In the Far East, scientists have developed a paper battery that draws power from the ultimate portable source – the bladder.
London’s Institute of Physics said in a press release that scientists from Singapore aren’t all wet; they have found a way to activate a paper battery with urine to create an electric charge.
These batteries would find a home as an incredibly cheap source of power in a variety of home health test kits. Disposable diagnostics for diabetes and other conditions could be a much more affordable reality.
Scientists have had the technology, or “biochips” as the statement calls them, available for such testing. Without a dependable, miniature power source, they were limited in just how far they could scale down those biochips. Dr. Ki Bang Lee and other researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore have found the solution.
The paper testing strips envisioned by researchers would be able to detect a variety of potential health ailments. “Our battery can be easily integrated into such devices, supplying electricity upon contact with biofluids such as urine,” Dr. Lee said in the statement.
These devices would be a bit smaller than the typical credit card. Insurance companies in America would likely be very pleased to see these devices mass produced cheaply; early detection of illnesses allows for more effective treatment, and early-stage treatment tends to be less expensive than advanced conditions.
The US has a tremendous reputation for excellent emergency care, but preventative health care has been sorely behind the curve. An inexpensive diagnostic kit like the ones proposed by Dr. Lee could be a tremendous boon for people everywhere.
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
