Meet The Sisters Working To Create ‘Digital X-Ray Glasses’

Twin sisters, Masego and Matlhogonolo Mphahlele, are the brains behind new digital X-Ray glasses aimed at improving the healthcare backlog in South Africa. 

After taking a close friend who sustained an injury to the hospital, the Mphahlele sisters devised an idea to create a product to make getting a scan 10x easier. At that moment, the X-Ray Glasses project was born. 

The powerful pair came together to design a product that would allow medical practitioners to modernize how they carry out scans. Additionally, the twins are also focusing on creating another technology for the glasses: infrared radiation.

Although this may not allow medical professionals to see bones, it can be highly beneficial in helping doctors see and analyze blood vessels.

To bring their project to life, the Mphahlele twins have joined Red Bull’s Basement Session, a program that shines a spotlight on young entrepreneurs by giving them the backing and tools needed to kickstart their ideas. 

“We’ve spoken to numerous radiologists and done years of research. It will soon be possible to pack X-ray technology into a pair of glasses, maybe even within a couple of years,” said South African student Matlhogonolo Mphahlele in an interview with RedBull. 

Despite X-ray spectacles being on the market since the late 90s, they have yet to create an effect that allows you to see right through clothes and under the skin. Mphahlele’s digital X-Ray project hopes to change that. 

The project – which is yet to be named – will provide a lightweight and easy way for medical practitioners to make diagnoses. 

The dynamic duo has already designed a spectacle frame that includes a green prototype that is both colorful and flashy. In addition, they have temporarily designed a video camera where the X-ray machine will most likely be placed. 

“We dream of all medical practitioners having glasses like these so they can make a quick first diagnosis at any time,” added Matlhogonolo Mphahlele.