Diagnose Diseases with Your Mobile Phone

Recent developments in world of mobile technology have lead to a detachable device that is said to be able to diagnose certain diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB). Experts have said that this will hopefully lead to the introduction of ‘portable clinics’ in the foreseeable future. All of this is available, too… on a mobile phone.

Not so long ago, mobile phones were only capable of sending text messages and calling, with maybe a detachable or changeable dongle here or there. However, today’s technology has enabled scientists and developers to create ‘The CellScope’.

Experts are hopeful that such a gadget will prove highly useful in developing parts of the world. Although medical care is limited in these places, the possession and coverage of mobile phones is still reasonably high. Seeing as CellScope is the first of its nature, there is definitely a gap in the global market for such a product.

So how does this work? Well, the technology behind CellScope is pretty basic. All that is required is a mobile phone, complete with camera, and the ‘snap-on’ attachment. The science behind it, however, is a little more complex.

The CellScope acts in the same manner to a fluorescent microscope which can identify certain cells that can cause disease. It is made of conventional microscope optics as well as other numerous equipment which allow it to function and diagnose.

All that is required to complete the process is a blood sample from the suspected patient. It is then placed under the CellScope to be examined. The sight from the microscope should then appear on the screen of the mobile phone through the camera lens.

Pictures of this can then be taken by the mobile camera and sent via MMS to a qualified doctor thousands of miles away if necessary. Then, a doctor can confirm the suspicions of the user.

It is due to the highly mobile aspect of this creation which makes this specific device such a gem. David Breslauer, a University of California Berkeley researcher and head of this entire study says: “In many developing world and rural areas, you could be hundreds of miles from hospitals or miles away from power - but the mobile infrastructure is well-established and pretty much blanketing the globe.”

This makes the diagnosis procedure easier, shorter and may save many lives.

At this moment in time, bacteria that are a sign of tuberculosis are the only molecules that the CellScope can identify and tag in a given sample. Despite this, once one of the filters has been removed, it can transform into a standard white-light microscope and be used to identify malaria parasites and also the typical cells of sickle cell anaemia. However, there are several other tagging molecules currently being developed. These will hopefully aid the diagnosis of other diseases.

With mobiles increasing rapidly and advancing in the technology world, it shows that anything is possible. Thousands of lives could be saved, due to one piece of machinery.

It may not be available in Carphone Warehouse next month, but it can be said that this nifty piece of kit could go well beyond tuberculosis diagnosis in future.