Researchers from Switzerland's University of
Basel have performed the first successful nose reconstruction surgery
using engineered cartilage grown in the laboratory. The cartilage was
spawned form the patient's own cells in an approach that could
circumvent the need for more invasive surgeries. Read More
Bio-engineered vaginas grown from patients' own cells
By Ben Coxworth
April 11, 2014
Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is
a genetic condition in which girls are born either without a vagina, or
with one that's underdeveloped. While there are ways of addressing the
situation, they're not without their drawbacks. Now, however, four young
women have shown great success with implanted vaginal organs that were
grown from their own cells. Read More
Spinal stimulation allows paraplegics to move legs
By Ben Coxworth
April 10, 2014
In 2011, 25 year-old paraplegic Rob Summers was
able to temporarily regain limited use of his legs, thanks to an
experimental technique known as epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord.
Now, in a new study, Summers and three other paraplegic test subjects
have shown even more promising results, thanks to the technology. Read More
It may not be to quite the same level achieved by
Victor Frankenstein, but work by a team from the University of
Edinburgh is likely to have significant real-world implications in the
field of regenerative medicine. For the first time, the team has
successfully regenerated a living organ in mice, not by using a jolt of
electricity, but by manipulating DNA. Read More
While many people no doubt still look at Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci
robotic surgical system as a sort of "wonder of the future," it's
actually been around now for over 10 years. Therefore, it shouldn't come
as a surprise that a new-and-improved model has just been announced.
Among other things, the da Vinci Xi Surgical System promises a greater
range of motion and more reach than its predecessor. Read More
Gut simulator could bring down the costs of drug development
By Ben Coxworth
April 1, 2014
Before drugs are tested on humans, they first go
through pre-clinical tests on animals. Because humans and animals don't
have identical gastrointestinal tracts, however, the way in which the
drugs are absorbed by the body often differs between the two. A
scientist from the UK's University of Huddersfield hopes to address that
discrepancy, with his "gut simulator." Read More
A 22-year-old woman has had the whole top of her
skull replaced with a customized 3D-printed implant. The patient had
been suffering from severe symptoms as a result of a condition that
causes a thickening of the skull. It is believed that the procedure was
the first of its kind. Read More
When someone has chronic venous insufficiency, it
means that because of faulty valves in their leg veins, oxygen-poor
blood isn't able to be pumped back to their heart. The George Washington
University's Dr. Narine Sarvazyan has created a possible solution,
however – a beating "mini heart" that's wrapped around the vein, to help
push the blood through. Read More
A five-year, US$19 million multi-institutional
effort is working on developing a "desktop human" that could reduce the
need for animal testing in the development of new drugs. The "homo
minitus" is a drug and toxicity analysis system that would comprise four
human organ constructs interconnected to mimic the response of human
organs. The project has now reported success in the development of its
first organ construct, a human liver construct that responds to exposure
to a toxic chemical much like a real liver. Read More
Harvesting samples for producing stem cells can
be rather painful. Techniques can involve collecting large amounts of
blood, bone marrow or skin scrapes. The reality is intrusive measures
such as these can be very off-putting. But what if it was as simple as a
finger-prick? Such a DIY approach, which is so easy it can be done at
home or in the field without medical staff, has been developed by
researchers at Singapore's A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell
Biology (IMCB). Read More
When it comes to thoroughly assessing the
condition of someone's eyes, it's usually necessary to utilize large,
expensive contraptions such as those found in an ophthalmologist's
office. While that's OK in some situations, physicians in rural areas or
developing nations might not have access to such technology.
Additionally, emergency room personnel typically need information
on-the-spot, ASAP. That's why two scientists from Stanford University
have created the EyeGo system, which allows smartphones to do the job.
Read More
When people have nerve problems such as those
caused by spinal injuries, they can lose the ability to feel when their
bladder is full. This means that they don't know when it needs to be
emptied, resulting in a build-up of pressure that can damage both the
bladder and their kidneys. Now, a tiny sensor may offer a better way of
assessing their condition, to see if surgery is required or if
medication will suffice. Read More
Silk is an amazingly strong material, yet it also
harmlessly biodegrades when left in the body. This has led to its use
in experimental brain implants, heart patches, and even bio-electronics.
According to a new study conducted by scientists at Tufts University
School of Engineering and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, it may
now also find use in the production of better plates and screws used for
securing broken bones. Read More
Researchers at London's Great Ormond Street
Hospital aim to grow a human ear via stem cells taken from a patient's
fat tissue. Relatively little attention has been given to the
reconstruction of damaged cartilage around the cranial area, however the
new method is hoped to modernize this area of reconstructive surgery.
