Diagnosis in your pocket: breathe on your mobile phone!

Nokia N95 finds diseasesTatiana Smirnova, 3DNews
At the International Nanotechnology Exhibition & Conference held in Tokyo, Applied Nanodetectors together with Nokia demonstrated a prototype Nokia N95 capable of detecting diseases.

To assess the state of health, the owner of the device needs to breathe on it – the built-in sensors will measure the level of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ammonia. Based on the data obtained, the phone may assume the presence of deviations in the user's health.

According to Applied Nanodetectors, the improved Nokia N95 smartphone is able to detect asthma, diabetes, lung cancer, food poisoning, oral problems, as well as the level of alcohol in the blood.

If the device detects a disease, it will automatically send a corresponding message to the user's personal doctor. Thus, at an early stage, the owner of the device will be able to receive qualified treatment.

Representatives of Applied Nanodetectors note that negotiations on the integration of new technologies into devices are underway with several companies.

How exactly the content of gases in the exhaled air is determined, neither in this nor in other messages about the "diagnosis by phone" is said. Perhaps the developers of applied nanodetectors have managed to implement the optical frequency comb method on a chip. An article about the possibility of diagnosing various diseases with its help (however, in laboratory conditions) was published exactly a year ago.

Unfortunately, even if the prototype is really as good as it is painted, clinical trials of a new diagnostic method will at best take several more years. And one more delicate question: the reliability of a positive diagnosis in such a device intended for use in everyday life should be at least 101% (even better – 105 :), in order to avoid the development of cancer and other phobias in users, as well as a very common disease - iatrogenia.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru26.02.2009