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Study finds previously unrecognized way that degradation can occur in silicone-urethane plastics

Scientists have discovered a previously unrecognized way that degradation can occur in silicone-urethane plastics that are often considered for use in medical devices. Their study, published in ACS' journal Macromolecules, could have implications for device manufacturers considering use of these plastics in the design of some implantable devices, including cardiac defibrillation leads.

7 Dec 2012

Advance Study to evaluate safety and benefit of DBS-f for patients with mild Alzheimer's

The first U.S. patient to enroll in Functional Neuromodulation's ADvance Study was successfully implanted with a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system. ADvance will evaluate the safety and potential clinical benefit of DBS of the fornix (DBS-f), a major inflow and output pathway in the brain's memory circuit, for patients with mild Alzheimer's.

7 Dec 2012

Scientists evaluate two different strategies to treat Usher syndrome

After years of basic research, scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) are increasingly able to understand the mechanisms underlying the human Usher syndrome and are coming ever closer to finding a successful treatment approach. The scientists in the Usher research group of Professor Dr. Uwe Wolfrum are evaluating two different strategies. These involve either the repair of mutated genes or the deactivation of the genetic defects using agents.

6 Dec 2012

New method promises to boost stem cell production in laboratory

A new method for generating stem cells from mature cells promises to boost stem cell production in the laboratory, helping to remove a barrier to regenerative medicine therapies that would replace damaged or unhealthy body tissues.

5 Dec 2012

How technology is introducing new twists into health privacy protections

The U.S. has strict privacy laws guaranteeing people access to traditional health files. But implants and other new technologies-;including smartphone apps and over-the-counter monitors-;are testing the very definition of medical records.

From Medtronic 30 Nov 2012

Engineers develop simple and inexpensive way to create 3-D brain tissues in lab dishes

Borrowing from microfabrication techniques used in the semiconductor industry, MIT and Harvard Medical School (HMS) engineers have developed a simple and inexpensive way to create three-dimensional brain tissues in a lab dish.

30 Nov 2012

Mazor Robotics third quarter revenue increases 171% to $4.2/16.2 million NIS

Mazor Robotics Ltd., a developer of innovative surgical robots and complementary products, today filed its financial statements with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.

27 Nov 2012

Enrollment complete in Tryton's Pivotal IDE Side Branch Stent trial to treat bifurcation lesions

Tryton Medical, Inc., the leading developer of stents designed to definitively treat bifurcation lesions, today announced the completion of enrollment in the TRYTON Pivotal IDE trial evaluating the Tryton Side Branch Stent.

26 Nov 2012

Study confirms high biocompatibility of polymeric materials with brain tissue

Professor José Miguel Soria, a member of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, has co-directed with Professor Manuel Monleón of the Universitat Politècnica de València a study on the compatibility of polymeric biomaterials in the brain and its effectiveness to favour neuroregeneration in areas with some kind of damage or brain injury.

26 Nov 2012

Researchers stream braille patterns directly into a blind patient's retina

For the very first time researchers have streamed braille patterns directly into a blind patient's retina, allowing him to read four-letter words accurately and quickly with an ocular neuroprosthetic device.

22 Nov 2012

No differences between computer-navigated and traditional TKA related to knee function, pain

For many years, the use of computer-assisted navigation has been touted as improving the positioning, sizing and alignment of replacement knee joints, resulting in greater durability of joints and overall improvement in patient movement. However, new research published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) found no difference in knee function, alignment or durability/survivorship between joints positioned and completed with the help of computer navigation, and those replaced with conventional total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures.

21 Nov 2012

New fiber-optic device can deliver light to the brain in 3D

A new tool for neuroscientists delivers a thousand pinpricks of light to a chunk of gray matter smaller than a sugar cube. The new fiber-optic device, created by biologists and engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, is the first tool that can deliver precise points of light to a 3-D section of living brain tissue. The work is a step forward for a relatively new but promising technique that uses gene therapy to turn individual brain cells on and off with light.

19 Nov 2012

Carl Zeiss Meditec introduces new family of OCT products at 2012 AAO-APAO Joint Meeting

Medical technology manufacturer Carl Zeiss Meditec introduced a new family of OCT products spanning the full spectrum of multi-modality imaging for retinal disease and glaucoma at the 2012 Joint Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in Chicago.

17 Nov 2012

Researchers create new artificial human eye lens

Drawing heavily upon nature for inspiration, a team of researchers has created a new artificial lens that is nearly identical to the natural lens of the human eye. This innovative lens, which is made up of thousands of nanoscale polymer layers, may one day provide a more natural performance in implantable lenses to replace damaged or diseased human eye lenses, as well as consumer vision products; it also may lead to superior ground and aerial surveillance technology.

14 Nov 2012

Blood flow, temperature, reveal relationship between dental implants and healthy teeth

Blood flow in the tissue surrounding dental implants is reduced compared with that found around adjacent natural teeth, and the surface temperature of this implant-associated tissue is higher, show study results.

13 Nov 2012

Two-level cervical disc from LDR receives approvable letter from U.S. FDA

LDR, a privately held medical device company offering innovative spinal implants for both non-fusion and fusion applications, announced that it has received an Approvable Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Mobi-C® Cervical Disc (Mobi-C). Mobi-C is a metal and polyethylene mobile bearing prosthesis specifically designed as a low-profile cervical intervertebral disc replacement for both one and two level applications.

7 Nov 2012

Characteristics of both patient and surgeon can affect dental implants’ success

Characteristics of both patient and surgeon can affect the success of dental implants. A 10-year study finds that patient risk factors such as grinding teeth or diabetes increase the odds of implant failure. It also associates higher implant failure rates with surgeons who have less than 5 years of experience.

7 Nov 2012

FDA clears X-spine’s new Fortex and Certex system

X-spine, a global leader in the design and manufacture of devices for the treatment of spinal disease, today announced two new USFDA clearances for spinal systems: The Fortex CoCr Rod System and the Certex Cervico-thoracic Fixation System.

2 Nov 2012

Implant-based breast reconstruction has disadvantages

Implant-based breast reconstruction, particularly immediate reconstruction, is associated with a higher failure rate than a free flap technique in obese people, suggest researchers.

1 Nov 2012

Columbia Asia Hospitals conducts successful cochlear implants and BAHA surgery

Loss of hearing may not be a life threatening condition but it can certainly affect the quality of life and hamper a child’s normal growth. Deafness identified early helps address the challenges involved in the normal development of the child, including speech, which usually gets affected. Columbia Asia Hospitals across India has been conducting Cochlear implants and BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) very successfully.

30 Oct 2012