Developing countries usually lack facilities like high-tech medical laboratories and other technologically advanced equipment. Therefore scientists and doctors, really struggle when it comes to detecting the actual cause of various diseases. However, now a group of scientists in Pemba Island have found a substitute laboratory with the help of a smartphone. The group of scientists have actually converted an iPhone camera into a microscope in order to diagnose worms in the intestine. With the help of this hacked-together iPhone microscope scientists were able to detect about 70 percent of the infections compared to traditional laboratory microscopes. It appears to be a great invention, but still one cannot call it an ideal or perfect system to diagnose infections. For the reason that it may be good enough in several cases, but it does not qualify to detect all kinds of infections.
However, still one completely cannot discard the hacked-together iPhone microscope because not only does it have the capability to diagnose 70 percent of infections, but more importantly it’s a very inexpensive solution. Given that the team of scientists which have invented it, have used a double-sided tape on the camera lens of the iPhone in which they made a hole by piercing the tape. Then, the scientists placed a tiny $9 lens on the original camera lens of iPhone after which double-sided tape was used to hold the sample slides in accurate position and the flashlight was used as lighting. The scientists then studied the intestinal parasites on the sample slides to diagnose the infection and they were able to detect about 70 percent parasites.
Therefore, it is considered a remarkable feat by the scientists, as prior to this discovery work was in progress to make medical devices mobile, but nothing like this was achieved. Given that it was just limited to theories scientists in Pemba Island have successfully provided a practical application. Moreover, Africa is one of the emerging markets and low-cost smartphones have a high demand in the region, so apart from being good for micro-transactions, local trade and even for arts now they could also be used as medical device.
This clearly indicates that smartphones are now not just a source of communication, information and entertainment, but in the near future it will be used as a permanent medical tool to examine or test various medical conditions.
Source: PhoneArena
Photo: PhoneArena
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