Gizmag: Health and Wellbeing

"Fracture putty" could speed healing of broken bones

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:34:19 -0600

Anyone who has ever broken a bone knows that while receiving the injury itself is quite unpleasant, being laid up for several weeks to even a few months afterwards is also no picnic. Help may be on the way, however. The U.S. Department of Defense is funding a study, to develop fast bone-healing treatments that could be used on soldiers, along with civilians and even animals. Already, scientists have gotten promising results in laboratory tests, using something they call “fracture putty.”.. Continue Reading "Fracture putty" could speed healing of broken bones

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Bones, Healing, Stem Cells, University of Georgia

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World's first 3D-printed lower jaw implant gives 83-year old patient her bite back

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:54:40 -0600

The ability to create your own replacement curtain rings, door knobs or even a custom chess set at home using a 3D printer like the Replicator or the Cubify 3D printer has the potential to knock global production models on their heads. Such advances are certainly impressive but not quite in the same league as those being made in the field of medicine. We've already seen small bone-like objects printed by Washington State University researchers, and now an 83-year old patient with a serious jaw infection has become the first person to receive a full 3D-printed titanium lower jaw implant. Amazingly, the combined effort by researchers and engineers from Belgium and the Netherlands is said to have allowed the patient unrestricted mandibular movement within a day of surgery... Continue Reading World's first 3D-printed lower jaw implant gives 83-year old patient her bite back

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: 3D Printer, Medical, Surgery, Titanium, University of Hasselt

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Non-surgical procedure repairs severed nerves in minutes

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:41:12 -0600

Professor George Bittner and his colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin Center for Neuroscience have developed a simple and inexpensive procedure to quickly repair severed peripheral nerves. The team took advantage of a mechanism similar to that which permits many invertebrates to regenerate and repair nerve damage. The new procedure, based on timely application of common chemicals to the severed nerve ends, could help patients to recover nearly full function in days or weeks. .. Continue Reading Non-surgical procedure repairs severed nerves in minutes

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Healing, Medical, Nerves, Surgery, Trauma, University of Texas

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Retinal Prosthesis posts encouraging results in clinical trial

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:32:07 -0600

After receiving European market approval for its Argus II Retinal Prosthesis in 2011, Second Sight has published interim results of an international clinical trial showing encouraging results in blind patients suffering degenerative eye conditions that lead to incurable blindness... Continue Reading Retinal Prosthesis posts encouraging results in clinical trial

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Blind, Implant, Prosthesis, Retina, Second Sight, Vision

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Metabolic “breathalyzer” could diagnose disease from our breath

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:58:11 -0600

Scientists – and dogs – have known for some time that our breath can reveal much more about us than our estimated blood alcohol content. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison believe that “breathalyzer”-like technology they currently have under development could be used to diagnose a wide range of diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and infections. Such technology, which relies on the fact that many diseases alter the body’s metabolism in distinctive ways, would provide a non-invasive method of detecting disease even before typical symptoms appear... Continue Reading Metabolic “breathalyzer” could diagnose disease from our breath

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Breath, Detection, Disease, Non-invasive, University of Wisconsin

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Head patch measures blood flow in stroke patients' brains

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:18:24 -0600

Approximately one third of stroke patients experience another stroke while they’re still in the hospital. Nurses therefore keep a close eye on them, and arrange for them to be taken for tests if a subsequent stroke is suspected. Unfortunately these tests can be invasive, and in some cases are even potentially harmful to the patient. A new device being developed at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, however, could watch for strokes simply by shining light onto a patient’s forehead... Continue Reading Head patch measures blood flow in stroke patients' brains

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Bloodstream, Brain, Infrared, Mayo Clinic, Strokes

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Pacemakers of tomorrow could be powered by the beating of the heart

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:49:31 -0600

A heart-powered pacemaker may sound counter-intuitive, but in essence this is precisely what aerospace engineers from the University of Michigan are proposing. The engineers have come up with a prototype powered by vibrations in the chest cavity - vibrations which are caused mainly by the beating of the heart... Continue Reading Pacemakers of tomorrow could be powered by the beating of the heart

