A team of researchers, including those at the University of California, San Francisco and University of California, San Diego, has tested the potential of a smart ring, that can collect health data, including temperature and heart rate, to detect fever associated with COVID-19. In a proof-of-concept study, the researchers showed that the ring, deve (Read more...)
Tag: Cardiology
Siemens epoc NXS Host Mobile Computer Cleared to Help Point of Care Blood Testing
Siemens Healthineers won both EU and US regulatory approval to introduce its epoc NXS Host mobile computer for the epoc Blood Analysis System. The Android smartphone provides an app-based intuitive interface that replaces the older interface that had over two dozen physical buttons and a relatively low resolution screen. The accompanying app is des (Read more...)
Mitochondrial Transplantation to Treat Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Interview with Dr. Alexander Schueller, CEO of cellvie
cellvie, a company based in Houston, Texas, is developing a mitochondrial transplantation therapy to help reduce the damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury. The treatment involves delivering isolated mitochondria to cells that are affected by ischemia to help mitigate the dysfunctional metabolism that contributes to cell death in that context (Read more...)
Smart Stethoscope Helps Monitor and Diagnose Respiratory Conditions: Interview with Helena Binetskaya, CEO of Healthy Networks
LungPass, an AI-powered Bluetooth stethoscope has been developed by Healthy Networks, a company based in Talinn, Estonia. The device can analyze sounds from the lungs and help to diagnose or monitor a variety of respiratory conditions, with an initial focus on pneumonia and COPD. The aim was to create a low-cost (the device costs as […]
Highly Realistic 3D Printed Human Hearts
Physical models of organs and tissues have many uses in clinical medicine, particularly when preparing for challenging surgeries. Naturally, the heart is commonly modeled using 3D printing to most closely mimic the nuances of unique patient anatomies. This is useful when preparing for procedures such as mitral valve repairs, but typically this is a (Read more...)
Flexible Patch Monitors and Treats the Beating Heart
Researchers at the University of Houston and colleagues have developed a flexible epicardial patch which can monitor heart function and even administer treatments, such as thermal ablation and heart pacing. The device can harvest power directly from the movement of the beating heart and its flexibility means that it conforms well with the epicardia (Read more...)
Body Sensors Printed Directly on Skin at Room Temperature
Biomedical sensors typically perform their best when they’re placed in close proximity to the body. While wearables, such as wrist-worn heart rate monitors, are common these days, they are very limited by where they can be placed on the body, have poor signal quality, and are often uncomfortable to wear for extended periods. Now, researchers (Read more...)
Butterfly Releases iQ+ Mobile Ultrasound for Imaging Anywhere
Butterfly Network, a company out of Guilford, Connecticut, is releasing a new generation of its popular mobile ultrasound device. The new Butterfly iQ+ features better imaging capabilities, improved ergonomics, and longer battery life. Clinicians can utilize the portable, handheld ultrasound in a variety of situations and clinical fields to image t (Read more...)
At-Home Clinical ECG: Now and After The Pandemic – Interview with Dr. Ruey-Kang Chang, CEO, QT Medical
Many fields of medicine are undergoing a transformation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients are kept away from clinics as much as possible. Patients are now regularly visited by their doctors over video calls, are asked to perform certain procedures on their own, and are prescribed medical devices that would normally be used by […]
FDA Clears Masimo’s Go Anywhere Pulse Oximeter and Respiration Rate Monitor
Masimo won FDA clearance for its Rad-G pulse oximeter, a rugged device developed with the help of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Originally created to spot-check patients for SpO2 (oxygen saturation), respiration rate from the plethysmograph (RRp), pulse rate (PR), perfusion index (Pi), and pleth variability index (PVi®), this latest (Read more...)
EchoNous KOSMOS 3-in-1 Ultrasound, Electronic Stethoscope, and ECG Helps with COVID-19
EchoNous, a developer of novel ultrasounds, has found a way to leverage multiple critical clinical technologies within a single device. The result is KOSMOS, a handheld 3-in-1 device consisting of an ultrasound, electronic stethoscope, and an ECG, all linked via artificial technology. When COVID-19 was hitting NYC earlier this year, EchoNous was ab (Read more...)
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 hyperp (Read more...)
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 m (Read more...)
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 (Read more...)
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 significan (Read more...)
Smartphone App And Deep Learning Help Detect Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the world’s top causes of disease and death, affecting more than 450 million people worldwide. While technology has come a long way in helping to detect and manage diabetes, it still typically involves blood draws and clinical tools. Moreover, around half of all people with diabetes aren’t even aware that they [&helli (Read more...)
Samsung Announces Health-Focused Galaxy Watch3 Smartwatch
Electronics giant Samsung recently held their virtual “Galaxy Unpacked” event where they announced the latest upgrades to their popular mobile devices. Along with phones, tablets, and earbuds, Samsung unveiled the newest version of their smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch3. The Watch3 has several new features and upgrades that make it a worth (Read more...)
Drawing Biomedical Electronics Directly Onto Skin
Wearable biomedical devices hold the promise of allowing for continuous, remote patient monitoring in all kinds of settings. A variety of vital signs, including heart rate and its variability, body temperature, and the amount of sweat produced, can be measured. The problem is that a lot of these measurements are not particularly accurate when using (Read more...)
Philips Wins FDA Clearance and Launches EMS Remote Monitoring and Defibrillation Solution in U.S.
The need for emergency medical services (EMS) outside of the hospital setting is on the rise, with an estimated 240 millions 9-1-1 calls made in the US annually. While medical equipment used in this setting must be available, manipulable, and able to share important data across a variety of unknown situations, historically it has been […]
Vagus Nerve Stimulator Gets FDA Emergency OK for Asthmatics with COVID
People stricken with COVID-19 exhibit a wide range of symptoms. Some are barely affected while others suffer dire consequences. People with asthma are in particular danger, as SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus that can make breathing even more difficult. Now, the FDA has issued an Emergency Use Authorization for the gammaCore Sapphire CV non-invasi (Read more...)