On the Spot

摘要

Microvisk Technologies, a spin-out company from the Science and Technologies Facilities Council, is developing a handheld system to monitor blood clotting in patients taking warfarin. The company has developed what it claims is the world's first medical diagnostic strip based on a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) originally created as a movement system for nano-robots. MEMS technology is used in devices such as the iPhone and Nintendo Wii, as well as in car engines. Microvisk is using the sensor technology in a tiny strip to monitor the blood clotting status of patients on warfarin, an anticoagulant drug for people with heart conditions.