With an approximate 100,000 people in the US diagnosed with melanoma each year and a total of 5 million diagnosed with a variety of other skin cancers, a lot of research has gone into improving current methods of early detection and speeding up diagnoses. Unfortunately, in addition to a highly-trained pair of eyes and significant […]
Author: Medgadged
New Implant and Muscle Grafting Technique to Give Prosthetic Users a Sense of Feeling and Control
The way surgical amputations are performed has not changed much in decades, while there has been a great deal of progress in prosthetic technologies, interfaces, and rehabilitation. One modern problem that surgical amputations fail to address is the inability of neural electrodes to sense signals because the nerves are simply cut and neuromas form over […]
Third Pole’s On-Demand Portable iNO: Interview with Dr. Warren Zapol
Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) relaxes blood vessels in the lungs and is an important and life-saving treatment for pulmonary hypertension. Current iNO delivery solutions are estimated to cost $2,800 per day and rely on compressed gas delivery which limits accessibility and applicability of this technology worldwide. Dr. Warren Zapol and team, led by his son David […]
Ipsihand, a Stroke Rehab Device That Deduces Intention Directly from Brain
Many post stroke patients end up with an upper extremity that doesn’t cooperate, requiring the brain to relearn how to use it. This can be a difficult process often requiring a lot of mental stamina, so there’s a lot of efforts underway to help improve the speed and quality of recovery. At Washington University in St. Louis […]
DABRA Laser Ablates Blocked Arteries
Ra Medical, a company out of Carlsbad, California, received FDA clearance and is reporting the first commercial use of its DABRA laser-based arterial blockage ablation system. Unlike most other intravascular tools used for removing arterial plaque that rely on mechanical methods, the DABRA is an excimer laser that emits at a wavelength of 308 nm, […]
Edwards SAPIEN 3 Cardiac Valve FDA Approved for Mitral and Aortic Valve-in-Valve Procedures
Edwards Lifesciences received FDA approval for its SAPIEN 3 transcatheter prosthetic heart valve to be used for valve-in-valve procedures. Indicated for placement within both the aortic and mitral valves in patients at risk of undergoing open heart surgery to remove an existing valve, the SAPIEN 3 can reside within a previously implanted bioprosthetic valve that has […]
Tiny Wirelessly Powered Pacemaker Can Reside Heart and Double as Defibrillator
While there are already pacemakers on the market that are so small that they fit inside the heart thus eliminating the need for electrode leads, these devices still depend on a battery that has a limited lifetime. Such implants require explantation and replacement eventually, procedures that can be difficult on patients, create additional cost, and […]
Tiny Wirelessly Powered Pacemaker Can Reside Heart and Double as Defibrillator
While there are already pacemakers on the market that are so small that they fit inside the heart thus eliminating the need for electrode leads, these devices still depend on a battery that has a limited lifetime. Such implants require explantation and replacement eventually, procedures that can be difficult on patients, create additional cost, and […]
Microchip for Sorting and Identifying Large Numbers of Circulating Tumor Chips
Detection and classification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may soon become a common method for screening for multiple types of cancer. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is popular one technique for spotting CTCs, but it’s limited because the number of available dye colors is small and because for CTCs of certain cancers there aren’t any markers at all. […]
Sentinel Cerebral Protection System for Preventing Strokes During Transcatheter Valve Repairs Cleared by FDA
While transcatheter aortic valve repair (TAVR) procedures can help avoid open heart surgeries in many fragile patients, there is a substantial risk that embolic debris is released from the calcified valves. The brain is particularly in danger, as the dislodged material can block blood vessels feeding it and result in strokes. Claret Medical out of Santa Rosa, […]
Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis with a Blood Test: Interview with IQuity CEO, Dr. Chase Spurlock
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that afflicts an approximate 2.5 million patients world-wide, giving rise to multiple issues regarding quality of life and the potential for disability. Up to 15,000 people are newly diagnosed with MS every year in the US, while another 45,000 experience a clinical precursor with similar symptoms. Distinguishing between MS […]
WheelAir Helps Keep Wheelchair Users’ Back Cool and Comfy
Being in a wheelchair for long periods at a time can be difficult on the body in a number of ways. One issue, particularly common in the summer, is the back not receiving enough ventilation. This prevents cooling of the back, creates the buildup of sweat, and discomfort. A new device is now on KickStarter […]
SandShark Anchor for Fixating Stimwave’s Neurostimulators Cleared in Europe
Most implantable neurostimulation systems consist of a pulse generator, that looks like a pacemaker, and electrode leads through which electric current is delivered. Stimwave Technologies out of Ft Lauderdale, Florida, has developed neurostimulation systems in which only the electrode component is implanted, while power is delivered wirelessly via a separate device placed against the skin near […]
Pocket Colposcope for Cervical Cancer Screening by Anyone Anywhere
Scientists at Duke University have developed a handheld colposcope that can be used for cervical screening. The slender wand can be attached to a smartphone or laptop to display images of the cervix. At present, detecting cervical cancer requires specialized equipment. Healthcare professionals use a device called a speculum to spread the vagina and an […]
Non-invasive Deep Brain Stimulation via Interfering High Frequency Signals
Researchers at MIT have developed a new technique to stimulate deep brain regions without the need for invasive implants. Currently, clinicians perform deep brain stimulation by placing electrodes into the brain to stimulate specific areas. As the therapy is so invasive, only patients with serious conditions like Parkinson’s disease undergo treatment. The MIT scientists have developed […]
Bacteria Powered Clothing Helps Cool Body as Humidity Levels Change
Living microorganisms have recently been looked upon as a possible tool for solving a number of technological, environmental, and medical challenges. Bacteria that consumes crude oil, for example, may be an efficient tool for cleaning up oil spills, while in medicine bacteria may play a large role in biologic drug manufacturing. Now, a somewhat unexpected […]
Smart Shoe Insoles Pair With Smartphone App to Provide Gait Info on Every Step
A proper running technique focusing on every step can help an athlete increase efficiency while preventing injury. Specifically, how the foot strikes the ground can affect performance, comfort, and even pain following an exercise routine. Engineers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed an electronic insole that is able to sense the pressure on […]
PerfectLum on Dell’s Ultrasharp UP3017 Monitor FDA Cleared for Diagnostic Use
QUBYX, a Wilmington, Delaware-based company that develops computer monitor calibration tools, has received FDA clearance for its PerfectLum system to be used with the 4K Dell Ultrasharp UP3017 display for viewing DICOM images, including basing diagnoses off of them. The package can be purchased as one, which includes the monitor, PerfectLum software, and an X-Rite i1 […]
Microchip Sorts DNA Fragments by Size in Minutes
At the University of Twente in The Netherlands, scientists have come up with a rapid and inexpensive way of separating out DNA fragments from a sample. The technology will help speed up DNA sequencing, which normally relies on using computers to virtually combine millions of DNA fragments into a single string. Currently, the so-called fractionation process […]
Brightlamp Smartphone App to Check for Concussions
Brightlamp, a startup out of Purdue University, is developing an app that uses machine learning and the smartphone camera to help diagnose a concussion in about five seconds. Concussions are a type of brain injury that can happen during a collision or impact, causing the affected person to feel dizzy or disoriented. In sports like American […]