Read More
When you think of a beating heart, you probably
just picture it flexing in and out, sort of like a rubber ball being
squeezed by an invisible hand. In fact, though, its motion is more
similar to that of a dish rag being wrung out, with the top of the organ
twisting in a clockwise direction while the bottom contracts
counterclockwise. It's known as the left ventricular twist, and
scientists have now replicated it using artificial muscles. The research
could lead to better-functioning cardiac implants, among other things.
Read More
When it comes to monitoring the electrical
activity of the heart, or delivering electrical stimulation to it (as in
the case of pacemakers), most current technologies rely on electrodes
that make contact with the organ in just a few locations. That doesn't
necessarily provide a very detailed picture of what's going on, nor does
it deliver stimulation all that evenly. Now, scientists have created a
sensor-laden three-dimensional elastic membrane that can be pulled over
the whole heart, to provide a large number of contact points. Read More
Augmented reality treatment alleviates phantom limb pain
By Nick Lavars
February 25, 2014
Studies have shown that a large percentage of
amputees feel pain in their missing limbs. This condition, known as
phantom limb pain (PLP), is caused by the part of brain responsible for a
limb's movement becoming idle once that limb is lost. The ailment has
so far proven difficult to treat, but a new study suggests therapy
involving augmented reality and gaming could stimulate these unused
areas of the brain, resulting in a significant reduction in discomfort.
Read More
3D-printed heart helps doctors prepare for life-saving surgery
By Nick Lavars
February 24, 2014
3D printing technology has assisted in
life-saving heart surgery performed on a 14-month old child, with
engineers at the University of Louisville producing a printed model of
the child's heart prior to the procedure that enabled doctors to better
prepare for the operation. Read More
While we can counter the deterioration of sight and hearing with glasses and hearing aids,
few tools exist for combating a degenerating sense of touch. A common
ailment among stroke patients and the aging, treating diminishing
tactile perception has proven a complicated task. Looking to provide a
wearable solution unimposing enough for everyday use, a research team
from Germany's Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) is developing a stimulation
glove designed to be worn passively to alleviate such impairments. Read More
New device uses laser to provide life-saving information on patients' blood
By Ben Coxworth
February 24, 2014
Not everyone's blood clots at the same rate.
While that might seem like simply an interesting bit of trivia, it's
anything but trivial to doctors performing operations or emergency
procedures, who need to know what might be required in the way of
transfusions or anticoagulant drugs. Now, an optical device can provide
them with that information within minutes. Read More
Tiny probe designed to provide live 3D images from within blood vessels
By Ben Coxworth
February 24, 2014
Imagine if you were trying to clear rubble out of
a tunnel, but you could only see that tunnel from the side, instead of
looking straight into it. Well, that's currently what it's like for
doctors who are trying to see inside patients' blocked coronary blood
vessels using ultrasound. Soon, however, a tiny catheter-based probe may
give them a 3D real-time forward view from inside those vessels – or
from inside the heart itself – not unlike that seen by the microscopic
submarine crew in the movie Fantastic Voyage. Read More
Stanford scientists use light to control pain in mice
By Stu Robarts
February 20, 2014
In research that could lead to improved treatment
of chronic and debilitating pain conditions, scientists at Stanford
Bio-X have shown that pain sensitivity in genetically modified mice can
be altered by shining different colors of light on their paws. Read More
For people living with type 1 diabetes, a
constant process of monitoring and adjusting blood sugar levels is
required. A change may be on the horizon, though. A bionic pancreas
trialled among 30 adults has been very well-received by the
participants, and has been approved by the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for three transitional outpatient studies over the
next 18 months. Read More
Nanotechnology could enable on-demand manufacture of vaccines
By Anthony Wood
February 19, 2014
Researchers from the University of Washington
have created a vaccine with the potential to make on-demand vaccination
cheaper and quicker, using engineered nanoparticles. Tests with mice
show definite promise for the technology's use on humans. Read More
Device helps surgeons see cancer cells during operations
February 18, 2014
When doctors are operating on a patient to remove
a cancer, they face a major challenge: telling healthy and cancerous
cells apart. But a new device being developed by researchers at
Washington University in St. Louis' School of Medicine could provide a
safe, affordable and portable solution. Read More
While two-dimensional modeling of double-stranded
DNA molecules has been useful for the purpose of cancer research, the
composition of the G-quadruplex, a four-stranded DNA sequence, has
