Olfactory Device for Large Scale Pre-screening for COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Infectious Disease Diagnostics
• Sensory Science

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates robust, multi-layered screening strategies beyond temperature checks.
• Current screening methods like temperature monitoring have limitations, including false positives and negatives.
• Olfactory dysfunction (hyposmia/anosmia) is a recognized symptom in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, contactless screening device for assessing olfactory function.
• To propose an intermediate diagnostic level for COVID-19 mass screening.
• To present a cost-effective and scalable solution for pandemic-related health surveillance.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel device capable of generating precise digital smells.
• Integration with a mobile application for controlled smell tests (standard or customized).
• Contactless delivery of olfactory stimuli for safe and repeatable testing.

Main Results:

• The prototype successfully generates desired smells with precision.
• The device utilizes low-cost consumables (essential oils) for hundreds of tests.
• The technology is adaptable for rapid screening requirements.

Conclusions:

• The developed olfactory function test presents a viable augmentation to existing COVID-19 screening protocols.
• The contactless, digital smell generation technology offers a scalable and economical approach to mass diagnostics.
• Further refinement of the prototype can enhance its utility for widespread public health screening.