There's just something about the ... directness of this product that I like.
Posted on 08/15/2005 9:43:56 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A Singapore scientific institute says it has invented a urine-powered micro battery that can be used in disposable test kits for diabetes and other diseases.
The state-funded Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology said a drop of urine placed on the paper battery will generate enough electricity to power a "biochip device" that can analyse the urine sample for disease "biomarkers".
"We are striving to develop cheap, disposable credit card-sized biochips for disease," the institute's principal research scientist Dr Lee Ki Bang said in a press statement.
"Our battery can be easily integrated into such devices, supplying electricity upon contact with biofluids such as urine."
Urine was widely used to test for signs of various diseases and as an indicator of a persons general state of health, the institute said. The concentration of glucose in urine is a useful diagnostic tool for diabetics.
The battery unit consists of a cathode sandwiched between an anode and an electron-collecting layer. These are then held in place through a lamination process which coats the battery unit between transparent plastic films.
Lee said that someday, people would be able to monitor their health easily at home, seeking medical attention only when necessary, thanks to the patented invention.
"These fully integrated biochip systems have a huge market potential," he said.
Singapore is pouring billions of dollars into research and development programs to expand its biomedical sciences industry and reduce its dependence on assembly-line manufacturing.
A government-appointed panel has recommended that Singapore raise its research and development spending to 12 billion Singapore dollars ($A9.4 billion) over the next five years.
The amount proposed is more than double the five billion Singapore dollars spent on research and development from 2001 to 2005.
Is a six-pac included, LOL
And on a related thread:
"Army rations rehydrated by urine"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1463896/posts
Nick, now I've heard of everything.
I'll bet you wish you hadn't.
There's just something about the ... directness of this product that I like.
Urine seems to be the 'in thing' in the news rooms this week.
There's urine all over the internet, what's up with that?
This just p*sses me off.
there's also anti-icky-poo www.antiickypoo.com
Dr Lee Ki Bang
I swear I am not making this up.
I'm betting time travel.
A urine-powered battery brings us to the very verge of a beer-powered electric car!
This will go nicely with the urine-rehydrated MREs. You can pee in your lunch, and pee in your gas tank. A case of beer could get you across the country.
So if you have a urinary discharge do you call a Doctor or an Electrician?
What's so much better about this battery than others?
Nope!
Got popped for that once a long time ago. Cops waited outside a local bar and pulled people over.
Unlike many, many, others, I learned from that experience.
Taxi's are always cheaper. Sometimes taxis are more fun. Occasionally you get to play with a Muslim's brain, while totally intoxicated, LOL! There was this Boston taxi guy called Atta one time...want some bacon? oh, nevermind
I've been on pilot's rules for at least 15 years now.
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