proven a different beast. A 3D printing lab at the University of Alabama
has successfully produced a physical model of its molecular structure,
improving understanding of its makeup and potentially, helping develop a
treatment for pancreatic cancer. Read More
Charged polymers unlock door to deliver nanoparticles to cancer cells
By Darren Quick
February 11, 2014
In recent years, we've seen various research
efforts looking to specifically target cancer cells as a replacement for
the shotgun approach employed by chemotherapy that also damages healthy
cells. The trick is to develop a delivery vehicle that identifies and
targets only cancer cells, while ignoring the healthy ones. Researchers
have found charged polymers have this ability, opening the door for
nanoparticles containing cancer-fighting drugs to deliver their payload
directly to the cancer cells. Read More
Imagine if it were possible to send tiny machines
into living cells, where they could deliver medication, perform
ultra-micro surgery, or even destroy the cell if needed. Well, we've
recently come a little closer to being able to do so. Scientists at
Pennsylvania State University have successfully inserted "nanomotors"
into human cells, then remotely controlled those motors within the cells. Read More
XStat treats bullet wounds with tiny injectable sponges
By Brian Dodson
February 11, 2014
Uncontrolled hemorrhage (bleeding out) is
responsible for 80 percent of combat deaths. About the same proportion
of those who die after being evacuated to a medical treatment facility
also die of hemorrhage, usually associated with deep arterial wounds
that cannot be treated using tourniquets – people die because we can't
plug a simple hole. Now RevMedX, a small Oregon startup, has developed
an alternative approach to treat such potentially survivable injuries.
Read More
3D-printed hip implant lets teenager walk again
By Nick Lavars
February 9, 2014
Much of the fanfare surrounding 3D printing has
centered on its enabling consumers to create objects themselves,
potentially circumventing traditional production models. Alongside NBA figurines and 3D printed pizza, however, the technology continues to provide valuable solutions in the field of medicine.
Mobelife, a Belgium-based implant design company, has 3D printed a
custom hip implant and given a once wheelchair-consigned teenager the
ability to walk on her own. Read More
"Smart bomb" puts antibiotic resistant bacteria in its sights
By Darren Quick
January 30, 2014
The increasing prevalence of bacteria resistant
to antibiotic drugs is largely blamed on the over prescription and use
of such drugs in humans and animals, leading to the evolution of
so-called "superbugs." A new antibiotic "smart bomb" that can target
specific strains of bacteria could provide the next-generation
antibiotic drugs needed to stave off the threat of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria. Read More
The Faculty of Engineering at Israel's Bar Ilan
University has developed a prototype of a contact lens which could
enable the visually impaired to see the world in a whole new light.
Developed by Professor Zeev Zalevsky, the contact lens processes digital
images and translates them into tactile sensations which can then be
felt on the user's cornea, allowing them to form a picture of their
physical surroundings. Read More
When a patient can't breathe through their mouth
or nose, often the only way of getting air to their lungs is to perform a
tracheotomy. This involves making an incision in the trachea, and
inserting a breathing tube through it. Now, scientists are creating a
device to streamline the process. Read More
A new weight-loss device that patients swallow
and is then inflated inside the stomach to accelerate the sensation of
fullness when eating has been launched in the UK. Obalon is a gastric
balloon that benefits patients by being relatively noninvasive in
comparison to others that require surgery. Read More
Implant measures medication levels in bloodstream, in real time
By Ben Coxworth
January 23, 2014
Figuring out how much medication a patient should
be taking can be a tricky business. Although things like age and weight
are used as guidelines, factors such as the individual person's
metabolism can have a marked effect on how effective the drugs are. With
that in mind, scientists at the University of California, Santa Barbara
have developed an implantable device that provides continuous real-time
readings on how much medication is currently in a person's bloodstream.
Read More
A team of international researchers has turned to
stem cells in a quest to find an a more effective treatment for
patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis. The new method being
investigated involves using the patients’ own bone marrow mesenchymal
stromal cells (MSCs) to boost immune response and heal damaged tissue.
Read More
After a heart attack has occurred, inflammatory
cells known as monocytes rush to the damaged tissue. This causes the
heart to swell, reducing its ability to pump blood, and further damaging
the tissue – a potentially lethal situation. Now, however, scientists
have discovered that injectable microparticles can help stop that from
happening. Read More
People suffering from joint problems such as
osteoarthritis tend to take a lot of anti-inflammatory drugs, even
though such medications affect their whole body, all of the time.
