Diagnostic devices

Continuous blood monitoring would be a transformative advance for doctors and a new study brings that reality closer. New research describes a device that can detect real-time changes in blood levels of any molecule a doctor would need to monitor.

A rapid COVID-19 test promises accurate results in under 30 minutes using a simple hand-held device, a nasal swab and a smartphone camera. The technology can also be modified to detect other viral diseases.

While we have already heard about contact lenses that monitor medical conditions, such lenses are often made from non-traditional materials. A new one, however, is composed of the same hydrogel as regular store-bought contacts.

Presently, in order to get a detailed analysis of their walking gait, patients have to travel to a clinic where they walk on a pressure-sensitive mat. That could be about to change, though, thanks to a new wearable system.

Preliminary research has discovered several blood-based biomarkers which can specifically indicate stroke damage to brain tissue. The goal of the research is to develop a simple blood test to rapidly detect whether a patient is suffering a minor stroke.

A new proof of concept study, led by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, has demonstrated how speech-analyzing artificial intelligence tools can effectively predict the level of loneliness in older adults.

New research has shown depression can be detected by monitoring a person's heart rate over a 24-hour period. The small study needs more verification but it points to a biomarker that could be easily integrated into patient monitoring systems.

A study is reporting promising results testing the world’s first portable MRI machine in a real-world intensive care setting. The device detected brain abnormalities in almost all patients studied, paving the way for new bedside diagnostic capabilities.

Boston Dynamics’ dog-like robot has now been turned into a tiny mobile doctor, able to remotely measure patients’ vital signs from a distance of over six feet. Dr Spot is being touted as a way to safely triage potentially contagious COVID-19 patients.

New research is suggesting a simple saliva test can detect the presence of a protein biomarker known to signal the occurrence of a heart attack in just 10 minutes, potentially accelerating the speed at which patients can be diagnosed and treated.

A new algorithm has been developed to detect coronary artery disease solely from patient facial photos. The algorithm needs more refinement but experts suggest there are ethical considerations to resolve before a system like this can be deployed.

One area where the modern smartphone has come to show incredible amounts of promise is in medical diagnostics, where they could soon reshape how we detect diabetes, gauge female fertility, spot skin cancers, and much more.