A scientist at York University who discovered why bubbles sink rather than rise in a glass of Guinness is in the advanced stages of breakthrough research into a device which could help diabetics.

Physical chemist Professor Klaus Muller-Dethlefs has been backed by a government Smart Award of up to £49,000 to complete research into a sensor which detects blood sugar measurements without having to draw blood. It could generate millions of pounds for him - and would be welcome news for Britain's 1.4 million diabetics who daily have to test sugar levels by pricking their fingers for a blood sample.

Prof Muller-Dethlefs has formed his own company, Applied Spectroscopy Research, based at his home in New Walk Terrace, Fishergate, York. It has formally patented the idea which, it is hoped, will ultimately allow diabetics to fire a laser gun at a finger or earlobe, with the break up of light determining the levels of glucose.

He said: "I am at the stage of having proved the theory in principle. I have a laboratory device which demonstrates that we can get the required consistency and accuracy from samples of blood. In about a year I hope to perfect its use on people and if all goes well it should be available on the market in three years' time.

He hit the headlines in November 1996 when he and other scientists at the university researched the strange anomaly of backward bubbles.

Updated: 12:13 Friday, March 09, 2001