Sensors in Medicine 2014
9 Mar 2014
Sonia Nicholas
Managing Editor and Clinical Lead
Industry news
Meeting highlights the most innovative application of sensors in medicine, for academic, clinical and commercial markets
Sensor applications in medical diagnosis are growing at an astonishing rate. Twenty five years ago, these applications were limited to laboratory measurement of blood gases and electrolytes. Today biosensors are used in a variety of ways to monitor glucose in diabetes, detect and diagnose cancer and infectious diseases; new applications appear almost daily. Linking sensors to mobile phone technology has made wearable sensors a reality, allowing individuals to monitor not only chronic diseases, but also their lifestyle as a key input to preventative medicine.
Highlights from the packed agenda include:
Tuesday 25th March
- 10:25 Towards smartphone-connected diagnostics for infectious diseases
Prof. Rachel McKendry, University College, London - 15:05 Microprobe arrays for minimally invasive continuous glucose monitoring in dermal interstitial fluid
Dr. Sanjiv Sharma, Imperial College, London - 16:40 Multiplexed infectious disease testing- sound point of care diagnostics
Prof. Jon Cooper, University of Glasgow
Wednesday 26th March
- 11:30 On the potential of ion mobility spectrometry for medical applications
Dr. Wolfgang Vautz, ISAS - e.V, DE - 15:30 Affordable sensors to detect micro-organisms using reagentless and label free impedance spectroscopy
Andrew Ward, University of Strathclyde - 15:50 Point of Care testing of NO metabolites
Prof. M. Gabriela Almeida, New University of Lisbon, PT
The full meeting programme can be viewed here.
Attendees will also be able to attend an exhibition featuring manufacturers of biosensors and sensors for medical applications as well as providers of services to these companies.
You can register for the event here, or click on the ‘request information’ tab below to contact the event organizers.
Tags
Assay AssemblyAssay Assembly is technique used in drug discovery to develop assays to test the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, or other activities of a compound on a cell. Assay assembly requires chip assembly, a delivery system and a detection and analysis method. Beneficial features of assay kits or automated systems include high-throughput, high speed and sensitivity and low signal to noise ratio.HematologyIn Haematology / Hematology, complete blood cell counts (or full blood counts) are obtained using automated blood count analyzers to enumerate blood cell types. Hematology also encompasses haemostasis and coagulation, thrombophilia and hemophilia, plasma viscosity and ESR analysis, hemoglobinopathies, cell morphology and haematinic measurement.ImmunologyImmunological techniques measure and characterize immune responses. Immunology kits and analysis systems often use techniques such as ELISA, radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunodiffusion assays, Immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry. Immunologists use equipment such as flow Cytometers, plate readers, plate washers and fluorescent microscopes.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.Point-of-CarePoint-of-Care Testing (POCT) or Near Patient Testing (NPT) products are available for urine, blood and other clinical chemistry analyses. POCT includes: blood glucose testing, blood gas and electrolytes analysis, rapid coagulation testing (PT / INR), rapid cardiac markers diagnostics, drugs of abuse screening, urine strips testing, pregnancy testing, fecal occult blood analysis, food pathogens screening, hemoglobin diagnostics, infectious disease testing and cholesterol screening.Clinical ChemistryBiochemistry (or clinical chemistry) involves the analysis of bodily fluids using chemical tests. Techniques used include HPLC, chromatography, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, immunochemical, electrophoresis, turbidometric / spectrophotometric assay, MRI and ISE analysis. Tests are often carried out on plasma or serum but urine (urinalysis) and fecal specimens are also processed.Clinical MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.BiosensorsBiosensors are devices used to detect an analyte using biological molecules specific to the analyte coupled to a detector. Biosensor instruments may be photometric, typically using surface plasma resonance (SPR), electrochemical or QCM (quartz crystal microbalance) biosensors. Biosensors should be selective, portable, robust and sensitive and have a fast response time. Systems may be manual or automated and usually have associated software.Point of Care SolutionsPoint of care solutions provide medical diagnostics and treatments at or near the site of patient care. These technologies offer rapid results, helping healthcare providers make quick decisions. From glucose monitors to molecular diagnostics, point of care solutions are transforming healthcare delivery by reducing wait times and improving patient outcomes. Explore the best point of care products in our peer-reviewed product directory, compare options, check reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.