Major Developments Major Developments by Calendar Year

August 22, 2014

Nanotechnology Microchip for Detecting Type 1 Diabetes

Filed under: 2014 — Tags: , , , — Ralph C Dreher @ 7:52 AM

Technology is being used in every profession including medical science. Recently, a microchip was created using the nanotechnology to detect Type 1 diabetes in patients. This is a big benefit for doctors because for detecting Type 1 diabetes doctors need to spend a lot of time as they go to identify the specific protein markers in blood. This may take days to weeks. But the recent research by Stanford university school of medicine came up with this nanotechnology chip. This chip can detect Type 1 diabetes within a very low time span – in minutes.

Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an immune disease, by which the immune system can affect the pancreas. By this the pancreas stops producing insulin – a hormone to process sugars. Early detection of Type 1 diabetes may benefit the patient.

Conventional method of using radio active material for testing Type 1 diabetes in patients takes several days for detecting the condition, and in the meanwhile the diseases may become severe. With nanotechnology chip, it is very easy to detect in minutes.

Nanotechnology chip for Type 1 diabetes
Besides the radio active material used in conventional methods of detecting Type 1 diabetes in patients, this nanotechnology chip produces results quickly. It takes a small amount of blood through a finger prick. For detecting the antibodies this microchip depends on fluorescence based method.

The base of the microchip is coated with nanoparticle-sized islands of gold which show the fluorescent signal. This enables the antibody detection. This test recognizes the auto-antibodies levels quickly before they show the symptoms. Even a single auto-antibody will make you get into risk.

With conventional methods, doctors can’t exactly detect the type of diabetes the patient has.
Stanford university researchers developed this wonderful technology, which benefits the patients in many ways and they are also trying to launch this in the market very soon.

Benefits of nanotechnology chip for Type 1 diabetes

  • It is an inexpensive method for detecting Type 1 diabetes.
  • It requires minimal training for the technique to be used and reduces the burden for physicians.
  • Detection of Type 1 diabetes using this technology takes only a few minutes when compared to conventional treatment which takes a few days.
  • Early detection is the main advantage of this technology.
  • This chip can be used for performing nearly 15 tests.
  • It takes a small amount of blood compared to conventional methods.

(more…)

April 25, 2014

Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) – The Essence of Electronics

Filed under: 2014 — Tags: — Winson @ 12:57 AM

Printed circuit boards (PCB) are self contained modules and ensure the proper operation of the circuit. PCBs have survived the tests at different points of time and have earned wide acceptance across industries. Today, they are used in making of goods from toys, radios to complex computer and space applications – no circuit can be literally converted into meaningful application without the role of PCB.

Present scenario and electronic industry expanse
Prices of radios, computers and mobile phones come down because of the development in PCB technology. PCBs are transforming and accommodating the world. For example, the evolution of small-sized PCBs not only makes the devices handy, but more features embedded in a single chip in devices like calculators, cameras, GPRS, GSM, etc.

Importance
The early electronic circuit used to come with an end-end or point-point connection wiring electrically connecting the components of the circuit. Clumsy wiring posed problems in detecting made it difficult to detect issues and fix them.

Also, it was a failure on the part of the circuits to withstand the mechanical shocks and jolts. For example, short circuiting and the heat generated by the circuits owing to the long lengths of the wires and improper conducting material was another problem.

The advent of PCBs came as a boon to the electronic industry and things started getting simpler. The circuits were now free from issues that happened earlier, and added advantages of compactness, enhanced data transfer limits and more features on a single chip. They are more reliable in terms of workload.

Widespread usage
Printed circuit boards have evolved to be used in sectors ranging from simple devices to a complex satellites or missile guidance systems. The technology is advancing over the time getting more sophisticated to cater to the needs of the growing electronic industry. The present 2D and 2.5D PCB CAM software and technologies are capable of printing complex and compact PCB and have changed completely the domain with multilayer, flexible and ELIC technologies.

Role in revolutionizing the industry
Due to small size and other benefits mentioned earlier, PCB is revolutionizing consumer and industrial electronics industries. It is undergoing innovation like flexible PCB, and 3D printing is yet to see changing trends in the days to come.

To conclude, we can say that the contribution of PCB to the industry is immense. It is going to undergo multiple changes to suit the needs of users.
(more…)

Powered by WordPress