Innovative Device Detects Health Risks From Thin Air
Innovative Device Detects Health Risks From Thin Air
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A new portable device named ABLE, developed by University of Chicago scientists, promises to revolutionize medical diagnostics by detecting health risks through airborne molecules, SciTech Daily reported. Unlike traditional tests relying on blood samples, ABLE captures molecules directly from breath or air, potentially eliminating the need for needles.
The compact device, measuring just four by eight inches, works by drawing in air, adding humidity, then cooling it to condense airborne particles into liquid droplets. These droplets are collected on a specially engineered surface for analysis using existing liquid detection methods. Early tests demonstrated ABLE’s ability to detect glucose levels from breath, airborne bacteria like E. coli, and inflammation markers in mice.
ABLE’s non-invasive approach could benefit vulnerable patients, such as premature infants in neonatal care, and assist in monitoring diseases like diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers aim to further miniaturize the device to make it wearable and explore new physics principles related to airborne particle behavior.
Published in Nature Chemical Engineering, this breakthrough opens new avenues for public health monitoring and personalized medicine without invasive procedures.
