What smart technologies has Taiwan used to deal with the COVID-19 crisis?

The world has been affected by the new crown pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic since the end of 2019, and it is still unable to recover until today in 2022, and even the end of the epidemic cannot be seen. In the past two years, how to make good use of smart technology to improve epidemic prevention has become an important strategy for countries to fight the epidemic. The electronics industry has also actively joined the ranks of helping the "anti-epidemic", launching a number of designs that combine new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), sensors and Big Data to help prevent and control the epidemic.

The electronics industry develops innovative designs, technologies and solutions to enhance epidemic prevention capabilities through various intelligent hardware technologies.

Although the epidemic has impacted the global economy and brought many challenges to the electronics industry, more companies have found new ways out of uncertainty, aiming at the business opportunities brought about by the epidemic, innovating, developing or integrating existing smart technologies in a short period of time, or connecting Local operators quickly built smart platforms to help fight the epidemic. It is worth noting that in response to the huge global medical needs caused by the epidemic, more innovative smart medical-related designs have emerged and accelerated.

 

So this time, the editors of the EDN Taiwan edition have converged on which smart (medical) platforms are worthy of attention during the continuous spread of the COVID-19 epidemic?

 

The rapid screening of the new coronavirus detection chip takes only three minutes

It is claimed to be the world's first chip system based on field effect transistor (MOSFET) for rapid detection of COVID-19. It uses a biochip developed by Molsentech and a custom testing instrument from Spirox Corp. Through the highly sensitive semiconductor chip detection technology, the virus can be quickly screened in just three minutes, and accurate test results can be provided even in the early stage of infection or in asymptomatic patients.

Chu Jiarong, CEO of Si-based Molecules, explained: Different from the current rapid screening technology that uses polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR-Polymerase Chain Reaction) detection to interpret optical signals, Si-based Molecules uses "biological nano-silicon field effect chips". "(Bio-FET) has extremely high sensitivity to electric charge, combined with surface modification and molecular detection technology, when the chip detects the object to be tested, the current signal will rise immediately, providing real-time detection results.

In addition, each chip has tens of thousands of detection points, so a single chip can detect tens of thousands of times at the same time, and a large amount of electrical signal data can be analyzed and calculated to produce detection results with extremely high accuracy, and it has ultra-high detection results that do not require PCR amplification for nucleic acids. Sensitivity, not only greatly reduces the time required for nucleic acid detection, but the results can maintain the same accuracy as nucleic acid detection, and the inspection process is also safer and simpler.

The rapid screening system has now completed preliminary clinical validation and will be launched for use in February. Next, the partners will and plan to continue to deepen the detection research and development of this biochip. It is expected to launch a new kit for simultaneous screening of influenza and new coronavirus detection, as well as an early detection system for major diseases such as cancer and kidney failure. This new coronavirus testing station is suitable for placement in airports, ports or inspection stations with high crowds and high risk of infection, as a screening tool for first-line prevention.

 

Non-contact face brush access control system improves medical safety

In view of epidemic prevention safety and more effective management of personnel access, the entrance and exit of 7A Negative Pressure Isolation Ward of Buli Taoyuan Hospital are equipped with CyberLink's FaceMe AI face recognition technology from Tsukuba Medical Electric (ACE Biotek) "AI Binocular Dragon-Infrared Heat." Sensory and Visible Light Automatic Screening System" (TC-800), which provides a one-stop non-contact access control screening system for medical staff in negative pressure isolation wards.

The system can dynamically sense the body temperature of 10 to 30 people through a thermal imager within 0.5 seconds. If the temperature exceeds 37.5°C, it will also have functions such as warning sound, photography, and video recording. It also uses face recognition technology to identify and record the identities of medical staff. The entry and exit time will help reduce the risk of exposure and ensure the health and safety of medical staff and patients in negative pressure isolation wards.

In addition, the TC-800 system also has the functions of integrating mask identification, people flow counting, and even hospital inserting health insurance cards to query the COVID-19 patient risk assessment form TOCC (Transportation Operations Coordination Center-Transportation Operations Coordination Center). The logged-in data can be saved for 28 days. In addition to being set up in hospitals, it is also suitable for the entrance of large-scale fields such as large technology factories, shopping malls, office buildings, and campuses. In a non-contact way, the efficiency of health detection and identity verification during epidemic prevention is greatly improved.

