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The Argus
II Retinal Prosthesis System
Photo: Second Sight Medical
Products
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Future's
brighter, gotta wear shades
SAN FRANCISCO — A novel retinal implant that restores
low-level vision has received FDA approval to proceed
to clinical trial.
The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis
System, a second-generation retinal implant, was developed
by researchers from the Doheny Eye Institute at the
University of Southern California, who made the announcement
at the American Association for the Advancement of Science
meeting on February 17. The prototype device, which
had only 16 electrodes to the new version's 60 —
has already helped six patients recover limited vision.
The implant is designed to correct
retinal damage caused by retinitis pigmentosa —
a group of hereditary diseases in which the photoreceptor
cells of the retina are damaged, leading to progressive
vision loss — and macular degeneration, the leading
cause of blindness in the elderly.
Patients must wear glasses rigged
with a tiny video camera that transmits incoming visual
information to a computer. Those signals are then sent
to the implant, which translates them into electrical
impulses that are then sent to the brain. It's not unlike
the device worn by blind Star Trek: the Next Generation
character Geordi LaForge.
Researchers hope the increase in
the number of electrodes will allow patients to see
higher resolution images than with the original model.
The implant won't allow patients to recover 20-20 vision.
"This is not something that's going to replace the natural
vision that you and I have," Dr Jim Weiland, a member
of the research team, said. "But I do expect that there
will be some benefit... in terms of providing some ability
to make out imagery and navigate about."
The
Motion M5
Photo:
Courtesy of Intel |
Klutz-proof
mini-computer brings EHR into 21st C
SAN FRANCISCO — Motion M5, the ultimate computerized
notepad designed just for healthcare professionals,
is now ready to order, manufacturer Intel reported on
February 20. The mobile clinical assistant (MCA) is
"lightweight, spill-resistant, drop-tolerant and easily
disinfected," according to Intel, allowing "access to
up-to-the-minute patient records and to document a patient's
condition instantly, enhancing clinical workflow while
reducing the staff's administrative workload." For the
tech-savvy consumer, the device features an Intel Core
Solo Processor U1400 (1.20GHz) with an impressive 512MB
RAM and a 30GB hard drive.
The Motion M5 is equipped with
radio frequency identification (RFID) to allow quick
and easy logon, Bluetooth technology to capture patients'
vital signs and fingerprint authentication to gain access
to confidential patient information. It even has a built-in
digital camera to document progress, or just to show
off your handiwork to colleagues. All these bells and
whistles don't come cheap — the Motion M5 costs
$2,100US. A docking station with battery charging bay,
a DVD burner and Motion Medical Pak Software (with handwriting
recognition) are extra.
Pilot studies are currently underway
at the University of California, San Francisco to assess
whether this MCA improves workflow and to gauge user
satisfaction.
HOWARD
Photo: courtesy of University
of California, Irvine |
Meet
HOWARD, a stroke patient's right hand robot
IRVINE, CA — A new "robotic therapy" device that
strengthens stroke victims' hands during rehab has been
developed by researchers at the University of California,
Irvine. The Hand-Wrist Assisting Robotic Device (HOWARD)
was unveiled at the American Stroke Association's International
Stroke Conference 2007, after having been used successfully
in a small pilot study. The device, a robotic arm that
aids the patient's hand in gripping objects and moving,
was tested on 13 patients who'd suffered a stroke at
least three months before the beginning of the trial
resulting in reduced hand function.
"Most spontaneous improvement in
function occurs in the first three months after a stroke,
and after that things tend to plateau," said lead researcher
Dr Steven Cramer in a release. HOWARD helps patients
move in ways they may otherwise have been unable to,
thereby teaching the brain — not just the muscles
— how to make the full movement again.
After 30 hours of practice grasping
and releasing objects, patients' average scores rose
almost 20% on a simple dexterity test. A "son of HOWARD"
is in development now, with more ability to customize
treatment to patients' needs.
T-Ray imaging technology
Photo: RPI |
T-rays
take "quantum leap"
TROY, NY — The next wave of imaging technology
is nearly upon us, in the form of terahertz spectrometry,
a kind of electromagnetic pulse also called T-rays.
A new miniaturized version of the T-ray equipment has
been developed by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute physics
PhD candidate Brian Schulkin. The device, which he calls
the Mini-Z, weighs less than 3kg. Previous attempts
at building T-ray devices yielded huge, expensive machines
that were not viable in a clinical setting.
T-rays are safer than x-rays and
do not require contact like ultrasound, making them
potentially applicable in safer cancer tumour imaging,
as well as non-medical uses like spotting counterfeit
money, picking up explosives in airport security checks,
and even in monitoring foam insulation in the space
shuttle.
His supervisor enthusiastically
lauded Mr Schulkin, saying he has made "a quantum leap
in robustness."
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