Miniaturized ultrasound machine radically helps doctors

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

Ultrasound in not only confined to hospitals with bulky equipments and reliable power supplies. Now, to perform an ultrasound test a new system has been emerged that is a machine miniaturized to the size of a laptop computer. This compact design of machine that offers more accurate image quality enables physicians to carry this body-imaging technology to rural U.S and for other developing countries where masses face difficulties to reach hospitals at the time of pregnancy or in the cases of other dangerous disease in which ultrasound is required. Portable ultrasound units have grown rapidly in the past two years and it’s expected that it will soon become an integral part of the ultrasound market. This portable system is subjugated by SonoSite Inc. of Bothell, Wash., and GE Healthcare, based in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa whereas SonoSite pioneered the technology of hand-carried units in 1999. Ultrasound is important because it produces synchronized images of a beating heart or developing fetus by interpreting sound waves bounced off solid internal objects. However there are many other techniques to explore inside the body without surgery that include – magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – systems that yield vivid results but its scans require the patient to lay still for minutes and X-rays that is mainly used to produce images of bones, but it also generates harmful radiations. Ultrasound also has its own shortcomings because its effectiveness depends on operators to position patients accurately to reveal the best views and for doctors image quality is the main criteria. According to Dr.Craig Sable of the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.: The newer compact units can now produce images comparable to those of the higher-end console units about 90 percent of the time Though these portable battery-operated machines, are not anticipated to swap standard console-sized units but these compact machines are proving more popular among doctors outside the traditional areas of radiology, cardiology and prenatal care to get more accurate results of the patient’s condition. Via: Yahoo

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Biomedical engineers discover a 3-D Ultrasound scanner for the brain

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

A 3-D ultrasound scanner for use in minimally invasive brain surgeries has been discovered by a team of biomedical engineers at Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering. This brain-scanner can be used for bedside patient monitoring in the absence of CT and MRI facilities. The following image (Credit: Image courtesy of Duke University) shows senior researcher, Stephen Smith, with the brain-scanner. Brain surgeons currently rely on 2-D ultrasound or MRI, but a lot of information is missed in 2-D. Also MRI machines are expensive and requires a separate room and only special surgical instruments can be used near its strong magnetic field. Last year the team reported the development of a 3-D ultrasound device for endoscopic surgeries through a tiny hole of around 3 cm diameter. To make it suitable for brain scanning, they have further shrunk the probe so that it can now go through a 10 mm key-hole in the skull. Also they had to shift the orientation of the ultrasound beam with respect to the probe. Rather than capturing a side view, the probe looks straight ahead and shoots ultrasound like water from a hose and that is how the brain’s image can be produced with only a tip inserted through the keyhole. The team has successfully demonstrated the brain-scope on a dog’s brain, a team member was able to insert a needle into a particular part of its brain just like how it is required in brain surgeries to drain cerebrospinal fluid. They also demonstrated the use of dyes to make blood vessels clearly visible in ultrasound images of the brain. Image:sciencedaily

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LifeShirt to diagnose mental illness

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) are nowadays using a new device to study the behavior of patients who are suffering with mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. This behavioral-pattern monitoring device includes computerized vest that is worn by the patient and a video camera, embedded in the ceiling and by monitoring the patient by using this latest innovation facilitates researchers to get more accurate diagnose of disorders and to test the effectiveness of treatment. According to William Perry, a professor of psychiatry at UCSD and the lead investigator in the study, whose beginning results tell very distinctive blueprints of activity among patients within these two patient groups, says: When patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are very symptomatic and psychotic, they often look very similar, and this makes it hard to discern one population from the other, This behavioral-pattern monitoring study is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and by analyzing patient’s unique signature patterns researchers hope to learn more about the brain functioning of psychotic individuals in effective manner that current observation method cannot offer. This vest called LifeShirt, developed by Vivometrics, a company based in Ventura, CA. To monitor patients behavioral-patterns, this obliging vest comes embedded with sensors that measure the physiological responses of patients. It also comes equipped with an accelerometer that measures the G forces applied to it. This accelerometer is an important equipment for UCSD researchers because it helps them to measure how patients intermingle with their environment to record are they walking, moving quickly, standing still, or fidgeting? And it also helps to generate a signature of their activity. But Perry’s ultimate goal aims something else, according to its statement: We want someone to come into a room and spend 15 minutes, and based on the analysis, we can say the probability of this person having an attentional disorder or schizophrenia is quite high. The device will surely help physicians to get more accurate ways of diagnosing psychiatric disorders and any other device that can improve this process will always be welcomed and appreciated. Via: Medgadget

