Ikerlan-IK4 and Gaiker-IK4 patent device for rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases and cancer

With the aim of extending the uses of the device in the field of health, experts at these technological centres are currently researching their application for the detection and treatment of colorectal cancer.

The device incorporates advances in micro-nanotechnologies whereby, in a miniaturised laboratory mode, the required reagents are mixed with a sample of the patient. Thanks to miniaturisation, the result of the analysis is obtained in a matter of minutes – very advantageous in providing a rapid and precise diagnosis and one without the need of a laboratory infrastructure which, in turn, enables a speedy start to treatment. Reading of the device will be simple based, as it is, on luminous indicators that tell if the result is positive or negative, the identification corresponding to the presence of specific genetic sequences of the microbian agents causing the pathology or of the cancer patient.

Future applications that this microchip could be used for are of great importance, as they can provide genetic diagnosis tools for doctors to carry out early diagnoses of diseases associated with our genetic inheritance or with the malfunctioning of the mechanisms for the translation of our genetic code such as, possibly, the degenerative pathologies of Parkinsons and Alzheimer, amongst others, or of metabolic disorders. Another field of application of great interest is in the forensic field, medical tests for paternity or even prenatal diagnosis.

In this way, Ikerlan-IK4 and Gaiker-IK4 researchers have focused on colorectal cancer in order to achieve, within a period of three years, a reliable method of detection and prognosis of the stage of the disease This minilaboratory will speedily indicate if the patient is carrying this disease and, if affirmative, at which stage it is, thus enabling appropriate and effective treatment. But, moreover, it will be able to determine if there is a tendency to have this illness and so facilitate the adoption of preventive measures to avoid the disease in the first place.

The existence of minilaboratories will also mean important advances in enhancing quality within the health system, given that hospital admissions will be reduced, the time spent in admission will be cut as will costs in diagnosis. The application of this device will have a significant effect on preventive and health clinic medical care, due to its accessibility in terms of cost and portability. This last point is of considerable interest to developing and less favoured countries, where the authorities will have at their disposal effective tools for the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

All latest news from the category: Medical Engineering

The development of medical equipment, products and technical procedures is characterized by high research and development costs in a variety of fields related to the study of human medicine.

innovations-report provides informative and stimulating reports and articles on topics ranging from imaging processes, cell and tissue techniques, optical techniques, implants, orthopedic aids, clinical and medical office equipment, dialysis systems and x-ray/radiation monitoring devices to endoscopy, ultrasound, surgical techniques, and dental materials.

Back to home

Comments (0)

Write a comment

Newest articles

Lighting up the future

New multidisciplinary research from the University of St Andrews could lead to more efficient televisions, computer screens and lighting. Researchers at the Organic Semiconductor Centre in the School of Physics and…

Researchers crack sugarcane’s complex genetic code

Sweet success: Scientists created a highly accurate reference genome for one of the most important modern crops and found a rare example of how genes confer disease resistance in plants….

Evolution of the most powerful ocean current on Earth

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays an important part in global overturning circulation, the exchange of heat and CO2 between the ocean and atmosphere, and the stability of Antarctica’s ice sheets….

Partners & Sponsors