Cook Medical‘s Hemospray has been approved by the FDA for performing hemostasis during endoscopic procedures within the GI tract. It uses the firm’s unique inorganic powder as the active agent, which turns into a gel when it meets blood. The gel stays put and keeps the blood from passing through the treatment area. Since heat […]
Author: Medgadged
Another Approval for Personalized Cellular CAR T Therapy
The FDA has given another approval to Novartis for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy KYMRIAH, a personalized cell therapy product, the development of which was originated at University of Pennsylvania. Originally approved for children and young adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, it is now also indicated for adult patients with relapsed […]
Biomarker to Differentiate Between Type 1 Diabetes and Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young
Scientists from MedGenome, Genentech and Madras Institute of Technology in India have spotted a biomarker that may help avoid misdiagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in children. Those with Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) have different treatment needs than Type 1 requires, but a genomic analysis like the one done by the researchers can help […]
AI-Driven Interactive Patient Engagement for Hospitals: Interview with TeleHealth’s Richard Bootes
TeleHealth Services’ iCare Navigator is touted by the company as the healthcare industry’s first interactive patient engagement and education platform driven by artificial intelligence. Patients participate in learning via a health coach avatar and the interaction with this technology follows the patient throughout the duration of their hospital stay, and even into post-acute care at […]
Mathematicians Create Computer Simulation of Burn Wounds to Improve Treatment
A team of mathematicians has been working on improving how special microbeads can be used to stop bacterial infestations of burn wounds. Microbeads coated with a protein used by bacteria to stick to cells seem to make the bacteria bind less to the living cells nearby. In order to magnify this effect, the mathematical team […]
Mathematicians Create Computer Simulation of Burn Wounds to Improve Treatment
A team of mathematicians has been working on improving how special microbeads can be used to stop bacterial infestations of burn wounds. Microbeads coated with a protein used by bacteria to stick to cells seem to make the bacteria bind less to the living cells nearby. In order to magnify this effect, the mathematical team […]
HeartLight Excalibur Balloon for Cardiac Ablation Gets Approval in U.S.
CardioFocus, based in Marlborough, MA, obtained FDA regulatory approval for its HeartLight Excalibur Balloon as a treatment option for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The system ablates cardiac tissue and relies on the same balloon design as the previously approved HeartLight Ablation System. The latest design improves the speed of ablation and how much tissue is targeted. The […]
HeartLight Excalibur Balloon for Cardiac Ablation Gets Approval in U.S.
CardioFocus, based in Marlborough, MA, obtained FDA regulatory approval for its HeartLight Excalibur Balloon as a treatment option for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The system ablates cardiac tissue and relies on the same balloon design as the previously approved HeartLight Ablation System. The latest design improves the speed of ablation and how much tissue is targeted. The […]
Device Provides New Way to Visualize Brain Activity
Researchers at the Rockefeller University have developed a tiny headset that can visualize neurons in the brain turning on and off while a mouse explores its environment, or interacts with other mice. The technique could help scientists to track the interactions between brain cells and learn more about what happens in the brains of people […]
App Controlled Exoskeleton Gives Boy New Arm Strength
A boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been outfitted with a novel app-controlled arm exoskeleton, which allows him to easily control where his arms are positioned. The mechanical device, called X-Ar, was made by Talem Technologies. It’s based on the steadicams used to stabilize film cameras. To make the exoskeleton more usable, students at Michigan […]
Mirages of Reality: Holographic Laser Activates Groups of Brain Neurons
At University of California, Berkeley neuroscientists are engaged in activities normally reserved for sci-fi books. They’re using holographic projectors to control the activity of entire groups of neurons at the same time. Though there’s certainly room for abuse, the therapeutic and scientific potential for being able to manipulate the brain in a detailed fashion is […]
Imaging Agent to Spot Signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis
A research team based in South Korea has developed a positron-emission tomography (PET) tracer that may help to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The tracer spots the translocator protein (TSPO), which is produced when white blood cells are active as in the joints of RA patients. Study in Journal of Nuclear Medicine: 18F-FEDAC as a Targeting Agent […]
Reza Band Noninvasive Acid Reflux Control Device Now Available Over-The-Counter
Those interested in trying a different way of controlling acid reflux should be happy to learn that the FDA cleared the Reza Band for over-the-counter sales and it’s already available for purchase directly from the manufacturer (Somna Therapeutics of Germantown, WI). The device works by applying pressure to the cricoid cartilage area right below the Adam’s […]
Abbott’s Advisor HD Grid Mapping Catheter, Sensor Enabled Cleared in US
Abbott won clearance from FDA for its Advisor HD Grid Mapping Catheter, Sensor Enabled. The device is used to create detail-rich electrophysiologic maps of the heart based on the signals measured via the multi-electrode array at its distal end coupled with magnetic sensors. It is therefore able to spot sources of arrhythmias and to point to […]
Patient with Difficult to Reach Tumor Saved Using Transoral Robotic Surgery
A man with a cancer called chordoma, which afflicted the bones in the skull base and spine, has had a novel transoral robotic surgery (TORS) performed on him to remove a difficult to access tumor. The clinical team at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, which developed a set of TORS techniques, managed to […]
SmokeBeat Uses Fitness Bands and Smartwatches to Detect Smoking: Interview with CEO of Somatix
The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health issues in history. There are more than one billion smokers worldwide and smoking kills more than seven million people annually. Although many smokers recognize how deadly their habit can be and express the desire to stop smoking, quitting remains very difficult. To help smokers kick […]
Brain Stimulator May Help Recover from Stroke
Ohio State University is reporting on a study its researchers are performing that’s evaluating a brain stimulator for treating the consequences of strokes. Specifically, a device made by MicroTransponder, an Austin, Texas firm, is used to stimulate the vagus nerve while a patient performs traditional rehab exercises. The therapist holds a button controller and presses […]
Genetesis: A Teenage Cincinnati Area MedTech Success Story
During a recent tour of some of the Cincinnati area life science companies, we had a chance to visit Genetesis, a firm in nearby Mason that has developed a novel scanner to help diagnose the source of chest pain. Aside from the innovative technology behind the equipment, what’s notable about this startup is that founder […]
Agfa’s DR 800 Multi-Purpose Imaging System Gets Green Light from FDA
Agfa landed FDA clearance for its DR 800 digital imaging system that can be used for radiography, fluoroscopy, and for a variety of other clinical applications. It includes the firm’s Dynamic MUSICA image processing algorithms that suppress image noise, provide brightness optimization, and reduces veiling glare. There are a number of tools to speed up […]
Device Crushes Drugs Till They Flash to Discover Their Viability
Researchers from Purdue University and Merck & Co. have developed an innovative instrument to identify whether a potential drug has trace crystallinity, a factor that often makes potential medicines impractical for actual use. The device involves crushing powder made of the compound in question and detecting the light that’s produced, a technique known as triboluminescence. Here’s […]