2-D scanners offering 3-D ultrasound for under $1000

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Researchers from Fraunhofer Technology Development Group TEG and Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT in conjunction with software company MedCom have developed a new system that promises to offer low cost solution for physicians to convert their existing 2-D device into 3-D technology. Previously, to upgrade their 2-D ultrasound scanners clinics and physicians were normally paying approximately $100,000 but now to get 3-D images by upgrading their conventional 2-D ultrasound scanners they only have to shell $1000. This new system not only facilitates to see an unborn child in its mother’s womb, or to detect gall stones and to identify tumor-like lumps but it also plays an important role to detect breast cancer in early stages. It also provides informative images to diagnose the structure of tumors, their growth patterns and their blood supply to distinguish disease from healthy tissues. Dr. Urs Schneider, project manager at TEG explains the system as: We fit the ultrasound transducers with inertial sensors that can determine the exact position and orientation of the probe. Specially developed algorithms then allow us to reconstruct a three-dimensional image from the data thus obtained This highly accurate, low-cost system will offer better diagnostic capabilities to patient’s especially in European countries and according to Dr. Urs Schneider the system will hit the market sometimes this year. Via: Gizmag

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USP laser seeks to expand the horizons, minus all the heat

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

After being a pioneer in the American internet industry for years, this is the exact sort of thing that you would expect from Barry Schuler. The former CEO of AOL, Schuler, has built his new company Raydiance Inc. around the radical concept of laser sans the heat. Schuler claims that his USP (Ultrashot Pulse Lasers) will revolutionize the way lasers are used in myriad of fields, be it medical or for that matter metallurgy. Why ultrashot pulse represents a technological breakthrough is a question easily answered. While existing laser techniques are more or less effective, they still pose a big problem in that they depend on heat beams. Consequently, whenever they are used, say is eye operations for instance; there is a lot of pain involved and the surrounding area may be damaged by heat. USP, as already mentioned, works without heat. These lasers vaporize matter by ionizing the oxygen atoms and then beaming power through those atoms which lasts for less than one-millionth of a nanosecond. This disrupts the bonds of target material and vaporizes it. Scientists are acquainted with this technology for nearly 25 years now. Raydiance has, however, improved USP’s ease of use considerably. While it was earlier the size of a room, the talented guys at Raydiance have managed to contact it so much that a USP laser now neatly fits a table top. This, you would agree, is no meant feat. So what is next for USP and Raydiance Inc.? Well, the future is bright and since the technology is on a verge of a major breakthrough – having reduced its size – there’s no doubt that coming years will witness a major boom. The usages are countless (nearly 100 different medical uses have been identified for USP lasers.) for one thing, they can even remove the tattoos from you skin, painlessly, scientists claim. Another plus for these devices is their capability to adapt their uses by making use of specialized software packages. Schuler is promising to sell his machines with softwares that can be uploaded via the internet (I told you he is a net pioneer!) Then there is the negative side, these lasers are as easily convertible into weapons (although that day may still be far off.) Whether we use USP’s to make star wars like lightning guns or medical equipments that can help millions, I guess, the choice is ours! Via

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Tongue movements help quadriplegics control computers

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

Designer of award-winning Portable Wheelchair Ramps for quadriplegics, researcher Ravi Vaidyanathan has come out with some new groundbreaking technique for application of computers via your tongue movements. The innovation reveals that by inserting a small microphone into the ear, the vibrations from the air pressure changes caused by the tongue can be detected and distinguished for computer commands. Whereas the pressure waves are mainly, sound waves and possess different wavelengths and amplitudes, equivalent to the direction, speed and intensity of the tongue movement. The group further explains that certain tongue movements can cause fluctuations in air pressure from the ear. Though, the exact mechanism that transfer is still a mystery but its results definitively exhibits that when you move your tongue, the resulting waves inside your mouth propagate through bone, tissue and air into the ear canal. Moreover, as ear canal is apt to capture and amplify sound waves, one can measure these waves via microphone. Though, researchers have also designed a test and classification system to discern four different tongue movements signals those are unique for every individual. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that this hands-free, non-intrusive method for computer applications will certainly bring some light in the lives of almost millions of people suffering with quadriplegics (high spinal cord accident) to spend more independent and productive lives. Image Via: Physorg

