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| Pregnant App ? Smartphone Soon !!! |
A smartphone app that can help determine if an individual is pregnant or not may soon be available. Scientists claim that with their new invention, people may be aided to monitor different types of body fluids, including saliva, urine, blood, sweat or breath, using a smartphone.
People may then subsequently detect their medical conditions, such as pregnancy or blood sugar alterations, with a few touches of the fingertips.
The researchers from the Hanover Center for Optical
Technologies (HOT), University of Hanover in Germany have created a
fiber optic sensor that can provide real-time readings coursed through
smartphone apps and is said to have promising potential to conduct
biomolecular examinations.
The technology used in this invention is called surface
plasmon resonance, which refers to the mechanism under which electrons
on the surface of a thin metallic film scramble when exposed to light.
When a beam of flight is striked through the film, majority of the light
is reflected; however, some of it get absorbed resulting in its
resonance.
The size and location of the absorbed band are altered when
the liquid exhibits average refraction due to exposure to the metallic
film. The specific identification of the specimen's composition may
possible when refraction-modifying elements that target biomolecules and
trace gases are added to the metallic film as the sensors can examine
which of the light is reflected and which is absorbed.
Just how can this technology be incorporated in a
smartphone? Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is typically used for
biosensing; however this necessitates the use of big devices including a
light source and a light detector. But because smartphones both contain
this, the scientists were able to incorporate their subtle invention,
which is made up of multimode fiber that measures about 400 micrometer
in diameter and a sensing area that is coated with silver.
"We have the potential to develop small and robust
lab-on-a-chip devices for smartphones. So, surface plasmon resonance
sensors could become ubiquitous now," said Kort
Bremer, inventor and co-author of the research. Bremer worked alongside
co-author Bernhard Roth, director of Hanover Centre for Optical
Technologies (HOT), University of Hanover, Germany.
Bremer explained that he tested the device on a smartphone
by cutting the polymer covering of the optics cable to expose the fiber
core. He then put it in the silver coating and incorporated a small area
where the liquid may be poured. Bremer also polished the fiber ends to
45 degree-angles.
The device was then attached to the smartphone's case,
particularly in the LED and camera. A diffraction grating was fasten to
the camera to the light beam into an emission spectrum. The data
collated may also be linked to GPS to allow smartphone users have access
to the nearest hospital, drug store or emergency care service.
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