Hearing-impaired people whose auditory nerve is still intact can often be helped with a cochlear implant. But inserting the implant into the inner ear is not without risks, as facial nerves can be damaged in the process. Empa researchers have developed a novel smart drill that minimizes the risk by automatically shutting off when it comes near nerves. Methods of Advanced Manufacturing can lead to remarkable advances in surgery. A group of researchers led by Stefan Weber of the University…
The researchers will now adapt the platform to make it portable and connectable to mobile devices for use in diagnosing COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Rapid, cheap and accurate tests continue to be essential for epidemiological surveillance and for health services to monitor and contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Brazilian scientists have contributed to endeavors in this field by developing an electrochemical immunosensor that detects antibodies against the virus. The innovation is described in an article published recently in the journal ACS Biomaterials…
… with enhanced mechanical and coagulative capabilities for treating aneurysms. Aneurysms, abnormal enlargement or ballooning in the wall of blood vessels can result in rupture and fatal bleeding. To treat aneurysms, it is essential to stop the blood flow to the affected area and prevent rupture of the vessel. Existing treatments for treating aneurysms include catheter-delivered stainless-steel coils or injectable biomaterials placed at the aneurysm site; however, coils sometimes migrate, necessitating repeat procedures. Furthermore, there are problems with injectable biomaterials currently…
Cost-saving advance can fully automate pooled testing and detect multiple diseases. Using swarms of pinhead-sized magnets inside a handheld, all-in-one lab kit, UCLA researchers have developed a technology that could significantly increase the speed and volume of disease testing, while reducing the costs and usage of scarce supplies. The automated tests can be easily manufactured, deployed and performed timely at a doctor’s office, health clinic or at mass testing sites in airports and schools at the onset of any major…
COMPAMED 22: COMPAMED is the leading international marketplace for medical manufacturing suppliers. After the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, full halls and exhibitors from all over the world await the international audience again this year. Modern medical technology for diagnostics and therapy must meet increasing requirements for mobility and energy efficiency. For this reason, the demand for miniaturization solutions of medical components remains at a high level. Largest joint area at COMPAMED With 47 exhibitors, the “Hightech for Medical Devices”…
Metal stents or staples that disintegrate on demand inside the body could eliminate some surgical and endoscopic procedures. By taking advantage of a phenomenon that leads to fractures in metal, MIT researchers have designed medical devices that could be used inside the body as stents, staples, or drug depots, then safely broken down on demand when they’re no longer needed. The researchers showed that biomedical devices made from aluminum can be disintegrated by exposing them to a liquid metal known…
Among many challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic also brought a surge of innovation in diagnostics. Within the shortest amount of time, reliable detection methods had to be developed, countless laboratories equipped, and several hundred thousand tests per week carried out. In the course of this, a team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen has developed a new readout unit for para-magnetic particles in a microfluidic system. The special feature here is the type of particles: They are…
Medical technology is a highly regulated field where reliability and safety are essential. For this reason, many medical devices are operated with cable connection or long-established primary batteries. This has safety advantages, but sometimes severely limits flexibility. The trend here is also toward battery-powered systems. However, the lithium-ion battery technology available today does not yet meet the required safety standards. Fraunhofer ISIT has addressed this issue and is developing accumulators that meet the high standards of medical technology. In the…
National study suggests it’s time to rethink how we treat atrial fibrillation. Early intervention with catheter cryoablation can halt disease progression, reduce risk of serious health impacts. A national study led by UBC researchers at the Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation is shedding light on how to more effectively treat atrial fibrillation (AF) – a common heart rhythm problem associated with increased risk of stroke and heart failure. The study, published today in The New England Journal of Medicine, shows that early intervention with…
Pacemakers and other medical devices, as well as long-distance drones and remote sensors, could require fewer battery replacements with new approach. For the last few decades, battery research has largely focused on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which are used in everything from electric cars to portable electronics and have improved dramatically in terms of affordability and capacity. But nonrechargeable batteries have seen little improvement during that time, despite their crucial role in many important uses such as implantable medical devices like…
DITF show new applications at MEDICA. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF) will be exhibiting at the medical technology trade fair MEDICA in Düsseldorf from November 14 to 17 2022. At the joint Baden-Württemberg International Booth, the DITF will be presenting new developments in the field of 3D printing, such as for bone replacements. In their research, the DITF also work with the Arburg Freeformer 300-3X 3D printer, which can process up to three meltable polymers…
… to improve the treatment of lung diseases. Tiny particulates or noxious gases: From the day they are born, all people are exposed to a range of environmental forces. These forces constitute the exposome and affect the health and wellbeing of people around the world. A European research project has been set up to explore how the exposome affects the course of lung diseases. The microelectronics specialists at Fraunhofer IZM are on board and have developed a unique sensor bracelet…
… for more cost-effective laser systems in ophthalmology. Scientists at the Berlin-based Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) have developed prototypes of miniaturized and robust laser modules for ophthalmology. They can be used as reasonably priced pump sources in laser systems to treat retinal detachments. In addition, their wavelength can be precisely adjusted to the respective application. Detachment of the retina in the eye can lead to visual impairment and even blindness. Laser coagulation is a well-established method to treat holes or fissures in…
MHH research team finds two promising AAV capsid variants for gene therapy in the liver. There are numerous severe, hardly treatable monogenetic diseases that are caused by a defect in a single gene – also in the liver. These include the blood coagulation disorders haemophilia A or B or the metabolic disease phenylketonuria. Gene therapies could help here, in which intact genes are transported directly into the cell as a “drug”. In Europe, some gene therapies have already been approved…
Using a new technology, researchers hope to create better control systems for prosthetic limbs. Using a simple set of magnets, MIT researchers have come up with a sophisticated way to monitor muscle movements, which they hope will make it easier for people with amputations to control their prosthetic limbs. In a new pair of papers, the researchers demonstrated the accuracy and safety of their magnet-based system, which can track the length of muscles during movement. The studies, performed in animals,…
The early-stage research tested the delivery and safety of the new implantable catheter design in two sheep to determine its potential for use in diagnosing and treating diseases in the brain. If proven effective and safe for use in people, the platform could simplify and reduce the risks associated with diagnosing and treating disease in the deep, delicate recesses of the brain. It could help surgeons to see deeper into the brain to diagnose disease, deliver treatment like drugs and laser ablation…
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