Spectroscopy in the palm of your hand
25 Apr 2013
Penn State is planning to convert a mobile phone into a spectrometer for point-of-care screening.
Engineers at Penn State are currently working on a device of centimeter size dimension with high spectral resolution which can be integrated with mobile wireless technology.
The aim is to provide point-of-care screening for early detection of cancer or for assistance for people suffering from colour blindness.
The integration of a spectrometer with a mobile phone also provides an open-source platform for the others to develop new applications for the technology.
The system is based on a unique device, called G-Fresnel, which combines the optical components of a traditional spectrometer into a single device and creates a simpler spectrometer system.
According to the research team, this simpler design enables a new level of miniaturisation and performance which is difficult to achieve with traditional spectrometer technology.
The device can also be fabricated by replicating from a master pattern, leading to a lower cost.
“We want to make optical spectroscopy affordable and accessible to everyone and transform a smart phone into a personal analytical tool while simultaneously taking advantage of its computing ability and wireless communication capability,” said the group.
The team is now exploring startup opportunities after completing the State College TechCelerator Four-Week Boot Camp.
