The idea of a super phone which could be activated and used by a health professional is one that should be designed for future use. At present time, , vaccines are being touted as a life saver to reduce the mortality rate brought on by Covid 19 pandemic.There are however, significant risks attached to any vaccine, which in the past were thoroughly subjected to at least 5 years of research and evidence based proof, prior to being introduced as therapeutic / prevention to the public.
With a pandemic such as Covid and associated high mortality, consider the possibility of the following .Imagine a cell phone with ergonomic design on the face of the phone which could be placed directly onto the skin surface. Contact would need to be 100% on the phone face to allow for maximum recording, be painless and easy to use. .
The microcomputer chips within the phone would be able to identify key immune proteins in the circulating capillary system all of which are involved in the immunological protection of every person.
The programming would also include any RNA spike protein which at present make up some part of the Covid vaccine composition
The objective would be to 5 fold
1. A painless method to assist in diagnosis.
2. To identify present circulating immunoglobulins prior to any vaccine – a baseline for safety
3. To identify changes in the circulation immunoglobulins after ( example.) a Covid vaccine has been
administered – to assess changes to baseline values
4. To assess efficiency or not of such a vaccine at 3, 6 and 9 month intervals – antibody titres from vaccine
5. In the event of an adverse reaction , would be able to transmit and store vital information re. the
general state and immune picture within a short period of time to a treating physician or health practitioner
Basic Technical Considerations
- Charging would be a regular battery with longer energy span
- Material would be tested to withstand challenging physical and electronic environments.
- Ideal for use in western or developing environments.
- Diagnostic chips could be interchanged to assess other symptoms. Some examples are; malaria, hepatitis A, B, C. or STDs
- Routine maintenance done through the manufacturer only
The Manufacturer would have a record of excellent quality assurance practice and be free of independent pharmaceutical or government tie-in.
Users must be trained Health professionals and bound by contract to standards and practice of equity, honesty and professionalism
***note; I considered this after my daughter developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome after a booster shot. Despite my request for antibiody titers, it
was dismissed, with the drastic consequences of neuropathy and paralysis which is seen in GBS. She did eventually recover. ***.
How AI or artificial intelligence is applied in protein and immune structures.
Hi Sheena,
Thank you for your very interesting concept – I would have never though to come up with something like this. However, as you have noted in previous comments, it is definitely aligned with how prevalent AI is becoming (especially in the health world). While I know some of these features seem far in the future, having your mobile device able to detect vital information seems almost attainable – I think about my mom who has a heart condition and heavily relies on her Apple Watch to detect her heart rates, oxygen levels, etc. I am so thankful she has that – so I would love to see where this concept can go in the future.
Hi Sheena,
I’m glad your daughter has recovered; it must have been a harrowing experience for you and your daughter.
I’m not that knowledgeable about medical science, but would the device also react when the body’s immune system fights against a minor invasion? I imagine our immune system is constantly battling and usually winning against pathogens entering the body; we just don’t notice most of them because our body is usually capable of handling them. It would be interesting to see how many invasions our body deals with, especially when it mounts a response to an allergic reaction or food intolerance. As I get older I find there are more foods that while I am not allergic to, I seem to have minor yet negative reactions to during times of stress. I imagine this technology could be expanded for multiple purposes. I wonder if I’ll live to see any of these advancements?
HI Sheena
thank you for your great comment. Yes, in brief, it was horrible, made even worse by the fact that I had worked with GB patients for some time and was aware of possible outcomes.
In response to your question the design of the phone indirectly could alert your MD or treating specialist to rapid changes in your Immune systems, considering that normal levels would be the benchmark and already part of the program. So, in response to your question, the answer is yes, I also have to add that microchips embedded in the phone would represent eg. immunoglobulin levels, Another interchangeable chip could be inserted for viral /bacterial load. However in this last case, the diagnosis or DX (hence the device name) would still depend on testing via cultures and sensitivities ( to the most effective antibiotic or anti viral). Again, your allergies peak changes in immunoglobulins as well , so that would also be applicable. And yes, stress plays an incredible part in the immune response and that is not so easily treatable, nor diagnosed so quickly, as we tend to hide it anyway !! You can imagine the stress levels for the last two years have really escalated and yes, there are long wait lists for immunology, rheumatology, endocrinology and also cancer all of which are partially linked to on-going, never-ending stress levels. So-o take a look at our groups wellness apps in our Learning in a time of Crisis.
Best,
I am glad to read that your daughter has recovered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome. As someone who lives with a damaged nervous system, I can only imagine how scary and helpless feeling that would be to see a child go through. My nervous system damage was from a car accident, but from my hospital programs I know many people with nerve damage caused by a virus. As such, I am thankful that we have vaccines, even if not perfect, or developed under perfect circumstances.
