Healing large and complex wounds requires vigilant monitoring and frequent dressing changes. This generally means pain, might require general anesthesia, and can even be emotionally disturbing to patients. A less invasive method of wound monitoring, that lets the wounds remain undisturbed, is badly needed. As wounds heal, the chemical composition of their environment changes. A […]
Tag: Materials
New 3D Printing Technique Makes Custom Implants Mimicking Real Bone Tissue
The articular cartilage, which forms the outer, smooth surface of the ends of bones, is often damaged during injuries. These osteochondral injuries are exceedingly common in athletes, often leading to an unexpected end of a sports career. Researchers at Rice University have now developed a way to 3D print scaffolds on top of which bone […]
3M Unveils New Extended Medical Adhesive for Medical Wearables
Wearable medical devices are becoming more common, as electronics keep getting smaller, batteries are getting more powerful, and sensors more capable. The success of every wearable, and whether it will be adopted by patients, depends on whether it adheres well to the body and how little management it requires from day to day. To help […]
Neural Probes for Brain-Computer Interfaces Mimic Real Neurons
Brain-computer interfaces, those that could restore function in severely disabled people and give them ability to control robotic arms and other devices, depend on neural probes implanted into the brain. These technologies tend to work pretty well at first, but over time they draw attention of the surrounding immune system and the brain’s defensive mechanisms, […]
Nanocomposite Heart Valve to Replace Animal-Derived Devices
Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have developed a nanocomposite biomaterial heart valve that could provide an alternative to the animal valves that are currently used as heart valve replacements. Moreover, the nanocomposite valves can be delivered to the heart through a transcatheter, allowing for minimally invasive placement. The new valve is aimed […]
Contraceptive Jewelry from Georgia Tech
Contraceptives are very effective, as long as they’re administered on a tight schedule. All too often many women forget or ignore to take the pill, leading to unwanted surprises. Researchers at Georgia Tech, taking into account today’s fashion of wearing unusual jewelry, have developed an earring, necklace, ring, and a wrist watch, each integrating a […]
Real-Time Implantable Glutamate Sensor To Help with Neurotrauma, Other Conditions
The neurotransmitter glutamate seems to play an important part in a number of psychophysiologic processes. Migraines after spinal cord injuries, for example, are common typically due to a release of high concentrations of glutamate. Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases also tend to show higher glutamate levels in patients. Tracking the levels of this chemical is very […]
CRISPR-Chip Can Detect Genetic Mutations Within Minutes
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the Keck Graduate Institute of The Claremont Colleges have developed a hand-held device that can detect genetic mutations, such as those causing genetic diseases or affecting how people respond to certain drugs, in just minutes. The device employs a combination of CRISPR and graphene transistors to achieve […]
Implant Attached to Heart Generates Electricity to Power Pacemaker
Pacemakers, defibrillators and other cardiac implants are life saving devices, but the batteries inside of them remain their Achilles’ heel. Every five to ten years they have to be replaced in another invasive surgery that patients abhor and that put a high cost on the healthcare system. Harvesting energy from inside the body to power […]
Fingertip Elasticity Probe Helps Spot Breast Tumors
Our fingertips are incredibly sensitive biomechanical devices. They’re regularly used by physicians to feel out tumors during biopsy or excision surgeries. While reasonably effective, too many patients return for repeat procedures to remove missed bits of target lesions. Researchers at University of Western Australia have been working on giving superpowers to surgeons’ fingers so they can […]
Interview with Tom Reeves, CEO of Interface Biologics
Interface Biologics Inc (IBI) is a company from Toronto, Ontario, Canada that develops medtech and pharmaceutical materials. Their surface modification technology is called Endexo, which involves fluorine-based additives that migrate to a material’s surface during polymerization. This non-stick fluorination prevents platelets and bacteria from sticking, keeping the biomaterial clot-free and clean. The Endexo additive technology […]
Injectable Bone Scaffolding Made of Plant Cellulose
The majority of bone implants, cements, and grafts are hard objects that don’t always work well in filling the space they’re supposed to inhabit. Soft objects can gently expand and relocate their mass evenly over a volume, and they tent to be less dense so as to leave room for cells to make home inside […]
Bioreactors Inside Body Grow New Bones for Transplantation
Injuries and disease often necessitate putting something in place of where natural bone is. While there are custom-made artificial orthopedic implants and native bone grafts, researchers from Rice University have now shown a new and better way. The team printed in 3D a bioreactor mold within which new bone can grow. It is made to be […]
Triboelectric Generators to Power Implantable and Wearable Medical Devices
Wearable and implantable medical devices are constantly hungry for electricity to power their functions. Batteries, their lifetime, whether they can be recharged, and other related issues influence the design, usability, and functionality of electrically powered medical tech. Triboelectric generators that convert mechanical energy into electricity are an ideal solution, but their efficiency and other limitations […]
Alternative Orthopedic Fixation Company Ossio Developing Absorbable Fixation Devices
Ossio, a medical device company with offices in Caesarea, Israel and Woburn, Massachusetts, recently announced a $22 million Series A venture investment round led by LA-based OCV Partners. This brings the company’s total venture funding to $35 million. This technology received FDA 510(k) clearance in January 2019. Ossio has developed the OSSIOfiber Intelligent Bone Regeneration Technology, […]
Alternative Orthopedic Fixation Company Ossio Developing Absorbable Fixation Devices
Ossio, a medical device company with offices in Caesarea, Israel and Woburn, Massachusetts, recently announced a $22 million Series A venture investment round led by LA-based OCV Partners. This brings the company’s total venture funding to $35 million. This technology received FDA 510(k) clearance in January 2019. Ossio has developed the OSSIOfiber Intelligent Bone Regeneration Technology, […]
Handheld Skin Bioprinter Heals Deep Open Wounds With Patient’s Own Cells
The human organism has a number of physiologic processes that work together to heal skin wounds. Sometimes wounds are so large and difficult that these healing mechanisms simply can’t access damaged tissues. Researchers at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine in North Carolina are now reporting the development of a bioprinter that uses a patient’s own […]
Tea Bag Implant Protects Islet Cells While Letting Insulin Flow Out
Type 1 diabetes patients have to inject themselves with insulin to replace the inability of beta cells of pancreas to produce the hormone. To cure Type 1 diabetes will require either a way to “fix” the pancreas and prevent it from being damaged by the immune system, or some sort of implant that can generate […]
Tea Bag Implant Protects Islet Cells While Letting Insulin Flow Out
Type 1 diabetes patients have to inject themselves with insulin to replace the inability of beta cells of pancreas to produce the hormone. To cure Type 1 diabetes will require either a way to “fix” the pancreas and prevent it from being damaged by the immune system, or some sort of implant that can generate […]
Bioengineered Gel to Reduce Risk of Bone Marrow Transplants
Bone marrow transplantation is a potentially life-saving treatment for leukemia, multiple myeloma, and HIV. The procedure involves depleting the patient’s immune system, then infusing blood stem cells from a donor, which develop into a new immune system. Unfortunately, during the transplant process, patients are susceptible to disease and infection, making it risky and not recommended […]