Point-of-care diagnostics

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 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 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. Optical sensor products from ams 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.

Point-of-care diagnostics - optical sensing

Vital Signs Monitoring

Vital signs are measurements of the body's basic functions, and may be used to assess the general physical health of a person. These signals, which vary with age, weight, gender, and physical condition, are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere.
The next generation of vital sign sensor solutions will be smaller and more integrated, will provide more connectivity, will cost less, will sense multiple parameters and will provide more accurate measurements. ams has a wide range of technologies that support the development of these new sensor products. In addition, its optical modules can easily be integrated into systems intended for use in either consumer or medical devices. Related Products: AS70xx

ams enables:

  • Non-invasive measurements of medical parameters: pulse rate, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood oxygen
  • Additional vital sign parameters derived from ECG and pulse rate: blood pressure, arterial elasticity and vagal tone
  • Continuous monitoring of  health status as part of a preventive medicine program
  • The development of small, highly integrated, cost effective, medical-grade solutions based on optical modules and supporting algorithms


>> Watch demo video about VivaVita Blood Pressure demonstrator

Medical Imaging

Advanced medical imaging equipment provides medical practitioners with a window into the body. The pictures that imaging equipment such as CT or PET scanners and endoscopes produce help physicians to diagnose conditions correctly and treat the patient effectively.

 

The importance of imaging means that medical practitioners are constantly calling for more detailed and accurate pictures marred by less noise and distortion.

 

This is where ams technology comes to the fore. Offering outstanding precision, high sampling speeds, low noise and high linearity, ams sensors and sensor interfaces enable medical equipment to render more accurate images with better contrast.

 

Medical Imaging