Medical

Shock-proof blood pressure meter prevents false readings

By Emily Clark

21:23 October 23, 2007 PDT

October 24, 2007 Despite being sensitive instruments, blood pressure meters are often carried around in doctors’ coat pockets and as a result they're exposed to being bumped or dropped. Because they contain very fine mechanisms that react sensitively to any form of shock this causes them to produce false readings without the doctor necessarily noticing the problem, in turn leading to disastrous effects on patients’ treatment, as drug doses may have to be changed if the blood pressure exceeds a certain value. This new pressure meter, created by the Rudolf Riester company and researchers at the Fraunhofer Technology Development Group TEG in Stuttgart, employs a delicate damping system to protect the integrity of the meter. Read More

IBM visualization software uses 3D avatar to display human health records

By Emily Clark

20:16 October 4, 2007 PDT

October 5, 2007 Computer technology is always working to further capabilities within the realm of modern medicine with one of the latest developments has coming from IBM researchers in Zurich, who announced details of prototype visualization software that allows doctors to view medical data of patients using a 3D avatar of the human body. Read More

Robotic surgery in zero gravity

By Darren Quick

21:39 September 25, 2007 PDT

September 26, 2007 Silicon Valley based independent non-profit research and technology development company SRI International has announced it will conduct the first ever robotic surgery demonstration in a simulated zero-gravity environment. Read More

Charmr design concept for diabetics

By Emily Clark

18:56 August 23, 2007 PDT

August 24, 2007 Many diabetics have lamented for years that devices related to their disease (although life saving) are bulky, uncomfortable and altogether “uncool”. The Charmr is a new concept device that would combine an insulin pump and monitor into one in an effort to give those with diabetes with a much more modern look an added functionality in of delivery treatment. Read More

Personal therapy sensory device sales to soar

By Emily Clark

17:34 August 21, 2007 PDT

August 22, 2007 As our lives become increasingly busy and stressful people are always on the look out for new ways to relax and find alternatives to drug therapy and conventional Western medicine. The result has been an increase in the number of people engaging in complementary and alternative medicine, which has in turn created a multi-million dollar industry for technologies aimed at delivering personal therapy and relaxation. Read More

Robotic surgery: a new age in medical science

By Noel McKeegan

00:06 August 13, 2007 PDT

August 13, 2007 Over the past 100 years modern science has been responsible for some miraculous inventions to aid the delivery of medical treatment such as the x-ray machine, ultra sound technology and the cochlear implant. One of the latest improvements is in the field of robotic surgery, which is redefining the way in which patients undergo procedures. Read More

Remote-control bladder switch a relief for the incontinent

By Loz Blain

May 17, 2007 Urinary incontinence affects over 200 milion people worldwide, to varying degrees between "occasional accident" and "complete lack of control." The AssureFlow concept device acts as a manually switchable on-off tap for the bladder, providing dignity and control to incontinence sufferers in an ingenious way. Read More