A variety of congenital cardiac abnormalities require the placement of prosthetic heart valves in very young children. As the hearts grow, the valves have to be replaced through repeated surgeries. A team of researchers from Harvard and Boston Children’s Hospital have now developed an artificial valve that can be expanded, via a minimally inv (Read more...)
Tag: Pediatrics
Novalung FDA Cleared to Provide Long-Term Lung Failure Treatment
Critically ill patients with acute respiratory or cardiopulmonary failure who are on long-term mechanical ventilation too often suffer a variety of side effects. These can include ventilator associated lung injury, pneumonia, and diaphragm dysfunction. Moreover, related sedation and lack of movement can aggravate an already difficult situation. To (Read more...)
Handheld Eye Scanner to Detect Autism Spectrum Disorder
Researchers at Flinders University in Australia have developed a handheld eye scanner that could help to identify children with autism spectrum disorder. The device allows clinicians to obtain light-adapted electroretinograms, which involves detecting electrical signals in the retina. The device could help in diagnosing children with autism much ea (Read more...)
VOCSN 5-in-1 Portable Ventilator: Interview with Chris Kiple, CEO of Ventec
Ventilators are used by patients who lose lung function due to complications from a variety of diseases such as spinal cord injuries, COPD, stroke, pneumonia, and ALS. In addition to dealing with a debilitating situation, patients tend to be hooked to several machines that perform mechanical ventilation, oxygen delivery, cough assist, suction, and (Read more...)
Smart Jumpsuit Tracks Infant Movements to Spot Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a smart jumpsuit for children as young as five months, that tracks body movement in great detail. The system may allow clinicians to identify neurodevelopmental disorders in children more easily, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and support for such children. At present, assessin (Read more...)
Robotic Phlebotomist Draws Blood, Automates Hematology Analysis
Engineers at Rutgers University have developed a robot that autonomously draws patient blood and immediately performs hematology analysis. Such technology may help to speed up patient care, free clinicians to do other tasks, and even reduce the number of failed IV starts. The device was recently tested in a clinical trial for the first time [&helli (Read more...)
CapMedic Measures Lung Function, Makes Sure Inhalers Used Correctly
The FDA has cleared the CapMedic device that helps to make sure that metered dose inhalers (MDIs) are properly used, even by young patients. MDIs are most commonly employed to deliver asthma medications deep into the lungs, but to work effectively they have to be used correctly and on a consistent schedule. The CapMedic snaps […]
Eko’s AI-Powered Stethoscopes Detect AFib, Heart Murmurs
Eko, a maker of high-end digital stethoscopes, has just received the first FDA clearance for its devices to use AI algorithms to automatically detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) and heart murmurs. Using this capability, primary care physicians, who are not nearly as extensively trained at spotting heart issues, will be able to identify potential cas (Read more...)
TOMi Scope Finally Lets Doctors See Fluid in Middle Ear
The FDA has just cleared the first device that allows for imaging of fluid within the middle ear, even when there’s a substantial amount of wax. The TOMi Scope from PhotoniCare, a company based in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, relies on optical coherence tomography, an imaging technique that produces 3D representations of translucent tissues, t (Read more...)
TULA System for Awake Ear Tube Placement FDA Approved
Ear infections are notoriously common in children, but the usual treatment is relatively straightforward. An incision is made in the ear drum (myringotomy) and tympanostomy tubes are placed to drain out the liquid that has built-up within. However, because children are involved, pain is a major limitation and it is very difficult to get the [&helli (Read more...)
Masimo’s RD SET Sensors Now with Improved Accuracy for Neonates
Masimo has won FDA clearance for its RD SET sensors, that feature the company’s signature Measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion SET pulse oximetry, to sport much better oxygen saturation (SpO2) accuracy specs when monitoring neonatal patients. Previously, the RD SET sensors showed an approximate 3% difference in measurements at 1 standard (Read more...)
Teether Helps Down Syndrome Kids Develop Eating, Speaking Skills
Young children with Down syndrome can have poorly developed muscles and a tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth. This can make eating and speaking difficult, often leading to slower development in those areas. A recent graduate of Purdue University has developed a simple teether device that’s designed to encourage kids to play [… (Read more...)
FINDER Device for Bedside G6PD Deficiency Testing Cleared in EU
Baebies, a company out of Durham, North Carolina, just announced receiving the CE Mark for its FINDER device, clearing the way for it to be introduced in Europe. The device can help spot Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, the most common enzyme deficiency out there, a condition that can lead to bilirubinemia, jaundice, and hemolys (Read more...)
TAP At-Home Blood Collection System Now FDA Cleared
Seventh Sense Biosystems, a company based outside of Boston, MA, won FDA clearance for its TAP device to be used by laypersons to collect blood. Moreover, the device is now cleared to be used at home by individuals for “wellness testing,” according to the company. “We’re very excited about this clearance since it represents (Read more...)
Eko Releases New CORE Digital Stethoscope Offerings
Eko Devices just announced it’s releasing the second generation of its popular CORE digital stethoscope technology. The new Eko CORE comes either as an all-in-one digital stethoscope or as an attachment for most existing stethoscopes. This gives nurses and physicians the option to go with Eko’s own stethoscope or stay with one of their (Read more...)
Siemens Healthineers Unveil SOMATOM X.cite Premium CT Scanner
Siemens Healthineers won FDA clearance and is releasing its brand new SOMATOM X.cite premium single-source CT scanner. The device, along with a high-end X-ray tube and other enhancements, features the company’s new myExam Companion technology that can intelligently adapt each scan to optimize a number of variables. The system asks a number of (Read more...)
Flexible Wireless Oxygen Sensor for Monitoring Newborns at Home
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have developed a prototype wireless, flexible oxygen sensor the size of a band aid. The device can be stuck to the skin and can wirelessly monitor blood oxygen levels and transmit data through the internet to doctors and caregivers. The technology may allow ill newborns to go home with their […]
(Read more...)Butterfly Network Expands Applications for Smartphone-Connected Ultrasound: Interview
Butterfly Network, the digital health unicorn democratizing medical imaging, is continuing to add new applications for its handheld, single probe, smartphone-connected ultrasound technology. The Butterfly iQ, the multi-purpose pocket-sized ultrasound, won FDA clearance a couple years ago and earlier this year received the CE Mark, clearing it for d (Read more...)
Video Game Uses Brain Wave Monitoring to Treat ADHD
While there are a number of drugs to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), they can have some pretty serious side effects. Researchers in Singapore at the country’s Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Duke-NUS (National University of Singapore) Medical School, and A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), have devel (Read more...)
Magnetic Scanner Small Enough for Kids to Study Brain Development
As kids grow, their brains undergo a development process that is poorly understood. Children can have short attention spans, move around a lot, and are not easy to get into and then keep still inside a stationary scanner. Now, a collaboration of scientists from University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, and University College London has [&hell (Read more...)