Categories
Machine Learning Robotics

Machine learning model enables robotic hand to learn autonomously

Vikash Kumar and University of Washington colleagues have developed a simulation model that allows robotic hands to learn from their own experiences, while performing dexterous manipulation.  Human direction is not required.

A recent study incorporated the model while a robotic hand attempted several tasks, including  rotating an elongated object. With each try, the hand became better able to spin the tube. Machine learning algorithms helped it model the basic physics involved, and plan the actions it should take to best complete the task.

Click to view University of Washington video

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Brain

Self-dissolving brain monitoring electrodes

University of Pennsylvania researchers are developing implantable,  brain monitoring electrodes that dissolve at a predetermined rate.  The DARPA funded device could provide continuous data used to monitor or treat Parkinson’s disease, depression and chronic pain.  As it is absorbed into the body, the risk associated with removal is eliminated.

ApplySci recently described a related self dissolving implant, developed by Wilson Zachary Ray at Washington University, used to monitor TBI patients.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Brain Gaming

Game navigation uncovers early dementia signs

Sea Hero Quest is a smartphone game that  follows the journey of a sea explorer who has lost his memories. It is being used as a tool to uncover early dementia symptoms for research purposes.

One of the first symptoms of dementia could be a loss of orientation. Gamer decisions and movements will help  researchers set a benchmark of “normal” navigational skills.

The developers at Alzheimer’s Research UK, Deutsche Telecom, University College London and the University of East Anglia hope to reach 100,000 players this year.  This would provide exponentially more data, in a short period of time, than traditional studies could.

Click to view Alzheimer’s UK video

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Brain Wearables

“Cognitive Dress” colors reflect observer emotions

At the Met Gala, New York’s most sought-after invitation, Karolina Kurkova wore a Marchesa dress that was powered by IBM Watson to react to social media sentiment in real-time.

The “Cognitive Dress” was covered in LED embedded fabric flowers that lit in colors to reflect joy, passion, excitement, encouragement and curiosity, as expressed on twitter.

While name of the dress is deceiving, as it did not “think” on its own, the statement represents the mainstreaming of wearable technology and cognitive computing.  Most interesting was the analysis and translation of tweets into emotional statistics, which were represented in the LED-responsive fabric.

Click to view IBM video

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

 

Categories
Respiratory

Lung function analyzed via phone, from anywhere

Mayank Goel and University of Washington colleagues have developed SpiroCall, a system that measures lung function by analyzing a caller’s voice via smartphone, landline or payphone microphone.

An algorithm uses the phone microphone as an uncalibrated pressure sensor.  Captured audio is converted into an estimate of the flow-rate of air exiting from a patient’s mouth.

Lung function estimates are provided despite varying audio quality. One second of silence before the start of the test gauges ambient noise levels. If it is too noisy, a patient is asked to move, or to call back at another time.

SpiroCall’s results were 6.2 percent less accurate than hospital spirometers.  While not perfect, this solution could save many lives in areas where regular doctor visits are not possible.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Eyes

Vision enhancing, injectable smart lens

Google has filed a patent for a vision enhancing, injectable smart lens. The “intraocular device” is meant to replace one’s natural lens, and focus light onto the eye’s retina. It is injected into the eye in a solution that congeals and attaches to the lens capsule.   It will contain its own storage, and tiny radio components that will communicate with an external processor. An energy harvesting antenna will power the device wirelessly.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Brain Cancer

Non-invasive electric field treatment for glioblastoma

Optune by Novocure  uses targeted electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division and cause cancer cell death.  500 hospitals globally can prescribe the FDA approved treatment to glioblastoma patients.

“Tumor Treating Fields” are low intensity, alternating electric fields within the intermediate frequency range. TTFields disrupt cell division through physical interactions with key molecules during mitosis. The non-invasive treatment targets solid tumors.

Company founder Yoram Palti said that trials in other tumors will have results starting this year, and he “believes that we will change the way we treat cancer. There are other growths that are more sensitive to our approach than brain cancer. A pilot of 40 lung cancer patients had exciting results in a treatment where the electrodes are only worn 12 hours a day and not 24.”

Click to view Optune US video

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Brain Virtual Reality

Anxiety reducing VR game

Deep VR teaches breathing techniques meant to reduce the anxiety of users during a game. Its developers believe that the skills learned can also help manage stress during daily life.

It is the basis of a Radboud University study, in the lab of Isabela Granic, that aims to alleviate anxiety in children.  100 children have already been studied, the findings of which will guide the game’s future design and lead to the development of its sensor.

Exposure therapy will soon be added, to shift the experience from sedative to mildly frightening, in an attempt to systematically desensitize those with anxiety.

Click to view Deep VR video

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Brain

Semantic brain atlas created with fMRI

Jack Gallant and Berkeley colleagues have used fMRI to understand how language-related information is represented and processed in the human brain.  Brain blood flow changes were measured once every second, as subjects listened to natural narrative stories. Mathematical models and big data analysis were used to create detailed maps, showing how different aspects of language are represented in different brain locations.

Gallant hopes that this research will be used in the future to help stroke patients recover language skills, design faster computers, and to create brain computer interfaces to allow communication without speech.

Click to view NSF video

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
fitness Heart Wearables

Sports camera collects, overlays health data

As part of its new developer program, GoPro has partnered with Polar to overlay health data on videos. Similar to video games, sports videos will be able to display heart rate, speed, distance, and altitude.  This has been presented as a fun feature, but could also provide physicians with a better understanding of one’s health in various scenarios.

Click to view Polar video

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Heart

Heart monitoring patch tracks patients post-discharge

BeVITAL by Vital Connect, in partnership with BePatient, is a clinical grade, continuous, heart monitoring wearable, and data sharing system, for the early detection of abnormalities post-discharge. The thin, disposable patch adheres to the chest, and tracks heart activity, breathing, temperature, movement, posture, and falls. It can be used for 4 days, and transmits data to a phone or hub before it is stored in the cloud.

The system has been tested on 100 patients in Europe, and will soon be trialed at the John Muir Medical Center.  The study will compare data quality and patient outcomes of BeVITAL wearers with inpatient care.

Click to view KTVU News video

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

Categories
Conference Virtual Reality

“Mixed Reality” headset could support surgery, rehab, learning

Magic Leap has unveiled its “mixed reality” headset, where  virtual objects are integrated into the real world.  In addition to obvious gaming and entertainment applications, the system could be used in healthcare (including in surgery, surgery preparation, and orthopedic rehabilitation) and education.

The company remains vague in its description of its technology, but head and hand tracking functionality appear to have been added.   According to founder Rony Abramovitz, “Magic Leap doesn’t trick the brain. Rather it shoots photons into the eye that stimulate the cones and rods as if the hologram were real, or neurologically true.”

Click to view Magic Leap video.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health NYC – June 7, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences

NeuroTech NYC – June 8, 2016 @ the New York Academy of Sciences