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Highly beneficial auditory nerve implant for the hearing impaired in the offing

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

Researchers at the University of Michigan were preparing a new version of cochlear implant earlier this year. But now it seems like they are looking at a fresh auditory nerve implant , nicknamed as “a superior alternative” to the (now) old fashioned option. The uber-thin electrode array is believed to be able to “transmit a wide range of sounds to the brain,” and give people suffering from hearing impairments the power to “to hear low-pitched sounds common in speech, converse in a noisy room, identify high and low voices, and appreciate music.” Researchers on the project are confident that this technology, once set aside a too diificult, ambitiously outwits cochlear implants in every way. While preliminary patents have already been filed, it will still be nearly a decade before these things can make their way into human ears en bloc.

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Implantable blood sensors for soldiers in works

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

Fixing a micro device into human body to monitor how tired you are might sound awkward to you, but, C3B researchers are working tenaciously to make it a reality. The researchers are developing an implantable biosensor for soldier to monitor lactate and glucose levels. Sponsored by the Department of Defense, the main objective of the project is to develop a temporary implantable biosensor with wireless transmission capabilities. The chip will also assist diabetes and other diseases that need monitoring and can be used to assess how exhausted the bodies are whereas the remote monitoring potential will give insurance companies a method to reject claims based on monitored behavior. Nevertheless, it is also worth mentioning that the research breakthroughs in the project area will certainly offer extraordinary contributions to mass triage situations in combat zones and natural disaster sites by offering a means for medical workforce to compose life saving decisions. Via: dvorak

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Intelligent prosthetic unveiled: PROPRIO foot can think for itself!

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

After I saw an amputee drag himself up Mt.Everest with his prosthetic leg, I knew that the world of prosthesis still has a long ways to go. Although, many would argue that it has come a long ways already. The artificial hands and legs are being fitted with microprocessors and they are gifted with Artificial Intelligence. The latest high tech device called PROPRIO foot is the most happening news in the world of prosthesis. Over the past few years, many folks throughout the U.S. have adopted the technologically advanced hand or foot! The best part about the PROPRIO foot is that it thinks for itself. It wonderfully adjusts itself to varied terrain. The most advanced censor in the foot helps the food do wonders! Even though the foot is sophisticated and complex in it’s architecture, it is still user-friendly and very anatomically correct. The device even memorizes an individual’s habits. I think this is great! Developed by Ossur, this is a great thing to invest in for the amputee. With the amputees coming in from Iraq and Afghanistan, now is a great time for Ossur to sell it’s intelligent leg. As of now the intelligent leg can be available in two models only. Although, a wide range of private companies have developed similar prosthetic products. This includes a myoelectric powered ankle foot with motors at each joint! Adding to your surprise, there is also an intelligent knee. Who knows, we might have a skeleton equipped with AI moving around in near future. Image Credit: Medgadget

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Miniature robot to swim in your veins

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

We earlier reported that Japanese researchers have developed a prototype model of the micro medical robot that can reside and travel inside a human body to eliminate disease especially cancer. However, now, Dr. Nir Schwalb and Oded Salomon of the College of Judea and Sumaria in Ariel and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have unveiled their miniature robot that is only one-millimeter in diameter. Dr. Nir Shvalb of the College of Judea and Samaria on Monday, said: For the first time a miniature robot has been planned and constructed, that has the unique ability to crawl within the human body’s veins and arteries. The robot will be able to crawl against the bloodstream with a force typical of blood vessels within the body without any problem, which has not been possible before. The scientists also anticipate to let this tiny android to swim through our veins and arteries to combat all kinds of troubles. It does not hold any onboard power and functions on external magnetic forces to impel itself through bloodstream. It is also reportedly said that this tiny android will chiefly aim to sort complications in cancer cells. Will this tiny robot also combat attacking white blood cells? It is still unclear but we will definitely keep you posted. Via: Blog.scifi