Scientists at the University of Delaware, however, are developing what
could be a more effective alternative. It's a hydrogel that can be
injected into the joint, and it releases medication only in response to
mechanical force – in other words, whenever the joint is used. Read More
Research carried out by a team of scientists at
the University of Southern Denmark literally sheds new light on how a
non-invasive technique for the early diagnosis of stomach ulcers could
be performed in the future. The findings of the researchers point to a
fast, hassle-free method that does not require sample tissues, unlike
current testing methods. Read More
A hole in the heart is never a good thing, so
when an infant is born with such a defect, doctors have to act quickly
to fix it. Unfortunately, both sutures and staples can damage the heart
tissue, plus it takes too long to apply sutures. Existing surgical
adhesives have their own drawbacks in that they can be toxic, and they
typically become unstuck in wet, dynamic environments such as the heart.
As a result, infants often require subsequent operations to "replug"
the hole. Now, however, scientists have developed a sort of superglue
for the heart, that quickly and securely bonds patches to holes. Read More
Ordinarily, when doctors wish to monitor an
ambulatory patient for heartbeat irregularities, they have them wear
what is know as a Holter monitor. The device is fairly cumbersome, so
it's usually worn for no more than 24 hours. A recent study, however,
indicates that the relatively new ZIO Patch provides more accurate
readings, while being considerably less obtrusive. Read More
Instead of having to wait for one of the limited
number of available donor kidneys, patients in need of a transplant may
eventually be able to have a new kidney custom-grown for them. That
possibility recently took one step closer to reality, as scientists at
Australia's University of Queensland successfully grew a "mini-kidney"
from stem cells. Read More
Last Wednesday in Paris, a 75 year-old man
received an artificial heart. That in itself might not be newsworthy, as
such devices have been in use since the early 80s. In this case,
however, the gadget in question was the first Carmat bioprosthetic
artificial heart to ever be implanted in a human. According to its
inventor, cardiac surgeon Alain Carpentier, it's the world's first
self-regulating artificial heart. Read More
Portable scanner designed to make eye exams quicker and easier
By Ben Coxworth
December 23, 2013
If you're like a lot of people, you don't make an
annual trip to the ophthalmologist to get your eyes checked ... and you
really ought to, in order to catch any problems before it's too late.
If it were possible to get them checked at a regular doctor's office or
clinic, though, perhaps you might do so more often. That's one of the
reasons that a team at MIT have designed a new hand-held retinal
scanner, that can quickly and easily be used anywhere. Read More
Help could be on the way for the hundreds of
millions of diabetics who are tired of giving themselves daily insulin
injections. Scientists from India's National Institute of Pharmaceutical
Education and Research have recently had success in orally delivering
insulin to rats' bloodstreams. Read More
Imagine if conditions that presently cause
blindness could be treated by simply by fabricating new tissue, and
using it to replace the defective part of the retina. We may not be at
that point yet, but we've definitely taken a step closer, thanks to
research being conducted at the University of Cambridge. Scientists
there have successfully used an inkjet printer to "print" rats' retinal
cells onto a substrate, paving the way for the creation of custom-made
eye-repair material. Read More
A new discovery by scientists from Singapore’s
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) holds promise for the development
of a Malaria vaccine. The result of five years research, the
breakthrough is based on the ability to block the invasion of red blood
cells by the deadly parasite. Read More
Devices like the 3Doodler and SwissPen
literally put 3D printing technology in the hands of consumers, but a
new BioPen developed at the University of Wollongong in Australia is
targeted at more skilled hands. The handheld device is designed to let
surgeons "draw" live cells and growth factors directly onto the site of
an injury to help accelerate the regeneration of functional bone and
cartilage. Read More
New nanoparticle opens doorway to oral treatment of chronic diseases
By Nick Lavars
November 28, 2013
Most of us would swallow a pill before being
poked by a needle, yet sufferers of chronic illnesses are regularly
required to administer their medicine intravenously. A team of
researchers from MIT and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) has
developed a new type of nanoparticle that could afford patients the
choice – potentially making uncomfortable injections a thing of the past
in the treatment of a range of chronic diseases. Read More
"Virtual reality hands" mind-control therapy for stroke patients
By Heidi Hoopes
November 18, 2013
Earlier this year, we saw an amazing demonstration of an EEG skullcap interface that allowed a quadcopter to be controlled with only thoughts.
