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Health and Wellbeing
New stem cell tools to accelerate drug development
By Jack Martin
05:46 September 4, 2008 PDT
U.K. Scientists have designed, developed and tested new molecular tools for stem cell research to direct the formation of certain tissue types for use in drug development programmes. A collaborative team of scientists from Durham University and the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) has developed two synthetic molecules which can be used to coax stem cells to ‘differentiate’ - that is, transform into other forms of tissue. Their use could also help reduce the number of animals used in laboratory research. Read More
Experimental study of hallucinations as they occur
By Jack Martin
05:34 September 4, 2008 PDT
September 4, 2008 A hallucination is a perception in a conscious awake state, in the absence of external stimuli, that has qualities of real perception in that they are vivid, substantial, and located in external objective space. For most of us, hallucinations are a normal, fleeting, brain glitch; yet for a few they are persistent, distressing and associated with a range of psychiatric, neurological and eye conditions. In the September Issue of Cortex, Dominic H. ffytche at the Institute of Psychiatry in London reviews what we do know and moves the field forward, by introducing a new experimental approach to studying hallucinations as they occur. Read More
New fluorescence correlation spectroscopy technique offers real-time view of human chemical messenger system
By Mike Hanlon
04:49 September 2, 2008 PDT
September 2, 2008 One wonders sometimes just how far our understanding of life itself will extend within the next few decades. Earlier this week, U.K. researchers announced the development of a technology that enables the real-time viewing of microscopic activity within the body’s chemical messenger system. The researchers first created novel drug molecules which have “fluorescent labels” attached, then using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, the molecules can be followed under a highly sensitive microscope as they bind to receptors, glowing all the while under a laser beam … all in real time at the single molecule level. Truly remarkable! Read More
Easy-to-produce plastic microneedles offer pain-free injections
By Mike Hanlon
01:35 August 19, 2008 PDT
August 19, 2008 Singapore’s A*STAR continues to put the country on the technology map, this time with the news that the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) has perfected an innovative range of microneedles that can be mass produced more readily and at a much lower cost than current microneedle technologies. The microneedles can be made from plastics as well as conventional materials such as silicon and metal and offer unique structures for better drug delivery. Microneedles are a fraction of the size of hypodermic needles and hence can penetrate the skin enough to deliver the medicine (or extract bodily fluids) but miss the nerve receptors so they induce no pain. Combined with the appropriate electronics, they can be worn as a skin patch, for regular doses of drugs to be delivered automatically to patients. Read More
The US$100 iPosture pendant improves posture
By Mike Hanlon
20:35 August 18, 2008 PDT
August 19, 2008 Since man decided that standing upright was a better idea than walking on all four limbs, our evolving environment and posture has created back problems for a significant percentage of the population. “Sit up straight” was certainly one of the catchcry’s of the educational system, and mum can’t always be with us to remind us of the benefits of an upright posture, so neurologist Moacir Schnapp, M.D., has created the iPosture posture improvement device. Worn as a pendant, clipped to clothing or adhered directly to the skin, the US$100 iPosture improves a user’s posture by vibrating intermittently when the user slouches and continuing to vibrate until posture is corrected. Read More
The stress sensor vest
By Jack Martin
13:37 July 23, 2008 PDT
July 23, 2008 The term “stress” was first used in a biological sense in the 1930s and as the world has increased in complexity and pace, is fast reaching epidemic proportions in most societies. Ironically, when biomedical scientists set out to develop new ways of studying stress, they needed an inconspicuous measuring tool so they could monitor the stress levels of their subjects during the course of their day-to-day environment. The idea of a “stress sensor vest” originated, and while they’re still studying stress, the vest has emerged as a viable and marketable product in its own right. Read More
Medical hydrogel can replace damaged cartilage
By Kyle Sherer
00:36 July 21, 2008 PDT
