Researchers from the Wyss Institute at Harvard University have developed a new microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device that aims to more accurately model the complex biological properties of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Their work, recently published in Nature Communications, demonstrates the device is able to mimic the highly selective drug and antibo (Read more...)
Author: Medgadged
New AI Tool, HeadXNet, to Help Detect Brain Aneurysms
Researchers from Stanford University have developed a new AI tool, dubbed HeadXNet that detects brain aneurysms from computed tomographic angiography (CTA) scans. Their work, recently published in JAMA Network Open, demonstrates that their AI tool helped radiologists identify 6 more scans with aneurysm for every 100 scans already diagnosed with ane (Read more...)
CorMatrix Cor PATCH for Repair of Broken Hearts Gets FDA Clearance
CorMatrix, a company out of Roswell, Georgia, has won FDA clearance for the Cor PATCH epicardial patch. The device is indicated for use at the locations of aneurysms, in adults who have suffered a heart attack that led to the ventricular walls becoming thinner, or anywhere else where structural support or repair of the heart would […]
Microfluidic Impedance Sensor Can Monitor Sickle Cell Disease
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have developed a microfluidic chip that can rapidly assess blood samples from sickle cell disease patients to help monitor the disease. The technique is much faster and more convenient than traditional optical microscopy assessments. Sickle cell disease affects approximately 100,000 individuals in the U.S. (Read more...)
Spasers: Nanoscale Lasers Small Enough to Destroy Cancer Cells from Within
Lasers are known to do remarkable things in medicine, but their use in targeting diseased tissue is not as widespread as everyone expected it to be decades ago. One issue is that lasers are pretty indiscriminate and traditionally have beams that are still too large for extremely fine work. Researchers at the University of Arkansas […]
MX3 Diagnostics Unveils Saliva-Based Hydration Testing System
MX3 Diagnostics, a startup with offices in Austin, Minneapolis, and Melbourne, Australia, has unveiled its first product, a saliva-based hydration testing system. The MX3 Hydration Testing System can be used by athletes, travelers, and maybe even clinicians to test patients, and is promoted by the manufacturer to be of “lab-quality”. Th (Read more...)
Hot Glue Gun and Custom Biocompatible Glue for Wound Closures
Soft tissue wounds and incisions are generally closed using sutures and staples, but those leave marks behind and can be very unpleasant for patients. In some cases, such as cosmetic surgery, specialty adhesives are used to fuse tissues together. However, these can be toxic and they tend to solidify into a harder form than native […]
Ivenix Infusion System Designed to Reduce Medication Errors is FDA Cleared
Infusion pumps have been known to be a vector for a variety of medical mistakes, primarily adverse drug events. This has become such an issue that a few years ago the FDA began its Infusion Pump Improvement Initiative. One of the results of this program was the establishment of new requirements, aimed at reducing errors, for […]
EmoGraphy by Philips Monitors and Predicts Stress: Interview with Navin Natoewal
Philips has recently launched EmoGraphy, a stress management technology to measure someone’s stress levels and then predict them an hour into the future. The company worked out the sensing and algorithm calculation methods, and are now licensing their technology to firms that want to expand it into their devices. We met with Navin Natoewal, t (Read more...)
Algorithm Uses Individual Medical History to Predict Patient’s Chance of Survival in ICU
Researchers in Denmark have developed a new algorithm that predicts an individual patient’s risk of mortality in the ICU. Their work, recently published in the journal Digital Health, demonstrates that the algorithm outperforms current non-computational methods of estimating mortality. Algorithms of this nature can help direct resources where (Read more...)
Project Moray Developing Robotic Intracardiac Catheter for Complex Interventions
Catheter-based surgical interventions are now routine, so much so that navigating to the heart from an access site in the groin is considered ho-hum. Once there, though, getting a catheter tip to the exact spot within the heart that requires treatment can still be exceedingly difficult. Unlike the vasculature used to get there, the heart […]
(Read more...)Electronic Device Cleared by FDA to Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a complex condition with a number of potential causes, symptoms, and treatment options. While experienced in the gut, IBS often seems to be related to a poorly functioning nervous system. Specifically, the signals that the gut sends can be perceived by the brain as being abnormal, resulting in sensations of [ (Read more...)
Pure-Vu GEN2 FDA Cleared to Clean Colons During Colonoscopy Exams
Motus GI, a company now headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has won FDA clearance for the latest version of its Pure-Vu colon cleansing system. Designed for use during colonoscopies, the system is designed to clear out debris left in the colon that can hinder proper visualization of potential polyps. Patients are advised to fast and [&hellip (Read more...)
Engineers Create Cross-Linked Hydrogels to Lure Stem Cells Into Wounds
Hydrogels have become a popular material for new treatment strategies targeting a variety of diseases. They can deliver encapsulated therapeutic molecules, degrade in the body at a predefined rate, and can be biocompatible. However, each application requires the hydrogel to have appropriate strength, consistency, and the ability to carry growth fac (Read more...)
Meril Myval Transcatheter Aortic Valve Cleared in Europe
Meril Life Sciences, a company based in India, has obtained the European CE mark of approval for its Myval transcatheter aortic heart valve. This marks the first such approval for an Indian company, highlighting how far the country’s medical device industry has advanced in the past few years. The Myval features a hybrid honey comb […]
Eversense Implantable Glucometer Gets FDA Approval as Alternative to Finger Tests
Senseonics, a company out of Germantown, Maryland, won FDA approval for its Eversense continuous glucose monitoring system. The system is intended to be used instead of traditional finger prick tests to make diabetes-related decisions. This is a giant step for the company, which has developed a technology that combines a tiny implant with a wearabl (Read more...)
Crisper MRI Now Possible Thanks to Helical Resonator Metamaterials
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a complicated imaging modality and improving it requires a deep understanding of the physics involved. Scientists at Boston University have been working on improving MRI’s signal-to-noise ratio using special metamaterials that are made of arrays of helical resonators. Each of these resonators is just a piec (Read more...)
AI Platform for Cognitive Performance Training
Researchers from the National University of Singapore have utilized an AI platform, dubbed CURATE.AI, to help advance cognitive performance on challenging mental tasks. The system works by identifying an individual’s strengths and weaknesses, and curating mental exercises to help them progress most rapidly. The work could have significant imp (Read more...)
Octopus-Inspired Wearable Biosensor Sticks to Wet and Dry Skin
Researchers from Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea have developed a new waterproof, wearable biosensor that can stick to the skin in a unique way. Their work, recently published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, demonstrates the biosensor adheres to the skin in wet and dry conditions and can monitor [ (Read more...)
GORE CARDIOFORM Approved by FDA to Treat Atrial Septal Defects
The GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder has been approved by the FDA to treat ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) via percutaneous closure procedures. In a clinical study of the device in 125 patients with ASD, ranging in age from 2 to 84, all who successfully received the implant maintained the closure when evaluated six months […]