"You've got H1N1" app coming to the iphone? Well maybe not but somewhere in the future it appears that there might be iphone sized devices in our home that can tell us if we have the flu simply by sneezing on it. At least that is what they are working on with the lab-on-a-chip device.
Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this new device is the fact that its powered with music! Researchers at the University of Michigan are developing a system that uses music in place of dozens of "air hoses, valves and electrical connections" used to drive samples through today's microfluidic devices.
"The U-M researchers use sound waves to drive a unique pneumatic system that does not require electromechanical valves. Instead, musical notes produce the air pressure to control droplets in the device."
So while we might not see our cell phones turn into mini flu detectors anytime soon, its possible that we could have iphone sized devices that are capable of detecting things like "food contaminants and toxic gases" in our homes in the future.
Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this new device is the fact that its powered with music! Researchers at the University of Michigan are developing a system that uses music in place of dozens of "air hoses, valves and electrical connections" used to drive samples through today's microfluidic devices.
"The U-M researchers use sound waves to drive a unique pneumatic system that does not require electromechanical valves. Instead, musical notes produce the air pressure to control droplets in the device."
So while we might not see our cell phones turn into mini flu detectors anytime soon, its possible that we could have iphone sized devices that are capable of detecting things like "food contaminants and toxic gases" in our homes in the future.
