Medical Gadgets

You know how times have changed when you see that clothes are no longer just fashion statements that help keep you warm while looking sharp, as they have evolved to pack in technology that will help soothe you whenever it detects that you are suffering from tension and stress. This is made possible via its double layers which houses bio sensors inside the shirt that picks up the wearer’s stress levels, sending signals to corresponding LEDs connected to the shirt. The higher the stress levels, the faster the LEDs will blink, where therapy will then be recommended via stimulation of specific areas located on the shirt. Creepy…

Source: Newlaunches

There are far more people than just parents that have to worry about the changing of diapers.  There are the obvious ones within daycare and preschool.  Then there are those that work within hospitals that take care of young children as well as the elderly.  This diaper monitor system was developed for the elderly to make life easier on those caring for them.  However, there are plenty of other areas in which a device like this could easily be used.

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Hey, isn’t that Reese Witherspoon? I didn’t know she was into biking and drinking honey tea! Seriously, it’s some model wearing the Headtime scalp massager.

Yes, it is supposed to make your head feel better, but I guarantee that it won’t make it look better. In fact, if you were to look at the inside of the helmet, you might not feel so good at all.

There is about 29 silicon balls for acupressure and 34 ceramic balls. I believe that these little spinners have these soft spikes on them. I believe that the purpose of it is to spin and soothe your aching brow. Apparently, this is much better than someone else rubbing your head to relieve you of your pain. I’m guessing that it won’t get caught in your hair, or only bald people like Lex Luthor could use it.

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While vaccines for the H1N1 flu virus is ready to be used, not all countries are going to get it. Still, the initial fear of catching this potentially fatal virus has somewhat died down, with less and less people being seen wearing face masks these days when outdoors. As for folks who do not want to take the chance, there is the H1N1 Destroying UV Wand from Hammacher to help you out.

This UV wand eliminates the H1N1 virus from surfaces using safe UV-C light – the same technology trusted to sanitize hospital surfaces. Tests performed by an independent antimicrobial testing laboratory showed the wand destroyed 99.98% of the H1N1 virus after a five-second exposure when held 3/4″ above the contaminated surface. Also capable of killing MRSA, mold, and dust mites, the UV-C light penetrates viral and bacterial membranes and destroys their DNA, rendering the microorganisms incapable of reproduction and survival. Unlike liquid disinfectants, UV-C light can sanitize keyboards, upholstered furniture, cell phones, or any delicate surface that harbors germs. The cordless wand shuts off automatically if the light is turned upward. Operates for 90 minutes after an eight-hour charge via AC.

$69.95 for the H1N1 Destroying UV Wand sure beats paying hefty hospital bills if you were to be admitted, but what are the odds of you catching it? Also, isn’t this a case of being a little too late? We’re pretty sure it might’ve done much better when released at the peak of the virus’ spread.

This digital microscope made from a cellphone and $10 in parts could revolutionize bush medicine.

First there was the One Laptop Per Child laptop for under $100, now an engineer has created a $10 do it yourself microscope out of a cellphone!

The vision of engineering professor Aydogan Ozcan of UCLA, the microscope uses a cellphone and ten dollars ($10) of off the shelf parts. The idea is pretty groundbreaking and could help doctors who seek to diagnose illnesses in the “bush” areas of the third world where sophisticated lab equipment simply isn’t available.

The idea is pretty ingenious. Rather than take a slide and magnify it, the cellphone microsope can image the slide sample and send it wirelessly to the nearest hospital laboratory. But with special “app” software developed by Ozcan, the cellphones can also detect abnormal shaping of bloodcells which could show signs of infection.

And there’s even a special microscope box which can connect to a cellphone which can then transmit the data where it needs to go.

“There’s no need for regular microscope lenses anymore because the software can magnify the cells electronically,” said Ozcan, “by creating a hologram that can image several cells at the same time and analyze how they interact. We can learn a lot in seconds.”

And in a world where infectious disease can strike hundreds in a few hours, this invention can save lives to boot. My only question is, when will we see the iPhone app?

Hat Tip – the NYTimes via The Giz

Emergencies and accidents are often unexpected, and can prove to be fatal if there is insufficient information concerning the victim available during the rescue process. After all, when one is severely injured in an accident, stricken by an allergic reaction, or impaired by a stroke, heart attack or seizure, how can your important health and medical information be relayed to first responders? Short of carrying highly personal stacks of health records and lists of prescriptions that you are currently on wherever you go, how about storing everything onto the new 911 Medical ID? The 911 Medical ID is the thinnest USB medical information storage device in the world on the market at the moment, and it sure beats copying health information onto form after form by hand at your local doctor’s office, eh?

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Iomai Corp. is back with a new way to deliver vaccines for those who are uncomfortable with needles and syringes. Their new method will deal with the idea of vaccinatnig patients through their skin, where one will take full advantage of the high density of Langerhans cells in the epidermis in order to activate an amplified immune response. Along the same vein (pun not intended), since transcutaneous vaccination does not involve systemic exposure, one is able to utilize more potent immune stimulants for greater effect. The afore-mentioned factors coupled with its needle-less procedure help position transcutaneous vaccination as an appealing option since one will require less vaccine for an equal immune response, resulting in even more cost savings in the long run. Apart from that, having the vaccine in a dry, patch form enables it to last a whole lot longer sans refrigeration, with research pointing validity of the vaccine up to a whopping 6 months.

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Are you the type who loves running, and must clock your miles regardless of the weather? If you have answered in the affirmative, chances are you would have a treadmill sitting prominently in your living room or basement as you rack up those frequent runner miles whenever it rains or snows heavily outside, trying to outdo your best time. Unfortunately for runners and avid joggers, experiencing injury and stress at your joints could throw your running plan literally off track as you take time to rehabilitate. AlterG has other ideas though with their new anti-gravity treadmill known as the M300, where this model is much cheaper than the original anti-gravity treadmill developed at NASA, boasting a sleek new design which will totally go down well in any home as your guests “ooh” and “aah” over the exercise equipment that is your pride and joy.

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