Detect Disease From A Simple Breathalyzer
DETECT DISEASE FROM A SIMPLE BREATHALYZER
February 19th, 2008
Students at the University of Boulder Colorado have developed a device that can identify diseases from a simple breath. It works by detecting single molecules that are associated with the disease. The students’ work is based off a 2005 Nobel winning device called the optical frequency comb, which they paired with spectroscopy. To achieve a reading the patient simply breathes into a microwave oven sized device. Lasers are then passed through the molecules tens of thousands of times for analysis. For example, a student that smoked had 5 times the amount of carbon monoxide normally found in nonsmoking individuals. Total cost of the device was just $50,000, but they hope a market ready device will be far cheaper. Although the machine is very much in a nascent stage and can only detect attributes associated with lung diseases, the team has already received numerous calls from companies looking to take the technology to market.
More info here.
February 19th, 2008
Students at the University of Boulder Colorado have developed a device that can identify diseases from a simple breath. It works by detecting single molecules that are associated with the disease. The students’ work is based off a 2005 Nobel winning device called the optical frequency comb, which they paired with spectroscopy. To achieve a reading the patient simply breathes into a microwave oven sized device. Lasers are then passed through the molecules tens of thousands of times for analysis. For example, a student that smoked had 5 times the amount of carbon monoxide normally found in nonsmoking individuals. Total cost of the device was just $50,000, but they hope a market ready device will be far cheaper. Although the machine is very much in a nascent stage and can only detect attributes associated with lung diseases, the team has already received numerous calls from companies looking to take the technology to market. More info here.
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