Non-invasive biomedical analysis : recent advances, challenges, and future perspectives

Sammanfattning: Non-invasive healthcare technologies are increasingly pivotal in research anddevelopment due to their affordability and the convenience they offer to bothhealthcare recipients and providers. Alongside traditional non-invasive methodssuch as ultrasound imaging, a variety of innovative non-invasive devices havebeen developed. These include cardiovascular diagnostic systems, bioimpedancebasedscales, and various types of analyzers. These analyzers, which can be fluidlessor fluid-based, are capable of measuring not just physical parameters of thebody but also key biomarkers like glucose and lactate. This comprehensive andtransdisciplinary thesis encompasses three distinct yet interconnected segments:1) Advanced ultrasound imaging (Papers I and II): The first explored vortexformation time in female athletes and the second detailed investigations of thesuperficial venous systems of apparently healthy volunteers.2) Validation and application of commercially available fluid-less bloodanalyzers (Papers IV-VI). These papers focus on non-invasive blood glucosemonitoring (Paper IV) and the general use of non-invasive healthcaretechnologies among female participants from socioeconomicallydisadvantaged areas (Papers V and VI).3) Design and testing of novel, fluid-based sensors, and biosensors (Papers II andIII): Paper II delves into biosensing of viruses, and paper III deals withcontinuous ex vivo glucose sensing in human blood using an enzymatic sensorin a vein replica.Each of these segments contribute to the broader understanding and advancementof non-invasive healthcare technologies, highlighting the significant role suchtechnologies play in modern healthcare research. The thesis's transdisciplinaryapproach, spanning from advanced imaging techniques to the development ofnovel biosensors, exemplifies the dynamic and evolving nature of medicaltechnology research.