Medical Devices

A team researchers has developed an ultra-thin wireless device that grows to the surface of bone and could someday help physicians monitor bone health and healing over long periods. The devices are called osseosurface electronics.

The Diabetes Technology Meeting is an annual event hosted by the Diabetes Technology Society (DTS), a nonprofit organization established in 2001 by Dr David C. Klonoff. The aim of the Meeting is to "connect technology developers and users to facilitate the creation of new and cost-effective tools to help people with diabetes".

Over the past decade, wearables have progressed from a niche curiosity on the fringes of the consumer electronics sector, to being a key strategic element for many of the largest technology companies in the world. The total market for wearable technology products has doubled in annual revenue since 2015, generating nearly $80bn in revenue in 2020. However, with momentum, product trends, and focuses shifting all the time, it is important to stay ahead of the competition and consider the trends which will drive the sector over the coming years and decades.

Researchers are developing a smart dental implant that resists bacterial growth and generates its own electricity through chewing and brushing to power a tissue-rejuvenating light.

Microtech Ventures have organised a series of events moving more towards the direction of medical wearables and sensors. Events progressed from "Medical MEMS and Sensors", to "Medical Wearables", and now onto a subset within that of "Cardio Wearables". This online event took place with around 100 attendees in August 2021, with presentations from companies, academics, researchers and physicians across three days.

The development of new technology often creates new opportunities to provide value to customers in new products. Electronic textiles have hundreds of potential use cases, many of which are being explored by different companies around the world. So where is the "killer app" for e-textiles?

Researchers know that electricity can help speed up bone healing, but "zapping" fractures has never really caught on, since it requires surgically implanting and removing electrodes powered by an external source.

Using a new 3D printing process, researchers have discovered how to tailor-make artificial body parts and other medical devices with built-in functionality that offers better shape and durability, while cutting the risk of bacterial infection at the same time.

To help patients manage their mental wellness between appointments, researchers have developed a smart device-based electronic platform that can continuously monitor the state of hyperarousal, one of the signs of psychiatric distress. They said this advanced technology could read facial cues, analyze voice patterns and integrate readings from built-in vital signs sensors on smartwatches to determine if a patient is under stress.

Bandages are great for covering wounds, but they would be much more useful if they could also detect infections. By embedding nanosensors in the fibers of a bandage, researchers have created a continuous, noninvasive way to detect and monitor an infection in a wound.