Global Innovations

3D Printed Diamond–Titanium Device Could Lead to Longer-Lasting Implants

RMIT researchers have created an experimental 3D printed diamond–titanium device that generates electricity from flowing liquid and receives wireless power through tissue making it possible to remotely sense changes in flow. Read on to learn more about it.

3D Printed Cardiac Patch Helps Repair Heart Defects

An interdisciplinary research team from ETH Zurich and the University Hospital of Zurich has developed a novel three-dimensional heart patch for intraventricular implantation. Read on to learn more about it.

PHOx: An Innovative, Safer Polymer for Implantable Medical Devices

A team from the GIGA (Cardiology Laboratory) and the CESAM (Centre de recherche sur les macromolécules – CERM) at the University of Liège has developed PHOx, a thermoplastic elastomer without isocyanate PU (NIPU), which is therefore less toxic to produce and much better tolerated by the human body. Read on to learn more.

Soft Brainstem Implant Delivers High-Resolution Hearing

A team at EPFL’s Laboratory for Soft Bioelectronic Interfaces has developed a soft, thin-film auditory brainstem implant. The device uses micron-scale platinum electrodes embedded in silicone, forming a pliable array just a fraction of a millimeter thick. Read on to learn more.

Medical Implants: Zwitterions Coating Could Prevent Blood Clotting

Zwitterions sound likes a distant cousin of Twitter (X), but in fact they are a common macromolecule found in human cells. Scientists at the University of Sydney are also now using zwitterions to create materials that could stop blood clots from forming in medical devices and implants. Read on to learn more.

Biomimetic Speaking Valve Increases Safety of Tracheostomized Patients

A research team from the University of Freiburg and the Medical Center – University of Freiburg has developed a novel biomimetic speaking valve technology that could significantly increase the safety of tracheostomized patients. Read on to learn more.

Soft Microelectronics Enable Wearable AI for Digital Health

A research team has introduced a groundbreaking wearable in-sensor computing platform. This platform is built on an emerging microelectronic device, an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), invented explicitly for bioelectronics applications. Read on to learn more about it.

Head-Mounted Device Offers Hope for Treating Depression

A head-mounted device has been found to improve the symptoms of four male patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Future trials using the device may offer a safe and noninvasive way of treating depression. Read on to learn more.

Flexible Tentacle Electrodes Precisely Record Brain Activity

A team has developed a new type of electrode that enables more detailed and more precise recordings of brain activity over an extended period of time. These electrodes are made of bundles of extremely fine and flexible fibers of electrically conductive gold encapsulated in a polymer. Read on to learn more.

Toward a New Era in Flexible Piezoelectric Sensors for Both Humans and Robots

A research team from Shinshu University, Japan, decided to improve flexible piezoelectric sensor design using a well-established manufacturing technique: electrospinning. Read on to learn more about it.

Improved Ultrasound Wireless Charging for Implantable Biomedical Devices

Ultrasound-based wireless power transfer is becoming a more attractive option to power implanted biomedical devices because it could overcome many of the limitations and challenges facing other wireless charging approaches. Now, a new study has shown that the shape of the implanted receiver can significantly increase the efficiency of power harvesting from the ultrasound beam.

Optical Sensor Enables Continuous Noninvasive Glucose Sensing

A team has discovered new aspects of glucose’s infrared signature and have used this information to develop a miniaturized optical sensor only 5mm in diameter that could one day be used to provide continuous non-invasive glucose monitoring in diabetes management.

Terahertz Biosensor Detects Skin Cancer with Remarkable Accuracy

Researchers have developed a revolutionary biosensor using terahertz (THz) waves that can detect skin cancer with exceptional sensitivity, potentially paving the way for earlier and easier diagnoses.

Wearable Heart Monitor Offers More Comfort, Less Irritation

A team led by RMIT University has made a wearable ECG device that could be used to prevent heart attacks for people with cardiovascular disease, including in remote healthcare and ambulatory care settings.

Collaboration to Explore Next-Generation Biomedical Implants

A new collaboration between The University of Manchester and CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials could transform the field of biomedical implants.

Ultra-Sensitive Photoacoustic Microscopy Enables New Biomedical Applications

A research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) developed a multi-spectral, super-low-dose photoacoustic microscopy system with a significant improvement in the system sensitivity limit, enabling new biomedical applications and clinical translation in the future.

Programmable 3D Printed Wound Dressing Improves Treatment for Burn, Cancer Patients

One of the challenges in treating burn victims is the frequency of dressing changes, which can be extremely painful. To bring relief to this pain and related problems, researchers have created a new type of wound dressing material using advanced polymers.

Highly Sensitive Biosensor Detects Extremely Small Changes in Tears, Blood

Researchers from Japan have developed a novel, wireless, parity-time symmetry-based bioresonator that can detect minute concentrations of tear glucose and blood lactate.

3D Printed Insoles Measure Sole Pressure Directly in Shoe

Researchers are developing a 3D-printed insole with integrated sensors that allows the pressure of the sole to be measured in the shoe and thus during any activity. This helps athletes or patients to determine performance and therapy progress.

Smart Stitches Reduce Infection, Simplify Post-Op Monitoring

Surgical site infections are one of the most common medical infections, occurring in 2–4 percent of patients post-surgery.

Analyzing Sweat via Microelectronic Fibers for Noninvasive Health Monitoring

The fiber could lead to fiber-based smart clothes that provide greater versatility in functions, larger sensing areas, and greater comfort.

Transparent Bio-Friendly Sensor Measures Temperature Changes by Light

Researchers have developed a transparent temperature sensor capable of precisely and quickly measuring temperature changes caused by light.

Microscope Could Speed Up and Simplify Breast Cancer Treatment

Researchers have developed an ultra-tiny endo-microscope that could help improve breast cancer treatment and cut NHS waiting lists.

Flexible Surgical Needle Offers Enhanced Precision

Engineers have developed an innovative surgical needle whose trajectory can be corrected on the fly, thanks to a flexible tip controlled with a simple button.

Wearables: Gold Sensor Performs On-Body Chemical Analysis

Researchers have created a special ultrathin sensor, spun from gold, that can be attached directly to the skin without irritation or discomfort.

Self-Cleaning Optical Fiber Can Help in Diagnosing Cancer, Monitoring Environment

Researchers have successfully developed a novel optical fiber design allowing the generation of rainbow laser light in the molecular fingerprint...

Nontoxic, Variable-Stiffness Threads Enable Dexterous Cardiac Catheters

Engineers at EPFL and ETH have developed a variable stiffness catheter made of nontoxic threads that can transition between soft and rigid states during surgery. It may...

Biosensor Monitors Disease Severity

Hokkaido University scientists and colleagues have designed a prototype biosensor that detects levels of ATP and lactates in a patient’s blood.

COVID-19: Scientists Develop Method to Disinfect PPE for Safe Reuse

A team has successfully developed a method for disinfecting PPE so it can be reused or safely recycled.