Smartphone Lens Could Diagnose Diseases On The Spot
Now people can take control of their health from home, instead of waiting in a doctor's office.
It’s an undeniable fact that smartphones have become an essential part of our lives, to the point where we are literally attached at the hip. They can provide directions, take photos, connect to social networks, and help us goof off during work or class. However, a new prototype lens from the University of Houston could turn smartphones into walking diagnosis machines.
A special lens uses a thin, glass slide with a gold grid, which will be blocked up if bacteria are present in a person’s fluid sample. While the slides of the lens are currently only visible under a microscope, the researchers hope to develop a working model that can be inspected with the phone’s flash function. Below is a picture of the lens under a microscope, with bacteria covering up parts of the grid.
Once the final product is ready, this could help smartphone users detect an oncoming cold or infection, and enable people to take control of their own health at home. The technology is at least a few months away, so if you think you might be getting sick, your best option is to see your doctor.