Researchers show tiny heater for regulating heat in diagnostic samples

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed several infectious disease limitations regarding testing.  In this piece, engineers at the University of Toronto describe a pill sized “heater” that could facilitate the multiple temperature regulation steps in diagnosing an infection where electricity is not available.  “The outside of the heater tablet is composed of a non-reactive acrylic mould that encapsulates lithium, a reactive element that is commonly found in battery cells. When dissolved in water, the reactive lithium interacts with the solution to release heat and hydrogen gas. This results in an increase of temperature for an extended period of time.”    MORE

Image Credit: U of T News