The Essential Resource for the Medical Design Engineering Community
St. Jude Medical Signs Equity Investment and Option to Purchase Agreement with Spinal Modulation
June 7, 2013 11:01 am | by Business Wire | News | CommentsSt. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, and privately-held Spinal Modulation, Inc., today announced that they have entered into a series of agreements under which St. Jude Medical made a $40 million equity investment in Spinal Modulation, a company that has developed an innovative neuromodulation therapy that provides a new pain management option for patients with chronic, intractable pain.
3 Out of 20 Scopes Used to Examine GI Tracts and Colons Improperly Cleaned
June 7, 2013 10:42 am | by Association for Professionals in Infection Control | News | CommentsThree out of 20 flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes used for screening were found to harbor unacceptable levels of "bio dirt" – cells and matter from a patient's body that could pose potential infection risk -- according to a study of endoscopes used at five hospitals across the U.S.
Biomarker Identification May Lead to New Noninvasive Test for Colorectal Cancer Detection
June 7, 2013 10:39 am | by Elsevier Health Sciences | News | CommentsThe average 5-year survival for colorectal cancer is less than 10% if metastasis occurs, but can reach 90% if detected early. A new non-invasive test has been developed that measures methylation of the SDC2 gene in tissues and blood sera. This test detected 87% of all stages of colorectal cancer cases (sensitivity) without significant difference between early and advanced stages.
Non-Invasive First Trimester Blood Test Reliably Detects Down's Syndrome
June 7, 2013 10:37 am | by Wiley | News | CommentsNew research has found that routine screening using a non-invasive test that analyzes fetal DNA in a pregnant woman's blood can accurately detect Down's syndrome and other genetic fetal abnormalities in the first trimester. Published early online in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology, the results suggest that the test is superior to currently available screening strategies and could reshape standards in prenatal testing.
Math Technique De-Clutters Cancer-Cell Data, Revealing Tumor Evolution, Treatment Leads
June 7, 2013 10:14 am | by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory | News | CommentsToday, two scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) publish a mathematical method of simplifying and interpreting genome data bearing evidence of mutations, such as those that characterize specific cancers. Not only is the technique highly accurate; it has immediate utility in efforts to parse tumor cells, in order to determine a patient's prognosis and the best approach to treatment.
Alzheimer's, Schizophrenia, and Autism Now Can Be Studied with Mature Brain Cells Reprogrammed from Skin Cells
June 7, 2013 10:10 am | by Penn State University | News | CommentsDifficult-to-study diseases such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and autism now can be probed more safely and effectively thanks to an innovative new method for obtaining mature brain cells called neurons from reprogrammed skin cells.
Promising Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries
June 7, 2013 10:05 am | by Technische Universitaet Muenchen | News | CommentsThe electrode material has a decisive influence on a battery’s capacity. So far, the negative electrode typically consists of graphite, whose layers can store lithium atoms. Scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen have now developed a material made of boron and silicon that could smooth the way to systems with higher capacities.
Study Shows Medical Devices Complicate Complex Conditions in Kids
June 7, 2013 12:15 am | by PR Newswire | News | CommentsAs modern medical advances help more children with complex conditions live longer, a new study shows a significant number suffer from complications caused by medical devices that are also necessary for their survival. Researchers report their findings online June 7 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Mid-IR to Deep UV Tunable, Ultrafast Laser System
June 6, 2013 5:33 pm | by MDT Staff | Spectra-Physics | Product Releases | CommentsSpectra-Physics, a Newport Corporation brand, has introduced Spirit-OPA, an automated optical parametric amplifier (OPA) specifically optimized for use with Spectra-Physics’ Spirit high-repetition-rate ultrafast laser. Spirit and Spirit-OPA together create a versatile and high energy, ultrafast laser system.
Vented Enclosures
June 6, 2013 5:28 pm | by MDT Staff | Air Science Usa | Product Releases | CommentsAir Science has introduced a New Series of Vented Enclosures that provide effective containment of airborne particulates during manipulation and transfer of potent compounds. Their in-house research suggests that even slight modifications of enclosures can result in containment factors from the microgram down to the nanogram.
MDrive Delivers More
June 6, 2013 5:18 pm | by MDT Staff | Product Releases | CommentsLexium has introduced their MDrive to benefit a wide range of motion applications with its compact all-in-one design saving space, reducing wiring and improving machine reliability. In addition, robust new design features and performance enhancements deliver even more, where MDrive products were great before.
Lightweight Hinge Delivers Double the Torque
June 6, 2013 5:14 pm | by MDT Staff | Southco | Product Releases | CommentsSouthco has recently introduced the E6-600 Constant Torque Position Control Hinge, which features increased torque and lightweight aluminum construction. The E6-600 Constant Torque Position Control Hinge allows the user to hold a door or panel securely at any desired angle, and delivers twice as much torque to support larger, heavier items.
Teleflex Acquires Microlaparoscopy Surgical Platform Technology
June 6, 2013 5:00 pm | by Business Wire | News | CommentsTeleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX), a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care and surgery, today announced the acquisition of Eon Surgical, Ltd., a late stage development company that has advanced a minimally invasive microlaparoscopy surgical platform technology designed to enhance surgeons’ ability to perform scarless surgery while producing better patient outcomes.
Neuroimaging May Offer New Way to Diagnose Bipolar Disorder
June 6, 2013 11:52 am | by Mount Sinai School of Medicine | News | CommentsMRI may be an effective way to diagnose mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, according to experts from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In a landmark study using advanced techniques, the researchers were able to correctly distinguish bipolar patients from healthy individuals based on their brain scans alone. The data are published in the journal Psychological Medicine.
Surgeons at Duke University Hospital Implant Bioengineered Vein
June 6, 2013 11:33 am | by Duke Medicine News & Communications | News | CommentsIn a first-of-its-kind operation in the United States, a team of doctors at Duke University Hospital helped create a bioengineered blood vessel and transplanted it into the arm of a patient with end-stage kidney disease. The procedure, the first U.S. clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of the bioengineered blood vessel, is a milestone in the field of tissue engineering.
