Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#1

Post by hospes » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 9:04 PM UTC

Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood
japantimes.co.jp

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#2

Post by PeterisP » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 9:51 PM UTC

It's kind of what Theranos promised but didn't deliver?

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#3

Post by pkaye » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 9:57 PM UTC

Elsewhere it was mentioned it was 90% sensitivity and 95% selectivity which is not that good enough for something serious as cancer. Hopefully they can improve on it.

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#4

Post by phire » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 9:59 PM UTC

PeterisP wrote: post #2

It's kind of what Theranos promised but didn't deliver?

I don't think so.

Theranos wanted to do any and all blood tests from a single drop of blood. Toshiba is limiting themselves to just a single kind of test, which I'm guessing the science agrees is possible with such a small blood sample.

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#5

Post by buboard » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 10:02 PM UTC

They should name it Notheranos

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#6

Post by claudeomusic » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 10:18 PM UTC

buboard wrote: post #5

They should name it Notheranos

bless you

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#7

Post by kasabali » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 10:25 PM UTC

phire wrote: post #4

PeterisP wrote: post #2

It's kind of what Theranos promised but didn't deliver?

I don't think so. Theranos wanted to do any and all blood tests from a single drop of blood. Toshiba is limiting themselves to just a single kind of test, which I'm guessing the science agrees is possible with such a small blood sample.

That's a good start. If they'd be able to do 13 tests from a drop of blood from each of my fingers that'd be 130 tests!

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#8

Post by projektfu » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 10:27 PM UTC

kasabali wrote: post #7

phire wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think so. Theranos wanted to do any and all blood tests from a single drop of blood. Toshiba is limiting themselves to just a single kind of test, which I'm guessing the science agrees is possible with such a small blood sample.

That's a good start. If they'd be able to do 13 tests from a drop of blood from each of my fingers that'd be 130 tests!

Ouch. Give me a needle please.

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#9

Post by pen2l » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 10:39 PM UTC

Here's one paper I've found by quoted researcher, which I think is kind of relevant to the device/what this article is about: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30734558

I think they are creating microfluidic chips that analyze miRNAs. So, I imagine it's an orchestra of pumps, valves, etc pushing very very small amounts of liquid around and using an array of techniques to detect things, all dictated by microcontrollers. It's as interdisciplinary as you can get!

It should be noted that these papers are actually in great abundance, when I get happy is when a big company (e.g. Toshiba or Olympus) takes over because it means a return is to be made, i.e. they're going to pay for the patents and finally bring academic papers to fruition, and putting their weight behind it, probably make it work to solve problems like "cancer" (by detecting it super-early, making it easier to take out).

Re: Toshiba device tests cancer types from a drop of blood

#10

Post by dafty4 » Mon, Nov 25, 2019, 10:42 PM UTC

Where is the photo of the founder wearing a black turtleneck? I won't believe the results until I see that.