Your idea here got me thinking about how great it would be, if such technology existed, if it could be utilised through our personal devices as a way of diagnosing a virus like COVID – making things safer if someone learns they have the virus and reducing the strain of people not being sure if they have the virus on the medical system. With my compromised immune system and the fact that a flare up of pain / nerve related conditions for me has many of the same symptoms of COVID (minus the fever, coughing, or breathing difficulties), I can’t tell you the number of times through this pandemic, I have questioned, “Am I having a flare up or do I have COVID?” So far to the best of my knowledge, I haven’t had COVID, but such a diagnoses centre on your mobile device would have certainly alleviated anxiety on a few occasions.
The note on manufacturers being in control raises concerns, especially as this involves medical data. Just because they are a tech company as oppose to pharmaceutical company, does not make them any less prone to greed, and to date big tech does not have a great track record when it comes to protection of data.
Finally, I’d love to uncover and learn more here. Has there been any research into using smart devices in this way? What is possible in this regard currently? What are the obstacles to this becoming a reality? What are the possible solutions to those obstacles?
Hi Erica
Thank you for your response, I empathize with your neuropathic Injury and do hope that your injuries will heal and allow you to re assume more quality of life. I worked with various Neuropathic illnesses, including Guillain Barre, Myasthenia and polyneuropathic illnesses. The core tests remain Immune serum levels and less frequently nerve muscle biopsy. What is striking about these diseases is the rapidity of onset, especially acute GB syndrome and the rapid need for Plasma exchange treatments which are not always available at all hospitals. Making the correct diagnosis is therefore vital. However your case is trauma related and requires good OT and physio alongside maintaining good health. Overall, such healing takes time but the system can recover, Nevertheless it is still frightening for anyone in this position.
I concur with your point on manufacturers and greed, and we have seen this already among pharmaceutical companies producing vaccinge, , however, ethics, independent quality assurance standards, passwords and security IT systems must be in play as well as close monitoring.
What I expected under Covid was to see published data unaltered, which would shed some light on the viral action not just media announcements. . I also wondered why there were some cases of previously young persons showing system failure post vaccine, Guillain Barre being just one effect.
Finally, no i am not an anti -vaxer, but it remains clear that evidence based proof from independent reliable sources is not out there yet. In all honesty, this virus has moved and mutated far more quickly than any previously monitored pandemic historically. Consequently this is also a trigger for fear and increases superstition based upon hearsay and false information via media sources. .
Thanks Sheena. I do have quality of life, and am fortunate to have some if the best specialists in the country looking after me. While there is possibility that my condition will go into remission, it is more about learning to manage my pain, which over the years I’ve learned to do, although I certainly have my ups and downs, and periods where I have bad flare ups and recovery.
Yeah, the pandemic has certainly not lead to the most conducive circumstances for running clinical trials and collecting data before implementation of a new vaccine, but then that is the reality of a pandemic. And the current state of the world of as you say hearsay and false information is not helping with vaccination. I should state though that much of that is not being spread by mainstream media, but rather social media, political or special interest group driven story marketing, and in some countries where the government is not trusted, fear of the regime. It’s quite troubling to observe, as common sense and reasonable debate don’t seem to work in this scenario.
Hi Erica
I neglected to mention your neuropathic pain which is quite difficult to control and in fact sometimes raises sceptism among health professionals. However it is very real and I do hope you have effective treatment for this. It also provoked another idea of a hand held device , not so much the much touted “Dr Ho” devices, but again a hand held device which would emit counter stimulation against the white hot pain experienced in Neuropathic pain situations. Just an idea, but certainly a device to track the nerve stimulus, pathway, origin and area of suffering. There is a lot being done for this right now but dependent upon anaethesiology for spinal injections which then migrate to the site and negate the pain source.
Hi Sheena,
I’ve been fortunate, as I have not been met with skepticism,like so many have. I have an exceptional GP and he knew from the start that there was something very wrong, it just took us a few years to figure out what was wrong and the get me the help I needed. Thankfully I did not lose my mind in the meantime, although with the sleep deprivation in those first years, I came pretty close. And yeah, I’ve had all those things done on me over the years. I am a bit of a guinea pig in the world of pain management. Been a patient of the ChangePain Clinic, BC Women’s, and St Paul’s with a few different new holistic clinics that have taught me a lot and helped me to learn what works for me and how to manage my pain.
Hello Sheena! While I have very little experience or knowledge about the medical field in regard to technological advancement and user interface, this does seem to be an interesting concept. The idea of utilizing a mobile device, in this case a smart phone, as an ergonomic medical diagnosis device does seem like a very real possibility in the near future. I know some devices like this are starting to pop up, the Veinlite LEDX being one of them, so seeing the integration of medical technology in mobile technology could be an extremely likely future possibility.
