Wristwatch to Detect Malaria

[Clara T]

Wristwatch to detect malaria

Wednesday 18 January 2006, 10:41 Makka Time, 7:41 GMT  

A South African inventor has developed an anti-malaria wristwatch to help combat one of Africa's biggest killers by monitoring the blood of those who wear it and sounding an alarm when the parasite is detected.
Gervan Lubbe said his Malaria Monitor wristwatch, due to be launched next month, could save lives and keep millions out of hospital by preventing the disease before patients even feel ill.

Lubbe said: "It picks up the parasite and destroys it so early that the possibility of dying is absolutely zero and you don't even feel the early cold symptoms."

Malaria, caused by a parasite carried by mosquitoes, kills more than one million people every year and makes 300 million seriously ill, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The sturdy digital timepiece pricks the wrist with a tiny needle four times a day and tests the blood for malaria parasites.
   
If the parasite count tops 50, an alarm sounds and a coloured picture of a mosquito flashes on the watch face. Three tablets that kill all traces of the disease must then be taken within 48 hours.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D7639F61-617F-4754-B8C0-005A47F46778.htm

[Selteri]

1. Great news, I hope it really works and works out. N/T

[Richard D]

2. Interesting

I'll buy one. I'm going to be in the Amazon for a while this summer.

[Richard D]

3. The inventor is interesting

APS therapy
Gervan Lubbe was flicking through an American medical journal one day when he stumbled across an article about pain relief. After reading all he could on the topic, he wondered whether it would be possible to electronically stimulate the body's natural nerve impulses to relieve pain.

Lubbe, had always had a keen interest in medicine, but never thought he was clever enough to be a doctor. So in his spare time he studied human anatomy and physiology until he thought he knew enough about the causes of arthritic pain. Then he set out inventing a device that would alleviate the problem.

After building the first prototypes and obtaining approval from the health department and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, Lubbe formed the company Tech Pulse in 1993 to produce, market and distribute the Action Potential Stimulation device.

Today, Lubbe's devices are sold in 41 countries, including the US, Europe and the Middle East. In South Africa alone, over 40 000 people use the little machines to relieve pain.