Smart Hologram – Better Health Care

Another landmark in the health care and hologram sectors! Scientists have developed smart holograms to help patients self diagnose!

Patients with diabetes, cardiac problems, kidney disorders or high blood pressure could benefit from the development of new hologram technology. The new “smart” holograms, which can detect changes in, for example, blood-glucose levels, should make self-diagnosis much simpler, cheaper and more reliable, write Chris Lowe and Cynthia Larbey in February’s Physics World.

A hologram is a recording of an optical interference pattern created when laser light shone on an object is made to overlap with a separate beam of light that does not pass through the object. When light is shone onto the interference pattern, a 3D image of the original object is recreated.

Traditional holograms, like those on your credit card, are stored on photo-sensitive materials and remain unchanged with time. Smart holograms, however, use materials called hydrogels that shrink or swell in response to local environmental conditions. Such holograms can therefore be used as sensors to detect chemical imbalances in potentially fatal situations.

Smart Holograms, a spin-out company from the Institute of Biotechnology at Cambridge University, has already developed a hand-held syringe to measure water content in aviation fuel tanks — necessary because aeroplane engines are liable to freeze mid-air if there is more than 30 parts water to million fuel.

– Science Daily 

I must say that the new hologram technology will be a boon to many struggling with ailments. Kudos to the team who developed the smart hologram. Hope that smart hologram will be available in the markets soon.