The University of Bradford, together with spin-out Advanced Gel Technology, is developing a cartilage repair gel that could delay the need for invasive surgery for five years or more. The hydrogel, which is not yet ready for clinical trials, is intended for traumatic injuries, including those sustained in car collisions or sports. Read More
Earplugs that fit in your wallet for an aural emergency
By Tim Hanlon
00:22 July 21, 2008 PDT
Sound systems in clubs, pubs and music venues are regularly pushed to obscene levels, requiring conversations to be held at a shouting volume, and often leaving attendees with a ringing sound in their ears indicative of permanent hearing damage. Designer Shing Lo has an ingenious solution that means you will never leave home without ear protection. Read More
Sowine preserves wine for up to ten days
By Jude Garvey
01:57 July 14, 2008 PDT
Sowine is a home wine bar that enables you to preserve your opened bottle of wine at the perfect temperature for up to ten days. It also allows you to bring your bottles of wine to the correct temperature before serving. The air-tight refrigerated storage unit has two separate compartments that are temperature-controlled to suit the type of wine you are storing. You can store a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white wine at the same time as the units are completely separate. As the storage unit is air-tight, the bottles are also protected from oxidation, therefore helping to prolong the life of your wine. Read More
See all the small print with Clarity’s i-vu digital magnifier
By Jude Garvey
22:50 July 12, 2008 PDT
When your eyesight starts to fail, it can be extremely frustrating. Now, there is something other than bifocals or reading glasses to help rectify this problem. Clarity's i-vu is a portable, hand-held digital magnifier for people suffering from failing eyesight. The i-vu has 5 - 20x magnification and a 2 inch LCD screen but is very compact and weighs just 4 ozs so it fits easily into the pocket of a shirt or pair of trousers, which makes it portable enough to take to the library, drug store or your favorite restaurant. Read More
The Perch School desk
By Kyle Sherer
13:52 July 7, 2008 PDT
The final design of the Perch system contains a uniquely shaped work surface and a patented seat that flexes to suit the user. It is designed to increase productivity, health and well being, with consideration also given to storage, cleaning, stackability, aesthetics, safety and cost. Read More
Self-powered knee sensor for surgery
By Emily Clark
20:52 July 2, 2008 PDT
A researcher at the University of Southampton in the UK has developed a new self-powered sensor that would allow surgeons to monitor progress during knee operations. The Serial In-vivo Transducer (SIT) uses thick film technology and could measure tendon force during Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction; a common procedure among athletes. Read More
Hand-held device offers new hope to migraine sufferers
20:54 June 26, 2008 PDT
June 27, 2008 Researchers at the Ohio State University Medical Center have trailed a portable electronic device designed to stop migraine pain before it starts. The experimental transcranial magnetic stimulator (TMS) unit works by sending a painless, one millisecond magnetic pulse through the neurons in the brain, interrupting the initial "aura phase" of the migraine experienced by many sufferers before it leads to throbbing pain, headaches and nausea. Read More
Optiscan's Endomicroscope speeds up the fight against cancer
By Loz Blain
16:54 June 23, 2008 PDT
June 24, 2008 In order to view cells at a high enough magnification to identify cancerous and pre-cancerous growths, doctors currently have to perform biopsy surgery - the invasive removal of cells so they can be examined in a laboratory. But a new Australian endoscope technology is about to remove the need for a biopsy altogether by offering doctors the ability to examine tissue at single-cell and sub-cellular magnification levels as the camera moves through the body. Optiscan's miniature endomicroscope offers up to 1000x magnification as opposed to the 40x magnification of traditional endoscopes, and will greatly speed up the detection and diagnosis of cancerous cells. Read More
JORDY head-worn magnifier
By Emily Clark
23:58 June 11, 2008 PDT
The JORDY (Joint Optical Reflective Display) advanced head-worn magnifier from Enhanced Vision assists those with low vision to see objects at a distance, offering up to 30X magnification with auto-focus capabilities. Read More
Dissolving glass could aid bone growth
By Kyle Sherer
19:00 June 8, 2008 PDT
June 9, 2008 Bone growth and joint replacement is a painful process, but British scientists claim that one possible solution for a glass jaw is, well, a jaw made from glass. A porous "bioactive" glass substance that activates the genes responsible for stimulating bone growth has the potential to replace the need for bone transplants. Read More
