Ring with Lab-on-a-Chip Technology Rapidly Diagnoses STDs in a Single Blood Test

A low-cost, point-of-care and personal diagnostics thumb-ring has been successfully developed to test for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis, transmitting data to a smartphone where an app quickly presents the results.

The innovative “Hoope” ring was designed by mechanical engineer Ernesto Rodriguez Leal, PhD, from Monterrey (Mexico). "Every year more than 500 million people around the world contract one of these four STDs, 50% are between 15 to 23 years of age. The problem is that 75% do not present early symptoms, therefore the need for an early-detection strategy," he said.

Hoope is placed on the thumb and contains a disposable cartridge with a retractable single-use needle. It also contains an anesthetic system by which an electrical pulse generates numbness, preventing pain at the time of puncture. It is worn only at the time of testing and functions as a personal diagnostic tool. A button is pressed, activating the needle to draw blood, which is transported by capillary action and taken into a lab-on-a-chip, where the blood is distributed into 4 microfluidic channels. "We put antigens specifically synthesized to catch antibodies for each of the diseases,” said Dr. Rodreges Leal, “If antibodies for any of the conditions exists, the antigens trap them and produce an electrochemical reaction."

Data are wirelessly transmitted to a device such as a smartphone or tablet, where an app shows the results in less than a minute. In cases of positive results, the app provides related medical information and a map showing the location of the nearest specialist with whom an appointment can be scheduled.

The Hoope portable device project was developed at a Mexican startup in Silicon Valley. "There I met Damel Mektepbayeva, biotechnologist from Kazakhstan, and Irina Rymshina, Russian finance expert, the three of us decided to create Hoope," explained Dr. Rodríguez Leal. He arrived to Silicon Valley through the Singularity University program consisting of a 3-month stay at NASA that brings together 80 people from around the world. "In this program I learned the tools needed to conceptualize social impact projects and transform the idea from the lab to an end product," he said, "The first prototype was designed at the Colorado State University located in Fort Collins, it showed excellent results in the detection of syphilis, and we are working to perfect it for the other three diseases."

With this technological development the researchers have won several international competitions. The device will be manufactured in China and made available January 2016 through an Indiegogo campaign. A specialized app will also be released. Hoope will initially be marketed in Latin America (later in Europe and the United States) at a price of approximately USD 50 for the ring and three cartridges. Currently the team continues to improve the device, including for its potential to be adapted to detect allergies, cancer, diabetes, and pregnancy.

Related Links:
Hoope
Singularity University