Here are the archived biweekly digests from HMDN:
Digest
Hopkins Medical Device Network Digest
by
Bryce Chiang on
March 30th, 2009
Volume 1: Issue 18 03/30/09
Robot with Biological Brain
Kevin Warwick, of the University of Reading has developed a car with a brain. Although his goal is not to prevent accidents, he has shown that a set of neurons spontaneously made connections with each other and sensor electrodes to create a neural network for driving. Currently the robot uses only a sonar input, but it will soon be equipped with auditory inputs. State officials have not yet ruled if it will be prosecuted for drunk driving if accidentally sprayed with 70% ethanol.
Parkinson’s Deep Brain Stimulator Testing in Europe
Libra DBS has begun trials of their deep brain stimulator in Europe. Like a pacemaker, this internal device will have leads running and an internal battery to influence the body regulatory system with electricity. Unlike a pacemaker, however, this will have leads into the brain.
Zapped in the Shower
A patient in Denmark was shocked soon after receiving an implantable defibrillator. Physicians, at a loss for explanation, decided to bring in electricians to solve the problem. After returning to the patient’s house, they realized that faulty wiring for a washing machine had caused his defibrillator to be activated. Similar cases have occurred in Hong Kong, Germany, and likely the next season of House.
Hopkins Medical Device Network Digest
by
Bryce Chiang on
March 9th, 2009
Volume 1: Issue 17 03/09/09
Cardiac Adhesion Barrier Safe Syringe
REPEL-CV is a new, FDA approved, bioresorbable temporary barrier for adhesion prevention after cardiac surgery. Adhesions are scar tissue which form between sets of tissue which should not be connected. This barrier is broken down in vivo and is to be used in children.
Repair Kit for Stroke
Preliminary testing has shown that a mixture of neural stem cells and a biodegradable polymer will allow regeneration of tissue killed during a stroke. Angiogenic factors are also added to promote blood flow. Initial tests with rats have been promising.
Angioplasty Balloon with Fiber Optic Sensors
CorNova has developed a new angioplasty balloon with fiber optic sensors to determine whether the vessel has been adequately dilated. The balloon is able to determine whether the stent is properly placed and expanded, an issue which may present serious future problems and be a possible thromogenic cause.
Hopkins Medical Device Network Digest
by
Bryce Chiang on
February 11th, 2009
Volume 1: Issue 14 02/09/09
FDA Testing Artificial External Liver
Researchers using some of the same techniques as cancer cells, have been able to immortalize liver cells and create a bedside unit which may be used as a liver replacement. The researchers at the University of Michigan expect this can be used as a temporary replacement for a liver while awaiting a true liver transplant. Their specific cell lines allow them to use the cells in such innovative ways.
Robotic Snake Surgeon
Surgeons working on the battle field to quickly stabilize a patient are often under the most pressure from external threats, but are responsible for saving many lives. To help protect those surgeons, Carnegie Mellon University has invented a wireless robotic arm which can monitor and stabilize a patient’s condition while keeping the operator at a fair distance.
The Future of Health: Now
Stanford has decided to make a set of talks about the future of health and healthcare publicly available on YouTube. Stanford researchers are allowed the opportunity to make their own quasi-TED talks to faculty and students for 18 minutes at Stanford about the future of health. Some topics include brain-computer interfaces, medical imaging, and worldwide pandemics.
Hopkins Medical Device Network Digest
by
Bryce Chiang on
February 2nd, 2009
Volume 1: Issue 13 02/02/09
Trained Cancer Killers
A new implant developed at Harvard University has shown promise in training immune cells to attack cancerous cells. This new method, coined immunotherapy, formerly required researchers to excise the dendritic cells, activate them, and reinsert them which was only somewhat successful. The implant developed at Harvard first releases cytokines to attract dendritic cells, then activates them with antigens and DNA fragments.
Articulating Laproscopic Instrument Named Game Changer
Cleveland clinic has named Cambridge-Endo’s articulating laproscopic instrument a game changer in the field of surgery because it allows single access point minimally invasive surgeries. Rather than conventional laproscopic surgeries which require several small incisions, the innovative articulating instrument has seven degrees of freedom allowing the surgeon to perform complicated procedures through the navel, leaving a single hidden scar.
Time for Dementia?
A new wrist-watch sized device has had promising results in trials at USF in detected dementia earlier than conventional methods. Conventional methods rely on surveys, which are often inaccurate, but this new method uses RFID transceivers and computerized triangulation to measure the walking patterns of elderly, detecting sharp veering, wandering, and pausing which early indicators of dementia.
Hopkins Medical Device Network Digest
by
Bryce Chiang on
January 27th, 2009
Volume 1: Issue 12 01/26/09
New Category of Bactericide
Humans have scored another point against bacteria in the war between bugs and antibiotics. Researchers have found a new chemical extracted from Hydra which is capable of killing gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including some antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Sci-fi Author Tests Futuristic Alzheimer’s Helmet
Sir Terry Prachett, renowned science fiction author, is one of the first patients to test Dr. Dougal’s Alzheimer’s helmet. This helmet uses sharp bursts of infrared light to encourage brain cell growth. Testing has shown a small but insignificant improvement in the small sample.
Microscopic Robots Swim in Human Bloodstream
Amazingly, this isn’t a riff on the sci-fi author article. Researchers at Monash University have develped a Piezo-electric motor that could be used to propel a microbot using a flagella. The microscopic robots would be used in lieu of interventional techniques.