Medical Device Combines Nanotechnology to Diagnose Kidney Disease
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 17 Mar 2015 |
|
Image: The quantitative electrochemical lateral flow assay (QELFA) device (Photo courtesy of Somersault 18:24).
A new medical device which combines nanotechnology with a pregnancy tester could help diagnose and treat the one million people in the UK who don't know they have kidney disease.
Every day 19 people in the UK are diagnosed with kidney failure yet there is currently no device that can be used by doctors for day-to-day monitoring of kidney disease and four of the 19 people will not have visited specialist services for sufficient time to prepare for their treatment.
The apparatus is a quantitative electrochemical lateral flow assay (QELFA) and uses nanoparticles to test the patient's urine giving results in seconds. It is linked via mobile technology so doctors can track how the disease is developing. The devise was developed by engineers and costs about GBP 10 can be used at home and could revolutionize kidney disease care in the UK, which currently costs the UK National Health Service (NHS) over GBP 1.4 billion, more than breast, lung, colon and skin cancer combined.
The devise which works like a pregnancy test was created by Bio Nano Consulting (London, UK). The digital readout of the test enables the automatic and accurate collation of kidney-function readings into a central database using mobile technology. Behind the patients who develop kidney failure and in need of rapid diagnosis are many more who will have a lesser degree of kidney dysfunction, called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), that will place them at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and acute kidney injury.
Helen Meese CEng, MIMech, PhD, Head of Materials at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (London, UK), said, “The QELFA device is a brilliant example of what's possible. Using an old technology like a pregnancy tester and combining it with nanotechnology, you have a device which could not only diagnose the million people in the UK who are unaware they have kidney disease, but also help doctors effectively monitor those undergoing treatment. It could also save the NHS millions of pounds a year. But although the UK has been at the forefront of nanotechnology development, we still lag behind in its commercialization and many people are still unsure of its potential. We must change this.”
Related Links:
Bio Nano Consulting
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Every day 19 people in the UK are diagnosed with kidney failure yet there is currently no device that can be used by doctors for day-to-day monitoring of kidney disease and four of the 19 people will not have visited specialist services for sufficient time to prepare for their treatment.
The apparatus is a quantitative electrochemical lateral flow assay (QELFA) and uses nanoparticles to test the patient's urine giving results in seconds. It is linked via mobile technology so doctors can track how the disease is developing. The devise was developed by engineers and costs about GBP 10 can be used at home and could revolutionize kidney disease care in the UK, which currently costs the UK National Health Service (NHS) over GBP 1.4 billion, more than breast, lung, colon and skin cancer combined.
The devise which works like a pregnancy test was created by Bio Nano Consulting (London, UK). The digital readout of the test enables the automatic and accurate collation of kidney-function readings into a central database using mobile technology. Behind the patients who develop kidney failure and in need of rapid diagnosis are many more who will have a lesser degree of kidney dysfunction, called Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), that will place them at increased risk of cardiovascular disease and acute kidney injury.
Helen Meese CEng, MIMech, PhD, Head of Materials at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (London, UK), said, “The QELFA device is a brilliant example of what's possible. Using an old technology like a pregnancy tester and combining it with nanotechnology, you have a device which could not only diagnose the million people in the UK who are unaware they have kidney disease, but also help doctors effectively monitor those undergoing treatment. It could also save the NHS millions of pounds a year. But although the UK has been at the forefront of nanotechnology development, we still lag behind in its commercialization and many people are still unsure of its potential. We must change this.”
Related Links:
Bio Nano Consulting
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
New
Platinum Member
Flu SARS-CoV-2 Combo Test
OSOM® Flu SARS-CoV-2 Combo Test
Complement 3 (C3) Test
GPP-100 C3 Kit
New
Gold Member
Fully Automated Cell Density/Viability Analyzer
BioProfile FAST CDV
Latest Technology News
- Microneedle Patch Detects Skin Cancer Early
- New Diagnostic System Achieves PCR Testing Accuracy
- DNA Biosensor Enables Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer
- Self-Heating Microfluidic Devices Can Detect Diseases in Tiny Blood or Fluid Samples
- Breakthrough in Diagnostic Technology Could Make On-The-Spot Testing Widely Accessible
- First of Its Kind Technology Detects Glucose in Human Saliva
- Electrochemical Device Identifies People at Higher Risk for Osteoporosis Using Single Blood Drop
- Novel Noninvasive Test Detects Malaria Infection without Blood Sample
- Portable Optofluidic Sensing Devices Could Simultaneously Perform Variety of Medical Tests
- Point-of-Care Software Solution Helps Manage Disparate POCT Scenarios across Patient Testing Locations
- Electronic Biosensor Detects Biomarkers in Whole Blood Samples without Addition of Reagents
- Breakthrough Test Detects Biological Markers Related to Wider Variety of Cancers
- Rapid POC Sensing Kit to Determine Gut Health from Blood Serum and Stool Samples
- Device Converts Smartphone into Fluorescence Microscope for Just USD 50
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
New ADLM Guidance Provides Expert Recommendations on Clinical Testing For Respiratory Viral Infections
Respiratory tract infections, predominantly caused by viral pathogens, are a common reason for healthcare visits. Accurate and swift diagnosis of these infections is essential for optimal patient management.... Read more
3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models
Mass spectrometry is a precise technique for identifying the chemical components of a sample and has significant potential for monitoring chronic illness health states, such as measuring hormone levels... Read more.jpg "Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)")
POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection
Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more
Highly Reliable Cell-Based Assay Enables Accurate Diagnosis of Endocrine Diseases
