Usually, when you think of a radar you think of the army or perhaps the airport. But the new photonic radar with its insane resolution while being cheap is for humans. It will save the lives of patients.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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Radars can traditionally be found where airplanes can be found. Though, archaeologists with their underground radars would certainly disagree. Now, Australian scientists and engineers build a radar that might not find a plane or an ancient grave but will most likely save lives.
Benjamin Eggleton from the University of Sydney and his team developed a device that is relatively cheap while providing ultra-high resolution. It is so sensitive that it can detect small objects at a scale of just a few millimeters compared to the usual meters. Using photonics allowed them to use a very wide spectrum of frequencies without needing extremely powerful and expensive electronics.
So, what are the possible applications? Such a device will allow us to measure some of the most basic but important life-sign of patients such as breathing or hearth-rate. When it comes to breathing the radar can watch the patient inhale and exhale. Currently, it is being done using a tape of the chest. But that can get problematic with patients that suffered a chest injury or burns. Similar problems can occur with small children.
Another factor – especially nowadays – are privacy concerns. Some examinations and measurements are performed with a camera that can take pictures and videos of someone’s face. As the radar uses radio waves it keeps the patients anonymous. The device itself is a breakthrough in using photonics and its possible applications could appear in the near future in a hospital near you.
The next step will be tests on laboratory toads and those should open the doors for human testing. Researchers are also working on miniaturization of the photonic radar itself as they are convinced it could get small enough could fit inside of a smartphone.
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