THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO OFFER TO HOSPITALS AND LARGE GROUP PRACTICES A FAST, ACCURATE, SAFE, PAINLESS, AND INEXPENSIVE DEVICE FOR DIAGNOSING CYSTIC FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS OF ANY AGE.

THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO OFFER TO HOSPITALS AND LARGE GROUP PRACTICES A FAST, ACCURATE, SAFE, PAINLESS, AND INEXPENSIVE DEVICE FOR DIAGNOSING CYSTIC FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS OF ANY AGE. OUR TECHNIQUE IS SPECTROSCOPIC IN SITU ANALYSIS OF SWEAT. PHASE I OF OUR RESEARCH PLAN IS INTENDED TO PRODUCE A CLINICAL PROTOTYPE OF OUR DEVICE. THIS RESEARCH PLAN IS AN OUTGROWTH OF EARLIER RESEARCH WHICH PRODUCED THE GOVERNING THEORY AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT. PHASE I OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE OPTIMIZATION OF OUR TECHNIQUE AND EQUIPMENT, AND THE RESOLUTION OF REMAINING QUESTIONS. THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF PHASE I RESEARCH ARE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMIZED POWER SUPPLY, PHOTOMULTIPLIER DETECTOR, COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEM, GLASS ELECTRODE, PORTABLE CART, AND THE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SWEAT INDUCED BY THE SYSTEM. AFTER PHASE I RESEARCH IS COMPLETED AND A CLINICAL PROTOTYPE IS PRODUCED, A CLINICAL TESTING PERIOD WILL FOLLOW UNDER A SEPARATE RESEARCH AGENDA. THE RESULTS OF THIS TESTING WILL PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR PHASE II WORK. PHASE II RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WILL RESULT IN A COMMERCIAL VERSION OF THE IN SITU SPECTROSCOPIC DEVICE WHICH WILL THEN BE OFFERED TO HOSPITALS AND GROUP PRACTICES FOR THE ROUTINE SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS.