LEVIE – A New Technology for Rapid Infection Diagnosis from Exhaled Breath

A solution to the challenges of infection diagnostics

Healthcare currently lacks the ability to diagnose viral and bacterial infections in real time. Existing technologies are too slow and often too expensive for continuous use. Better alternatives are therefore needed to provide physicians with reliable information to support treatment decisions as soon as a patient arrives, for example, at a hospital emergency department.

LEVIE is developing a technology that enables infections to be detected from exhaled breath, with results available within one minute. The invention allows samples to be collected non-invasively and without requiring any active participation from the patient. The method is affordable and reliable. It can also be used to analyse liquid samples, such as urine.

World-class research at the core of the invention

The invention is based on long-term fundamental research conducted at University Helsinki’s  under the leadership of Professor Ari Salmi. The LEVIE team has also joined forces with leading international professors in the field, Tatsuki Fushimi ja Asier Marzo.

At the heart of the invention is acoustic levitation, which uses ultrasonic waves to suspend, for example, a liquid droplet in mid-air. The other key component of the solution is an advanced spectroscopy method that can be used to determine the composition of the sample.

The invention’s core technology is protected, and the team plans to file additional patent applications in the future.

Commercial potential – market research demonstrates demand for the technology

LEVIE is initially targeting the European infectious disease diagnostics market, which is  to be worth approximately USD 6.24 billion, or around EUR 5.5 billion, in 2026. The invention’s serviceable obtainable market (SOM) could be approximately EUR 200 million. After Europe, the goal is to expand globally, including to markets such as the United States.

Technology suitable for challenging environments

LEVIE can provide valuable data to support first-line diagnostics in primary healthcare and hospital emergency departments. The method is suitable for detecting respiratory infections as well as other viral and bacterial infections. It can also be used when the patient is, for example, a newborn or unconscious.

One of LEVIE’s key advantages is that the complexity required for diagnosis has been shifted to the software. This allows the physical device itself to remain simple, minimising both components that are prone to failure and the amount of waste generated. As a result, the technology can be deployed globally, including in settings where resources and healthcare infrastructure are limited. LEVIE therefore has the potential to make rapid infection diagnostics accessible to an increasing number of patients worldwide.

Future plans

The LEVIE team’s Research to Business funding will continue until May 2027. During the project, the team plans to build an easy-to-use diagnostic device and demonstrate its functionality in a research setting.

The team will also conduct further market research, deepen its understanding of customer needs, and explore different commercialisation pathways. For example, LEVIE could establish a spinout company focused on healthcare diagnostics while licensing the technology for use in other potential application areas.

The project is led by Professor of Electronics Ari Salmi. The team also includes Postdoctoral Researcher Denys Yablonskyi, Research Assistant Marika Sirkka, and Researcher Risto Montonen. Juha Kirveskari serves as the team’s Commercial Champion.