Smart people in and out counting solution to help maintain social distancing

In response to global government mandates promoting social distancing, Infineon Technologies has developed a smart in- and out-flow solution based on 60GHz millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar, which can help detect crowds in public spaces, or It is whether people keep an appropriate distance from the people in front when entering and leaving, and can issue warnings accordingly to limit or control the number of people in the space and reduce the potential risk of virus spread or infection caused by clustering.

A radar-based smart people counting solution was built at the entrance of Infineon's Hong Kong office (pictured left/pictured) and the restaurant (pictured right) to count incoming and outgoing people and help maintain social distancing. (Image credit: Infineon)

This intelligent in-and-out people counting solution uses a miniature radar board (20mm x 15mm), through a single 60GHz radar sensor and integrated software algorithm to accurately and automatically detect and count the number of people in an anonymous way, including the number of people entering and leaving the venue and the number of people in the field It provides a safe and effective method for space occupancy and people flow management in public places such as shopping malls and office buildings.

According to Liao Mingsong, Senior Marketing Director of Power and Sensing Systems Division of Infineon Technologies (Greater China), the millimeter-wave radar can detect the density of people gathered in a specific or specified range without using a camera lens , if an excessively dense crowd is detected, an alert will be issued, thereby reducing the potential risk of virus infection. In addition, the radar sensor automatically detects the presence and movement of objects in a non-contact manner, rather than identifying specific identities, so personal data and privacy can be better protected.

The intelligent people flow in and out solution is usually installed on the side or top of the entrance of the public area to detect the flow of people entering and leaving. In addition to indicating whether entry is allowed through the traffic warning light, when the distance between two people is less than 1.5 meters It will also trigger an alarm to warn people behind to stop or slow down to maintain proper social distancing.

 

In addition to the on-site counting and social distancing functions, the solution can also be connected to the cloud, with a customized GUI (Graphical User Interface), to display the busy status of the field on a remote screen or mobile device ; Or it can be applied to the waiting queue management of restaurants, ATM machines, medicine counters and other retail industries, to instantly grasp the flow of people at each entrance and exit, and to provide better control for space management.

 

PAS CO 2 sensor monitors indoor air quality

Good air quality helps in the fight against COVID-19. Due to the positive correlation between carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration and aerosol concentration, aerosol is one of the transmission routes of viruses such as COVID-19 or influenza virus. Infineon has launched the XENSIV PAS CO 2 sensor for this purpose, which can not only monitor indoor air quality, master indoor CO 2 concentration, but also effectively reduce the risk of virus transmission by adjusting ventilation in a timely manner.

Based on innovative photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) technology, the CO2 sensor enables efficient air quality monitoring with a very small footprint and helps reduce energy costs. The microcontroller (MCU) integrated in the sensor can directly convert the detected CO 2 concentration to ppm value and obtain the data through serial I²C, UART and PWM interface. By incorporating this PAS CO 2 sensor into an air conditioning system or an air quality monitor, air quality can be controlled in a targeted manner, helping to improve personnel health and work efficiency.

Infineon then partnered with the MCI Entrepreneurship School to supply high-precision XENSIV PAS CO 2 sensors to 11 higher technical schools in Austria. Teams of students used them to construct CO 2 warning lights to warn of the need for ventilation, thereby reducing the risk of infection spreading.

A team of students in Austria used PAS CO 2 sensors to construct warning lights to ensure ventilation is necessary, thereby reducing the risk of infection spread. (Image credit: Infineon)

 

This CO 2 sensor is usually built in applications such as ventilation systems, air conditioning systems, portable indoor air monitoring equipment, etc., to accurately monitor the indoor CO 2 concentration value, and accurately control classrooms, offices, restaurants and The ventilation time of the house, so as to achieve the effect of saving energy. At the same time, it can also control the ventilation system on demand based on accurate sensor data, reducing the operating cost of the ventilation system.