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Heart, Pacemaker, University of Michigan

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Material implants slowly release medicine over period of months

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:47:53 -0600

Scientists have developed a new material that can slowly release medication over a period of several months. It's hoped that the "superhydrophobic material" may one day lead to implants that would assist in the treatment of chronic pain, and in the prevention of recurring cancer tumors, by gradually releasing medication over a period of months. The team of scientists is now planning in vivo experiments to gauge the effectiveness of the material in living organisms... Continue Reading Material implants slowly release medicine over period of months

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Boston University, Hydrophobic, Implant, Medication

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RESPeRATE aims to let users breathe their way to lower blood pressure

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:13:43 -0600

People suffering from hypertension (also known as high blood pressure) are typically advised to switch to a healthier diet, get more exercise and lose weight, plus they are often put on a combination of several medications. As of today, UK residents are now also able to get a prescription for what is definitely a different type of treatment – a system known as RESPeRATE. It monitors the patient’s breathing and uses sound to guide them into taking longer, slower breaths, thus relaxing their bodies. According to its makers, multiple clinical trials have shown that it causes significant, lasting reductions in blood pressure... Continue Reading RESPeRATE aims to let users breathe their way to lower blood pressure

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: biofeedback, Blood Pressure, Health, Treatment

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Mask stuffed with micro-components could work miracles for severe facial burn patients

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:51:13 -0600

Engineers and researchers at the University of Texas, Arlington in collaboration with military medical institutions aim to develop a mask that would use mechanical, electrical and biological components to speed up the healing process following severe facial burns. The flexible polymer face mold is to be fitted with sensors for the monitoring of the healing process. If necessary, embedded components would selectively administer the appropriate pharmaceuticals to the right section of the wound. The aim of the Biomask project is not only to prevent further disfigurement, but also to facilitate facial tissue regeneration in injured soldiers... Continue Reading Mask stuffed with micro-components could work miracles for severe facial burn patients

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Burns, Facial, mask, Soldiers, Treatment, University of Texas

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Bass-thumpin’ rap music used to power implantable medical sensor

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:22:03 -0600

We've been following the evolution of patient-embedded medical sensors for some time - miniature devices that run on batteries, transcutaneous (through-the-skin) induced current, even sugar and provide constant monitoring of various metabolic parameters. Now, a team from Purdue University's Birck Nanotechnology Center has developed a prototype pressure sensor which promises to address the shortcomings of previous designs and utilizes a novel power supply: the acoustic energy from bass-heavy riffs of rap music... Continue Reading Bass-thumpin’ rap music used to power implantable medical sensor

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Implant, MEMS, Purdue University, Sensors

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Quick 3D motion-capture system developed for imaging muscles

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:38:51 -0600

Current medical imaging technology misses important data regarding muscle contraction, including the ways in which a muscle’s shape changes when it contracts, how the muscle bulges, and how its internal fibers become more curved ... or at least, so Simon Fraser University (SFU)’s associate professor James Wakeling tells us. In order to remedy that situation, he has developed a new method of imaging contracting muscles, that he claims should allow researchers to observe never-before-seen details of muscle activation... Continue Reading Quick 3D motion-capture system developed for imaging muscles

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Ergonomic, Medical Imaging, Muscle, Simon Fraser University

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Human embryonic stem cell transplants found to improve vision in clinical trials

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:23:19 -0600

UCLA researchers are reporting a milestone in the therapeutic use of stem cells after two legally blind patients who received transplants of specialized retinal cells derived from human embryonic stem cells reported a modest improvement in their vision. Monitoring of the patients’ progress over a four month period also found no safety concerns, signs of rejection or abnormal cell growth. The researchers are claiming that the success of the procedure could pave the way for a new therapy to treat eye diseases... Continue Reading Human embryonic stem cell transplants found to improve vision in clinical trials

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Blind, Retina, Stem Cells, UCLA, Vision

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Biochip that measures glucose in saliva could mean an end to finger-pricking for diabetics

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:44:44 -0600

In order to measure their blood glucose levels, most diabetics must perform painful finger-prick tests on a daily basis. Hopefully, however, that may not always be the case. Scientists at Rhode Island’s Brown University are now developing a biochip, that could someday be used to assess the concentration of glucose molecules in a tiny sample of saliva... Continue Reading Biochip that measures glucose in saliva could mean an end to finger-pricking for diabetics

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Blood, Brown University, Diabetic, Glucose, Nanotechnology

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Childrens' vision-testing device could catch problems that others miss

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:40:01 -0600

According to figures reported by the University of Tennessee, even though 85 percent of a child’s learning is vision-related, about 80 percent of American children have never had their eyes tested before starting kindergarten. Even when tests are performed, they are usually only capable of detecting no more than a couple of conditions. Unfortunately, this means that vision-related learning disabilities such as dyslexia can be missed, and may not be noticed until they are well-established. Now, however, researchers at U Tennessee’s Space Institute have developed a new type of vision-testing system for young children, that could catch a variety of vision problems while they’re still reversible... Continue Reading Childrens' vision-testing device could catch problems that others miss

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Children, Eye, Learning, Testing, University of Tennessee, Vision

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New gallstone-removing endoscope promises fewer gallbladder removals

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:12:09 -0600

When someone has gallstones, treatment typically involves the removal of their gallbladder. This is usually done laparoscopically, in a procedure known as a cholecystectomy. A group of scientists from the Second People's Hospital of Panyu District and Central South University in China, however, have created an endoscope that they say is able to locate and remove gallstones while leaving the gallbladder intact... Continue Reading New gallstone-removing endoscope promises fewer gallbladder removals

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Surgery, Treatment, Ultrasonic

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New hormone mimics the effects of physical exercise

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:38:11 -0600

A group of researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, led by Bruce Spiegelman and Pontus Boström, have discovered a hormone that mimics some of the results of a workout by facilitating the transformation of white fat into brown fat. While the purpose of the former is to accumulate excess calories, the latter is used to produce heat. Irisin, named after the Greek goddess Iris, could one day help address obesity and diabetes. However, there is still a long way to go before the hormone is made into an actual drug... Continue Reading New hormone mimics the effects of physical exercise

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Diabetes, Drug, Exercise, Obesity

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New wheelchair seat gets users to regularly change their position

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:56:21 -0600

As anyone who spends a lot of time seated at a desk will know, it's important to change your position every now and then. For wheelchair users, who spend almost every waking moment seated, it is crucial that they do so - if they don't, they can develop deformities or bedsores, or at least end up in considerable pain. Now, the Swiss research group Empa is working with the ergonomics company r going, to develop a new type of wheelchair seat that periodically causes users to change the way they're sitting... Continue Reading New wheelchair seat gets users to regularly change their position

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Empa, Ergonomic, Wheelchair

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Enzyme structure opens doors to new treatments of viruses including HIV and Hep C

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:28:43 -0600

Viruses can enter the body via a number of pathways and while scientists have known how to block the main one used by viruses such as HIV, Hepatitis C, Dengue Fever and West Nile virus for some time, these viruses are able to bypass this main pathway to replicate and cause disease via a second pathway by hijacking an enzyme known as endomannosidase. Now an international team of researchers has determined the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme endomannosidase, opening the door for new treatments to a variety of deadly viruses through the development of inhibitors that block this bypass route... Continue Reading Enzyme structure opens doors to new treatments of viruses including HIV and Hep C

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Disease, Enzyme, University of Melbourne, University of York, Virus

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BreathalEyes app tells you if you're too drunk to drive

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:31:13 -0600

Common sense should be enough to tell us that getting behind the wheel of a car after consuming alcohol is not a particularly good idea, but still there are those who stupidly risk life and liberty by driving home after the party. When trying to convince such people to call a taxi, friends are often faced with a call for proof that the would-be driver is unfit to drive. Instead of analyzing a user's breath to determine alcohol content, the BreathalEyes app for iPhone detects involuntary eye movement in a similar way to field sobriety tests undertaken by police patrols... Continue Reading BreathalEyes app tells you if you're too drunk to drive