Hi Cody,
Thanks for your response. As I see things at present, we are early into the non-invasive devices, specifiically mobile ones. Of course we have scans, ultrasounds, PET scans and MRI as other examples. However in many countries even in northern Canada, we are still lacking these devices. Cost, maintenance and operational knowledge plays a major role, Cost and provision of safe housing, as many devices require specific housing such as lead lined rooms due to function and safety etc. My posting was not only about a potential design with non-invasive technology, but I wanted to also highlight possibiilities for small, effective – in cost and ability for use anywhere in the globe. While we will continue to require large and complex diagnostic tools for thorough investigations, This aspect cannot be ignored.
Hi Mitchell
Thanks for a great response. My apologies re. your journey down the rabbit hole . By the way, so relevant today !
Re. your points.
1. Temperature and humidity levels of storage
Having worked in W. Africa with a period in S.Africa and a few years in the Middle East in healthcare, I can certainly attest as to how storage is often ignored especially if the primary conditions don’t exist, eg. a working and reliable fridge with temp settings, frequent power cuts, lack of cold chain monitors or dehumifification.- these conditions still exist today, even within urban areas in developing worlds. I have seen mini fridges ( used for food primarily) stuffed with vaccines in a medical professional setting – So I do maintain my stance.
2. Camera – my reference is related to dermatology or skin diseases- such as Hansons disease, or differentiation between condition such as eczema, impetigo or psoriasis. These are difficult to diagnose, and yes, do require a really reliable camera to differentiate among other issues, pattern of eruption, vascularisation and discharge among other points
.
3. Viral or swabbing vis a vis serum
There are many sero- conversions which may not be picked up on a swab, hence the multiple testing which can occur. A good example is Gonorrhea which once, sero converted now inhabits the blood stream although the initial skin site may appear healed. There are many more which I won’t bore you with.
4. Immunoglobulins
Sorry but the immunological system like the brain, still presents challenges and sudden changes for which we have no answers. Examples are why young previously healthy men and some women are presenting with increasing incidences of Guillain Barre’ neuropathy or the cytokine storms which attack the lungs during Covid 19 infections or myocarditis, or encephalitis, more evident post vaccination. These are challenges to what we understand or not of the human immune systems.
5. Climate change and other things
Climate change has until recently, remained at the back of media attention, and only recently, are we now addressing it from the Think Tank perspective and international policies/ cooperation. Production of copious pollutants is still relegated within a political component,
It remains clear that the value of research is to measure such changes, from human, nature and animal perspectives, because there is not enough known.
Core influences may be
because of 1. time restraints, 2, finance ( who will gain or lose) and 3. national/ international policies.4. cost of such a lengthy, tenuous infinite reseach
4. Secondary infections after initial viral contact.
One of the most common examples are pulmonary or chest infections which can occur after a flue or any other resp. infection, inclusive of corona species. Preliminary cause linked to the stagnancy of pulmonary exudate ( or fluids) in the lungs which a patient cannot expel and has formed as an inflammatory reaction..This is often sec. to. pneumonia or bronchitis( infections) may spike a fever higher than normal ie. 37.8-38C in an adult – higher in infants. The prelim. diagnosis will indicate a specific infection( hence pyrexia) , underlying breathing issues and at times, respiratory failure. .
5. Examples of studies being carried out re. vaccines and the immune system
https://www.who.int/immunization/documents/Elsevier_Vaccine_immunology.pdf
https://ncats.nih.gov/covid19-translational-approach
6. Contact for diagnostic purposes.
I am referring to a direct scanning through a camera with an ergonomic face designed to be placed directly onto an area of skin without blemishes. The objective is to obtain and monitor immune levels through cappilliary flow with results scanned securely to a health professional. there should be no other contaminant assuming that the camera face is placed directly on the skin which should be cleaned thoroughly beforehand as well as the camera face.