OSPA: high-fidelity hearing aid design from think/thing
By Jude Garvey
23:14 June 4, 2008 PDT
The OSPA hearing aid is highly proficient at improving sound quality and uses as much of the functioning ear as possible. It is not designed to be hidden from sight, in fact with its streamlined, elegant, magnesium frame it looks more like a fashion accessory than a hearing aid. However there is function within that frame, OSPA uses lasers and optics to read mechanical vibrations and has the potential to provide well-balanced, natural and high resolution sound. Unlike other hearing aids which use a microphone and speaker to amplify sound, OSPA uses the external and middle parts of the ear to enhance the signal sent to the inner ear. Read More
Swimmers Snorkel product evaluation
By Mike Hanlon
06:04 June 3, 2008 PDT
We wrote extensively about the Swimmers Snorkel back in September 2006, marveling how just a few millimeters of change had produced an entirely new product, quite distinct from the diver’s snorkel and one with almost untold benefits for the pool swimmer. After 18 months of using the snorkel almost daily, Mike Hanlon has found more benefits and few drawbacks – indeed, as a regular traveler, the snorkel goes with him on every trip, becoming, in effect, his portable gymnasium. Read More
StreetLab Mobile identifies dangerous chemicals on the scene
By Kyle Sherer
17:38 June 2, 2008 PDT
GE Security has introduced a handheld device that can identify the chemical makeup of unknown substances in liquid, powder and solid forms. StreetLab Mobile can presently identify over one thousand potentially dangerous chemicals, including formaldehyde, liquid and solid explosives, and Cresol and Benzene. Read More
SuperSmoker electronic cigarette launched in UK
By Emily Clark
01:25 May 26, 2008 PDT
May 26, 2008 SuperSmoker is an electronic alternative to cigarettes promoted as offering a healthier and significantly cheaper way for smokers to continue their habit as well as beat increasingly strict public smoking bans. Read More
Simulated sunrise: the Glo Pillow concept
By Darren Quick
18:39 May 19, 2008 PDT
Designers Eoin McNally and Ian Walton have come up with the concept of a ‘Glo Pillow’ that uses an LED fabric substrate below the surface of the pillow to wake the user with light. Forty five minutes before the alarm is due to activate, the pillow begins to glow. The light intensity increases gradually from 0 lux to 250 lux, simulating a natural sunrise and helping to calibrate the body clock by waking the body naturally. The LED fabric substrate also functions as a display, showing the time on the pillows surface using a grid of LEDs inside the pillow. Read More
Styla MicroLaser cordless dental laser
By Emily Clark
21:13 May 15, 2008 PDT
May 16, 2008 Promoted as the world’s first microlaser for soft-tissue applications such as treating canker sores or performing incisional biopsies, the Styla from Zap Lasers is a cordless, self-contained laser weighing just 1.9 ounces and measuring only 6.9 inches long. Read More
Free Spirit: the world’s lightest wheelchair
By Emily Clark
23:43 May 12, 2008 PDT
May 13, 2008 Drawing on a background that ranges from experience as an aerospace technician to a stint in research and development on the Williams F1 team, Marcus Cunnington has designed and built the 6.3kg (around 13.9 pounds) Free Spirit - a carbon fiber composite design that claims the mantle of the world's lightest manual rigid wheelchair. Read More
Mini medical pump design provides accurate dosage
By Emily Clark
21:44 May 7, 2008 PDT
May 8, 2008 Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany have developed an innovative mini medical pump system to administer tiny quantities of liquid such as medicines. What sets this pump apart from standard micro-pumps is its low-maintenance operation and the flexibility of working in both directions that it offers. Read More
The Biniki – a bra for your butt
By Mike Hanlon
23:44 April 29, 2008 PDT
April 30, 2008 Heightening the ever-increasing pressures to conform to someone else’s ideals is this new invention known as the Biniki – put simply, it’s a bra for your butt. The patented Biniki is a US$30 series of straps you wear around the waist and under your bum cheeks to shape, tone, lift and support your derriere and the effect is significant and instant. There’s also a US$40 version for men (the Maniki) and a Throng, a US$30 device worn to achieve the same underwear-less look as a thong without having to floss in all the wrong places. We’d have to agree that a biniki-toned and lifted derriere certainly looks better, and we even suspect that sales of this new invention might well take off as it appeals to that well-known weak link in the human psyche, vanity. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
