R&D

Nylon Provides Building Block for Electronic Devices

Thin nylon films are several 100 times thinner than human hair and could thus be attractive for applications in bendable electronic devices or for electronics in clothing. The researchers...

Hydrogel Fights Orthopedic Bone Infections

Researchers have a developed a double-duty hydrogel that both attacks the bacteria and encourages bone regrowth with a single application containing two active components.

Technology Reveals How AI Makes Decisions

Researchers have developed a technology that reveals the criteria AI systems use when making decisions. The innovative Spectral Relevance Analysis (SpRAy) method based on Layer-wise Relevance...

Hydration Sensor Could Improve Dialysis

A new portable sensor can accurately measure patients’ hydration levels using a technique known as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry. Such a device could be useful for not only dialysis...

Microfluidics Device Helps Diagnose Sepsis

A novel sensor could dramatically accelerate the process of diagnosing sepsis, a leading cause of death in U.S. hospitals that kills nearly 250,000 patients annually. To diagnose sepsis, doctors...

Medical Camera Could Cut Costs and Time

Researchers have developed a camera to detect and image radioactive tracers used in PET and in SPECT scans at the same time, with the hope of enabling doctors to scan patients for abnormalities in less...

Programmable Soft Actuators for Soft Robotics

Researchers have developed highly programmable actuators that, similar to the human hand, combine soft and hard materials to perform complex movements. These materials have great potential for soft...

Probe Detects Kidney Failure Early

Researchers have developed a type of imaging probe that allows for earlier detection of acute kidney failure, a rapidly developing condition that can be fatal. The new renal probes, which have been tested...

Cancer Lab-on-a-Chip Enables Personalized Treatment

A new generation of pathology labs mounted on chips is set to revolutionize the detection and treatment of cancer by using devices as thin as a human hair to analyze bodily fluids. The...

Improving Afib Detection after Stroke

A new method of evaluating irregular heartbeats outperformed the approach that’s currently used widely in stroke units to detect instances of atrial fibrillation (Afib). The technology, called...

Artificial Throat Helps Mute Speak

Scientists have developed a thinner, skin-like artificial throat that would adhere to the neck like a temporary tattoo. To make their artificial throat, the researchers laser-scribed graphene on a thin...

Harvesting Energy from the Human Knee

An energy harvester attached to the wearer’s knee can generate 1.6 μW of power while the wearer walks without any increase in effort. The energy is enough to power small electronics like health...

Multitasking Exoskeleton for Rehab

A new multitasking exoskeleton can be used for any of an entire arm’s eight movements that originate from the shoulder, elbow, or wrist joints. Detachable parts allow the therapist to focus on a single...

Palm-Sized 3D Ultrasound for Scoliosis Mass Screening

Researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind palm-sized 3D ultrasound imaging system for radiation-free scoliosis assessment. Named “Scolioscan Air,” the system is designed to bring...

AI Enables Low-Dose CT Scans

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) technique that uses image post-processing to rapidly convert low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans to images of superior quality, compared to low-dose...

‘Stumbling Device’ Helps Improve Prosthetic Legs

Researchers are addressing the tendency to stumble in lower-body prosthetics by understanding the way people with two legs catch themselves. They accomplished this by covering test subjects...

Virtual Biopsy Device Detects Skin Tumors

Using sound vibrations and pulses of near-infrared light, a new “virtual biopsy” device can quickly determine a skin lesion's depth and potential malignancy without using a scalpel. The...

Apple Watch Shows Promise in Detecting AFib

Researchers presented study findings showing that the Apple Watch was able to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) in people who received an alert of an irregular heartbeat. These findings highlight how...

Graphene Monolayer Improves Implantable Neurostim Devices

One of the most commonly used elements in neurostimulation devices is platinum microelectrodes, but they are prone to corrosion, which can reduce the functional lifetime of the devices....

Cable-Free Brain Imaging

Existing electrophysiological and fluorescence-based brain imaging techniques in mice are generally invasive, require head fixes or cables, and are not suitable for long-term recordings. While there have been recent...

Laser Diode Based on Organic Semiconductors

Researchers have demonstrated that a long-elusive kind of laser diode based on organic semiconductors is indeed possible, paving the way for the further expansion of lasers in applications such as...

3D Printed Device Detects Biomarkers of Preterm Birth

Researchers have created a 3D printed microchip electrophoresis device that can sensitively detect three serum biomarkers of PTB.

Engineers Develop More Stable, Efficient Prosthetic Foot

Engineers have developed a more stable prosthetic leg — and a better way of designing them — that could make challenging terrain more manageable for people who have lost a lower leg....

Sensor-Packed Glove Could Aid Prosthetic Design

Researchers have compiled a massive dataset that enables an AI system to recognize objects through touch alone. Signals are collected by a user wearing a sensor-packed glove while handling a...

AI Spots Lung Cancer Before Radiologists

Deep learning — a form of artificial intelligence — was able to detect malignant lung nodules on low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) scans with a performance meeting or exceeding that of expert...

Soft Tissue Substitute Offers Fewer Side Effects

Researchers have invented a synthetic soft tissue substitute that is well tolerated and encourages the growth of soft tissue and blood vessels. This new material retains its shape without being...

Monitoring Vital Signs Using Radar

A radar system can wirelessly monitor the vital signs of patients, eliminating the need to hook them up to any machines.

Earlier Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy with Smartphone ArtificiaI Intelligence

A novel pairing of two technologies may offer a solution for better screening for diabetic retinopathy, a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if not...

Self-Powered Wearable Tech

Researchers have created highly stretchable supercapacitors for powering wearable electronics. The newly developed supercapacitor has demonstrated solid performance and stability, even when it is stretched to 800...