Now the same technology is pioneering a medical therapy in which stroke
patients can use their thoughts to guide a simulation, and thus rebuild
damaged neurons. As the “virtual reality hands” provide customization
and direct feedback of one’s progress, this could be an improvement over
traditional therapy methods. Read More
Anyone who has left youth behind them knows that
bumps and scrapes don't heal as fast as they used to. But that could
change with researchers at the Stem Cell Program at Boston Children's
Hospital finding a way to regrow hair, cartilage, bone, skin and other
soft tissues in a mouse by reactivating a dormant gene called Lin28a.
The discovery could lead to new treatments that provide adults with the
regenerative powers they possessed when very young. Read More
Like many other parts of the world, Spain's
Basque Country is currently faced with an increasing population of
senior citizens placing strain upon the limited resources of the health
care system. That's why the Teki project was instituted. It allows
patients with chronic conditions to quickly check in with their doctors
via an internet-connected Microsoft Kinect unit, thus reducing the
number of time-consuming office visits, and catching problems before
they require hospitalization. Read More
Genetic circuit supresses appetite in response to blood-fat levels
By Darren Quick
November 26, 2013
Most who have tried it would agree that dieting
is a generally unpleasant, and an oftentimes ineffective way to lose
weight in the long-term. The biggest hurdle for many is the constant
hunger that comes from a change in their regular diet. Biotechnologists
at ETH-Zurich have created a genetic helper that could one day put an
end to the hunger pangs. Read More
Eyes-On Glasses let nurses see patients' veins through their skin
By Ben Coxworth
November 25, 2013
Despite what TV and the movies might have us
believe, getting a needle into a vein isn't always a straightforward
procedure. It can sometimes take multiple attempts, much to the
discomfort of the patient. Now, however, Evena Medical's new Eyes-On
Glasses reportedly let nurses see patients' veins in real time, right
through their skin. Read More
FOR MORE SEARCH "Health ".. OR @GIZMAG
When IBM’s Watson supercomputer took on two human champions of the television quiz show Jeopardy
and won, it was hailed as a breakthrough in machine intelligence. Now
in an effort to expand the practical applications for the "world’s
smartest computer," IBM Research and has taken the wraps off two new
projects aimed at the medical community. Read More
MetaboShield, is an innovative intestinal sleeve that can be lodged permanently in the small intestine via the throat in an anesthesia-free procedure. Though it is still a prototype, when developed the sleeve could help people shed unwanted pounds and potentially help reverse type 2 diabetes. Read More
By using raw data from Multi Slice Computerized
Tomography (MSCT) and processing it through sophisticated software on
high performance computer systems, Malaysian entrepreneur Mathavan
(Matt) Chandran hopes to largely negate the need to slice open bodies at
autopsy. His digital autopsy software exploits the power of existing 2D
and 3D imaging and visualization equipment to observe and investigate
the human body using high definition imagery. Read More
For long-term hospital patients or people who are
otherwise bedridden, bedsores can be a major problem. Technically known
as decubitus ulcers, they form when one area of the skin is subjected
to too much prolonged pressure. In order to keep them from occurring,
hospital staff regularly turn patients over in their beds. The MAP
System is designed to aid those caregivers, by providing them with
real-time imagery of the pressure points on the patient’s body. Read More
FOR MORE SEARCH "Medical".. OR @GIZMAG
IBM's Watson supercomputer is being re-tasked to
help clinicians create personalized treatments for a common form of
brain cancer known as glioblastoma. The project, which is a
collaboration between IBM and the New York Genome Center (NYGC), hopes
to make use of Watson's artificial intelligence to analyze vast
quantities of data in order to suggest a personalized life-saving
treatment based on the patient's individual case. Read More
Central to the dangers of so-called "date-rape"
drugs is the fact that they are difficult to detect. Indeed, GHB, one of
the most commonly-used of such drugs, is both colorless and odorless. A
team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has
developed a fluorescent sensor which, when mixed with a drink
containing GHB, changes color within 30 seconds, potentially alerting
people soon after their drink has been tampered with. Read More
A nasal spray containing a specially-developed
protein peptide could form the basis for highly-targeted treatment for
depression, new research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
(CAMH) has shown. The peptide, when delivered in spray from, was found
to relieve symptoms of depression, with the lead researcher hopeful of
little to no side-effects. Read More
Smart home to detect symptoms of neurodegenerative disease
By Anthony Wood
March 24, 2014
The Tecnalia Centre for Applied Research has
created a system of sensors which when fitted in a home can monitor
changes in a person's habits and routine. These observations can then be
used to assess whether an individual is suffering from the early stages
of a neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's. Read More
Nasal spray nanovaccine promises no pain, more gain
March 24, 2014
Vaccines save lives, but sometimes they fail to
reach the people who need them most, in parts of the developing world. A
research team from Iowa State University is currently developing a new
generation of vaccines that uses nanotechnology, and is delivered in
spray form. One of the advantages of this new type of vaccine is that is
can increase access to people living in remote areas because it
requires no refrigeration and is simpler to administer. Read More
According to the Hearing Loss Association of
America, 48 million Americans (around 20 percent of the population)
report some degree of hearing loss. This problem is compounded by the
costs associated with having the condition diagnosed and a hearing aid
fitted in a clinic, causing many to allow the ailment to go untreated.
