The Role of Engineering in Developing Portable Diagnostic Devices

Mwende Wairimu G.

School of Natural and Applied Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

The convergence of engineering and healthcare has catalyzed the development of portable diagnostic devices (PDDs), transforming traditional diagnostic paradigms. These compact, efficient devices enable decentralized disease detection, enhancing accessibility in remote and underserved areas. By integrating advanced sensing technologies, microfluidics, artificial intelligence, and wireless communication, PDDs offer accurate and real-time diagnostics. This paper examines the engineering principles and interdisciplinary collaborations that underpin the design of PDDs, with a focus on their clinical relevance, user-centric designs, and regulatory considerations. Additionally, it addresses the challenges in scalability, cost, data security, and usability, alongside the prospects of further innovations in materials science, miniaturization, and AI integration. The study concludes by discussing future directions aimed at broadening the global impact of these technologies in diagnostics and public health.

Keywords: Portable Diagnostic Devices (PDDs), Biosensors, Microfluidics, Point-of-Care Testing (PoCT), Artificial Intelligence (AI).

CITE AS: Mwende Wairimu G. (2025). The Role of Engineering in Developing Portable Diagnostic Devices. Research Output Journal of Biological and Applied Science 5(1):1-4.https://doi.org/10.59298/ROJBAS/2025/511400