Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a device to more quickly diagnose infections in hospital patients.
The diagnostic device is the product of doctoral research by Dustin Harshman and the UA's biomedical engineering department. Using a smartphone, the device enables a physician to correctly diagnose an infection and order the appropriate drug to fight the bacteria.
“(We wanted) to create a device that’s capable of providing physicians with answers as soon as they perform the biopsy and we want them to have the information while they are still sitting with the patient," said Harshman.
A smartphone camera observes as the sample is heated and measures its DNA to identify the pathogen causing the infection.
Harshman said a quick diagnosis can keep infection from spreading to other patients at a clinic because treatment can be started immediately.
The researchers said they expect their invention to be commercially appealing because it is faster, more efficient and less expensive than options used now. The device can produce results in less than 5 minutes, compared to an hour or more from current technology.