Articles tagged with Biomedical Engineering
The Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings program has released its 2012 ratings for adult football helmets, with three models earning a 5-star mark. The top-rated helmets are the Riddell Revolution Speed, Rawlings Quantum Plus and Riddell 360, which demonstrate improved safety features.
Researchers developed a superthin nanoglue based on polydimethylsiloxane, enhancing its adhesive properties through oxygen treatment. The breakthrough enables precise bonding of silicon wafers for new multilayered chip designs.
The Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences has published the first-ever data on head impacts from youth football players. The new study, called Kinematics of Impact Data Set (KIDS), aims to map the head impact exposure of youth football players across all age groups from 6 to 18 years.
Researchers developed a novel method to measure both blood pressure and arterial stiffness simultaneously using oscillometric measurements. The new index, API, accurately quantifies arterial stiffness and correlates with established methods, providing an early indicator of cardiovascular disease.
University of Michigan researchers use a liquid laser to detect genetic mutations that might predispose someone to a particular type of cancer. This new technique amplifies the difference in signals, making it hundreds of times brighter than current methods.
The Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences has received two new research projects from Toyota's Collaborative Safety Research Center. The projects aim to improve the understanding of traumatic brain injuries and abdominal injuries, with a focus on reducing risk in automobile impacts and foo...
Researchers from Virginia Tech have conducted the first study to investigate head impact characteristics in youth football. The study has collected data on over 400 head impacts experienced by a local youth team, revealing that most impacts are less severe and less frequent than in adult football.
Researchers developed a noninvasive technique called Electrocardiographic Imaging (ECGI) to map the source and pattern of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in just one heartbeat. The technology, which combines CT scans with electrocardiograms, can generate movies of VT excitation waves and reveal even more about the nature of the arrhythmia.
A new in vitro study reveals that dilating the tricuspid valve opening or displacing its papillary muscles can cause leakage, with combination of both increasing severity. The study's findings suggest improved diagnosis and treatment for tricuspid regurgitation, a condition affecting millions of Americans.
The Virginia Tech study provides a comprehensive rating system for adult football helmets, with the Riddell Revolution Speed earning the highest '5-star' rating. Five helmets received the '4-star' rating, including Schutt ION 4D and Xenith X1, which showed significant reductions in concussion risk.
Researchers have developed an advanced imaging technology to rapidly screen single-wall carbon nanotubes, which could be used in creating a new class of computers and electronics. The technique, called transient absorption, measures the metallicity of the tubes and may be combined with another laser to zap unwanted metallic nanotubes.
CWRU researcher Erin Lavik is developing synthetic platelets using nanotechnology to treat traumatic injuries. Her lab aims to fine-tune the artificial platelets and integrate them with drug delivery systems.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Vanderbilt University used an infrared laser to pace an avian embryonic heart, showing no harm to the tissue. This non-invasive device may help understand environmental factors affecting heart rate in embryos and develop new pacemakers.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University create method for pinpoint delivery of molecules to individual cells, enabling targeted cancer treatment. The technique uses gold nanowires coated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which triggers specific cellular responses without affecting surrounding cells.
Researchers discovered that adding proline and phenylalanine amino acids improves binding rates of synthetic fibrin knobs to holes, leading to a novel peptide mimic with 10-fold higher affinity. The study also identified structural properties contributing to functional knob-hole interactions.
Researchers at NJIT have developed a safe and sustainable alternative to BPA in consumer products. The new epoxy resin is derived from corn starch and offers a renewable resource with estrogenic properties similar to BPA.
Researchers developed a microfluidic device that selectively isolates targeted cells, including cancer cells, based on their electrical properties. This breakthrough enables the screening of entire blood samples for cancer detection.
Case Western Reserve University scientist Dave Wilson has developed a cryo-imaging system that enables the identification of single molecules, counting of cells in organs, and comparison of normal and abnormal tissues. The system produces incredibly detailed images showing the effectiveness of different drug therapies.
Undergraduate researchers at UAB have developed a computer program that teaches CPR using hand-held remote controls from the Nintendo Wii video game console. The American Heart Association has pledged $50,000 to fund the project and make it available as an open source code download.
