Medical Gadgets
“Printing” Body Parts – The Future is Now
It is amazing to me what technology is capable of, and everyday I learn something that makes me wonder just how close we will actually come to some of the fictitious “marvels” seen on the sci-fi movies I used to love. Space travel, whole body health scanners, robotic arms and limbs. I wish I could live an extra 100 years just to see how far progress will take us. I have to say though, I am already impressed.
An 83 year old woman who was afflicted with a bone wasting disease that had claimed most of her lower jaw and left her unable to properly eat, or speak was the recipient of the very first 3-D printed jawbone. The jawbone, was made completely of a titanium powder sintered together layer by layer. (Sintering I have learned, is the process of taking a powdered substance and placing it in a mold, and heating it above its melting point.) Continue reading » “Printing” Body Parts – The Future is Now
Head patch watches over stroke patients’ blood flow in brains
Stroke is one of the silent killers just like heart attacks, and the amount of damage it does to the body varies, with many of those who suffered from a stroke before having to live with limited movement as well as slurred speech. Not only that, statistics show that nearly 33% of stroke patients experience another stroke – all the while when they are still stuck in the hospital. Nurses assigned to such patients will have to go the extra mile then to keep a close eye on them, and also to help arrange for such patients to undergo additional tests if they fall under the category of being a high risk case of getting another stroke.
It is rather unfortunate that such tests can prove to be invasive, and in some cases are even potentially harmful to the patient. Good thing advancements in modern medical technology brings good news – there is a spanking new device that is being developed at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, which might eventually be able to monitor the potential advent of another stroke through the simple act of shining light onto a patient’s forehead.
Continue reading » Head patch watches over stroke patients’ blood flow in brains
For Valentine’s Day Give the Gift of Conception…
Okay, so we’ve reported on GIANTmicrobes before, I’m sure you remember the humorously educational stuffed toys modeled on electron micrographs, then enlarged a million times it’s actual size. Each plush including it’s micrograph image and all the info about the microbe it represents. The collection is still growing, with nearly 100 microbes in the series including the Common Cold, Brain Cells, Kissing Disease, Ebola, Bed Bugs and more. I mean, is there anyone among us that doesnt know someone that can use an extra brain cell? and how about the person that always complains that you gave them a cold? Well, really do it this time!
Anyway, GIANTmicrobes has a brand new Valentines day line up you probably don’t want to miss, starting with the sure to be popular, Sperm & Egg Panorama Gift Boxes, each of these 3 sets includes one GIANTmicrobes Egg Cell plush and one GIANTmicrobes mini Sperm Cell plush that attach by way of magnets, showcased in one of 3 very romantic scenes, or perhaps a Kissing Disease plush is more your style, as she blows kisses when you touch her lips and says “I love you” in five languages… Or for those of you who miss all the warm and fuzzy feelings some get from Valentines day, there’s always the Heart Burned collection, a lovely boxed set that includes, Herpes, Chlamydia, Pox, HPV and thankfully, Penicillin.
Continue reading » For Valentine’s Day Give the Gift of Conception…
The Smartphone ECG- You Knew it was Coming
Okay, so it used to be that smartphone healthcare applications were simply novelty items that were fun to play around with but served no place in mainstream medicine, but didn’t we suspect that someday your phone or tablet might actually help physicians to save lives and reduce the cost of care?
Welcome Everist Genomics, a relatively new, but fast growing medical technologies company, that has just successfully integrated smartphone and tablet computer technology with truly innovative and finally, medically valuable diagnostics in the areas of cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, (like diabetes) and even cancer. So meet Everist Genomics’ CardioDefender. The CardioDefender is the world’s first FDA-approved smartphone ECG (electrocardiogram) system that can actually provide physicians and patients with hospital-quality heart rhythm monitoring all done OUTSIDE of the hospital setting. Continue reading » The Smartphone ECG- You Knew it was Coming
Traveler’s Circulation Enhancing Leg Massager
For folks who tend to do a whole lot of traveling, you would certainly know all the relevant exercises to release the tension of your body, including performing the right kind of exercises on your calves and rotating your feet from time to time, which works great if you happen to be on a long haul flight. Well, thanks to the wonders and advances of technology, we now have the $39.95 Traveler’s Circulation Enhancing Leg Massager.
This cordless device is said to improve circulation in your leg whenever you travel. The device will wrap itself around a calf, where it can inflate and deflate automatically, in order to facilitate the expansion and contraction of calf muscles so that there will not be any swelling in the long run, while blood flow will be enhanced. You can set it to cycle through three different compression levels, where each program takes around 15 minutes. Powered by a couple of AA batteries, it can fits up to a 20″ diameter calf.
Wahoo introduces Fitness Blue HR
Wahoo might sound like a play on Yahoo!, especially for those who are familiar with the Mario video game character and his evil nemesis, the ever greedy Wario. Well, all I want to say is this, Wahoo Fitness is something else altogether, and it is very far removed from the world of gaming. It is, after all, the leader in smartphone fitness technology, and they have announced the Wahoo Fitness Blue HR, touted to be the world’s first Bluetooth Smart heart rate monitor.
Sporting the latest in Bluetooth technology, the Blue HR (which stands for Heart Rate) will be able to communicate directly with the iPhone 4S as well as other Bluetooth Smart Ready devices, giving users the opportunity to check out real-time heart rate readings on their smartphone device. You will be able to use Wahoo’s Blue HR and the fitness app of your choice, clearly placing your heart rate data, music playlists, smartphone functions, and GPS maps amongst others in a single place.
Continue reading » Wahoo introduces Fitness Blue HR
Bionic contact lens sends emails right to your eyes
I myself am still rather apprehensive when it comes to wearing a pair of contact lenses, as I still feel that there is something in there which I just need to remove. I guess it will take some time to get used to it compared to those who have worn contacts since time immemorial, but here is a cool idea – what if the contact lens of the future is injected with technology that we never would have thought existed? I’m talking about a pair of bionic contact lens that is capable of projecting emails before your very eyes.
Yes sir, the whole idea of this particular pair of contact lenses is to stream real-time information right to the front of your eyes, and initial tests in animal trials have proved successful according to the scientists behind the project. Imagine wearing your contact lens and reading floating texts as well as e-mails that fly into your inbox without missing a beat, or perhaps even augmenting your sight using computer-generated images just like in the movie Terminator.
Continue reading » Bionic contact lens sends emails right to your eyes
Jawbone UP targets a healthier you
I know that most of us do have a fitness regime of sorts, even if it involves lifting up the remote control, but the undeniable fact is this – if you want to keep fit and stay trim, don’t you think that it is about time you got off the sofa, stopped snacking on chips and fizzy drinks and start sweating it out at the gym? Yes sir, that is what I’m talking about, and Jawbone wants to help you out with the Jawbone UP – where it has been described as a “revolutionary system” which comprises of a small wristband and an app on your iPhone and iPod touch.
Both the software and the hardware will work in tandem in order to track your daily activity, sleep patterns, as well as eating habits so that you are better able to live a healthier life. Since we all know that most people last longer when they exercise in groups due to motivational factors as well as having peers to cheer you onwards, the Jawbone UP will also integrate a social experience as you can subscribe to personal and team challenges which are specifically tailored to help you achieve your goals.
Continue reading » Jawbone UP targets a healthier you