In addition, when the epidemic began to sweep the world, the number of people infected with the epidemic increased sharply, and medical resources such as respirators were urgently needed. Infineon immediately supplied 38 million motor control chips to global medical equipment manufacturers such as ResMed. Provide reliable and efficient respirators and make a practical contribution to the global anti-epidemic action.

 

Portable Nanosensors for Instant Detection and Diagnosis

Facing the global spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the world urgently needs better first-line screening methods to curb the spread of microbial pathogens. The current method of confirming fever by measuring forehead temperature not only fails to detect asymptomatic infection or pre-symptomatic infection, but also fails to distinguish novel coronavirus from less-threatening respiratory diseases; other diagnostic testing methods either Inaccurate or too slow to return results.

With this in mind, ADI has partnered with Pinpoint Science, a new entrepreneur in nanosensor point-of-care diagnostics, to provide rapid viral and bacterial testing technologies that are expected to have a major impact on the detection and prevention of COVID-19 and future infectious diseases. With more efficient point-of-care detection and diagnostic solutions, this diagnostic device can rapidly detect biomarkers, such as antibodies and antigens, and rapidly identify specific microbial pathogens that cause disease and death. Equipped with single-use targeted pathogen detection cartridges, its readers can deliver accurate results quickly in the field without relying on laboratories, medical technicians or sample preparation.

One of the foundations of Pinpoint's portable readers is the ADI ADuCM355 chemical sensing platform. Featuring biosensor and chemical sensor interfaces, this precision analog MCU can implement both potentiostat and electrochemical impedance spectrum analyzer (EIS) functions in a single chip, providing an ideal solution for vital signs monitoring and disease management applications. The device integrates advanced sensor diagnostic technology, has excellent low noise and low power consumption performance and small size, can provide higher reliability and high flexibility, and greatly save development costs.

Pinpoint builds a universal platform that inserts a single-use test cartridge into a reader to detect specific pathogens in blood, saliva or nasal secretions samples. The cartridge's nanosensors can detect specific markers of infectious diseases: viral proteins, bacterial proteins, and host antibodies, with results in less than a minute.

 

Light Sensors Accelerate Drug, Vaccine, and Detection Reagent Development

Taiwan's smart medical startup Instant NanoBiosensors focuses on the development of "Portable Detection Platform for Protein and Nucleic Acid Biomarkers for Light Sensing", using fiber-optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR) technology, which can completely change the traditional of immunoassays and analytical methods to build efficient healthcare ecosystems.

3D schematic illustration of the sensor fiber when excited by an incident beam in the microfluidic channel of a FOPPR biosensor. (Image credit: Instant NanoBiosensors)

 

To combat the impact of COVID-19, NetJet uses its technology to help customers develop drugs, vaccines and testing reagents. Affinity analysis was carried out on 7 monoclonal antibodies screened by AnTaimmu BioMed from the N protein of COVID-19. Using NetJet's FOPPR light sensor chip, the affinity of 7 antibodies was obtained in one day, which accelerated the production of Antaimmu. Medically developed antibody composition.

In addition, in the development of COVID-19 antibody drugs, Anti Biomedical also screened 21 monoclonal antibodies from the COVID-19 S protein, many of which have the ability to neutralize the virus. NetJet determined the affinity of these antibodies in one day through an accurate and real-time detection platform, and used the newly developed NetJet sensing technology to simultaneously analyze four antibodies and a single epitope (epitope binning) method, and found two of them. The neutralizing antibody epitopes (epitope) of the strains are different, which lays the foundation for the development of new COVID-19 antibody drugs.

Anti Biomedical uses NetJet sensing technology for rapid screening and protein drug development. (Image credit: Instant NanoBiosensors)

 

Anti Biomedical has also cooperated with Taikang Biotechnology and Baoling Fujin Biotechnology to jointly launch the first COVID-19 antigen rapid screening reagent in Taiwan, "Ficure Vstrip COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Screening Reagent". Rapid detection of the virus has better convenience, which is beneficial for new coronavirus detection and the promotion of general screening.

"Ficure Novel Coronavirus Antigen Rapid Test Reagent" is used to qualitatively detect patients suspected of being infected with COVID-19, and use rapid lateral fluid immunochromatography to detect whether their nasal cavity has a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocap capsid antigen. Anti Biomedical uses Netjesen sensing technology for rapid screening and protein drug development.

