1.
Neurostimulator
The miniaturized device is implanted in the
upper gum above the second molar to treat cluster headaches and migraine
headaches. A lead tip of the implant is placed near specific nerves behind the
bridge of the nose. When the patient feels the headache coming on, a remote
control device is placed on the outside of the cheek and the device delivers
stimulation to those nerves, blocking headache pain.
2.
SmartSox
The socks will be worn by
people with diabetes who are at risk of forming foot ulcers that can lead to
amputation and death. The socks are made from cutting-edge, intelligent
textiles that use fiber optics and sensors to monitor temperature, pressure and
joint angles in the feet, alerting medical professionals and wearers of the
socks of any developing problems. People with diabetes often lose the sensation
of pain and are unaware of developing foot ulcers.
The new projects are part of ongoing research
at the UA funded by the Qatar National Research Fund that uses wearable sensor
technology to assess the impact physical activity has on wound healing in
people with diabetes.
3.
The cancer-detecting robot
snake.
Developed by engineers at Britain’s OC Robotics, the mechanical snake has been designed to slither through the human
body, both identifying and removing hard-to-reach tumors. The idea is that the
snake would be guided by a nearby surgeon and wouldn’t require the patient to
be opened up.
4.
MD Mouse
A California startup is transforming the familiar
computer mouse into a health monitor by inserting devices like blood pressure
monitors and blood glucose monitors in it. The product will
be able to measure blood pressure by having a person’s finger slide inside a
cuff that folds out from the middle section of the mouse. The mouse also comes
with a personal health record such that the reading is automatically entered
into it. The device also has the potential to connect the data to a provider in
preparation for a day when physicians and other healthcare providers can
receive and share information from patients easily.
5.
Lachesis’ VSM
Lachesis’ VSM
is an all-in-one wearable cuffless device that is as simple to place and wear
as a Bluetooth headset. It has the potential to be the world’s first truly
wearable, multi-functional, compact vital signs monitor. It can monitor heart
rate, blood oxygen level and blood pressure simultaneously, continuously, and
if needed, remotely, through an ear-mounted sensor. It does this via a range of
novel algorithms which estimate cardiovascular parameters from a physiological
signal using photoplethsmography (PPG). The technology promises to be easy to
use, cost effective and accurate. It can be connected to a bench-mounted unit
for communicating with a smart phone application, a purpose made data recording
unit or to a computer which in turn can automatically be sent to a doctor.
This new device is intended to bridge the gap between automated blood
pressure monitors and blood pressure monitors that can be used when walking. It
offers convenience, avoiding the need to inflate and deflate cuffs. It
dispenses with oximeters that are clipped on the finger, and dispenses with the
need for chest electrodes. The potential locations for use include the hospital
setting, doctor’s clinic, person’s home; or as a mobile device for day-to-day
living.
6.
Orpyx
Orpyx
Medical Technologies of Calgary was founded by a group of physicians who wanted to
help diabetics avoid health complications caused by peripheral neuropathy. Many
diabetics are keenly aware of the conditions that could result in serious
problems with their feet, and in some cases, amputation.
The solution Orpyx has come up with is a feedback
sensor embedded in the patient's insole.
7.
Sleep Well
Sleep Well is a wireless
blood glucose monitoring device concept, designed aiming to eliminate the
sleepless nights of parents with the tension of getting their kids glucose level down to the extreme level. The system comprises a portable and
lightweight monitor with an ability to take wireless signal that
parents keep with them and a wearable bracelet monitor that remains fastened on the child’s hand to
transmit the health condition to the monitor. This monitor allows the parents to check their kid’s health
without even leaving herbed and can be set to trigger an alarm when the blood sugar level of the child crosses a particular height.
Moreover, parents can easily review their child’s nightly activities during the
middle of the night at their bedside convenient. If an emergency situation
takes place, they can rush to their child’s room with themonitor to perform the aid that has to be taken based
on the information displayed on the monitor.
8. SenoSENSE
Breast cancer is
a leading cause of death for women between the ages of 30 and 50. Mammographic
screening is the standard tool. Mammography doesn't necessarily measure whether
a woman is at higher risk for breast cancer while at the same time it yields
lots of false positives leading to unnecessary biopsies and medical procedure
costs. Enter SenoSENSE and the Electrical Breast Densitometer (TM), a
non-invasive screening tool that identifies women at elevated risk for
developing breast cancer by accurately measuring breast tissue density. Women
with dense breasts have a 4 to 6-times greater chance of developing breast
cancer. And while a mammogram will show the density of a breast, it is an
expensive tool for doing screening for risk. The device developed by SenoSENSE,
however, makes it simple for physicians to do screening right in their offices
rather than sending the patient to a radiology laboratory. Doctors can
immediately see the results and develop an ongoing health strategy for their
patient.
9. Melafind
MelaFind is the first FDA approved
computer aided device for melanoma detection. According to the development
team, "MelaFind is a novel multispectral digital dermoscope, with
"expert system" software that performs the image processing sequence
automatically end-to-end, leading to differentiation between early melanoma and
benign atypical neoplasms. This digital dermoscope captures image data both in
the visible and in the infrared (a spectrum that lies outside the eye's
sensitivity). Image acquisition is done under computer control to ensure
standardization. Next, the digital dermoscope uses the image data to uncover
new features that can only be obtained with computer assistance. Finally, it
uses the potent mathematical framework of statistical pattern recognition to
accomplish differential diagnosis."
10.
BreatheX
BreatheX is the CPAP that you can wear.
There are no cords running from the wall to your machine and nothing on your
nightstand. Instead, the CPAP is part of a soft airplane style pillow which can
be worn or placed to your side as you sleep. The battery, which powers the
machine, lasts one to two nights before needing a recharge. BreatheX is a leap forward in CPAP
technology.