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Alcohol, App, Breathalyzers, iPhone

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Microsoft developing electronic contact lens to monitor blood sugar

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:08:35 -0600

We've heard of experimental contact lenses that can non-invasively monitor the blood sugar levels of diabetes sufferers before, but where prior research relied on chemical reactions inducing color-change in the lens, new joint research by the University of Washington and Microsoft Research aims to incorporate electronics into such lenses to report blood sugar levels wirelessly. Gizmag spoke to Desney Tan, Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research Connections, to find out what sets this work apart... Continue Reading Microsoft developing electronic contact lens to monitor blood sugar

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Contact lens, Diabetes, Microsoft, natural user interface, University of Washington

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Scanadu developing a real-life medical tricorder

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:18:05 -0600

The future technology depicted in the various Star Trek TV series and films certainly holds a lot of appeal for many of us – who wouldn’t want to teleport to Hawaii, live out their fantasies on a holodeck, or enjoy some instant gourmet chow straight out of a replicator? It looks like the Star Trek item that we’re the closest to seeing become a reality, however, is the medical tricorder. This May, the X-PRIZE Foundation proposed a US$10 million Tricorder X-PRIZE, with the intention of encouraging the production of consumer devices that can assess a person’s state of health. The first potential contestant, which already has a tricorder in the works, is a tech start-up by the name of Scanadu... Continue Reading Scanadu developing a real-life medical tricorder

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Blood Pressure, Diagnostic devices, Health, Medical, Microfluidic, Smartphone

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New discovery could lead to better artificial hips

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:18:22 -0600

For many people who have suffered from an arthritic hip, the replacement of their natural hip bone with a prosthetic implant has meant an end to constant pain, and the restoration of a normal range of movement. Unfortunately, the ball-and-socket joints of the prostheses do wear down over time, so younger patients in need of the implants are typically told to either wait until they are older, or must face the prospect of someday requiring repeat surgery to service their device. A recent discovery, however, could lead to longer-lasting artificial hip joints – this could in turn allow patients to receive prosthetic hips at a younger age, without the need for additional surgery when they get older... Continue Reading New discovery could lead to better artificial hips

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Bones, Graphite, Implant, Joints, Prosthetics

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Silk microneedles are claimed to better-deliver medication

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:49:38 -0600

Microneedles continue to show promise as a replacement – in at least some applications – for the hypodermic needle. Typically, a sheet containing an array of the tiny needles is adhered to the patient’s skin, like a bandage. The microneedles painlessly pierce the top layer of skin, then gradually deliver the medication within them by harmlessly dissolving into the patient’s bloodstream. As an added bonus, once everything is complete, there are no bio-hazardous used needles to dispose of. Now, bioengineers from Massachusetts’ Tufts University have developed what they claim is an even better type of microneedle, which is made from silk... Continue Reading Silk microneedles are claimed to better-deliver medication

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Medication, Microneedles, Tufts University

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New handheld devices designed to detect brain injuries on-the-spot

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:11:37 -0600

It's sadly ironic that the very properties which make our skulls such excellent brain protectors, strength and rigidity, often work against us after head injuries. Not only does the hard bone conceal damage from concussions and bleeding, say, but it also confines the swelling, causing intra-cranial pressure to surge, a situation that can lead to further brain damage. While CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging systems are crucial to an accurate assessment, they are rarely available to emergency medical personnel at remote accident sites or on the battlefield. To help address the need for rapid and timely diagnosis of head traumas, separate research teams at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) have each developed hand-held devices that use Near Infra-Red (NIR) imaging to quickly detect hematomas (internal bleeding) and other life-threatening traumatic brain injury (TBI)... Continue Reading New handheld devices designed to detect brain injuries on-the-spot

Section: Health and Wellbeing

Tags: Brain, emergency, Infra-red, Injuries, Medical

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