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New Mammography System for better breast cancer diagnosis

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

A new mammography system developed by investigators from Argonne National Laboratory in collaboration with a group from Germany will produce better imaging, lowering deaths and increasing early detection and prevention of cancer. The Ultra-High Resolution Mammography System uses a glass-ceramic plate, which is transparent to lessen scattering of light and a readout device, designed specifically to increase the efficiency of the glass-ceramic plates. The plates made from photo stimulating phosphor have many advantages over the traditional photographic films. Besides more clear images due to less light scattering, the plates are reusable, have wide dynamic range and are capable of direct digitization. The new system has better resolution than traditional screen or film and has potential for greater use of computer radiography for mammography. Computer radiography is far cheaper than modern digital radiography technology. The new technology also reduces the amount of chemical used and the consequent waste. The Ultra High Resolution Mammography System has recently been honored with an R & D 100 award. Source: medgadget Image: pumamed

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Save your child from DVD’s overuse

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin

It is bit hard to believe that DVD’s and videos can decelerate your child’s vocabulary development but study conducted by US researchers witnessed it. Thus, if your infant is crazy about watching videos and DVD’s it is time to put halt because amount of viewing matters. The study reveals that original DVD’s can also slowdown the knack of your child to learn fresh words depending on your child’s age or can either show no effect at all. Since, parents and teachers are child’s best tutors via whom child automatically adjusts its speed , eye gaze and social signals to sustain language acquisition. Dr Dimitri Christakis, a paediatrician at Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute who worked on the study quotes that parents frequently ask the value of watching such videos by their infants but she asserts that: The evidence is mounting that they are of no value and may in fact be harmful In addition, as per experts if this alert time is spent in viewing DVD’s and television instead of communicating with friends or family members, the babies don’t attain akin linguistic knowledge. Via: Abc

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‘Super-X-ray’ makes angiography cheaper and painless

Posted on January 24, 2012 by admin

Imagine how painful it is for a thin tube with a camera sent from the groin to inside the heart. Imagine the risks involved; of the catheter rupturing or bruising any of the delicate blood vessels. Now think of a heart patient getting simply a less expensive X-ray done to know his heart. The total bill including hospitalization charges is huge in the invasive angiogram done now. MSNBC reports of the spat between radiologists and cardiologists who perform traditional angiograms. Doctors point out the risk from huge doses of radiation required for this new ‘super’ X-ray. What they do not say is that angiogram fatality is not uncommon. Bacterial invasion may infect the areas of insertion of the catheter while the doses of radiation for a one-time test patient will hardly be causing any cancerous mutation. The real issue here is not angiograms versus super X-rays. It is all about livelihoods and money. Let us consider some issues involved with this new technique: a) If this is the procedure of choice for detection of atherosclerosis; hardening of the arteries due to fat deposits, then who stands to gain monetarily? The radiologists. So we must be weary of all possible reports praising this diagnostic procedure. Trials were funded in this case by Toshiba Medical Systems. The main investigator was Dr. Julie Miller of Johns Hopkins University. So Toshiba has much in stake for the research to fail. b) Private medical insurers have strong links with doctors. Thus their policy-judgments are based on the feedbacks they receive from doctors. Now these insurers are scared that having these X-rays may create a radiation epidemic. Hence they are now reluctant to compensate patients undergoing this procure. But whose is the real voice? It is of the organized medical fraternity’s in fear of losing patients. c) And we have to be very weary of extra-molecular medical research. Whereas there are strict FDA guidelines for the introduction of new molecules to the public, here is no such strict measure for technical appliances being used in medicine. So we have to wait before we substitute a painless alternative to cardio-vascular compromised patients. Dr. Michael Lauer of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has recently asked US doctors not use the procedure till its safety is proven once for all. d) The procedure has some limitations. For example, proper pictures in patients with age-related blood vessels’ calcification become difficult. One has to again go back to traditional surgery. This means double costs. And crucially the new system is not fool-proof. An angiogram reveals the whole picture. No one has to do anything further after an angiogram. It is better to let this procedure develop. Let further research prove no involved carcinogenicity or the need for another diagnostic procedure after getting this X-ray done. Then we will be truly rid of angiograms. Via: MSNBC Image: CCM

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