Category: Sensors
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Tiny, ingestible robot can deliver medicine, patch wounds, remove objects
Daniela Rus and MIT, University of Sheffield, and Tokyo Institute of Technology colleagues have developed an ingestible origami robot designed to patch wounds, deliver medicine or remove foreign objects from a person’s stomach. The tiny robot, made of pig intestines, can unfold itself from a swallowed capsule. Steered by a doctor using external magnetic fields, the “microsurgeon”…
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Optical sensor could detect cancer, other diseases, earlier
Guiseppe Strangi and Case Western colleagues have developed a highly sensitive optical sensor, based on nanostructured metamaterials. The researchers claim that is is 1 million times more sensitive than current sensors, and capable of identifying a single lightweight molecule in a highly dilute solution. This could dramatically improve the detection of cancer and other diseases.…
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Study: Graphene patch monitors glucose, delivers insulin
MC10 and Seoul National University researchers, led by Dae-Hyeong Kim, have created a prototype skin patch that could both monitor blood glucose levels and administer insulin to diabetics. This is the first time that monitoring and drug deivery have been combined. The graphene and gold mesh patch measures humidity, glucose, pH, and temperature in sweat. While the technology…
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Wireless hub syncs health data at home, in clinic
Google’s “Connectivity Bridge” appears to be a wireless hub meant to collect and sync medical data in clinical studies, according to an FCC filing reported by Business Insider. (No company announcement has been made.) The hub can be installed in facilities or homes, and sensor data can be quickly uploaded to the cloud for analysis. It uses…
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Self-adjusting lenses adapt to user needs
DeepOptics is developing is vision-enhancing wearable lenses, with sensors that gauge viewing distance, and precisely adjust the lenses to bring an object into focus. Electronic volts are sent into three layered liquid crystal lenses, changing the refractive index to provide the specific optical compensation needed to correct vision in every situation. The company also believes…
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Ultra slim sensors for next generation wearables
LG Innotek has developed an ultra-thin optical bio sensor module for monitoring heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress. High-end smartphones typically include these modules, which complement fitness wearables and apps. LG claims that the new module is more accurate and uses less energy than current sensors. Because of its size, is can be used in very…
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Sensor + algorithm detect prostate cancer in urine
Chris Probert and University of Liverpool and UWE Bristol colleagues are creating a test that uses gas chromatography to “smell” prostrate cancer in urine. If proven accurate, the test might be able to be used instead of current invasive diagnostic procedures, at an earlier stage. 155 men were tested. 58 were diagnosed with prostate cancer, 24 with bladder…
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Smart socks sense pain, pressure in diabetic neuropathy
SenseGo smart socks have multiple sensors that monitor pressure from poor posture, over-exertion, or ill-fitting shoes, all which could lead to diabetic foot ulcers. Pressure points are registered as electrical signals, and relayed to an app which informs the patient of a developing risk. The washable sensor socks, developed by Hebrew University professor Yaakov Nahmias, can compensate…
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Flexible, sweat sensing, health wearable
Berkeley’s Ali Javey has developed a prototype band that uses sweat non-invasively assess medical conditions. It could also spot drug abuse, or provide information to optimize sports performance. The flexibility and computing power of the device build on the capabilities of earlier sweat sensors. A flexible plastic band contains sensors that measure the concentrations of sodium…
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Virtual clinic uses apps, VR, data, wearables in remote care
USC’s Center for Body Computing, led by Professor Leslie Saxon, has created the Virtual Care Clinic, featuring vetted, best of class partners providing integrated remote healthcare solutions. The eight initial partners are Doctor Evidence, IMS Health, Karten Design, Medable, Planet Grande, Proteus Digital Health and VSP Global. Mobile apps, virtual doctors, data collection and analysis systems,…
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Nanofiber sensor glove could detect breast cancer
Tokyo University’s Takao Someya and Harvard’s Zhigang Suo are developing thin, bendable, pressure sensitive, nanofiber sensors that could be be incorporated into gloves to detect breast tumors. The 1.9 inch square sheet has 144 pressure measuring locations, and can detect pressure even when twisted. Many researchers are developing flexible pressure sensors, but they are vulnerable when bent…
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Sensor monitors, regulates IV fluid flow
The Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology‘s Ajay Kottapalli has developed a cheap IV drip sensor to monitor and regulate fluid flow. A signal is sent to a control unit which can adjust the flow speed or alert staff. This can reduce the amount of time nurses spend checking patient IVs — which is estimated at…