Miniature Microscope Could Improve Malaria Diagnosis in Developing Countries
A pocket-sized "optofluidic" microscope developed by researchers from California Institute of Technology could assist health workers in developing countries in diagnosing malaria, ANI/Yahoo! News reports (ANI/Yahoo! News, 7/29). Led by Caltech assistant professor Changhuei Yang, researchers created a miniature device that has the magnifying power of a top-quality microscope. The device can be powered by sunlight, requires no lenses and could be mass-produced for less than $10 (The Independent, 7/29).
To develop the microscope, Yang's team used charge-coupled device technology, commonly used in digital cameras, as well as a computer program. According to Yang, the microscope can be built onto a disposable image-sensing chip, which could then be discarded after use, reducing the risk of contamination between samples.
In addition, the chip could be integrated into a variety of platforms depending on the needs of the user, Yang said, adding that health workers in remote areas could carry compact, inexpensive models to test people for malaria. Xiquan Cui, a graduate student working on the project, added that a single chip could hold "hundreds or thousands" of optofluidic microscopes, which would allow an individual to analyze many organisms at once.
According to ANI/Yahoo! News, Yang currently is discussing mass production of the chip with biotechnology companies (ANI/Yahoo! News, 7/29).
