ApplySci - Deep Tech Health + Neurotech
Click to view Christof Koch’s talk on brain health – recorded at ApplySci’s 11th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech conference at Stanford University on February 21, 2019.
Join us at the 12th and 13th ApplySci conferences, at Harvard Medical School on November 14, 2019, and February 11-12, 2020 at the Quadrus Center on Sand Hill Road
Congratulations to CTRL-Labs and Lux Capital on Facebook’s acquisition of the four year old Neurotech startup. The company, whose technology assists in decoding brain activity and intention, will join Facebook’s AR/VR team.
CTRL-Labs participated in a recent ApplySci panel of startups at Stanford led by Lux Capital’s Shahin Farshchi. Facebook presented its Brain Computer Interface work at the ApplySci conference at the MIT Media Lab in 2017.
ApplySci’s next conference, at Harvard Medical School, will take place on November 14, 2019. It will again include a panel of startups — perhaps the next unicorns — and a series of talks by leading brain and body health scientists.
I hope that you’ll join us.
Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche – Nicola Neretti – Brown
Northwestern’s John Rogers has developed a biodegradable optical sensor that can be implanted after brain injury and not require a second surgery for removal. According to Rogers: “Optical characterization of tissue can yield quantitative information on blood oxygenation levels. Fluorescence signals can reveal the presence of bacteria as a diagnostic for the formation of an infection at an internal wound site. Fluorescence-based calcium imaging can reveal metrics of brain activity. There are also ways that light can be used to activate certain biological processes and that’s a next step for us.”
In addition to monitoring physiological function, the sensors can be used as electrical stimulators for accelerating neural regeneration in damaged peripheral nerves, or as drug delivery agents programmed to release drugs at specific times.
The dissolvable sensors are also being used to monitor the oxygen level around the heart during surgery, and as a temporary pacemaker to deliver electrical stimulation following heart surgery.
Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche – Nicola Neretti – Brown
University of Washington’s Dror Ben Zeev has published a paper detailing a wide array of phone-based technology meant to support the recovery of psychosis throughout life — from early detection to symptom management to vocational rehabilitation,
The study includes self reported mental health assessments, self-management interventions, medication reminders, messages from case managers, tele-therapy, and skill development and job training software.
The private nature and constant availability of these resources, with out the need for travel, can increase the level of support.
Ben Zeev leads the U of W mHealth for Mental Health Program, focused on providing smart technology based services to those suffering from mental illness. His work includes projects in Ghana and the West Bank, where access to care is limited, and the stigma surrounding mental illness is high, making the phone an ideal solution.
REGISTRATION RATES INCREASE SEPTEMBER 20 | Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche – Nicola Neretti – Brown
Sebastiano Massaro at the University of Surrey, Mihaela Porumb and Leandro Pecchia at the University of Warwick, and Ernesto Iadanza at the University of Florence have developed an advanced signal processing and machine learning method to identify congestive heart failure with 100% accuracy through analysis of one raw ECG heartbeat.
The CNN model was trained and tested on large ECG datasets, including CHF and healthy, non-arrhythmic subjects. The team said that it was 100% accurate, and that the model is one of the first to identify ECG morphological features associated with the CHF severity.
Georgia Tech’s Woon-Hong Yeo has developed a 3D-printed, stretchable, battery-free, wireless sensor, implanted in brain blood vessels to measure incoming blood flow, to evaluate aneurysm healing. The tiny device wraps around stents or diverters implanted to control blood flow in affected vessels. It is believed to be the first demonstration of aerosol jet 3D printing to produce an implantable, stretchable sensing system for wireless monitoring.
Inserted using a catheter, the sensor uses inductive coupling of signals to allow wireless detection of biomimetic cerebral aneurysm hemodynamics.
Current cerebral aneurysms monitoring requires repeated angiogram imaging with potentially harmful contrast materials. Cost and potential negative effects limit the use of these techniques. A sensor placed in a blood vessel could allow more frequent evaluations without the use of imaging dyes.
REGISTRATION RATES INCREASE SEPTEMBER 20 | Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche
FIGUR8 has commercialized MGH/MIT Media Lab research to create a sensor and algorithm to measure and track body movement as a biomarker. The wearable creates a movement baseline, diagnoses dysfunction, identifies injury risk, optimizes exercise routines and tracks progress.
During movement, the sensor quantifies muscle activity and joint mobility, and the algorithm analyzes more than a million data points to determine biomechanical health. This is cheaper and potentially more effective than current MRI and x ray screening for soft tissue issues.
Athletes and physical therapists are using the system, which the company hopes will also be used in clinical Parkinson’s studies, and stroke diagnostics and recovery.
REGISTRATION RATES INCREASE AUGUST 30 | Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche – David Rhew, Microsoft
Join ApplySci at the 13th Wearable Tech + Neurotech + Digital Health Silicon Valley conference on February 11-12, 2020 at Stanford University featuring talks by Zhenan Bao, Stanford – Rudy Tanzi, Harvard – David Rhew, Microsoft – Carla Pugh, Stanford – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer
Zhenan Bao‘s adhesive, unobtrusive wearables continue to change the way health is monitored. Her new BodyNet system tracks pulse, respiration, and other physiological signs using small, screen printed stickers around the body, and a wireless receiver clipped to clothing. The research was published in Nature Electronics last week.
