Friday, March 19, 2010

BrainLab Takes iPhone-like Digital Lightbox to Next Logical Step

We have previously mentioned that BrainLab's Digital Lightbox reminds us of a giant iPhone. Clearly agreeing with our way of thinking, last week at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons we saw BrainLab demonstrate an implementation of their knee navigation software that simply uses an iPhone/iPod Touch, coupled with a passive tracking attachment and iPhone App. The iPhone, with attached markers, is used to identify bony landmarks on the knee, which are then fed into the BrainLab software for 3-D guidance of knee surgery. The iPhone screen is used as the display, both for marker placement prompting and leg-alignment indicators during the procedure. Using the motion tracking sensor and the iPhone as an input and display, rather than the other solutions BrainLab supports (shown below), reduces the footprint needed in the OR.

There is no mention of the iPhone version of their imaging suite on the BrainLab website, but the FDA 510(K) clearance given for its Uni-Knee software does not define the display technology used, seemingly allowing this configuration.

uni-knee product page...

FDA 510K Summary...

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Hitachi Offers Its Own Take on Ultrasound Elastography

Filed under: Medicine , Oncology , Radiology , Surgery

Major ultrasound companies Siemens, GE, and Philips have all offered differing flavors of ultrasound elastography, and now Hitachi has entered the market with Hitachi Real-Time Tissue Elastography (HiRTE). Elastography is a technology that uses ultrasound to tell clinicians about the relative tissue hardness, approved in Europe for identifying firmer, possibly cancerous, regions of soft tissues such as liver, breast, and prostate. It uses the visualization of the propagation of mechanical waves through the tissue to derive either a shear wave velocity or a Young's modulus as a measure of tissues stiffness. Hitachi's claim about the measurement being real-time is in comparison to other providers of elastography which require post-processing of static images either at another workstation or after the image is taken. The Hitachi application will be part of its compact platform Hi Vision Avius.

From Diagnostic Imaging:

Hitachi Medical Systems has been a pioneer in the clinical development of elastography and is offering its own version of this technology, Hitachi Real-Time Tissue Elastography (HiRTE), as a key application on its new compact ultrasound platform, Hi Vision Avius, which follows last year's launch of the Hi Vision Preirus.
The application is part of a package of advanced product features on the new machine, including established technologies such as Hi Rez+ (tissue adaptive filtering), HdTHI (high-definition dynamic tissue harmonic imaging) and Hi Com (frequency and spatial compounding), as well as new features such as RVS (real-time virtual sonography). The latter is a software application that uses magnetic tracking sensors on the ultrasound transducer to display real-time freehand ultrasound images alongside synchronous other images.

Elastography may also have applications in cases of rectal cancer.

More from Diagnostic Imaging: Elastography advances feature prominently among ultrasound exhibits...

Product page: Hitachi Real-time Tissue Elastography (HI-RTE)

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Sneak Preview of Dr Nano X Game for iPhone

Filed under: Net News

Mission Critical Studios, makers of DR Nano iPhone game that we covered previously, is about to release the next version of the nanomedicine inspired video game.

Here's what a company rep tells us about the new version:

Dr Nano was basically a tunnel game in one environment. We took a different approach when creating Dr Nano X we treated as though we were creating a console game.
Dr Nano X has new characters, new worlds to explore in the Nano Verse on foot, sub and swimming.
New weapons... even a jetpack.

Dr Nano X is all about the mission. Using the Nano Shrink Ray and the Mysterious Osmotic Effect move through the NanoVerse on a mission to save your patients (s). Battle defective Nanobots, Parasites, Viruses and more.

Link: Mission Critical Studios...

Flashback: Dr. Nano Nanomedicine Video Game Comes to iPhone

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Study Claims First In-Vivo Gene Delivery

Filed under: in the news...

While gene therapy has seemed always just on the verge of being right around the corner, the limitation has always been delivery of the gene. How do you get the new gene to the right cells and activated? An in-vivo mice study in PNAS may take us closer to a usable delivery system. Rui Maeda-Mamiya of the University of Tokyo and others were able to get diabetic mice to increase their insulin levels after delivery of a insulin 2 gene by a water-soluble fullerene.

From the study abstract:

Water-soluble fullerenes are molecules with great potential for biological use because they can endow unique characteristics of amphipathic property and form a self-assembled structure by chemical modification. Effective gene delivery in vitro with tetra(piperazino)fullerene epoxide (TPFE) and its superiority to Lipofectin have been described in a previous report. For this study, we evaluated the efficacy of in vivo gene delivery by TPFE. Delivery of enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (EGFP) by TPFE on pregnant female ICR mice showed distinct organ selectivity compared with Lipofectin; moreover, higher gene expression by TPFE was found in liver and spleen, but not in the lung. No acute toxicity of TPFE was found for the liver and kidney, although Lipofectin significantly increased liver enzymes and blood urea nitrogen. In fetal tissues, neither TPFE nor Lipofectin induced EGFP gene expression. Delivery of insulin 2 gene to female C57/BL6 mice increased plasma insulin levels and reduced blood glucose concentrations, indicating the potential of TPFE-based gene delivery for clinical application. In conclusion, this study demonstrated effective gene delivery in vivo for the first time using a water-soluble fullerene.

PNAS Article Abstract: In vivo gene delivery by cationic tetraamino fullerene

Image from PDF of article.

