X-Message-Number: 27114
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re:  E-nose to sniff out hospital superbugs
Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:31:07 +0100

> From: "marta sandberg" <>
> Subject: E-nose to sniff out hospital superbugs
> Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 13:00:22 +0800
>
> "An electronic nose that sniffs out infections could help hospitals tackle
> outbreaks of the antibiotic-resistant superbug MRSA."
>
> http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18725186.300
>

on this web page it says:

>>
Each e-nose is about the size of a pair of desktop PCs and costs about
 60,000. The food industry uses similar machines to root out rotten
ingredients.
<<

Noting that a colour laser printer used to cost around  20,000 when they
first appeared, and now costs about  100. A similar reduction in the price
of this product is possible. There could also be a substantial reduction in
the size if it comprises mainly electronics.

A time will come in the not too distant future where these can be used in
public facilities such as schools gymnasium and restaurants and so on.

If mass produced they could be carried by individuals and used in a manner
analogous to Geiger counter avoiding radiation, to reduce the risk of
infection. The analogy clearly isn't exact, and total avoidance probably
isn't practical. But risk reduction is certainly a good idea, and if a lot
of people practise risk reduction infections cannot spread nearly as easily.

Hopefully too, the range of equipment can be extended to include viruses as
well as bacteria. I would imagine that the terrorist threat provides an
ample supply of research funds from taxation revenues.

Incidentally the lead story in that issue is a six page article by Ray
Kurzweil on his subject, entitled "Human 2.0".

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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