Medical
Inductive components are suitable for medical applications
SMP Sintermetalle Prometheus has developed components for medical technology applications. These inductive components are used in MRI or Computed Tomography (CT), for example. Designed as filter or mains chokes they are not only compact, low-loss and energy efficient but also exceptionally quiet in operation, essential qualities for these demanding medical technology applications.
Are you taking the real deal?
A startup is building a smartphone-connected gadget that aims to tell you if the pill you’re about to take is really what you think it is by shining light on it. A scan of a known Viagra pill with Stratio’s LinkSquare spectrometer shows that it matches a reference scan. San Jose-based Stratio’s device, called LinkSquare, is a tiny spectrometer, a device that measures the intensity of wavelengths of light.
Robotic exoskeleton helps the paralysed walk
Paralysed from the waist down after a BMX accident, Steven Sanchez rolled into SuitX’s Berkeley, California, office in a wheelchair. A half-hour later he was standing and walking thanks to the Phoenix, a robotic exoskeleton now available for around $40,000. The suit returns movement to wearers’ hips and knees with small motors attached to standard orthotics.
Using VR neurofeedback to help stroke patients recover
Imagine wanting to take a sip of your morning coffee. To accomplish this, your brain must send a signal that will pass from neuron to neuron all the way down your arm, to your hand, to your fingers. Your fingers will then grasp the coffee and bring it to your lips and then you can enjoy the caffeine fix.
Nuclear radiation may be used to combat Zika virus
The United Nations' top nuclear watchdog group proposed the use of nuclear radiation treatment as a strategy to eliminate or reduce the mosquito population carrying the Zika virus. Yukiya Amano, Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced this plan on last Sunday, before leaving for an official visit to Central America where the virus has been rapidly spreading.
Gene-editing technology can repair blindness
Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) and University of Iowa scientists have used a new gene-editing technology called CRISPR to repair a genetic mutation responsible for retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited condition that causes the retina to degrade and leads to blindness in at least 1.5m cases worldwide.
Smart socks help with diabetic neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is a type of nerve damage associated with the development of foot ulcers in patients with diabetes. Resulting from anatomical deformation, excessive pressure and poor blood supply, it affects over 130m individuals worldwide. It is also the leading cause of amputation, costing the United States economy alone more than $10bn annually.
Sweat sensing wristband syncs results to your smartphone
When UC Berkeley engineers say they are going to make you sweat, it is all in the name of science. Specifically, it is for a flexible sensor system that can measure metabolites and electrolytes in sweat, calibrate the data based upon skin temperature and sync the results in real time to a smartphone.
Smart rubber gloves could help diagnose cancer
Described in Nature Nanotechnology, Japanese and U.S. researchers headed by Professor Takao Someya from the University of Tokyo have come up with a new pressure-sensing material that is not only thin and resistant to deformation, but also maintains accuracy even when bent in a variety of ways. If this novel sensor could be incorporated into examination gloves, then it could possibly aid cancer diagnosis by helping doctors feel tumors.
EyeVision inspects glass vials for pharmaceutical industries
The pharmaceutical industry is utilising the EyeVision image processing software for the accurate inspection of glass vials. A smart camera from the EyeCheck 3xxx series is used, which also includes the EyeVision software. The camera is mounted above the conveyor belt and inspects the constantly moving vials with a speed of about 30 frames per second. With this camera several characteristics are inspected at the same time.