iHear, an invisible hearing aid, is designed to significantly lower the
cost of personalized hearing devices by enabling the user to test the
extent of their condition and calibrate the hearing aid from their own
home. Read More
If you're looking to extend your bulletproof
wardrobe with something that won't be out of place alongside other
garments, such as the Miguel Caballero bullet-proof polo shirt, the Bullet-Proof Gentleman’s Square and Garrison Bespoke's bulletproof three-piece suit,
then the Diamond Armor could be a good fit. Developed by SuitArt, the
Diamond Armor is a diamond-studded, bullet-proof, air-conditioned,
bespoke-tailored suit costing US$3.2 million, making it the most
expensive custom-tailored suit in the world. Read More
The human body clock is the curse of any shift
worker or traveler arriving in a new time zone. Although one's body
clock can be adjusted by external cues, such as light – a factor that
devices such as the Re-Timer and Litebook
are designed take advantage of – the adjustment period can vary
significantly for different people. Now researchers have discovered the
mechanism that controls how easily such adjustments can be made. Read More
Cefaly migraine prevention headband gets FDA approval
By Nick Lavars
March 19, 2014
Though using electrical stimulation of the brain as a means of treating migraines has provided an alternative to over-the-counter medication, the administering of the electrical currents can be complex, involving bulky equipment or even surgically implanted electrodes. Cefaly, a battery-operated headband, has now been approved by FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and is said to not only treat migraines, but possibly prevent them altogether. Read More
It has long been known that eating chocolate,
particularly dark chocolate, has numerous health benefits. Although
various studies have backed this up,
the exact reason as to why this is so has remained a mystery. Now
researchers from Louisiana State University have provided the answer –
gut microbes. Read More
Blood test determines severity of concussions
By Darren Quick
March 16, 2014
It wasn't so long ago that shaking off a knock to
the head and getting back on the field was seen as a sign of toughness
for sportspeople. But in recent years, increased awareness of the
potential for long-term damage has put the seriousness of concussion in
the spotlight. Researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden have now
developed a blood test that reveals the severity of a concussion and
when it is safe for a player to return to the game. Read More
We've recently seen a number of projects aimed at creating Star Trek-like medical tricorders,
that take the form of stand-alone electronic devices built specifically
for the purpose. Now, however, scientists at the University of Houston
are taking an approach that's currently popular in many other areas of
product design – they've asked, "Why build a whole new device, if a
smartphone can provide the electronics?". The result is a proposed phone
lens attachment, that could be used to diagnose diseases in real time.
Read More
US medical researchers have developed a blood
test which predicts with 90 percent accuracy if an individual will
develop Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment within three
years. The test, which looks for a set of ten lipid markers, will allow
treatments to be sought that may be effective during this early,
asymptomatic stage of the disease. Read More
A European project coordinated by Ikerlan and CIC
microGUNE is developing a James Bond-style automated laboratory called
"LABoratory skin patches and smart cards based ON FOILs and compatible
with a smartphone" (LABONFOIL). Using lab-on-a-chip
technology and smart patches to detect a wide variety of substances and
diagnose diseases, the goal of the project is to create a cheap,
portable laboratory that can interact with smart devices. Read More
Alzheimer's disease represents the most common
form of dementia, with the early stages of the disease generally
characterized with short term memory loss and learning difficulties that
increase in severity as the patient progresses in age. Scientists at
the Salk Institute for Biological Studies,
California, have discovered that with regular treatments of the
antioxidant fisetin, they were able to prevent memory loss in mice with
genetic mutations linked to Alzheimer's. Read More
When a patient is undergoing rehab for a
condition that compromises their gait or sense of balance, the process
certainly isn't helped by the constant worry that they might fall. In
fact, even the caregivers themselves can be injured when trying to move
patients around. That's why California-based rehabilitative tech firm
Bioness developed its Vector Gait and Safety System. It involves
suspending the patient below a robotic trolley, that moves with them to
hold them up. Read More
Health monitoring start-up Azoi has announced the
availability of a significant product in the form of the Wello, a
lightweight smartphone case embedded with sensors that measures blood
pressure, electrocardiography (ECG), heart rate, blood oxygen,
temperature, and lung functions to a high level of accuracy. With such
functionality, the Wello has the potential to become a disruptive
technology, enabling people in developed countries to track all their
