A collaboration of Tufts Univeristy, University of Illinois and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) resulted in the development of electronic devices that dissolve in water or biological fluids dissolves and break down in traces of silicon and magnesium. Because of the small amount, these components can be harmlessly assimilated by biosystems like the human body, potentially
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Cognitive Prosthesis Enhances Short-Term Memory and Decision-Making in Primates
Scientists at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina reported using a neural implant to stimulate higher-level thinking in monkeys, providing the first demonstration in primates of the sort of brain prosthesis that could eventually help people with damage from dementia, strokes or other brain injuries. The study was published on Sept.
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Boston Scientific’s Proprietary Batteries Projected to Give >10 Year Longevity to ICDs
Boston Scientific announced today that FDA has approved revised product labeling for its INCEPTA™, ENERGEN™, PUNCTUA™, COGNIS® and TELIGEN® ICDs and CRT-Ds to reflect increased longevity projections for these devices. The longevity projections are based on data submitted to the FDA and vary for each device dependent on the model type and settings.
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FCC Considering Opening Spectrum to Wireless Body Sensors
Reported by dotMedNews.com: FCC could open spectrum to wireless body sensors May 18, 2012 by Brendon Nafziger, DOTmed News Associate Editor Patients in intensive care units are typically festooned with a mass of monitoring wires, leads, pads and electrodes. Not only is this an infection control hazard, which some researchers estimate costs the industry billions
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Smallest ICD (30cc) – St. Jude’s Ellipse – Receives FDA Approval
St. Jude today announced FDA approval of its Ellipse™ ICD. The device’s shape was designed with feedback from more than 200 physicians from around the world. The Ellipse ICD offers physicians unique design advancements, resulting in a high-energy ICD that occupies barely 30cc. According to the announcement, “The Ellipse ICD’s unique shape was conceptualized by physicians during focus groups
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Medtronic Receives FDA Appoval for Expanded Use of CRT-D to Class II HF
Medtronic received FDA approval for the expanded use of CRT-D in mildly-symptomatic heart failure patients. The expanded indication includes New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II heart failure patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of less than or equal to 30 percent, left bundle branch block (LBBB), and a QRS duration greater than
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Medtronic’s Q3 AIMD Earnings: CRM 3% Down, Neuromodulation 4% Up
Today Medtronic announced financial results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2012, which ended January 27, 2012. According to the report: “CRDM third quarter revenue of $1.192 billion decreased 2 percent as reported or 3% on a constant currency basis. Third quarter revenue from ICDs was $674 million, down 9 percent on a constant
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MicroCHIPS Announces Clinical Results for First Successful Human Trial of Programmable Microchip-Based Drug Delivery Device
Last month I posted some background on MicroCHIPS, the MIT spinoff to develop implantable sensors and drug-delivery devices. I concluded that post with the February 2011 announcement that MicroCHIPS started its clinical trial to assess the pharmacokinetics of long-term parathyroid hormone (hPTH 1-34) delivery in women with osteoporosis. MicroCHIPS announced today the results of the first successful human
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OT: We Received the First Copies of Our New Book!
Today we received the first two copies of the book that I wrote with my 16-year-old daughter Shanni! It is a do-it-yourself book on Experimental Quantum Physics, and was published by John Wiley & Sons. From the back cover: “Build an intuitive understanding of the principles behind quantum mechanics through practical construction and replication of original
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