Smart Urinary Biosensor (Biomedical Engineering)

Introduction

With the increasing cost in providing healthcare to patients with chronic conditions, new strategies need to be developed to provide monitoring and support in a more distributed, noninvasive and remote atmosphere. Smart urinary biosensors permit the internal biologically-controlled mega-network controlled by the central nervous system communicates with an external body sensor using a wireless communication technology (Thomas, Javier, & Espina. 2006, p.60).

Urine test strips or dipsticks have for a long time been used to detect renal failure. The disadvantage of using this method is that it can produce false results if not utilized in the appropriate conditions. One example is when erythrocytes and leukocytes precipitate at the bottom of the container; they cannot detect if the sample is not mixed. Another limitation is that excess urine extracted can cause spillage of the pads thus the reagents of the adjacent pads mixes with the distorting colors (Thomas, Javier, & Espina. 2006, p.60). The pad could also be disrupted causing a false positive.

The advantage of the sol-gel biosensor is that it can easily detect non polar molecules that can cause kidney failure and that do not respond to most measurement devices; other methods take a long time to discover the kidney failure at the time when it has already advanced causing permanent to the kidney. These sensors are also specific as the immobilized system used in them. Another benefit that comes from using a smart urinary sensor is that it can be used repetitively; unlike enzymes used in a urine strip which have a short life span.

By researching on this device, we will able to find a faster and more effective way of detecting kidney failure and be able to treat the disease. They have a continuous monitoring process to have an