Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car
Researchers Kill Viruses With Lasers
A father and son team of researchers has developed a new method for disinfecting blood for transfusions. The normal method of UV radiation in combination with radioisotopes tends to leave behind damaged and mutated blood cells, whereas this new method, which utilizes a low-power pulsating laser, generally leaves non-viral cells untouched.
Johns Hopkins University student Shaw-Wei David Tse and his father Kong-Thon Tsen -- a laser expert at Arizona State University -- pointed a low-power, visible wavelength laser at test tubes containing viruses diluted in a saline solution. The scientists found that the pulsating laser reduced the amount of viruses in the solution 100- to 1000-fold. The results surprised them so much that they repeated the experiment several times, each time with the same conclusion.
What's happening is that the pulsing of the laser creates vibrations that destroy viruses -- even drug-resistant ones, which could one day potentially include HIV and hepatitis. The pulsing of the laser allows the material around the viruses to cool off between blasts, which prevents damage to blood cells that might otherwise be sustained if a continuous beam was used.
The technology sounds promising, but there is always the chance that this will end up like the old needle-less syringe, a great idea forgotten because the current system is "good enough."
From Press ESC
Related Links:
- Military Robots that do Surgeons' Work
- Home Laser Comb Thickens Hair, Sort of...
- Smart Clothing Monitors Health
16 Grammys Looks That Weren't Working
Whitney Houston Dead: Singer Dies at 48, Body Found in Beverly Hilton Hotel
Worst Movie Mistakes: Date Night Edition (PHOTOS)
Whitney Houston Autopsy: Cause of Death Determined?
Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina: Late Singer's Daughter Hospitalized
How Hattie Lost 300 Pounds: 'I Was Ready To Do Whatever It Took To Survive'
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
PHOTOS: President Obama's Kissing Technique
Jennifer Hudson Whitney Tribute: Grammy President Reveals Why Singer Was Chosen for Musical Memorial
Grammy 2012 Winners' List: Adele Sweeps Music's Biggest Night
Matt Bomer Comes Out As Gay
5-Hour Energy: A Success Equal Parts Caffeine, Chemistry and Meditation
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
Grammy Awards 2012: The Best & Worst Of The Red Carpet!
People With Easy-To-Pronounce Names More Likely To Succeed, Study Says
12 Grammys Stars Who Gave Good Style
Photos Of Dead Lacrosse Player's Injured Body Shown To Jury
The Top 10 Slacker Colleges
15 Funny Valentine's Day Cards
Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
JUNGLE SURVIVAL: Marines Drink Snake Blood, Eat Insects
WATCH: 25 Million Tons Of Japan Tsunami Debris Headed Directly Our Way
Oprah Under Fire For Controversial Tweet
PHOTOS: Thank God For Grown-Up Glamour
15 Funny Valentine's Day Quotes
Scuba-Diving Murder Trial: Prosecutors Drop One Charge Against Husband
Taylor Swift Does Great Depression Chic
PHOTO: Kate Upton Scores 'Sports Illustrated' Swimsuit Issue Cover!
PHOTOS: Kate Spends Valentine's Day Solo!
PHOTOS: Beautiful Scars
The 13 Least Romantic Valentine's Day Gifts
Comments
8
Subscribe to commentspaul mattfeldMar 24th 2008 4:02PM
Perhaps these 'scientists' should review the work of 'Royal Raymond Rife' from the 1930's & 40's & 50's wherein he was 'terminating' all types of virus and cancer cells with merely frequency specific radio waves. Variations of his original equipment is available on the web today. Research it for yourself... and NO I neither work for or profit in any manner from the equipment.
martySep 6th 2007 10:32AM
I would love to be the Ginnie pig to see if my hep c can be destroyed...I have been through all three treatments and almost died with the last one. I have almost given up but this made my ears perk up. Is there any chance of this happening?
carolSep 6th 2007 2:03PM
Yes I would also be intrested in testing this new research how do I become a paitent.. As I have Hep C.. and would love to have it go away..
rocketSep 6th 2007 2:47PM
Can this be done on just water? Purifying water is always an issue for third world communities with many water born illnesses.
SoUthink?Sep 6th 2007 5:55PM
Lots of people could possibly benefit from further research of this technology however more money will be spent on pro sports, beer, cigarettes, hookers, and iphones; besides the pharmaceutical industry loves treating diseases not curing diseases. This story will be buried soon enough.
wlm1Sep 7th 2007 12:52AM
could this be used to kill off the human papilloma virus? I think I spelled that right. also some types of blood cancers? Sign me up up so.
Henry GibsonSep 30th 2007 6:37PM
It will never be sold because a fan with blades can create the pulsing light from the sun without the need for other light sources. A new cure for the common cold. Get a dialysis shunt installed and run your blood through a solar panel with a fan pulsator. Many years ago a man invented a device containing a lot of photo flash tubes that could remove old paint(no, not the horse) even from fabrics without destroying the fabrics or other surfaces. Then someone else invented a fast meat grill with high intensity light. Shine a flashlight through your fingers to see how it worked. Some people exposeded children to sunlight and other sources of ultra-violet rays to sucessfully prevent vitamin D deficiency effects, including bent leg bones. Almost every bit of food people eat comes from the chemical effects of light and plant substances. Companies in Norway and Great Britain have had commercial production of animal feed from natural gas. US oil companies have experimented with growing microbes on oil as a food source. Corn as an energy source is still cheaper than oil, and can be used directly as food. Light might work for a lot of things..hg...
berdoDec 30th 2007 1:09PM
this would be great to combine this technology with dialysis for people infected with hiv