People with cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and other chronic conditions can have serious difficulty coughing. This creates not only discomfort, but potentially dangerous complications for the lungs and heart. There are cough assist devices on the market that help, but they tent to be pricey, heavy, and require electric power. Now students at Michigan’s Grand […]
Tag: Pediatrics
Biomarker to Differentiate Between Type 1 Diabetes and Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young
Scientists from MedGenome, Genentech and Madras Institute of Technology in India have spotted a biomarker that may help avoid misdiagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in children. Those with Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) have different treatment needs than Type 1 requires, but a genomic analysis like the one done by the researchers can help […]
“Smart” Training Devices Alleviate Concerns of Self-Injection: Interview with Noble International’s Joe Reynolds
Most patients encounter shots and injections, like the flu vaccine, in the context of a clinic or local pharmacy. However, for many patients, shots and injections are not an annual occurrence but are required frequently and, as a result, need to be self-administered at home. Biologic drugs have recently found success addressing chronic diseases but can […]
EEG Shown Effective at Predicting Onset of Autism
Diagnosing autism early in kid’s life can help to mitigate its future development. Now researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital are reporting in journal Scientific Reports that they were able to use EEG (electroencephalography) to predict the onset of autism or rule out its development with impressive accuracy. A group of children was subjected to EEG […]
A Brief Look at Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System
Last month, Dexcom received FDA approval for the latest version of its continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, the G6. Amongst a number of improvements to the system, the most highly-anticipated new feature was the elimination of required fingersticks to calibrate the system. We received a (non-functional) demo of the Dexcom G6 system containing the sensor […]
t:slim X2 Insulin Pump with Dexcom G5 CGM Connectivity Cleared in EU
Tandem Diabetes Care finally won European regulatory clearance to introduce its t:slim X2 insulin pump. The device can be reprogrammed and upgraded in order to be able to interface with other devices and to take advantage of newly introduced algorithms and features. As a major first capability provided by this is the compatibility with […]
Students Design Specialty Bag for Treating Children Born with Gastroschisis
Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which some of the baby’s intestines end up outside the body, protruding through a ventral opening near the navel. In developed countries this is a treatable condition that typically requires a series of surgeries and a special bag that holds the intestines in a sterile environment while they slowly […]
Brain Power Has Created A Novel Google Glass Autism App (Interview)
The month of April is Autism Month. Autism affects 3.5 million families in the United States alone, with each person uniquely on the spectrum. These people commonly experience symptoms related to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity, but more well known is their struggle to decode emotions, to manage transitions and behaviors, eye […]
Device Keeps Implanted Pancreatic Islets Oxygenated and Alive
MIT researchers have developed a device to keep implanted pancreatic islets oxygenated and alive. The technique involves a replenishable oxygen reservoir and a coating that protects the cells from the immune system. In tests in diabetic rats, the subcutaneous implants kept nearly 90% of the islets alive for up to eight months, and blood glucose […]
New Glasses Slow Down Myopic Progression in Children
Scientists working at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed a lenses for glasses that are able to slow down myopic progression in children. The center of the lens works as in a common pair of glasses, adjusting for myopia and astigmatism, while around this region the lens consists of dozens of spots of myopic defocus […]
A Closer Look at Portal Instruments’ Needle-Free Injector
At SXSW last month, we had the opportunity to take a closer look at Portal Instruments‘ upcoming needle-free drug delivery device. As we wrote previously, Portal Instruments has developed a injection system that involves delivering a tiny jet of liquid through the skin at a high speed. We naturally had to ask how similar an […]
Non-Invasive Skin Patch Sucks Glucose Through Skin, Measures Blood Sugar Levels
Scientists at University of Bath in the UK have developed and successfully tested an electronic patch capable of measuring glucose in the interstitial fluid without actually penetrating the skin. The transdermal patch features a tiny electronic pixel array made either via graphene-based thin-film or screen printing techniques. The patch is able to essentially suck (electroosmotic extraction) […]
Robotic Brace Characterizes Spine Deformities, Dynamically Adjusts Therapy
Engineers at Columbia University have developed a dynamic spine brace, called the Robotic Spine Exoskeleton (RoSE), that can measure the stiffness of the human torso in three dimensions and apply corrective pressure in patients with spine deformities, such as idiopathic scoliosis. Children with spinal deformities typically wear braces to help correct their abnormal spinal curvature. […]
Specially Designed Virtual Reality Game Distracts Kids from Blood Draws
At Rigshospitale, a Danish hospital for patients requiring specialized treatments, kids that fear syringes are barely aware that their blood is being taken. This is thanks to a virtual reality game developed by Khora, a nearby virtual and augmented reality production firm. The Ballade på Badebroen (Trouble on The Jetty) game was the result of trying […]
Kids at Boston Children’s Hospital Get Experience Their Conditions in Virtual Reality
Kids visiting the Boston Children’s Hospital to undergo endoscopic medical procedures such as colonoscopies will get to see the problems their guts are experiencing using virtual reality (VR) technology. This is important, as GI and many other conditions are typically verbally described by physicians and getting a grasp of what’s really going on, especially for […]
Canon Releases Aplio i600 Ultrasound with Enhanced Ergonomics
Canon Medical is unveiling its recently FDA cleared Aplio i600 ultrasound system. It’s intended for both diagnostic and interventional procedures, featuring a bunch of tools that make setup quick and intuitive. An image-guide interface helps to move the clinician through the imaging exam. Canon touts the ergonomic design of the Aplio i600 that allows the […]
Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucometer Doesn’t Require Finger Pricks
Dexcom landed FDA clearance under the de novo classification process for its Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor, which can be used as a standalone monitor or as a part of an automated insulin delivery system. The neatest feature of the Dexcom G6 is that the sensor doesn’t require calibration and so pricking the finger can […]
Dario Glucometer Now Works on iPhones without Headphone Jack
DarioHealth, based in New York City and Caesarea, Israel, won FDA clearance for the Lightning-enabled version of its Dario glucometer, making it compatible with the iPhone 7, 8, and X. Previously, the Dario relied on the headphone jack to transmit its readings to the Dario app on the smartphone. When Apple made the decision to […]
DeltaVen Closed System Peripheral IV Catheter Cleared in U.S.
Smiths Medical won FDA clearance and is releasing the DeltaVen Closed System Catheter, a product actually made by the Italian company Delta Med SpA. The peripheral IV catheter combines the needle, extension tubing, and an optional needlesless connector into one system. Clinicians can feel the insertion of the catheter into the vein during threading that’s […]
ivWatch Detects IV Infiltrations and Extravasations: Interview with Gary Warren, President and CEO
ivWatch is a medical device manufacturer who we met with during CES 2018 in Las Vegas a couple months ago. They have developed of a non-invasive device that aims to establish a new standard of care for peripheral intravenous (IV) monitoring. The FDA-cleared ivWatch continuously monitors a patient’s IV for the early detection of infiltrations and […]