Researchers in India developed an X-ray image analysis technique that detects the early stages of tooth decay by analyzing X-ray wavelengths. This method could help save affected teeth and prevent tooth loss.
Researchers at Purdue University have created a needle-size device that can track tumors and provide real-time information on the radiation dose received. The device uses radio frequency identification technology and has the potential to improve treatment accuracy without exposing patients to damaging X-rays.
A recent study led by Howard Bassen found no electromagnetic interference from iPods on pacemaker users. Researchers tested four different iPod models and measured magnetic fields and voltages within pacemakers, with all results showing no effects.
The Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has received a $1 million grant from Intel to develop and test new technologies for monitoring cognitive function and mobility in older adults. The project aims to create innovative devices that can help prevent the loss of independence among seniors.
Two Yale Biomedical Engineers, Erin Lavik and Tarek Fahmy, have received Early Career Translational Research Awards for their innovative projects on glaucoma treatment and autoimmune disease diagnosis. The awards support their research collaborations with clinical investigators and provide two years of funding.
A team of students from Johns Hopkins University has developed a prototype that improves chest closure after heart surgery, replacing traditional metal wires with polymer cable ties. The device, which resembles a stapler, is designed to be safer and less invasive, reducing potential injuries to patients and surgeons.
Researchers at Yale University have developed a standardized method for synthesizing bulk nanowires, allowing for the exploration of next steps in semiconductor miniaturization. The new technology produces ten-times more nanowires than previous methods and sets parameters for standardization.
The Whitaker Foundation offers international fellowships and scholarships to US biomedical engineering students, aiming to provide an international outlook. The program will fund 15 years of fellowships and scholarships, with a focus on increasing interaction between US-educated engineers and overseas colleagues.
As people age, their lenses become four times stiffer, increasing the risk of eye injury. The study recommends using safety systems like seat belts while driving and wearing impact-resistant glasses or protective lenses in sports or work environments.
Biomedical engineers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a new, minimally invasive sensor that can accurately monitor glucose levels and other bodily fluids. The sensor, smaller than a pencil tip, uses color changes to detect glucose levels, providing diabetics with continuous monitoring capabilities.
Researchers have developed a new system to improve heart defibrillation by targeting rogue electrical waves in arrhythmia. The device produces milder shocks, reducing the amount of energy required, which could lead to smaller, longer-lasting devices that spare patients from frequent replacements.
University of Michigan researchers have developed an ultra-fast laser technique that enables precise nanoscale machining. The method uses femtosecond pulses to selectively ablate features as small as 20 nanometers, making it possible to machine a wide variety of materials on the nanometer scale.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered that groups of brain cells synchronize their electrical activity to enhance orientation discrimination. By studying the firing rates of dozens of neurons, scientists found that synchronization among six neurons can discriminate variations in orientation as small as two degrees. This ...
Researchers at Rutgers University have developed a bio-nano motor using virus-based proteins that can perform linear opening and closing motion. The tiny motor is small enough to line up with human hair, enabling potential use in systems for sensing temperature or position.
The Falk Center will utilize state-of-the-art gene chip technology to identify genes responsible for neurological disorders. Two therapeutic developments are approaching the product stage, including a gene-based therapy for malignant brain tumors and a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
A Rutgers biomedical engineering professor has discovered that cross-hand and one-hand grips can reduce eye movement during longer putts and head movement during shorter putts. The findings are part of a book exploring the physics, biomechanics, and physiology of various sports, including golf.
Researchers suggest that mechanical forces play a crucial role in shaping the developing heart, which could help scientists better understand heart defects. By studying the bending and rotation of chicken embryos, researchers have found that cellular contraction is driven by at least two different mechanical forces.
The UC Davis Department of Biomedical Engineering has been awarded a $12 million grant by the Whitaker Foundation to support its research programs and faculty recruitment. The grant will help establish the department as a leading center for biomedical engineering in the US, with a focus on genomics and imaging technology.
The Whitaker Foundation has awarded more than $30 million to The Johns Hopkins University and the University of California, San Diego for biomedical engineering programs. This marks the largest individual grants in its 23-year history.