Consumer-grade electroencephalography (EEG) devices are interesting novelties, but their capabilities tend to be very limited. What they’re pretty good at, though, is evaluating whether a person is focused and paying attention to something. This capability has mostly been used to play games and guide meditation, but now a new device is coming out that aims […]
Tag: Pediatrics
First Medical “Suckable” Measures Glucose in Newborns
Newborns can present with a variety of conditions, but diagnosing such small and non-compliant patients is frequently a serious challenge. Identifying type 1 diabetes, for example, requires accessing the interstitial fluid in a baby’s skin, an unpleasant affair for everyone involved. Moreover, diagnostic technologies are generally only available inside hospitals and so conditions can go […]
Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas Better at Controlling Blood Glucose than Current Treatments
A clinical trial, partly based at the University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology, has shown that an artificial pancreas, consisting of a continuous glucose monitor (such as the Dexcom G6) coupled with an insulin pump, can more effectively control blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes than conventional treatments. The system measures […]
Contact-Free Baby Monitor Uses White Noise to Monitor Breathing
Echolocation technologies can detect objects by measuring how long it takes sound to bounce off them. This is used to detect submarines underwater, but now to also measure a child’s breathing while delivering soothing, and sleep inducing, white noise. Next week, researchers from the University of Washington will be at the MobiCom 2019 conference in […]
Noble’s Self-Injection Trainers for Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs: Interview with Joe Reynolds, Research Manager
Last year, Medgadget heard from Noble International about its “smart” training devices that educate patients on safe and effective at-home use of prefilled syringes and autoinjectors. At the time, Joe Reynolds, Research Manager at Noble International, shared some use cases for the company’s products, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since that interview, longitudinal data has proven […]
Sweat Sensors Help Predict Outbursts in Autistic Kids
Kids with autism can become unruly and aggressive, often without any warnings for those around them. Such outbursts can also be emotionally difficult for family and caretakers, not just the kids, and planning events and going into public places is a major challenge. Having a bit of warning about an autistic child’s worsening mental state […]
Dexcom G6 Pro with Blinded Mode FDA Cleared
Dexcom landed FDA clearance for its Dexcom G6 Pro continuous glucometry system. Intended to be used by medical professionals with their patients, it offers a novel “blinded” mode that allows physicians to hide live glucose readings from patients. Using this capability, doctors can review glucometry data and propose lifestyle changes to patients following an up-to […]
Free App Scans Everyday Photos of Kids for Signs of Disease
Leukocoria, also known as white puppilary reflex, is a symptom of a number of diseases, including retinoblastoma, Coats’ disease, and congenital cataracts. When light enters the eye at certain angles in people with leukocoria, a white reflection from the retina can be seen. While easy to spot with ophthalmic equipment, the condition, and the underlying […]
XStraw Makes Swallowing Oral Meds Easier
Many people experience difficulties swallowing their medications, with kids and elderly people being most commonly affected. Crushing pills and taking apart drug capsules is usually a poor solution, since the effectiveness and rate of release of medications can be significantly altered. DS Technology, a German firm, has developed a unique drinking straw that makes it […]
Ultrasound Otoscope to Help Diagnose Middle Ear Infections
Diagnosing infections of the middle ear is prone to a great deal of subjectivity. Antibiotics being the typical treatment option, way too many patients are treated who are actually not infected. This can result in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and a host of other problems. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS […]
Masimo Unveils Pathway Newborn Oxygen Saturation Visualizer
The first few minutes after birth are critical in a child’s life. Clinicians generally follow the guidelines of the American Heart Association’s International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation when monitoring blood oxygenation during the first ten minutes post birth. This is usually performed “manually,” either with printed charts or simply by a quick reference into one’s […]
Sensor Reads Signs of Oncoming Aggression in Autism
Many people who suffer from autism experience periods when they become aggressive, something that tends to come out of the blue. Those taking care of such folks have a hard time managing such episodes, particularly because there’s no warning and there’s no time to take mitigating actions. Now, researchers at Northeastern University have developed a […]
Tourette Syndrome Treated with Functional MRI
Researchers at Yale University have for the first time showed that it is possible to control the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The researchers recruited twenty one 11 to 19 year-olds and used real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rt-fMRI-NF), a technology that lets patients monitor their own brain activity, to control the […]
Swiss Scientists Print World’s Smallest Stent
In rare cases, some children, often still in the womb, develop urethral strictures that make it difficult or impossible to empty the bladder. Typically, a surgical procedure is performed to remove the narrowed section of the urethra, with the open ends being sewed together. This is traumatic for the children and can be difficult for […]
Breath Analyzer for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a condition in which fluid leaks into the lungs and builds up in the alveoli within. It is a rapidly progressive condition that often leads to terminal consequences, yet it can be difficult to diagnose and monitor. Now, researchers at University of Michigan have developed a portable device that […]
Flexible Body Monitor Measures ECG, Breathing, Heart Rate Continuously for Weeks
Continuous, long-term monitoring of physiological activity can provide doctors, caretakers, and scientists with nuanced information about someone’s health. Children, the frail and elderly, and people with all sorts of conditions often have difficulty wearing and using existing body-worn sensors. Now, researchers at Georgia Tech have designed a remarkable device that can be worn on the […]
Two-Year-Old Receives Deep Brain Stimulation Implant
A two-year-old girl has received a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device to treat her dystonia. The condition, which results in painful random muscle movements, spasms, and the like, can lead to severe limitations on a child’s development and overall quality of life. A team at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital worked together to develop the […]
Canon Releases Aplio a-series Budget Ultrasounds
Canon Medical is releasing a new line of ultrasounds, called the Aplio a-series. Presented at this year’s American Society of Echocardiography’s annual meeting, the Aplio a450 and Aplio a550 are designed to be competitively priced while offering multi-purpose advanced imaging, including cardiac imaging. Built with some features taken from Canon’s more advanced ultrasounds, the a-series, […]
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 […]
StethoMe At-Home Stethoscope for Detection of Respiratory Issues in Kids Cleared in Europe
StethoMe, a company headquartered in Poznań, Poland, just won the European CE mark for its eponymous digital stethoscope and accompanying software that analyzes recorded sounds for signs of respiratory problems. StethoMe is intended to be used by parents to check on their kids when there are signs of sickness. Instead of immediately bringing the child […]