Diagnostic devices

In people with liver disease or other metabolic disorders, blood ammonia levels can quickly climb to dangerous levels. And unfortunately, checking those levels is not a fast and easy process. A newly developed device, however, could change that.

A new cancer-detecting blood test has been found to catch five common types of cancer up to four years before any other conventional diagnostic tool, but further verification is needed before the test is clinically available.

Engineers have optimized a novel technology that uses temporary tattoo electrodes to record EEG brain activity. The technology is cheap, can be produced using an inkjet printer, and delivers EEG measurements as accurately as traditional electrodes.

An abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation is one of the leading causes of strokes, yet it's often symptomless, so it frequently goes undetected. An experimental new necklace, however, could make checking for it a quick and simple process.

In a first-of-its-kind study thousands of people with no history of cancer were screened with an experimental multi-cancer blood test. The results caught several pre-symptomatic early stage cancers, but more work is needed before clinical deployment

Although no one likes getting blood samples drawn or having their skin pricked, these are the most common methods of testing for allergies. Thanks to a new study, however, such uncomfortable pokes could soon be replaced with painless nasal swabs.

Two new diagnostic techniques hope to help catch the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer. One study measures gene expression in tumors to predict disease severity, while another details a new imaging technique to detect metastatic disease.

The treatment of infections can be challenging, as it takes time to determine if harmful bacteria are even present, and to then figure out which antibiotic would work best. A simple new test, however, is said to answer both questions on the spot.

For some time now, the tracking of eye movements has served as a means of assessing neurological health. A new system is said to do so more precisely than ever, providing highly accurate readings in just 10 seconds.

The dream of a non-invasive device to continually monitor blood glucose levels has never become reality. The latest prospective technique, from the University of Warwick, uses artificial intelligence to detect low blood glucose from simple ECG data.

If someone has a swallowing disorder, they typically have to pay visits to a clinic, where their throat is monitored as they perform swallowing exercises. A new sensor could change that, allowing patients to be remotely monitored in their homes.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has delivered a Breakthrough Device Designation to a novel eye-tracking technology that claims to offer objective and early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. The FDA designation is hoped to accelerate the approval process for the test offering clinicians a new and reliable way to diagnose the degenerative disease at its earliest stage.