The device was created to detect the presence of diseases from biological markers in the air we exhale
A prototype developed by researchers can revolutionize the diagnosis of illnesses from the analysis of breathing. Called the Location Mechanism of Aerotransported Biomarkers (ABLE), it acts as a kind of “breathalyzer”.
The device acts condensing air -carried molecules and turning them into concentrated liquid droplets. The idea is that this process will serve to detect diseases detecting biological markers in the air we exhale.
- Many diagnostic tests currently require blood, saliva or urine samples.
- Already the analysis of breathing much simpler.
- According to scientists, the method is highly accessible and has a very low cost.
- The idea is that the analysis lasts only a few minutes.
- And then the results are already available to the patient.
- The new technology was described by the researchers in a study published in the magazine Nature Chemical Engineering.
read more
Device can detect asthma, diabetes and even lung cancer
The human body emits volatile organic compounds (you), small organic molecules that are typically gaseous to room temperature and can be detected in human respiration. Several studies have already associated these diseases compounds, including asthma, diabetes and lung cancer.
However, there is a difficulty in using you for diagnoses. This is because they are present at very low concentrations, which makes monitoring a real challenge. However, the new device can suck the exhaled air through a pump by adding water vapor through a humidifier and cooling the mixture to cause condensation.
According to scientists, this process transforms air -transported compounds into concentrated droplets that slide to a collection reservoir. The prototype can collect about 1 milliliter of condensate in 10 minutes, providing sufficient sample for the analysis.
Despite its potential, there are still some obstacles to overcome. Scientists are still unsure which compounds relate to which diseases. Therefore, more studies are needed before the “breathalyzer” can effectively go into operation.
Collaboration for the digital look
Alessandro Di Lorenzo has a degree in Journalism from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and has been working in the area since 2014. He worked on BandNews FM newsrooms in Porto Alegre and São Paulo.
