Medical Devices

There are many wearable technology products that focus on getting the user moving. Nowhere is this more relevant than in inpatient monitoring in a clinical setting.

Diabetes is unrivaled amongst modern health issues. The World Health Organisation reports that there are 422 million adults living with diabetes in 2017, and the number is expected to rise to 640 million by 2040.

Electronic skin patches could well be described as the ultimate wearable electronic devices. IDTechEx's latest market research report covers the entire product ecosystem for smart skin patches.

In the recently published IDTechEx market report titled Fiber Lasers 2018-2028: Technologies, Opportunities, Markets & Forecasts, Dr Nilushi Wijeyasinghe explores how recent fiber laser technology developments affect the growth of key market segments.

Multifunctional probes are extremely useful for research purposes, as they allow the recording of neural activity simultaneously alongside stimulation via drug administration or light (as is the case with optogenetics).

European Commission's Horizon 2020 SME (small-medium sized enterprises) Instrument recently announced Sensars Neuroprosthetics as a Phase 1 recipient for funding of their SENSY technology. Phase 1 recipients receive €50000 in funding for 6 months to execute a feasibility study and draft a 10-page business proposal. This is intended to bring the technology from the idea to concept stage. There are currently 2813 participants, 2750 projects coordinated, and 1094,87M€ allocated to the Horizon 2020 SME Instrument.

The University of Florida performs its first retinal implant with the Argus II by Second Sight. The Argus II is an epiretinal implant consisting of an inner electrode array placed in the eye where it can stimulate the remaining cells in the retina, effectively taking the place of the rod and cone cells that have died off due to degenerative retinal diseases like retinitis pigmetosa.