The country's state-run research institute has developed the world's smallest urine test device. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute says it has produced the "Personal Uroanalysis Reading Device," or UroRead, at a size similar to a pack of cigarettes.
The institute added that it was able to make the small, portable medical device by combining information and bio technologies, while utilizing highly advanced light-emitting diode technology. The device allows senior citizens and patients to check for chronic illnesses such as diabetes through a urine test, anytime and anywhere. The institute says they can even do it themselves as the UroRead is very easy to use. All one needs to do is sample their urine with a strip and insert it into the device, which will in turn, read and display the health data.
Users can then electronically send this data to hospitals and family members like a mobile text message via cell phone. The institute says the device will boost early detection of illnesses, with hopes of being widely used at facilities for senior citizens such as nursing and retirement homes. The development comes as the country is rapidly turning into an aging society. The Samsung Economic Research Institute forecasts that the market for mobile healthcare products will reach some 1.2 trillion won, or about 860 million US dollars, by 2012.
Park Hyong-ki, Arirang News.
MAR 23, 2009
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Friday, SEP 03, 2010, (KST) 
