Star Trek laser device developed for painless health checks
A new Star-Trek inspired medical device has been developed by researchers that could allow doctors to perform painless health checks on people.
A laser-based system was developed by researchers at Aston University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science to perform non-invasive checks on health metrics such as cardiovascular performance and key metabolic information.
The device uses three separate lasers to carry out analysis into variables such as how effectively a subject’s blood is being delivered to their tissue; to measure levels of oxygen in blood vessels and tissue and to assess cell metabolism, a technique useful in areas such as obesity prognosis and cancer diagnosis.
Tests using the device take minutes and involve lasers being shone onto a patient’s skin, where they feel nothing. Results are processed by a computer and are then displayed as graphs.
Professor Edik Rafailov, of Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT), said: ‘This technology will allow a range of tests to be taken quickly, painlessly and without any reason for patients to feel nervous – there are no needles involved. Results are instantaneous, which is better for patients and more efficient for healthcare providers.’
Dr Sergei Sokolovsky, senior research Fellow at AIPT, said: ‘We have managed to bring together multiple technologies in a machine that is compact, simple to use and – from a patient’s perspective – extremely user-friendly. It is a huge step forward in terms of improving the speed of diagnostic work and also in terms of reducing invasive tests.’
The machine has already been as part of the diagnostic procedure for strokes and skin cancers. One area of use for doctors is to mitigate the risk of stroke in patients with hypertension, as it can constantly monitor blood delivery above the eyebrows. It’s also a high-precision way of identifying the boundaries of head and neck skin cancers, helping surgeons avoid tumour reoccurrence and reducing the need for additional cosmetic surgery.
The researchers have even developed a prototype wearable monitor to help athletes monitor their optimal levels of physical exercise to prevent stress and exhaustion. The researchers state that the device could be useful for diagnostic work away from surgeries, bringing us closer to the ‘tricorder’ device made famous by Star Trek.