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
Gold Member
Genetic Type 1 Diabetes Risk Test
T1D GRS Array
Hemodynamic System Monitor
OptoMonitor
HBV DNA Test
GENERIC HBV VIRAL LOAD VER 2.0
Latest Technology News
- AI-Generated Sensors Open New Paths for Early Cancer Detection
- Pioneering Blood Test Detects Lung Cancer Using Infrared Imaging
- AI Predicts Colorectal Cancer Survival Using Clinical and Molecular Features
- Diagnostic Chip Monitors Chemotherapy Effectiveness for Brain Cancer
- Machine Learning Models Diagnose ALS Earlier Through Blood Biomarkers
- Artificial Intelligence Model Could Accelerate Rare Disease Diagnosis
- AI Saliva Sensor Enables Early Detection of Head and Neck Cancer
- AI-Powered Biosensor Technology to Enable Breath Test for Lung Cancer Detection
- AI Model Achieves Breakthrough Accuracy in Ovarian Cancer Detection
- Portable Biosensor Diagnoses Psychiatric Disorders Using Saliva Samples
- Cell-Sorting Device Uses Electromagnetic Levitation to Precisely Direct Cell Movement
- Embedded GPU Platform Enables Rapid Blood Profiling for POC Diagnostics
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Blood Test Could Predict and Identify Early Relapses in Myeloma Patients
Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer of the bone marrow, and while many patients now live for more than a decade after diagnosis, a significant proportion relapse much earlier with poor outcomes.... Read more
Compact Raman Imaging System Detects Subtle Tumor Signals
Accurate cancer diagnosis often depends on labor-intensive tissue staining and expert pathological review, which can delay results and limit access to rapid screening. These conventional methods also make... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Blood Test Predicts Crohn’s Disease Years Before Symptoms Appear
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that causes persistent digestive symptoms, pain, and fatigue, often leading to lifelong treatment. Incidence rates are rising... Read more
DNA Testing of Colorectal Polyps Improves Insight into Hereditary Risks
Colorectal cancer is among the most common cancers in Western countries, and hereditary factors are involved in about 5–10% of cases, particularly in younger patients. Individuals with large numbers of... Read more
Hematology
view channel
AI Algorithm Effectively Distinguishes Alpha Thalassemia Subtypes
Alpha thalassemia affects millions of people worldwide and is especially common in regions such as Southeast Asia, where carrier rates can reach extremely high levels. While the condition can have significant... Read more
MRD Tests Could Predict Survival in Leukemia Patients
Acute myeloid leukemia is an aggressive blood cancer that disrupts normal blood cell production and often relapses even after intensive treatment. Clinicians currently lack early, reliable markers to predict... Read more
Immunology
view channel
Whole-Genome Sequencing Approach Identifies Cancer Patients Benefitting From PARP-Inhibitor Treatment
Targeted cancer therapies such as PARP inhibitors can be highly effective, but only for patients whose tumors carry specific DNA repair defects. Identifying these patients accurately remains challenging,... Read more
Ultrasensitive Liquid Biopsy Demonstrates Efficacy in Predicting Immunotherapy Response
Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, but only a small proportion of patients experience lasting benefit, with response rates often remaining between 10% and 20%. Clinicians currently lack reliable... Read more
Microbiology
view channel
New Test Measures How Effectively Antibiotics Kill Bacteria
Antibiotics are typically evaluated by how well they inhibit bacterial growth in laboratory tests, but growth inhibition does not always mean the bacteria are actually killed. Some pathogens can survive... Read more
New Antimicrobial Stewardship Standards for TB Care to Optimize Diagnostics
Antibiotic resistance is rising worldwide, threatening the effectiveness of treatments for major infectious diseases, including tuberculosis (TB). Resistance to key TB drugs, such as bedaquiline, is of... Read more
Pathology
view channel
AI-Powered Label-Free Optical Imaging Accurately Identifies Thyroid Cancer During Surgery
Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, and its rising detection rates have increased the number of patients undergoing surgery. During tumor removal, surgeons often face uncertainty in distinguishing... Read more
Deep Learning–Based Method Improves Cancer Diagnosis
Identifying vascular invasion is critical for determining how aggressive a cancer is, yet doing so reliably can be difficult using standard pathology workflows. Conventional methods require multiple chemical... Read more
ADLM Updates Expert Guidance on Urine Drug Testing for Patients in Emergency Departments
Urine drug testing plays a critical role in the emergency department, particularly for patients presenting with suspected overdose or altered mental status. Accurate and timely results can directly influence... Read more
Industry
view channel
WHX Labs Dubai to Gather Global Experts in Antimicrobial Resistance at Inaugural AMR Leaders’ Summit
World Health Expo (WHX) Labs in Dubai (formerly Medlab Middle East), which will be held at Dubai World Trade Centre from 10-13 February, will address the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance... Read more