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Envoy Esteem: First Totally Implantable Hearing System Gains FDA Approval

Filed under: ENT

The FDA has given approval for Envoy Medical's Esteem hearing system, the first totally implantable prosthetic for moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. The system detects vibrations at the eardrum, processes the signal digitally, then applies physical vibrations directly to the cochlea.

Clinical studies showed that 56% had improved hearing with the Envoy Esteem compared to their pre-implant hearing aids. However, 7% experienced facial paralysis and 42% experienced taste disturbance as a result of the surgical implantation of the device. Envoy will follow up with a new study of 120 subjects to further evaluate post-implantation complications and device effectiveness.

Video of how the Esteem works...

Press release: FDA APPROVES FIRST OF ITS KIND, FULLY IMPLANTABLE (SURGICALLY), INVISIBLE, PROSTHETIC HEARING RESTORATION DEVICE...

Product page: Envoy Esteem...

Flashbacks: Esteem Totally Implantable Hearing Device Under Consideration for Approval in US; Esteem Totally Implantable Hearing Device On Track for US Approval

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Cell Levitation to Build 3D Matrix Structures

Filed under: Genetics , Nanomedicine

Jokes about needing special glasses aside, Nature Nanotechnology published a letter on March 14, 2010 describing progress in three dimensional cell culture technology from Glauco Souza, et. al. at the Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. According to the research team, prior attempts at 3-D culture have included “protein based gel environments or rotational/agitation-based bioreactors” and yet “broad, practical application of such methods has not been achieved.” The novel method they describe uses magnetic fields to manipulate cells which have endocytosed “gold-hydrogels” which incorporate magnetic iron oxide. Once the cells have taken up the iron in the hydrogel, a magnetic field is applied which levitates the cells, allowing them to grow in a three dimensional architecture as opposed to the standard two dimensional fashion.

One benefit of this technology as reported in the letter is the flexibility of the cell culture medium. Current products available use a fixed chemical environment in their scaffolding to support three dimensional growth of cells. Because certain cell populations have specific metabolic requirements which must be met by the culture medium, the fixed chemical environment of existing 3-D culture techniques may preclude specific cell populations from being used. However, because this technology does not rely on a chemical environment, cell lines are not limited by the medium they grow in but rather the ability to take in the iron laced hydrogel.

The researchers state the potential applications of their work include “biotechnology, drug discovery, stem cell research, or regenerative medicine.” They go on to say, “Indeed, a potential long-term goal is the possibility of accomplishing the ‘engineering’ of normal tissues or complex organs.” The technology has been licensed to n3D Biosciences out of Houston, Texas.

M. D. Anderson press release: 3-D Cell Culture: Making Cells Feel Right at Home

Abstract in Nature Nanotechnology: Three-dimensional tissue culture based on magnetic cell levitation

Link: n3D Biosciences...

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Information Superhighway Through Your Arm

Filed under: in the news...

Scientists at Korea University in Seoul have demonstrated a prototype of a new biomonitoring system that transmits data through the body, replacing wires and minimizing the need for batteries.

The device is 300 micrometres thick and in a test, using a metal electrode coated with a flexible silicon-rich polymer, the researchers transmitted data at a rate of 10 megabits per second through a person's arm. The device was tested for skin safety after continuous wearing and the data was transmitted via low-frequency electromagnetic waves through the skin.

The technology may have implications for diagnostics, as it can be used to detect electric fluctuations as is currently done by ECG and EEG machines.

Read on at New Scientist: Human arm transmits broadband...

Abstract in Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering: Wearable polyimide-PDMS electrodes for intrabody communication

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Virtobot Performs Virtual Autopsies

Filed under: Pathology , Surgery

Virtobot is the name of a forensic robot used at the University of Bern's Institute of Forensic Medicine to perform virtual autopsies. In the futuristic Virtopsy laboratory, the robot scans the contours and texture of the human body by projecting light bars on it and acquiring high definition images. These data are combined with the CT images acquired by the scanner in the same room. A three dimensional image of the body is then reconstructed that can be used during forensic examinations and be preserved as long as necessary. Additionally, the robot can also perform CT guided biopsies. The US forces have already installed a Virtopsy laboratory at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to assess the cause of death of soldiers sent back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Video of the Virtobot in action:

Press release: Digital future heralded for forensic medicine...

The Virtopsy Project on Youtube...

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Retinal Implant First Results from Human Trial

Filed under: Ophthalmology

Retinal Implant AG from Reutlingen, Germany has announced the results of the first human trial of its subretinal implant. Eleven patients who lost their sight due to retinitis pigmentosa received the implant through surgical transchoroidal implantation. Energy was delivered to the implant via a retroauricular plug. Implantation was successful in all patients without any adverse events.

From the press release:

“I first noticed my eyesight was impaired at 16, and over a period of 16-17 years, my condition deteriorated to complete blindness,” said the 11th patient, a 45 year-old Finland-based male. “I knew there was a chance the implant wouldn’t enable me to see anything, but I was willing to participate in the research with the hope I would regain some sight. When the microchip was turned on, I immediately was able to distinguish light from dark and see outlines of objects. As I got used to the implant, my vision improved dramatically. I was able to form letters into words, even correcting the spelling of my name. I recognized foreign objects such as a banana and could distinguish between a fork, knife and spoon. Most impressively, I could recognize the outlines of people and differentiate heights and arm movements from 20 feet away.”

The implant was removed according to protocol after one or three months, but one study participant was apparently so happy with it that he refused explantation and now has been carrying the implant for four years. The study findings will be presented on May 3th on the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.