Her goal is to “create an array of wireless sensors that stick to the skin and work in conjunction with smart clothing to more accurately track a wider variety of health indicators than the smart phones or watches consumers use today.”
The technology is almost un-noticeable to the wearer, as it does not include batteries or rigid circuits. To achieve this, the Bao Lab created a new antenna that could stretch and bend like skin, and an RFID system capable of sending strong and accurate signals to the receiver, despite constant fluctuations.
The initial version of the stickers relied on tiny motion sensors. The team will next integrate sweat, temperature and other sensors.
Bao believes that “one day it will be possible to create a full-body skin-sensor array to collect physiological data without interfering with a person’s normal behavior.”
REGISTRATION RATES INCREASE AUGUST 30 | Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche – David Rhew, Microsoft
Join ApplySci at the 13th Wearable Tech + Neurotech + Digital Health Silicon Valley conference on February 11-12, 2020 at Stanford University featuring talks by Zhenan Bao, Stanford – Rudy Tanzi, Harvard – David Rhew, Microsoft – Carla Pugh, Stanford – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer
Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche – David Rhew, Microsoft
Join ApplySci at the 13th Wearable Tech + Neurotech + Digital Health Silicon Valley conference on February 11-12, 2020 at Stanford University featuring talks by Zhenan Bao, Stanford – Rudy Tanzi, Harvard – David Rhew, Microsoft – Carla Pugh, Stanford – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer
Kang Lee, Zong Ping Feng, Paul Zheng, and University of Toronto colleagues are measuring blood pressure using a selfie video and transdermal optical imaging technology.
Because of its translucency, phone optical sensors can capture red light reflected from hemoglobin under skin, allowing TOI to visualize and measure blood flow changes.
In a study, two-minute iPhone selfie videos of 1,328 adults were analyzed. Three types of blood pressure were measured with 95 percent accuracy. Pre-recorded videos can also be used.
The technology is being commercialized through Nuralogix, a company founded by Lee and Zheng, which is already measuring resting heart rate using videos.
Click to view University of Toronto video.
Edward Chang at UCSF, Mark Chevillet at Facebook, and colleagues, have published a study where implanted electrodes were used to “read” whole words from thoughts. Previous technology required users to spell words with a virtual keyboard.
Subjects listened to multiple-choice questions and spoke answers aloud. An electrode array recorded activity in parts of the brain associated with understanding and producing speech, and sought patterns that matched with words and phrases in real-time.
Participants responded to questions with one of several options while their brain activity was recorded. The system guessed when they were asking a question and when they were answering it, and then the content of both speech events. The predictions were shaped by prior contex. Results were 61 to 76 percent accurate, compared with 7 to 20 percent accuracy expected by chance.
This builds on Facebook technology described by Mark Chevillet at the ApplySci conference at the MIT Media Lab in September, 2017, and could result in the ability for the speech-impaired to freely communicate.
Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche – David Rhew, Samsung
Join ApplySci at the 13th Wearable Tech + Neurotech + Digital Health Silicon Valley conference on February 11-12, 2020 at Stanford University featuring talks by Zhenan Bao, Stanford – Rudy Tanzi, Harvard – David Rhew, Samsung – Carla Pugh, Stanford – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer
CompCyst is a proof-of-concept study, led by Anne Marie Lennon at Johns Hopkins, which uses AI to more accurately determine which pancreatic cysts will become cancerous. The test evaluates molecular and clinical markers in cyst fluids, and could significantly improve detection rates vs. current clinical and imaging tests.
In the study, the researchers evaluated molecular profiles, including DNA mutations and chromosome changes, of 862 pancreatic cysts. An algorithm developed by David Masica classified patients into the three groups: those with no potential to turn cancerous, for which patients would not require periodic monitoring; mucin-producing cysts that have a small risk of progressing to cancer, for which patients can receive periodic monitoring for progression to possible cancer; and cysts for which surgery is recommended because there is a high likelihood of progression to cancer.
Based on histopathological analysis of surgically resected cysts, the researchers found that surgery was not needed in 45% of patients. This unnecessary surgery was performed because the clinicians could not determine the cysts were dangerous. If CompCyst had been used, the researchers estimated that 60% to 74% of the patients (depending on the cyst type) could have been spared unnecessary intervention.
Join ApplySci at the 12th Wearable Tech + Digital Health + Neurotech Boston conference on November 14, 2019 at Harvard Medical School featuring talks by Brad Ringeisen, DARPA – Joe Wang, UCSD – Carlos Pena, FDA – George Church, Harvard – Diane Chan, MIT – Giovanni Traverso, Harvard | Brigham & Womens – Anupam Goel, UnitedHealthcare – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer – Arto Nurmikko, Brown – Constance Lehman, Harvard | MGH – Mikael Eliasson, Roche – David Rhew, Samsung
Join ApplySci at the 13th Wearable Tech + Neurotech + Digital Health Silicon Valley conference on February 11-12, 2020 at Stanford University featuring talks by Zhenan Bao, Stanford – Rudy Tanzi, Harvard – David Rhew, Samsung – Carla Pugh, Stanford – Nathan Intrator, Tel Aviv University | Neurosteer