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MV Hospital
Completes Study of Low Cost LCT Device
The Chennai based MV Hospital for Diabetes and Diabetes Research Centre has
completed clinical study on a low cost Liquid Crystal Thermography (LCT) device,
evolved in the research collaboration between the UK based Bournemouth
University and MV Hospital for Diabetes, for early diagnosis of high risk foot
in diabetes patients.
The device, the result of the study for a low cost thermal measurement system to
independently determine the risk factors of diabetic neuropathy using
temperature sensitive liquid crystal, is envisaged to monitor the effects of
drug delivery in a cost effective manner, informed Manish Bharara, Researcher,
Bournemouth University, UK. The new device is ten times cost effective than
infrared thermography and laser Doppler, he added.
The two and a half month long clinical study on over 100 subjects in three
patient groups comprising diabetic neuropathy, diabetic without neuropathy and
non-diabetic healthy controlled subjects show that the patients with high-risk
foot may be identified at the early stage, in correlation with foot sensation
tests and systematic circulation tests. The study, a preliminary part of the
research envisaging evaluation of sensory loss in diabetics, enabling comparison
of thermoregulatory response times in diabetics with sensory neuropathy,
diabetics without neuropathy and non-diabetic controls.
The technique prefers to address wound healing, the integral part of diabetic
food management, by providing results on both thermal and mechanical properties
of the regenerated tissue, which will help to choose the type of specialized
drugs to assist in wound healing. "The device can assess properties of the
regenerated tissue at the ulcerated site as post surgical intervention and might
play a better role in the diagnostic technique, which is under investigation,
for potential benefits in clinical management of diabetic food complications,"
Manish told Pharmabiz.
The system design and invitro calibration procedure has been independently
validated at Union College, New York (USA) with three physical forms of TLC
materials. The technique provides quantitative measurements of response
thresholds compared to qualitative measurements based on sensory perception,
explained Dr Vijay Viswanathan, Joint Director, MV Hospital for Diabetes Pvt.
Ltd.
The Bournemouth University is planning to conduct the clinical study of the
device at UK also to analyze the variations in the result. The researchers are
also trying to adapt the technique for thermal and mechanic, temperature and
pressure management, system in future.
(Ref : Chronicle Pharmabiz dated June 26, 2006)
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