Glasgow University Develops Diagnosis Gadget

Scientists develop a Star Trek-inspired handheld device that can rapidly and accurately pinpoint cases of heart attack, cancer and stroke.

15:01 26 September 2018

Researchers from Glasgow universities have successfully developed a Star Trek-inspired handheld device that can help make rapid, accurate diagnoses. 

 

Based on a silicon chip, the gadget measures the levels of various metabolites in fluid samples and can help make early diagnoses that can improve treatment outcome in patients suffering from cancer, heart attack and stroke. It was based on Star Trek’s famous tricorder device, which the show’s medics use to make quick and accurate diagnoses.

 

Dr Samadhan Patil, the lead author on the paper, said: “We have been able to detect and measure multiple metabolites associated with myocardial infarction, or heart attack, and prostate cancer simultaneously using this device. This device has potential to track progression of the disease in its early phase and is ideally suited for the subsequent prognosis”.

 

Professor David Cumming, Principal Investigator of the project from University’s School of Engineering said: “Handheld, inexpensive diagnostic devices capable of accurately measuring metabolites open up a wide range of applications for medicine, and with this latest development we’ve taken an important step closer to bringing such a device to market.” 

 

“It’s an exciting breakthrough and we’re keen to continue building on the technology we’ve developed so far.”