Industries
Skin cells destroy deadly remnants of brain tumour
In a first for medical science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pharmacy researchers turn skin cells into cancer-hunting stem cells that destroy brain tumors known as glioblastoma, a discovery that can offer, for the first time in more than 30 years, a new and more effective treatment for the disease. The technique, reported in Nature Communications, builds upon the newest version of the Nobel Prize-winning technology from 2007, which...
Monitoring diabetes with smart socks
Research by Nottingham Trent University, in collaboration with Copenhagen/San Francisco-based Siren Care, has led to the development of electronic smart socks which inform users of the early signs of diabetic foot ulcers. The new development could help doctors to remotely monitor diabetics for a potentially life threatening condition thanks to the measurement of foot temperature.
'World's first' implant of 3D-printed vertebrae
Ralph Mobbs, a neurosurgeon at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, made medical history in late 2015 when he successfully replaced two vertebrae with custom made prosthesis. The patient, in his 60s, suffered from Chordoma, a particularly nasty form of cancer that had formed on his top two vertebrae and threatened to cinch off his spinal cord as it grew. That would have left him a quadriplegic.
Scientists create healthier, diabetic-friendly bread
A team of food scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has successfully formulated a recipe for making healthier bread by adding a natural plant pigment, called anthocyanin, extracted from black rice. This new bread option gets digested at a slower rate – hence improving blood glucose control – and is high in antioxidants, among other health benefits.
Automatic programming makes swarm robots more reliable
Researchers from Sheffield Robotics have applied a novel method of automatically programming and controlling a swarm of up to 600 robots to complete a specified set of tasks simultaneously. This reduces human error and therefore many of the bugs that can occur in programming, making it more user-friendly and reliable than previous techniques. This could be particularly advantageous in areas where safety of using robotics is a concern, for example...
3D printing personalises treatment for heart disease
University of Melbourne doctors and engineers are using supercomputers to create 3D models from patients with heart disease, with photos from a camera thinner than a human hair. The images, gathered during a routine angiogram, are fed into a supercomputer. Within 24 hours, a model of a person's artery is 3D printed. This gives cardiologists crucial information about the behaviour of blood flow and the precise structure of the artery from the insi...
Material enables more reliable self-screening
Paper-based diagnostics enable rapid medical test results at minimal cost, and now they can get even better. A synthetic paper developed by Swedish researchers could enable simultaneous screenings for multiple conditions, with more reliable results. Microscopic image of the synthetic paper developed at KTH. Developed at KTH, the synthetic paper differs significantly from the most predominant paper diagnostics used today, such as pregnancy tests.
Tri-mode receiver supports magnetic resonance
Integrated Device Technology (IDT) has introduced 'tri-mode' wireless power receiver devices that enable AirFuel Alliance magnetic resonance and induction charging systems, as well as the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) magnetic induction Qi technology presently deployed in many leading smartphone models.
WiFi connectivity simplified with Plug-and-Play module solution
Silicon Labs has introduced a plug-and-play WiFi module solution for IoT applications where 'exceptional' RF performance, small footprint, easy application development and fast time to market are key requirements. Silicon Labs' fully integrated Wizard Gecko WGM110 module solution combines all of the necessary elements required for robust IoT Wi-Fi connectivity.
Medical-PC: the latest platform concept for the medical sector
TQ-Systems is presenting the in-house developed and produced Medical-PC for the first time at the embedded world 2016. This is offered as a platform concept and can be adapted according to individual customer requirements. Customers profit from the TQ’s many years of experience as an E²MS and embedded manufacturer. The Medical-PC is a fanless Panel PC for the medical sector, particularly for use in operating rooms and hygienically...