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New anti-smoking Jacket enables you to damage two sets of lungs

Posted on February 2, 2012 by admin

You know, I know, even the smokers know that smoking kills. But yet they smoke on and on and do not stop. Not even those anti-smoking warnings written on the front of the packets are able to have any effect on a few hard-edged puffers that in reality, that extra ciggie is not such a great idea, so designer Fiona Carswell has come up with the creation of an anti-smoking jacket which he hopes could do the job in its place. The Smoking Jacket, by Fiona Carswell, is included with an integrated pair of lungs on the front that function as an iconographic “warning system”. The polite smoker can puff out the smoke into a “container” at the collar, to pass up blowing it in the faces of people around them. The smoke after that filters into a set of translucent lungs at the front of the jacket. Over time, the lungs turn yellow and stain and if you don’t smoke, the stain and smoke will finally fritter away. The whole design makes use of visceral communique to remind smokers what they’re doing to their bodies, a substitute to utilizing patches, pills and chewing gum. Really a great idea! Read

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New device to treat diabetes and fulminant liver failure

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

Johns Hopkins students have finally created a new advanced device that offers new techniques to cure diabetes and fulminant liver failure. This new device is built in a small housing to enable bio-reactors to operate efficiently and is covered with a band of nylon mesh.Its outer stent is made of stainless steel, inner one with nitinol and to produce insulin and other proteins that body requires a small bio-reactor is also created inside the vein. By affixing transplanted insulin-producing cells in a major blood vessel to enhance cell therapy a cell therapy pouch is also formed on the gap between the two stent. The components of this pouch are so prepared that they can be squeezed and inserted with catheters and also allows physicians to twist them into the abdomen via femoral vein in the leg. It is also noteworthy that by utilizing real-time imaging technology, an interventional radiologist can also view and guide the minimally invasive procedure as it takes place. The pouch facilitates to keep microcapsules of therapeutic cells in one position and also allows them to prosper and to send out required insulin. According to inventors this same approach could also be used in cell therapy to eliminate other ailments including liver disease. Via: Medlaunches

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Stockholm’s blind inhabitants get voice alert system

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

Stockholm’s sight-impaired and blind people have now got a new wireless technology that will help them to navigate independently via voice advisories from their mobile phones. This archetype system sports Nokia 6300 Symbian phone with earphones and a separate GPS unit linked to the phone via Bluetooth. This full system is already tested by dozen of sight-impaired and blind people in Sweden’s capital in late 2006. In this system navigation application locates the user and plans a course to achieve target by using a highly detailed GIS that is formed and maintained by the city for street maintenance and traffic management reasons. The voice alert system alerts users about approaching turns and obstruction through early warnings in Swedish and it embrace phrases like left turn in 10 meters or low wall on the right. I think this warning system will surely help all the sight-impaired and blind people of Stockholm to successfully reach the desired target by assisting them like eyes those who cannot make them to see the entire world but can surely help them to guide their path. All the sight-impaired and blind people should also get this innovation globally. Via: Computerworld

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New Ultrasound Toothbrush Powers Brushing to a New Feeling of Clean

Posted on February 1, 2012 by admin

Now no more ordinary cleaning for your teeth, Redmond based Ultreo, Inc, today announced the launch of a revolutionary power toothbrush that combines ultrasound wave guide technology with precisely tuned sonic bristle action for a deep, gentle, long-lasting feeling of clean. Ultreo’s use ultrasound energy to transform normally inactive bubbles into pulsating bubbles that can remove plaque bacteria. Clinical studies prove that Ultreo can remove up to 95 percent of plaque from hard-to-reach areas in the first minute of brushing. While Ultreo, Inc. recommends that you still brush for a full two minutes, these results should be excellent news for people who are in a hurry to get out of the house in the morning. According to Dr. Christopher McInnes, principal scientist for Ultreo Inc., ‘The combined effect of ultrasound wave guide technology and precisely tuned sonic bristle action takes power brushing to new heights,’ He also told that during a recent survey, nine out of ten people who used Ultreo toothbrush, thought their teeth felt smooth and clean after brushing and seven out of ten said they preferred Ultreo to the power toothbrush they were currently using. This revolutionary idea of Ultrasound Toothbrush originated at the University of Washington, in an unusual interdisciplinary collaboration between the Applied Physics Laboratory and the Departments of Neurological Surgery and Pediatric Dentistry. The Ultreo toothbrush has a user-friendly design and a sleek look and product have number of features including, ultrasound wave guide, sonic bristles with power tip, ultra-slim neck, brushing interval signal, brush head replacement indicator, battery charge status indicator and ultra-compact charger base and snap-on brush head with auto shut-off timer. Ultreo is now available at online at www.ultreo.com and also in participating dental offices. It will be available at selected retail locations later in the year. Ultreo’s retail price is $149.00. Via: home.businesswire.com

