Hand-Held Device For Screening Diseases

Filed in archive Diagnostics, Methodologies and Instrumentation , Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics on February 16, 2006

This entry is submitted by Gloria Gamat, via Creative Reporter.Researchers at the University of Buffalo are developing a rugged, inexpensive Breathalyzer-type device that, just like the nose of a human -- or other mammal -- will contain thousands of chemical sensors "trained" to recognize complex chemical patterns, some of which are known biomarkers for certain Diseases.

According to the principal investigator, Frank V. Bright: These volatile biomarkers called gaseous metabolites (the same odors that some animals use to identify their offspring, owners, mates, prey or competitors), emanate from us all of the time. They are large in volume, much safer to handle than biofluids and available through totally non-invasive means.

So far, multiple volatile chemicals have been detected by other scientists as biomarkers, correlating their presence and concentration with human diseases ranging from diabetes and AIDS to lung cancer and various mental illnesses.

The UB team is taking a multidisciplinary approach, integrating research in neural networks, pattern analysis, novel sensor technologies, low-power optical detectors and light sources with clinical expertise.

Such a speedy, inexpensive tool for early screening of multiple diseases could improve dramatically the health and longevity of millions of Americans, especially the elderly, and those in lower-income groups, in whom diseases often are diagnosed at later stages, Bright said, in part due to economic issues and poor health-screening tools.

The ultimate goal of the study is to produce an extremely robust and reliable, low-cost, handheld device encompassing all of the sensing, detection and processing elements.

Source: WNY MediaAbout Gloria Gamat: Gloria is a Chemist and a single mom. Gloria also blogs about motherhood at EMothersOnline and about life and travel in the Philippines at The Philippine Culture Blog and at Pinoy Travel Blog respectively.