key vital health data, and make more informed lifestyle choices. In
developing countries where the healthcare system is poor or
non-existent, it has the potential to facilitate much more. Gizmag
speaks with Hamish Patel, founder and CEO of Azoi. Read More
Along with some rather unnerving, spinning pieces
of metal, our dentists are always drilling into us the importance of a
proper brushing technique. Some of us, however, would be guilty of
cutting a corner or two in our time, perhaps before rushing out the door
in the morning or after dozing off on the couch at night. Aiming to
make sure we always uphold the gold standard of oral hygiene is
Kolibree, a French start-up whose smart toothbrush is designed to track
your brushing efforts to make sure you're hitting those harder to reach
places. Read More
Bevometer cooler takes the guesswork out of drink consumption
By Nick Lavars
February 14, 2014
The Bevometer, an adaptation of the traditional
koozie (aka stubby holder or coldy-holdy), is designed to take the
guesswork out of consumption by keeping count each time you exchange a
full drink for an empty. Read More
For seniors in general, falls can result result
in broken hips or other serious injuries. For seniors living alone,
however, there's also a good chance that they could end up lying on the
floor for up to several hours before anyone else knows what's happened.
User-triggered radio devices such as Life Alert are helpful up to a
point, although they're not much good if the user isn't carrying them at
the time, or if they get knocked unconscious. That's why a group of
German companies are developing the automatic safe@home system. Read More
Cochlear implants may be losing their awkward external hardware
By Ben Coxworth
February 10, 2014
Thanks to the development of cochlear implants,
many people who would otherwise be quite deaf are able to regain a
limited sense of hearing. Unfortunately, the implants also incorporate
external components that can get in the user's way, and that look ...
well, that look like the user has something hooked up to their ear. Now,
however, researchers at MIT, Harvard Medical School and the
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary have developed a chip that could
lead to cochlear implants that are entirely implanted. Read More
Scientists replace amputee's hand ... along with its sense of touch
By Stu Robarts
February 10, 2014
A man who lost his left hand in an accident nine
years ago has had his sense of touch restored using a prosthetic hand
surgically wired to nerves in his upper arm. During the trial Dennis
Aabo Sørensen was able to grasp objects, detect the strength of grip,
distinguish shape and identify objects by touch while blindfolded. The
work was carried out by scientists from École Polytechnique Fédérale de
Lausanne (EPFL) and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (SSSA). Read More
Type 1 diabetics suffer from a lack of beta cells
in the pancreas, which are responsible for insulin production. Although
glucose monitoring and insulin injections allows the disease to be
managed, finding a way to replenish these beta cells would offer a more
permanent solution. Scientists at Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco
have provided hope for just such a treatment by developing a technique
to reprogram skin cells into insulin-producing beta cells. Read More
FDA approves PillCam video camera that you swallow
By Stu Robarts
February 6, 2014
Colonoscopies can be an uncomfortable procedure
for patients who may already be worried about what results will be
found. When the results are inconclusive, a patient's options can be
limited, causing further distress. The US Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has now approved a device for use after an incomplete procedure
that is minimally invasive and can achieve similar imaging results to a
colonoscopy. PillCam Colon is a pill-sized camera that is swallowed and
passes through a patient's gastrointestinal tract. Read More
Stem cell-based treatment for baldness a step closer
By Darren Quick
February 4, 2014
As one of the follically-challenged, any new
breakthroughs in the area of hair regeneration will generally get my
attention. When stem cells first started to gain widespread media
attention I, no doubt like many others, thought a full head of hair was
just around the corner. But despite numerous developments,
years later my dome is still of the chrome variety. Providing the
latest cause for cautious optimism, researchers have now developed a way
to generate a large number number of hair-follicle-generating stem
cells from adult cells. Read More
Caffeine can enhance memory, new research suggests
January 26, 2014
Caffeine is one the world’s favorite productivity
fuels and in many countries people choose a caffeinated drink, mainly
coffee, to ignite the day. Although some people rightly worry about
over-consuming the stuff, a new study suggests that a moderate daily
dosage may enhance our memory. Read More
Soft pneumatic exoskeleton could be perfect for use in rehab
By Ben Coxworth
January 21, 2014
We've recently been hearing a lot about how
exoskeletons can be used in rehabilitation, guiding patients' disabled
limbs through a normal range of motion in order to develop muscle
