Categories
Apps Crowdfunding Seniors

Senior caregiver matching + crowdfunding

HomeHero is a senior caregiver site that uses an algorithm to match families with carers, and provides video interviews, daily, mobile access to care reports and security camera feeds.

While it is not the only caregiver matching site, it is perhaps the slickest, and has one standout feature — the ability to crowdfund care via HeroFund.

The cost of senior care in the United States is exorbitant, and often prohibitive.  ApplySci applauds HomeHero for recognizing this, and for giving average seniors a chance to receive proper care.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health San Francisco – April 5, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

NeuroTech San Francisco – April 6, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

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 Parkinson's Personalized Medicine Wearables

Implant + wearable to track neuromodulation effectiveness

Medtronic is linking its implanted devices with Samsung’s phones and tablets to better monitor the effectiveness of neuromodulation technologies.  (Click to view Samsung release.)

Those with implanted neurostimulators, which  send electronic signals to targeted areas of the brain to block symptoms, can have a more active role in the management of their diseases.  Parkinson’s, essential tremor and dystonia patients will hopefully benefit from the initiative.

Data from the devices will be sent to a patient’s mobile devices, including phones, wearables and tablets, in real time.  It can also be sent directly to a doctor to help them better understand patient symptoms and progress, and appropriately adjust therapies.

The two companies announces a similar partnership for the management of diabetes earlier this year.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health San Francisco – April 5, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

NeuroTech San Francisco – April 6, 2016 @ the Misson Bay Conference Center

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

3D games boost memory test performance

A study by UC Irvine professor Craig Stark has shown that playing 3D video games can boost performance on memory tests by up to 12 percent. (This is the typical percentage of lost memory function from ages 45 – 75.)

69 non-gamer college students were split into 3  groups. For two weeks, 2 groups played either a 2D game (Angry Birds), or a 3D game (Super Mario 3D World) for 30 minutes per day. The baseline group did not play games. Cognitive and memory tests were performed  before and after the  period. The control group and 2D gamers performed the same, but the scores of 3D gamers improved by 12 percent.

The researchers believe that 3D, detail rich games stimulate the hippocampus, which controls spatial memory.

Click to view the UC Irvine video.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health San Francisco – April 5, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

NeuroTech San Francisco – April 6, 2016 @ the Misson Bay Conference Center

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
BCI Brain

EEG device enables thought controlled car

Duan Feng of Nankai University, in collaboration with Great Wall Motor, has developed a car that can be controlled with the brain.  A 16 sensor EEG device allows a driver to move the car forward and backward, stop, and lock and unlock the vehicle. At this point, fully operating the car with thoughts is not possible.

According to researcher Zhang Zhao, the goal is to create a way for the disabled to drive, and aid healthy people with a more “intellectualized driving mode.”

Click to view Reuters video.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health San Francisco – April 5, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

NeuroTech San Francisco – April 6, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

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
Sensors Wearables Wounds

Flexible hydrogel bandage senses temperature, releases medicine

MIT’s Xuanhe Zhao has designed a bandage that  releases medicine in response to changes in skin temperature.  It can be programmed to light if  wound attention is required, such as when medicine is low.

The flexible,  gel-like material  incorporates temperature sensors, LED lights, other electronics, and tiny, drug-delivering reservoirs and channels.

Zhao believes that hydrogel coated electronics  will also be able to be used inside the body.  He suggested that implanted, biocompatible glucose sensors, or  soft, compliant neural probes could be created.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health San Francisco – April 5, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

NeuroTech San Francisco – April 6, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

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
Babies Brain

Toward embryo brain activity tracking

Hari Shroff and NBIB colleagues have developed open-source 3D software that might lead to the ability to track a human embryo’s brain activity and development.

To date, the technology has only been tested on worms and will be part of a 4D neurodevelopmental “worm atlas” that attempts to catalogue the formation of a worm’s nervous system.

Shroff believes that  it will enable the understanding of fundamental mechanisms by which human  nervous systems assemble. He expects that the concepts, such combining neuronal data from multiple embryos, can be applied to additional model organisms.

