Medical Design Briefs

Subscribe to this RSS Feed

Once implanted, coronary artery stents to prop open blood vessels usually remain in place for the rest of the patient’s life. The longer a stent is in place, the greater the risk of late-stage side effects. That's why researchers are trying to develop a bioabsorbable stent, one that will gradually and harmlessly dissolve after the blood vessel is healed. Studies have investigated iron stents, which can rust, and magnesium-based stents, which dissolve too quickly. So, researchers at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, are trying something different—zinc.

Read More >>

Polymer scientists at Rice University, Houston, TX, discovered that the liquid crystal phase of silicone, which is partway between a solid and a liquid, becomes up to 90 percent stiffer when repeatedly compressed. Their research could lead to new strategies for self-healing materials or biocompatible materials that mimic human tissues, they say.
Read More >>

A new 3-D motion detection system could help identify baseball pitchers who are at risk for shoulder injuries, according to a new study by scientists at the Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL. The laptop computer-based system can be used right on the field.

Read More >>

The American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA) launched its "Coalition to Walk and Run Again," an effort to aid uninsured and under-insured victims of the April 15th Boston Marathon terror attack. The bombing killed 3 people and left more than 200 injured, several of whom lost portions of their legs as a result. Those who have or are undergoing amputations will be provided major assistance with the cost of their initial prostheses and related care, the group stated at a telephone press conference on April 30.

Read More >>