Sajan Saini: How light technology is changing medicine

How light technology is changing medicine

It's an increasingly common sight in hospitals around the world: a nurse measures our height, weight, blood pressure, and attaches a glowing plastic clip to our finger. Suddenly, a digital screen reads out the oxygen level in our bloodstream. How did that happen? Sajan Saini shows how pairing light with integrated photonics is leading to new medical technologies and less invasive diagnostic tools. [Directed by Artrake Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson].

A small glowing finger clip in hospitals can measure blood oxygen without a single drop of blood. By harnessing the translucency of human tissue, light technology now reveals vital details about the body’s chemistry through non-invasive sensors. Integrated photonics, using microscopic silicon wires and ring resonators, can chemically analyze saliva or sweat on a chip smaller than a penny. These innovations promise rapid, painless diagnosis for a range of diseases, right in the clinic or even at home.

Light Transforms Medical Testing From Invasive To Insightful

TED-Ed

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innovation

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medical imaging

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human body

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public health

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TED-Ed Original