Researchers and medical professionals from National Taiwan University have designed the world's first C-reactive protein sensor small enough to fit in one's palm, the school said yesterday.
C-reactive protein is a key factor in testing for various cancers and diseases, Lu Hsueh-shih (
He said the current protein test machines are bulky and require trained technicians to operate, making the tests time-consuming and costly.
PHOTO: CHU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
"There is a direct correlation between C-reactive protein levels and the outbreak of certain kinds of common diseases, like heart disease, and certain cancers," Lu said, adding that the university's new test device to measure such protein was small and easy to use.
"The device is small enough to fit on a wristwatch," Lu said.
The device combines wireless semi-conductor technology and medical expertise, university president Lee Si-chen (
"This is the first fusion ever of semiconductor technology with medical technology," Lee said.
When a drop of blood is applied to the groundbreaking chip, an advanced sensor measures the level of C-reactive protein, the panelists said.
If the chip senses abnormal levels of the protein, it emits a message to the user's computer or cellphone, as well as to the user's doctor, Lu said.
The university's deputy director, Ho Hong-neng (何弘能), said that the device would make screening patients much more convenient in the future, but that it wouldn't replace doctors.
"The device cuts down on the steps involved in diagnosing patients, but it's not like the medical sensors in Star Trek that can immediately pick up any abnormalities in a person's physical state," Ho said.
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