 

Spectral sensor quickly and accurately detects the amount of antibodies

The "Digital Rapid Test" based on the operation of ams OSRAM spectral sensor can be used to measure the amount of antibodies against the new coronavirus in the human body.

Spectral sensor is an important condition for realizing high-quality dispersion detection. This inspection method provides sensors, light sources, optics and wireless connectivity to the PCB through ams OSRAM's cloud connectivity solutions. Armed with a design guide, manufacturers can integrate PCBs into their own innovations, and with just a small blood sample, biochemistry can color test strips and control test lines.

The role of the spectral sensor is to measure the corresponding color change. Two LED lights on the test line flash one after another and control the position of the test line. A part of the emitted light is absorbed, and the spectrum of the reflected signal enters the detection link. The degree of fading of the lines is proportional to the amount of antibody, which reflects the antibody level in the blood sample. The greater the amount of antibody, the higher the color concentration.

ams OSRAM has developed a digital lateral flow antigen test (LFT) technology using spectral sensors, which can obtain test results within 15 minutes in any medical field, providing consumers with laboratory-like consumer health diagnosis and making virus detection more convenient. Fast and efficient.

The Digital Rapid Test is used to measure the amount of antibodies against the new coronavirus in the human body. (Image credit: ams OSRAM)

 

In order to overcome the limitation of direct reading by the human eye of traditional LFT test strips, ams OSRAM provides a digital optical readout module composed of LEDs and photodiodes with spectral sensing function, which can increase the optical sensitivity to 10 times that of human eye recognition High, enabling qualitative and quantitative analysis, and multi-analyte detection. When performing an antibody test, the reader is placed on the double-line LFT test strip, and the two LEDs are reflected to the reader to complete the detection of the antibody.

ams OSRAM teamed up with Senova to launch the production line of COVID-19 antibody digital rapid detection kits, and developed saliva antigen rapid COVID-19 detection equipment with Precision Biomonitoring to identify asymptomatic infected persons, etc., to further bring LFT technology to the market and jointly build a virus detection ecosystem.

The BiologyWorks k(now) device uses ams OSRAM's 10-channel spectral sensor to provide rapid, accurate laboratory-scale molecular detection of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. (Image credit: ams OSRAM)

 

Virus Inhibition Using Ultraviolet (UV)-C Light Sources

Under the impact of the epidemic, the disinfection and sterilization method based on ultraviolet (UV)-C LED is gradually recognized by the household consumer market because it is more environmentally friendly and convenient. The power and luminous efficiency of UV-C LEDs are increasing steadily, and the application scope has gradually expanded to small and medium-sized and even professional places, water treatment and other fields. After combining with technologies such as sensors and network control, it has become smarter, safer and more efficient. of choice.

Various disinfection and sterilization applications of UV-C LED technology. (Image credit: ams OSRAM)

Under the impact of the epidemic, the disinfection and sterilization method based on ultraviolet (UV)-C LED is gradually recognized by the household consumer market because it is more environmentally friendly and convenient. The power and luminous efficiency of UV-C LEDs are increasing steadily, and the application scope has gradually expanded to small and medium-sized and even professional places, water treatment and other fields. After combining with technologies such as sensors and network control, it has become smarter, safer and more efficient. of choice.

According to ams OSRAM, UV is usually divided into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C according to the wavelength range. UV-C has a short wavelength and high energy. It can break the weakest link in the DNA/RNA structure through high-energy photons, and inactivate the reproduction process of microorganisms such as bacteria/viruses. It is used to disinfect air, water and surfaces of various objects to achieve high efficiency Rapid spectrum germicidal efficacy, which the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) says will help reduce the risk of the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Because the current industry mainly develops UV-C sterilization light sources around the wavelength corresponding to 265nm with the best disinfection and sterilization efficiency, ams OSRAM will also launch 6060 package products with a wavelength of 265nm to achieve better disinfection and sterilization efficiency, and expects to promote the application of UV-C light sources The route expands from consumer products to disinfection and sterilization of running water, ventilation, indoor surfaces and food, as well as professional running water, medical and public transportation, and further expands to large-scale water treatment or cold chain disinfection and sterilization.

