT engineers to measure the acoustic properties just about every commercially available stethoscope on the market.

Remainder of 2013 – 2014 – BMHT researches various designs to determine optimal characteristics for capturing biological audio. As part of the research the engineers conducted a small animal study to test various device designs and how these devices would be used in the field.

Early 2014 - Based on the data collect on the human analog, BMHT engineers create a new design for the capture ‘bell’ end of the stethoscope. This new end is fine tuned to the frequency content of the human body with specific emphasis on heart and lung sounds.

April 2014 – Patents are filed for the human analog and the new BMHT designed stethoscope capture end. This new design exceeds the frequency response characteristics of every other stethoscope that was measured, including the ‘gold standard’ devices.

Remainder of 2014 – 2015 – Further research and refinement of the basic design. This includes numerous iterations in capture end performance.

May 2015 – New patents are filed on the refined designs of the capture end.

Early 2016 – BMHT applies to the FDA for listing of the MDPS software. The FDA officially lists the technology as a Class 1 Medical Device Data System.

Mid 2016 – Research begins to develop the design to incorporate a disposable end to reduce the possibility of spreading contagious diseases.

March 2017 – Creative partnership formalized.

September 2017 – Technical development of the mobile app begins.

Remainder of 2017 – Further refinement of form factors to address ergonomics and other handling issue. This includes new enclosure design to mitigate ambient sounds and minimize handling noise.

Early 2018 – The Aria is born.

Since 1977, recording engineer Tony Bongiovi’s sound innovations have been applied to the world of rock and roll. His philosophy of 'Sound Matters' helped legends such as the Ramones, Jimi Hendrix, and Madonna record music in its purest form. He revolutionized the recording industry with Digital Power Station and today, MDPS, an FDA-listed, Medical Digital Power Station is being implemented into the Aria, a low-cost, hygienic stethoscope that will set the new standard in digital signal processing. As Bongiovi Acoustic Labs continues to engage on a legitimate path to obtain FDA and CE approvals, the Aria is still technically considered a prototype. Unfortunately, this creates partnership and funding restrictions.