Providing patients point-of-care diagnostics, meaning fast test and results performed where the patient is, rather than at a laboratory, will lead to higher quality of care. Many tests today require large, expensive diagnostic instruments, with the samples being sent to a laboratory. If diagnostic services are administered locally, there are many advantages, including a shorter time to wait for results and reduced cost. Critical elements in the design of successful point of care diagnostic equipment are chip-scale integration and miniaturization: this allows for a continual reduction in the cost of equipment, and allows for the provision of additional features such as connectivity in small, handheld form factors.
ams OSRAM is a global leader in optical technology and sensors. Many biometric sensing applications depend on optical technologies, which offer high sensitivity and the ability to measure multiple parameters. Various ams OSRAM optical sensor technologies support the development of next-generation point-of-care diagnostics systems, including light detectors, light sources, on-wafer filter technologies and micro-optics lens systems. Those sensors are available as chips and as optical modules. The modules include both light sources and detectors, and may be easily integrated into end product designs.