memory. The problem is, most exoskeletons are rigid, limiting their
degrees of freedom to less than those of the body part they're moving. A
team of scientists are looking at changing that, with a partial "soft
exoskeleton" that replicates the body's own muscles, tendons and
ligaments. Read More
3D-printed prostheses give hope to amputees in war-torn Sudan
By Nick Lavars
January 20, 2014
While 3D printing technology has emerged to serve
a wide variety of purposes, few appear more worthwhile than that of
US-based company Not Impossible Labs. Through its Daniel Project, the
company has not only provided 3D-printed prosthetic arms for amputees in
war-torn Sudan, but empowered the local community to continue the
initiative in its absence. Read More
Google announces glucose-monitoring contact lens prototype
By Nick Lavars
January 16, 2014
While we have seen the technology behind glucose-monitoring contact lenses develop over the least few years, getting them out of the lab and onto the eyes of diabetes sufferers has been a different story. With Google announcing its testing of a smart contact lens designed to measure glucose levels in tears, the search giant is looking to provide more effective management of the disease. Read More
The vegetable milk market could be about to get
more varied with the findings of a new study carried out in Spain. Using
probiotic bacteria obtained from grains and nuts, researchers at the
Universitat Politècnica de València have come up with a range of
fermented products. They hope their findings will increase the choice
and the quality of plant milks for people with allergies, lactose
intolerance, pregnant women and, of course, vegans. Read More
While most types of exercise involve a lot of
moving around, isometric exercise is performed while sitting still –
it's defined as a form of exercise involving the static contraction of a
muscle without any visible movement in the angle of the joint.
Tao-Wellness is aiming to guide people through such exercises with its
new WellShell device, which is claimed to be "the world’s first mobile
isometric exercise system." Read More
Lapka's BAM takes intoxication-monitoring to hand
By Ben Coxworth
December 31, 2013
If there's one thing that people associate with
New Year's Eve, it's getting drunk. Some folks may use one of the
various new portable breathalyzers to watch that they don't get too hammered, although those typically involve placing your lips against the device every time you use it. Lapka's Breath Alcohol Monitor (BAM), however, simply requires you to blow into your clenched hand. Read More
Wear takes a fashionable approach to hearing aids
By Nick Lavars
December 23, 2013
From hiding hearing aids in your mouth to having them built-in to the arms of your glasses,
we have seen some innovative efforts to assist those with hearing
difficulties in recent years. With these unobtrusive technologies
available, you might think that wearing a hearing aid around your neck
would be the least desirable of options. Yet the team behind Wear
believe that by favoring comfort and aesthetics over discretion, it may
have conceived a viable alternative. Read More
Electronic cigarettes are growing in popularity
as an alternative to smoking, as it replaces the actual smoke with
vapor. This allows them to be used inside places where traditional
cigarettes are not allowed. A new product has just been announced called
Smokio, which takes the electronic portion of electronic cigarettes to
heart, adding connections to smartphones that allows users to track all
kinds of data about their smoking habits. Read More
New test predicts suicide risk in patients on antidepressants
December 18, 2013
The results of a years-long study with patients
on antidepressants may help doctors predict one of the most severe side
effects those medications can produce: treatment-emergent suicidal
ideation (TESI). The condition is estimated to affect between four and
14 percent of patients, who typically present symptoms of TESI in the
first weeks of treatment or following dosage adjustments. So far doctors
haven’t had indicators to predict which patients are more likely to
develop TESI, but a new test based on research carried out by the Max
Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, Germany, could change that.
Read More
With lung cancer survival rates greatly improved
by early detection, we've seen a number of efforts to develop a better
way to detect the disease
in its early stages. Various breath test devices have been developed by
a number of companies around the world, and now a team from the
University of Huddersfield in the UK plans to trial such a device to
identify lung cancer in pharmacies. Read More
Most of us are aware of the dangers surrounding
the amount of time we spend in the sun. Although we rely on exposure to
sunlight to provide us with vitamin D, a lack of protection from harmful
ultraviolet (UV) rays can lead to skin cancer. It can be a fine line
between a healthy dose of sun and retreating indoors to coat ourselves
in Aloe vera. The UVA+B Sunfriend aims to promote a healthy amount of
sun exposure by alerting users when it is time to make for the shade.
Read More
Excellent Information source for the cutting edge research in biological sciences, especially its applications.
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