Scientists at Western University(Toronto,ON,Canada;www.uwo.ca) and Swift Medical (Toronto,ON,Canada;www.swiftmedical.com) have built a device run from a smartphone or tablet app that enables advanced imaging of a wound in order to identify infection.

Dubbed the Swift Ray 1,the device works with smartphones and tablets to capture medical images capable of identifying infected wounds.

By capturing both the heat emitted by a wound and the fluorescence of bacteria,the device aids clinicians in distinguishing between inflammation and a potentially dangerous infection.

This advancement could expedite interventions,enabling the identification of infections before they escalate into severe health risks.