For a physician to determine whether you have a particular illness, you usually have to deliver a specific sample – blood, urine, feces, or even a piece of flesh.
Now NASA’s new, handheld “E-Nose” can detect the presence of various sicknesses when someone breathes on it.
The space agency developed the smartphone-like device to check on the health of astronauts spending weeks or months at the International Space Station: if someone in deep space isn’t feeling well, how can you diagnose the illness from thousands of miles away?
Fortunately, many conditions have unique chemical signatures that appear in your breath. For example, higher-than-normal concentrations of nitrogen oxide indicate asthma, and abnormal amounts of ammonia can point to a stomach ulcer.
The E-Nose will be able to detect a range of respiratory illnesses, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular conditions in less than five minutes and likely one day will find a place in every family doctor’s office.
TRENDPOST: The combinations of technology, miniaturization, and the Internet will continue to make the diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions easier, faster, and ultimately something that individuals can do by and for themselves.
Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