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FDA approves new skin patch to eliminate Parkinson’s disease

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

To combat Parkinson’s disease FDA(U.S. Food and Drug Administration ) has announced the approval of first skin patch called Neupro that is especially designed to treat Parkinson’s disease symptoms and other uncontrolled movements. This disease is originated by the degeneration of certain brain cells those are held responsible for producing chemical called dopamine. Though, dopamine can be cured by using certain pills but the treatment results ineffectual. This new method to cure Parkinson’s disease also encloses same type of medication as pills that enhance the concentration of dopamine in the brain and as compared to pills this new patch delivers the continuous stream of dopamine to the body so that it remains constant during the day. According to Dr. Charles Bernick of Las Vegas neurology center: The fundamental problem with Parkinson’s disease is there’s loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine and these are in areas that are primarily involved in movement. And thus you get the symptoms typically seen by individuals like Muhammad Ali, where they have lack of movement, lack of expression, difficulty walking. And all the drugs we use are targeted to try to improve these symptoms. The new innovation also releases the same side effects as pills do that comprises: Allergic skin reactions, Dizziness, Nausea and Sleepiness. However, Neupro is not yet available in the market but now after getting positive FDA approval it will hit the market very soon. Thanks to the new innovation, Neupro, that now helps Parkinson patients live a normal life, which earlier were doomed to live a life not more than 5 years after diagnosis. Via: PressTV

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Heart rate monitoring ring

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

This is very perfect ornament for people who are dealing with supra ventricular tachycardia that is a rapid rhythm of the heart in which the origin of the electrical signal is either the atria or AV node. Now there is no need to monitor your heart rate through Pulsoximetor that is relatively bigger than this heart monitoring Ring. Unlikely to other heart rates monitors in the market, this heart rate monitoring ring is small, neat and cool in size. This amazing tiny device will continuously monitor your heart beats and continuously display it on the small LCD display. The ring also has a user-definable max/min heart rate target as well as timer and stopwatch functions. FDA has approved it. You can get this from Taylor Gifts for $39.98. Via

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Bypassing Of Vestibular Nervous Signals by Implanting Microchip

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

With the advent of internet and advancement in Science, things are really becoming easier and at doorstep! You would be amazed to know in a recent research bypassing of our own vestibular nervous signals is becoming possible by implanting microchip. This would certainly help in curing a few balance disorders. This process of implanting is available on internet for the new scientist subscribers. If you are a non subscriber then just wait and watch! Often we lost our sense of balances during prolonged illness or accidents. This implantable chip helps people in restoring their senses. In order to balance, we mainly depend on vestibular system. It is a set of fluid filled canals in our inner ear. While any movement, disturbances are being picked up by the tiny hairs. Nerves that are being attached to the canals starts transmitting signals to brain. Simultaneously, brain passes this information to muscles, so that it will control eyes and posture. This intense system often gets damaged with a loud blast, age, infection. This would result in physical disability, such as dizziness and unable to walk. Earlier by blocking vestibular systems and usage of prosthesis researchers have restored balance in animals. In case, gyroscopes have detected rotation of head then prosthesis helps in transmitting electrical signal to vestibular nerve. Do you know the smallest gyroscope measures around 1 centimeter long? Thus, if you want to implant the entire system is too big! Image:weblogsinc Via:medgadget

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