 

RFID sensors track and monitor vaccines throughout the process

Vaccines are life-saving drugs, but during the epidemic, problems such as misplanting of vaccine batches, falsification, expiration, and even wrong vaccines frequently occur; on the other hand, many vaccines must also be transported, sealed and packaged at low temperatures to distinguish them from imitations products, all of which require costs to advance.

Axzon has developed unique labelling solutions and logistics management systems designed to provide oversight, temperature monitoring, and strengthen and protect supply chains for vaccinations such as COVID-19. At the heart of the system is a battery-free wireless sensor tag small enough to attach directly to the smallest vaccine vials, accurately reporting instant temperature data, and monitoring fluid levels to show the dose remaining in the vial, enabling storage and The management process is faster, safer and more controllable.

RFID sensor tagging system for vaccine tracking and management. (Image credit: Axzon)

 

Advanced RFID sensor technology also includes unique traceable identification codes, digital signatures and serial numbers to ensure the authenticity of each data. Building around Axzon sensors provides a complete solution to support complete workstations connected to the network or with cloud-connected handhelds.

Planning and process monitoring can run in the background to document every step of the vaccine journey and show that the vaccine has been stored within the correct temperature range, and how much time remains until expiration. This monitoring and reporting system provides full visibility and traceability of vaccine data throughout the supply chain, ensuring regulatory compliance, vaccine efficacy, and avoiding processing errors and waste.

 

Tiny Quartz Crystal Ensures Accurate Tracking of Every Contact Footprint

The global epidemic is still severe, and strengthening contact tracing is the focus of all countries. For example, in order to implement contact tracing for epidemic prevention, the Singapore government requires people to use the TraceTogether APP or token device installed on their mobile phones to swipe in and out when entering and leaving public places, so as to efficiently track confirmed cases , as well as a notification for those who have been in close contact with the confirmed person for a considerable period of time. But even in a modern society where smartphones are ubiquitous, there are still groups of people who do not own smartphones, especially seniors who are at high risk of coronavirus, so footprint trackers have become an important device for this group to collect data. Bluetooth tracking devices that track this footprint must rely on an accurate and low-power Bluetooth signal to operate stably. In addition, the small tracking device is the size of the Apple AirPods earphone charging case, and the size of the new device sent recently must be further reduced.

To this end, TAITIEN Electronics has jointly developed footprint trackers with manufacturers such as TraceTogether. The footprint tracker uses Bluetooth technology to exchange Bluetooth signals with nearby footprint trackers. In addition to preventing people who are suspected of being diagnosed or who need to be isolated from entering public places, once someone is diagnosed, they can also find out close contacts or people as soon as possible. Quickly provide key information to the relevant public, such as the footprint of the confirmed person, the length of stay, etc.

Taiyi Electronics provides a quartz crystal oscillator with precise and stable oscillation frequency for the Bluetooth tracking device to ensure the normal operation of the tracking device. (Image source: Taiyi Electronics)

 

Taiyi Electronics provides accurate and stable quartz crystal oscillators for its token devices. In addition to good Bluetooth signals, it can also achieve a package size as small as 2.05 x 1.65mm, frequency tolerance as low as 5ppm and temperature stability, 3.58MHz Up to 80MHz frequency, it is expected to meet the requirements of low aging and low phase noise. Since any Bluetooth signal must be used, it is also suitable for various medical electronic applications that require mobility.

Taiyi Electronics' wide-temperature quartz crystal oscillator is between -40 and +125 degrees, which can maintain a precise and stable oscillation frequency, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the sensor.

 

In addition, in order to help maintain temperature control during vaccine delivery, Taiyi Electronics' wide temperature quartz crystal oscillator is also used for real-time monitoring and management of vaccine delivery. Because vaccine storage requires extremely cold conditions to maintain its effectiveness, it must be maintained at low temperatures throughout the vaccine distribution process. Taiyi Electronics and partners have developed GPS-enabled sensors, placed in each batch of vaccine coolers and connected to the monitoring terminal network, to track the location and temperature of each batch of vaccine transportation on each route at any time, preventing unnecessary temperature deviations.

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