The pupil of the eye allows light to reach the retina, and a number of vision disorders are related to irregularities in the iris that surrounds the pupil. People with aniridia, for example, have some or all of the iris missing, exhibiting a large pupil that results in unfocused vision. Now, a collaboration between Imec, […]
Author: Medgadged
Oxygen-Releasing Bioink to Enhance Cell Survival in 3D Printed Structures
Researchers at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation in Los Angeles, California have developed an oxygen-releasing bioink that may be useful in 3D printing bioengineered cell constructs. This can help live cells to survive in limited oxygen environments, such as those that exist inside of 3D printed devices, in the first days after implantation. Developing […]
Hyperpolarized Gas MRI for Pulmonary Disease Assessment: Interview with Richard Hullihen, CEO of Polarean Imaging
Polarean Imaging, a company based in North Carolina, is pursuing regulatory approval for clinical use of its hyperpolarized gas MRI. The technology is intended to assist in diagnosing respiratory conditions, something that would be particularly useful during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, Polarean produces equipment to generate hyperpolarized 129Xenon (HPX) or helium gas. In practice, […]
Laser-Controlled Microrobots Small Enough for Injections
Microrobotics researchers have been working for decades, in a seemingly futile attempt, to keep up with the miniaturization that has been achieved in the field of microelectronics. Although rudimentary microscopic robots have been developed, they have failed to take full advantage of conventional silicon electronics and so are limited in their functionality. Specifically, no one […]
Electrocorticography Implant for Plug and Play Brain-Computer Control
Researchers at UC San Francisco have used an electrocorticography (ECoG) implant to develop a brain-computer interface that does not need to be recalibrated and retrained each time it is used, allowing an experienced user to plug in and begin using the system at any time. The technique could allow for brain controlled prosthetic limbs or […]
Keep A Breast Foundation and Carbon Health Partner on Self-Check App
Over 300,000 women in the US are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, with an estimated 12,000 of those diagnosed expected to be under the age of 40. Early detection is pivotal to ensuring a high likelihood of survival, which is why the Keep A Breast Foundation is doubling down on the […]
Breaking Records – Traditional FDA 510(k) Cleared in 18 Days
On August 14, 2020, Arazy Group received its fastest Traditional 510(k) clearance via the FDA’s new expedited 30-day Triage Quick route. This is an option that the Triage Quick program is offering any Traditional 510(k) submission that meets its criteria. The Traditional 510(k) submission, K202068, which was sent for Triage Quick review on July 27, 2020 […]
Wearable Ozone Therapy Device for Chronic Wound Treatment
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a wearable device that can administer antibacterial ozone gas to chronic wounds to help disinfect them. The technology could allow people to disinfect chronic wounds at home, and would be helpful in cases where wounds have been colonized by drug-resistant bacteria and aren’t responding to antibiotic therapy. Approximately 6 […]
Soft Electronics for Advanced Heart Catheters
Researchers at George Washington University and Northwestern University have developed a new class of soft devices that can provide new functionality for catheters used in cardiac procedures. The new materials are soft electronics, including stretchable sensors and actuators, that when applied to the surface of a catheter system, could greatly assist in diagnosing and treating […]
Jada System for Postpartum Hemorrhage: Interview with Rob Binney, CEO of Alydia Health
Alydia Health, a company based in Menlo Park, California, has developed the Jada System, a device designed to stop postpartum hemorrhage. The condition involves heavy bleeding after delivery of a baby. Affected women can experience extended hospital stays, and, unfortunately, can sometimes die. In fact, postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal death in […]
Electronic Skin Senses Pain, Temp, Pressure as Fast as Human Dermis
Scientists at the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia have announced the development of an artificial skin material that can sense pain, temperature, and pressure. It’s remarkable because it replicates how real skin responds to stimuli, which sends appropriate electric signals through neural pathways to the brain. The technology is slated to allow for life-like transmission […]
Exact Models of Aortic Heart Valves Help Prepare for Minimally Invasive Procedures
Complex transcatheter cardiac procedures, such as valve replacements, are often difficult to prepare for. Small anatomical differences can make big impacts on outcomes. Clinicians and researchers have been using models, both virtual and 3D printed, to improve procedural outcomes, design new devices, and to invent new therapeutic techniques. These models generally help professionals to understand […]
Elon Musk’s Neuralink Shares More About Its Implantable Brain Stimulator
Neuralink, one of Elon Musk’s newest ventures, was founded in 2016 but little has been known about the startup other than that it would somehow actualize Musk’s vision of a revolutionary implantable brain device. During a webcast last week, Musk and his team unveiled a bit more about what the company has been up to, […]
LG Air Purifier Mask Makes Breathing Easy
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, companies around the world have been working on solutions to improve how the world responds to the crisis. LG, the giant South Korean electronics manufacturer, has just announced that it has developed a face mask that is an air purifier that cleans the air and makes it easy to breathe […]
Colon Explorer for Automatic Imaging and Biopsying of Polyps
Millions of colonoscopies are performed every year to spot cancer as early as possible. The routine nature of these procedures and the constant need for them to be performed has led researchers at University of Colorado Boulder to develop a robotic tank-like device for traversing, imaging, and even biopsying the colon and maybe even much […]
Origami Surgical Manipulator to Perform Microsurgeries
Robotic surgical assistants, such as the da Vinci systems from Intuitive Surgical, are now routinely used during laparoscopic procedures to improve operative precision, flexibility, and to manipulate multiple tools at once. Such devices can be quite complex inside and so they tend to be quite large, often taking up much of the space of an […]
Ultrasound Imaging Using Only Piezoelectric Organic LEDs
At North Carolina State University, researchers have performed a remarkable trick, namely producing ultrasound images using nothing but piezoelectric organic light emitting diodes. This may be a big deal, as existing ultrasound devices rely on electronics and image reconstruction algorithms to convert sonic waves captured by transducers into intuitive renderings. Avoiding these altogether may allow […]
Remote Control of Ventilators for COVID Patients Protects Clinicians from Infection
When dealing with patients infected by a contagious disease and that are suffering from acute respiratory distress, protecting clinicians is critically important. However, much of the bedside equipment that interfaces with patients in the intensive care unit has to be directly controlled, putting staff in close proximity with those infected. Now, a team at Johns […]
Alginate Biomaterial Evades Immune System to Enhance Stem Cell Therapy
Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have developed an immuno-evasive alginate biomaterial hydrogel that can enhance stem cell therapy after myocardial infarction. Stem cells delivered to the heart within the biomaterial survive in greater numbers and for a longer period than cells delivered alone, resulting in a significant enhancement in healing. Stem […]
Smartphones Monitor Users’ Movements to Detect Alcohol Intoxication
According to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, your smartphone can tell you if you’re drunk. While this may seem like common sense to those who have witnessed the unsteady walk and unsavory speech from a friend who likely had a few too many drinks, a smartphone could […]