Fans of the Star Trek TV and movie franchise will be familiar with the hand-held medical “tricorder” device which can diagnose a variety of conditions simply by being held in proximity to the patient. This may not altogether be the stuff of science fantasy, however: a team from Ulster University’s Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre (Nibec) recently came tantalisingly close to winning a multimillion-dollar prize for developing a real-world working version of the device.
The Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE was a $10 million global competition to incentivise the development of innovative technologies capable of accurately diagnosing a set of 13 medical conditions independent of a healthcare professional or facility. It had to be able to continuously measure a number of vital signs, and have a positive consumer impact.
"Our team built a set of devices capable of measuring and detecting a whole range of diagnostic indications and conditions," says Nibec director Prof Jim McLaughlin. "The aim of the project was to make a device which could take data, put it up on Amazon Web Services, analyse it, apply algorithms and AI to assess it, and alert doctor or patient to any issues detected. The team came third out of 400 entries from around the world."
Track record
This represented yet another milestone for Nibec, which has a track record of success in the connected health space going back almost 30 years. "A lot of the early work on the portable defibrillator was done here," says Prof McLaughlin. "We are now taking health technology into the home. We've been working on it for many years. During that time, we have seen a number of companies spun out like HeartSine Technologies, which was bought by Stryker. "
Intelesens, which makes wearable health monitoring devices, and heart mapping company Heart Scape, are other spinouts. "That background of innovating and setting up companies has helped put Nibec on the map," says McLaughlin.
Among the latest developments in the space at Ulster University was the establishment of the industry-led £9 million Connected Health Innovation Centre (CHIC). “This builds on our strong history of innovation and we now have 30 companies in the centre,” McLaughlin notes.
And capability has been ramped up further with the creation of the new Rapid Prototyping Bio Devices Lab – a state-of-the-art laboratory to assist manufacturing companies who wish to develop new products. It is a collaborative space which brings together expert researchers, industry professionals and end users with advanced prototyping technologies, with the aim of reducing considerably the time it takes for a product to get from concept to the market.
‘Completely changed’
“It has completely changed the way we develop products,” McLaughlin notes. “We can now do in weeks what it used to take months or longer.”
And it is helping take the tricorder technology several steps closer to the market. CHIC researchers are working on microneedle technology which a patient suffering from heart failure can use with one hand to take blood data and send it to the cloud. Another device in development is a slap-on patch with electronics built in to measure ECG and other readings.
The most important thing about all of this is the user experience
“If you take bloods in the traditional way it takes time to get to the lab, time to get the results back and so on. You need to be much more immediate in the feedback loop.”Two very practical tests which can be carried out in almost real time measure heart failure and kidney function. “One very important biomarker is NT-proBNP,” says McLaughlin. “It is a very well documented biomarker for heart failure. Tests for NT-proBNP measure its levels in the blood in order to detect and evaluate heart failure. Patients suffering from heart failure are often prescribed diuretics and these can harm the kidney. We will also be able to test for a biomarker to measure kidney function.”
Shoebox
He envisages the devices coming as a package in a small case about half the size of a shoebox. Initially, it will be used by visiting cardiac nurses in the home, but the aim is to enable patients to use it. “We have yet to do clinical trials. We are working towards patient self-management but you need incredibly good microneedles for that, and we are working with a partner on that aspect. The ECG will be a slap-on device which will be relatively easy to use.”
There is a strong possibility that at least one element of this important new device will be launched on the market in the relatively near future, and it is hoped that the complete device will be available within the next two or three years. “The most important thing about all of this is the user experience,” says McLaughlin. “How easy is it for the clinician and the patient to use? That will be key.”
For more information: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/nibec/projects