Scientist-led conferences at Harvard, Stanford and MIT
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Applied robot control theory for more natural prosthetic leg movement
Prosthetics are lighter and more flexible than in the past, but fail to mimic human muscle power. Powered prosthesis motors generate force, but cannot respond with stability to disturbances or changing terrain. Robert Gregg and colleagues at the University of Texas have applied robot control theory to allow powered prosthetics to dynamically respond to a wearer’s environment.…
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Cheap, fast, precise, hand held ultrasound
Butterfly Network‘s Jonathan Rothberg wants to make a “super-low-cost version of a $6 million (ultrasound) machine, to make it 1,000 times cheaper, 1,000 times faster, and a hundred times more precise.” This will depend on software and extensive AI image research to extract key features to automate diagnoses. Butterfly’s patent applications describe compact, hand held…
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3D holograms can be seen and felt
Benjamin Long and colleagues at the University of Bristol have developed invisible 3D object holograms that can be felt and seen in mid-air using ultrasound. Potential uses include helping surgeons “feel” the differences between materials in a CT scan to diagnose disease, or, combined with a VR headset, to rehearse surgeries. High-frequency sound waves are pulsed from miniature…
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Bionic eye prototype stimulates visual cortex to restore sight
The Monash Vision Group is building a bionic eye in an attempt to restore sight by transmitting wireless signals directly to an implant in the brain, bypassing the eye. The MVG system bypasses the retina and optic nerve and wirelessly stimulates the ‘vision’ center of the brain using implantable electrode arrays. A digital camera is embedded in headwear…
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Electrode/patch system monitors physical & mental health of soldiers
University at Buffalo professor Albert H. Titus, Sentient Science, and ONR are developing technology to monitor physical and psychological stress levels of soldiers, and send alerts when distress is detected. The wireless system includes electrodes that measure heart rate, brain activity and other vital signs, and are attached to the skin adhesively or sewn into…
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Wearable creates electric fields on scalp to treat brain tumors
Novocure, founded by Technion professor Yoram Palti, has developed a device worn on the head that creates alternating electric fields to treat brain tumors. The company announced that in a phase III clinical trial, its technology, in combination with standard chemotherapy, extended the lives of patients. Novocure claims that it “slows and reverses tumor growth by inhibiting…
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Skin conductance based wearable detects seizures
Embrace by Empatica is a sleek, crowdfunded wearable that detects epileptic seizures. It also tracks movement, sleep, and stress. The technology is based on Rosalind Picard‘s 2008 study showing that seizures produce high levels of skin conductance. Other seizure logging wearables focus on accelerometer tracked motion. Empatica believes that Embrace more accurately measures seizures by combining…
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Mapping mental illness origins for targeted treatment
Stanford‘s NeuroCircuit initiative, led by Amit Etkin and Stephen Baccus, attempts to locate brain circuits responsible for mental illness and develop better, noninvasive TMS and ultrasound treatment techniques. Their stated challenge: “A major hurdle that has prevented our understanding of cause and effect in the brain is the inability to directly manipulate brain activity and connections in a precise…
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Smart bike tracks health
Baidu‘s DuBike is equipped with multiple health tracking sensors. It collects information on pedaling frequency, foot pressure, heart rate, velocity and seating pressure. The data is synced with a mobile app and analyzed to provide suggestions to riders. Bike routes and meeting points can be shared socially. A handlebar guidance system tells riders when to turn, and…
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Another smartwatch for seniors
Device makers continue to address the phenomenon of seniors living longer, and independently aging in place. Lively, who last year crowdfunded a senior monitoring sensor system that operates independently of a Wi-Fi network, has released a smartwatch. It relies on the Lively Hub, with its own cellular network. The watch gives medicine reminders, or alerts when medicine…
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Kinect exercises to prevent senior falls
Emma Stanmore and colleagues at the University of Manchester have developed a series of Kinect based “Exergames” designed to reduce the likelihood of falls among seniors. The exercises run on MIRA Rehab’s software platform and use the Kinect sensor to monitor body movements. They are individually programmed based on ability,fatigue, pain, and fear of falling. …
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Nanowire ink printed paper sensor reduces diagnostic cost
University of Tennessee‘s Anming Hu, Southeast University‘s Rhou-Zhou Li and and colleagues are printing conductive ink on paper to create low cost, lightweight, foldable, paper based sensors. The devices, which can be made or used anywhere, respond to touch or specific molecules, such as glucose. Current paper-based diagnostic and DNA tests require complicated, expensive manufacturing. A pattern of silver nanowire ink is printed…
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