Medical Design Briefs - July 2021 - 35

MEDICAL CHANNEL
Sponsored by
FEATURED SPONSOR VIDEO:
Researchers have developed a new approach to coronavirus testing, creating
the first handheld, battery-powered testing device that can yield
accurate results in half an hour. The device can simultaneously test for
multiple genes, researchers report. (Credit: L. Brian Stauffer)
that tag the viral genes of interest. The enzyme cleaves the
genes, which have been tagged with a dye that fluoresces only
after the genes are cut. The resulting fluorescence signals that
those genes are present - a positive test result.
The new technology, called Scalable and Portable Testing,
does away with the complicated process of heating and cooling
each sample to get results, as many current testing protocols
require. SPOT also can detect multiple genes per sample, making
it more accurate than single-gene tests, which can yield incorrect
or inconclusive results. Another advantage is that it utilizes
saliva, which is easier to collect and less invasive than a nasal swab.
The research team tested SPOT using 104 clinical saliva samples.
They found that it accurately identified 28 out of 30 SARSCoV-2-positive
samples and 73 of 74 SARS-CoV-2-negative samples.
" Based on the data reported in the literature, the accuracy of
our test is comparable to or better than other SARS-CoV-2
tests, " Zhao says.
The researchers also tested SPOT with samples containing -
or lacking - the influenza virus, the new coronavirus and three
other human coronaviruses. It accurately identified samples containing
the new coronavirus, whether or not other viruses were
present in the sample. The SPOT system also may be useful for
detecting genetic markers of certain types of cancer in saliva.
" We are interested in exploring this technology for detection
of other diseases as well, " Zhao says. " One key advantage to this
technology is its multiplexing capability, so in principle, we can
detect many viruses simultaneously using the same device. "
Zhao also is a University of Illinois professor of bioengineering,
of chemistry, and of biomedical and translational sciences in the
Carle Illinois College of Medicine. He is a faculty member in the
Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, which, together with
the Steven L. Miller Chair Endowment, supports this research.
This article was written by Diana Yates, Life Science Editor,
University of Illinois. For more information, visit https://news.
illinois.edu.
Medical Design Briefs, July 2021
Intro
Cov
ToC
+
-
A
µ
Amputee Grasps Objects With LifeHand
Grasping with suitable pressure, without damaging or dropping
objects - healthy people do this all the time. Researchers have now
mastered artificially reproducing this sequence with the LifeHand 2.
www.techbriefs.com/tv/LifeHand_2
Implant-free 'Deep
Brain' Treatment
Treating neurological disorders
like Parkinson's disease
with deep brain stimulation
normally requires an implant.
A Washington University team
has introduced a less invasive
ultrasound method.
www.techbriefs.com/tv/
deep-brain
Infrared Imager Sees
Blood Vessels
An infrared imager developed by
UC San Diego engineers could
map a person's blood vessels
while monitoring heart rate
at the same time, all without
touching the skin.
www.techbriefs.com/tv/
infrared-imager
Ear Implant Improves
Quality of Life
A vestibular implant from
Johns Hopkins Medicine helps
patients with inner ear disorders
by electrically bypassing
malfunctioning areas and
restoring most of their ability to
walk and move.
www.techbriefs.com/tv/
ear-implant
www.techbriefs.tv
35
È
http://www.techbriefs.com/tv/LifeHand_2 http://www.techbriefs.com/tv/deep-brain http://www.techbriefs.com/tv/infrared-imager http://www.techbriefs.com/tv/ear-implant https://news.illinois.edu http://www.techbriefs.tv
Medical Design Briefs - July 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Medical Design Briefs - July 2021