The conventional methods for measuring free cortisol, the body's stress hormone, from blood or saliva are quite demanding and require sample processing. The most common method, therefore, involves collecting... Read moreMolecular Diagnostics
view channel
Advanced Liquid Biopsy Technology Detects Cancer Earlier Than Conventional Methods
Liquid biopsy technology has yet to fully deliver on its significant potential. Traditional methods have focused on a narrow range of cancer-associated mutations that are often present in such low quantities... Read more
Blood-Based Test Outperforms Ultrasound in Early Liver Cancer Detection
Patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B are at a higher risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent type of liver cancer. The American Association for the Study... Read more
Four-In-One Molecular Test Detects and Differentiates Among Most Prevalent Respiratory Viruses in 20 Minutes
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that respiratory diseases in the United States reached high levels during the recent autumn and winter seasons, with SARS-CoV-2 leading... Read more.jpeg "Image: Screening for prostate cancer with first-line MRI is less cost-effective than first-line PSA testing (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)")
First-Line PSA Testing More Cost-Effective Than First-Line MRI for Prostate Cancer Screening
Current prostate cancer (PCa) screening protocols typically begin with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, which, if elevated, may lead to further assessment using multiparametric magnetic resonance... Read moreHematology
view channel
Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns
Hemoglobinopathies, the most widespread inherited conditions globally, affect about 7% of the population as carriers, with 2.7% of newborns being born with these conditions. The spectrum of clinical manifestations... Read more
First 4-in-1 Nucleic Acid Test for Arbovirus Screening to Reduce Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Infections
Arboviruses represent an emerging global health threat, exacerbated by climate change and increased international travel that is facilitating their spread across new regions. Chikungunya, dengue, West... Read more
POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more
First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy
Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read moreImmunology
view channel.jpg "Image: The AI tool predicts whether someone’s cancer will respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors (Photo courtesy of National Cancer Institute)")
AI Tool Predicts Cancer Patients’ Response to Immunotherapy
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a form of immunotherapy drug that enables immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. At present, the Food and Drug Administration has approved two predictive biomarkers... Read more
Molecular Profiling Improves Diagnosis for Children with High Risk Cancers
Cancer remains the leading cause of disease-related death among children in most developed nations, and approximately one-fourth of these patients are diagnosed with aggressive, high-risk, or relapsed... Read more
.jpg "Image: The AI predictive model identifies the most potent cancer killing immune cells for use in immunotherapies (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)")
Microbiology
view channel
Rapid UTI Test Cuts Detection Time from 3 days to 45 Minutes
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), also known as antibiotic resistance or superbugs, is a silent but growing pandemic where bacteria have become resistant to lifesaving antibiotics due to decades of overuse and misuse.... Read more
POC STI Test Shortens Time from ED Arrival to Test Results
In a 2024 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) surveillance report by the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2.5 million cases were recorded, alongside a rise in the inappropriate use of antibiotics... Read more
Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing
Tuberculosis (TB) is responsible for 1.3 million deaths every year, positioning it as one of the top killers globally due to a single infectious agent. In 2022, around 10.6 million people were diagnosed... Read more
Automated Sepsis Test System Enables Rapid Diagnosis for Patients with Severe Bloodstream Infections
Sepsis affects up to 50 million people globally each year, with bacteraemia, formerly known as blood poisoning, being a major cause. In the United States alone, approximately two million individuals are... Read morePathology
view channel
New Technique Reveals Earliest Signs of Genetic Mutations
Mutations are alterations in the molecular "letters" that constitute the DNA code, which serves as the blueprint for all living cells. While some of these changes may be inconsequential, others can lead... Read more
New WHO Reporting System for Lung Cytopathology to Enhance Diagnostic Accuracy
Lung cancer continues to be the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and ranks as the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in both men and women. The role of lung cytopathology, which... Read more
Self-Taught AI Tool Diagnoses and Predicts Severity of Common Lung Cancer
A computer program powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and trained on nearly half a million tissue images can effectively diagnose cases of adenocarcinoma, the most prevalent type of lung cancer.... Read more
Novel AI-Powered Method for Tissue Analysis Improves Understanding of Disease Pathology
Scientists at Brown University (Providence, RI, USA) and the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) have created a groundbreaking computational technique to examine complex tissue data, potentially... Read moreIndustry
view channel
Roche and Hitachi High-Tech Extend 46-Year Partnership for Breakthroughs in Diagnostic Testing
Roche (Basel, Switzerland) and Hitachi High-Tech (Tokyo, Japan) have renewed their collaboration agreement, committing to a further 10 years of partnership. This extension brings together their long-standing... Read more
Danaher and Johns Hopkins University Collaborate to Improve Neurological Diagnosis
Unlike severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), mild TBI often does not show clear correlations with abnormalities detected through head computed tomography (CT) scans. Consequently, there is a pressing need... Read more
Beckman Coulter and MeMed Expand Host Immune Response Diagnostics Partnership
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and MeMed BV (Haifa, Israel) have expanded their host immune response diagnostics partnership. Beckman Coulter is now an authorized distributor of the MeMed... Read more_1.jpg "Image: Thermo Fisher will distribute Bio-Techne products across Europe (Photo courtesy of 123RF)")