Wearable Tech + Digital Health San Francisco – April 5, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

NeuroTech San Francisco – April 6, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

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
Diabetes

Needle-free blood draw + smartwatch

Google has filed a patent for a “needle-free blood draw” system that could be incorporated into a wearable.

The filing describes a machine that sends a pulse of gas into a barrel containing a “micro-particle” that can puncture the skin and draw a small drop of blood.

This could dramatically improve the management of diabetes, and continues Google’s diabetes initiative.  The company is  currently developing smart contact lenses and cloud-connected sensors to help monitor glucose.

ApplySci presents:

Wearable Tech + Digital Health San Francisco – April 5, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

NeuroTech San Francisco – April 6, 2016 @ the Mission Bay Conference Center

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

VR game to combat anxiety

Games designed to improve attention and memory are growing rapidly.   Now the neurogaming movement is tackling panic and stress.

Deep is an Oculus VR based game by Owen Harris that is meant to relieve symptoms of anxiety.

The headset, headphones, and  a belt that matches a player’s breathing  with on-screen movements, are used to encourage breathing patterns that relax the body and mind.

The creator tells users to “allow the game to sweep you into its relaxing embrace as it teaches you yogic breathing techniques that can relieve stress, anxiety and mild depression.”

WEARABLE TECH + DIGITAL HEALTH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 5, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

NEUROTECH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 6, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

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
Apps Asthma Sensors Wearables

Wearable, home, school sensors + app predict asthma attacks

ApplySci is pleased to report another sensor-based initiative to combat asthma.

Alex Bui and colleagues from UCLA and USC are creating technology for smart phones and watches to identify asthma attack triggers.  The program is part of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging & Bioengineering’s Pediatric Research using Integrated Sensor Monitoring Systems  initiative.

The  platform will transmit data to a phone from wearable sensors, and those placed in homes and schools. The information is sent to the cloud, where it will be integrated with  electronic health records and real-time weather, air quality, pollen count  reports.

 

WEARABLE TECH + DIGITAL HEALTH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 5, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

NEUROTECH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 6, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

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
Asthma Sensors Wearables

Medication sensing inhaler correlates adherence, attacks

Propeller Health and GSK are developing of an inhaler-integrated medication sensor that will automatically collect and record usage data.  The system combines sensors, mobile apps, analytics, and feedback for patients and caregivers.

The companies believes that it will help doctors better understand asthma and COPD, predict attacks, and reduce hospitalizations.

Information will be collected in a central data repository and analyzed for adherence patterns across patient populations, and correlations between adherence and safety, efficacy and economic outcomes.

 

WEARABLE TECH + DIGITAL HEALTH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 5, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

NEUROTECH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 6, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

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

Injectable nanotech device continuously monitors glucose

Kyungsuk Yum at the University of Texas is developing an internal, nanoscale device to continuously analyze blood sugar.   A near infrared optical biosensor nanotube is injected, and an optical scanner accesses data for constant monitoring .

Current continuous monitoring technology for diabetes requires a tube inserted through the abdomen.  This reads glucose levels in tissue, which is not as accurate as blood reading.  It must be calibrated several times per day, and changed every week.

The traditional glucometer system requires blood-drawing finger pricks throughout  the day.

WEARABLE TECH + DIGITAL HEALTH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 5, 2106 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

NEUROTECH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 6, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

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
Hormones Sensors

Real-time estrogen sensor

Natalie Plank and Victoria University colleagues have developed an estrogen sensor that sends an electrical signal when it detects the hormone in liquids.   The device attracts DNA pieces called aptamers, which attach to estrogen molecules, to carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes act like transistors, emitting an electric signal if estrogen molecules are present.

The technology could be used with body fluids to track fertility, or test for hormone contamination in waterways.

ApplySci believes that hormone sensing will be a focus of the next generation of wearables, and will improve health monitoring.

WEARABLE TECH + DIGITAL HEALTH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 5, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

NEUROTECH SAN FRANCISCO – APRIL 6, 2016 @ THE MISSION BAY CONFERENCE CENTER

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