thanks for your thorough feedback
Hi Mitchell
Thanks for your response. Yes, this is true and the link I just added describes how l Artificial Intelligence is the driver for Diagnostics. Looking at the present situation as reagent tests or camera are fantastic means, but ( as I can personally attest) the reagents must be stored under the right conditions and the camera must have superior properties for accurate transmission. The idea I proposed is one which uses our cellular structure directly, without add-ons, thus application directly to the skin relays a very accurate profile of what is happening under it, ie. capillary blood supply and other structures. Your article refers largely to viral detection via swabbing, which is a wonderful boost to save time while looking for accuracy of result.it does not focus on the serology ( blood) systems. Viral affects often occur after an initial infection which is seen as a secondary infection. A good example is the corona flue virus which does not initially show pyrexia, or elevation of temperature ( higher than normal). That spike in temp indicates a secondary infection. Not everyone presents with the same sequence of events. However, the focus upon the immunoglobulin system, one which is directly and indirectly linked to vaccines is another focus and can potentially kill if the unknown factor is what exists in our bodies. . Vaccines are great and for the Covid crisis, life savers in so many ways. I see the heart of the problem is the unknown factor of how our individual immune response occurs. Our climate change certainly affects our immune responses and so little knowledge of such effects is really known or published. If it is possible to have direct contact without an additional component, the chance of dilution or alternation of findings may be more accurate.
Sheena, I need to ask some questions and call out a few things that are incorrect or unclear. 1. “…reagents must be stored under the right conditions… 2. ” Correct, according to the FDA some kits require storage between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius https://www.fda.gov/media/143808/download. I’m curious as to what the story here is. 3. “…the camera must have superior properties for accurate transmission” the Laksanasopin study used an iPod Touch (4th gen) camera which had a resolution of 0.7megapixels. For reference, a high end iPhone 13 right now has almost 75 times that resolution so I’m confused as to what the problem is.
4. “The idea I proposed is one which uses our cellular structure directly, without add-ons, thus application directly to the skin relays a very accurate profile of what is happening under it, ie. capillary blood supply and other structures.” I agree that this would be an excellent future.
5. “Your article refers largely to viral detection via swabbing, which is a wonderful boost to save time while looking for accuracy of result.it does not focus on the serology ( blood) systems.” Two of the three articles I provided cite using saliva, but the third used blood samples.
6. “Viral affects often occur after an initial infection which is seen as a secondary infection.” I’m confused, what is the secondary infection here? Secondary infection implies a second pathogen…how is that in any way relevant to the technology?
7. “A good example is the corona flue virus which does not initially show pyrexia, or elevation of temperature ( higher than normal). That spike in temp indicates a secondary infection.” First of all, coronavirus and influenza are not the same pathogen even though they do follow some of the same pathophysiology. I’m honestly impressed that you made me dig out my undergrad human physiology textbook to confirm the pyrexia comment. That is, unfortunately, false; the body does undergo pyrexia as a part of the regular immune response to a pathogen multiplying in the body whether it is a primary or secondary infection.
8. “However, the focus upon the immunoglobulin system, one which is directly and indirectly linked to vaccines is another focus and can potentially kill if the unknown factor is what exists in our bodies.” Yes, correct, that is how the immune system works; it creates immunoglobulin antibodies that assist in the elimination of pathogenic elements in the body. Vaccines (yes, including the mRNA ones) train the body to better produce those immunoglobulins for specific pathogens which is a good thing when it comes to fighting disease.
9. “I see the heart of the problem is the unknown factor of how our individual immune response occurs.” I’m confused, what exactly is unknown about immune response? There is biological variation, yes, but the pathways are well understood.
10. “Our climate change certainly affects our immune responses and so little knowledge of such effects is really known or published.” Sorry Sheena, but the burden of proof is on you for this one. If the studies are unpublished can you at least provide the unpublished research to back up this claim?
11. “If it is possible to have direct contact without an additional component, the chance of dilution or alternation of findings may be more accurate.” What is the context here? I’m going to assume that we are talking about non-contact sensor reading of biological materials. This is problematic because all of the gold standard tests prefer to eliminate contamination precisely by eliminating that barrier and testing the substances directly.
I just want to conclude by saying that I’m confused by a lot of the context here which is why I’ve jumped back in. Any clarity you can provide is much appreciated.
I take back my comment about climate change affecting immune response. That was honestly a rabbit hole I didn’t expect to be travelling down today.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmra1109341
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4928742/#B25-children-01-00403
That being said, each of those sources conclude “Demonstration of a causal link between climate change and health outcomes is enormously challenging.” Swaminathan, 2014 . Most of that research focuses on the epidemiological nature of climate change’s links to health with things such as increased heat waves and climate related food-availability interruptions and not a causal link behind overall temperature and any immune responses.
The application for this is actually already happening, but not as a standalone device. Our current generation of mobile technology has the processing power and almost all of the sensor power needed to do this in real time in order for test results to be transmitted to a physician in obscenely small timeframes. Many of the tests are simple reagent tests on a chip that either tests and transmits the results via a headphone jack or USB of a phone, or uses the phone’s camera to actually record the results. These tests are already being tested for HIV, Lyme Disease, various STIs, and Covid 19. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa0056 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200206134748.htm https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/lc/d0lc00304b/unauth#!divAbstract