Researchers at the UCLA have designed a wearable microscope that measures fluorescent dyes through one’s skin. In other words, this smart device monitors disease biomarkers that are present inside the skin in order to track various biochemical reactions for medical diagnostics and therapy.
The new system developed by UCLA researchers and a team at Verily Life Sciences, weighs less than a one-tenth of a pound. It is small and light for a person to ideally wear around their bicep.
‘Fluorescent biomarkers are routinely used for cancer detection and drug delivery and release among other medical therapies. Recently, biocompatible fluorescent dyes have emerged, creating new opportunities for noninvasive sensing and measuring of biomarkers through the skin,’ UCLA posted on their website.
The data which is collected from the skin is then sent back to a computer where an algorithm filters out the noise generated by the skin itself. The resulting image allows doctors to track the chemical and check if there are any diseases to be detected.
