Articles tagged with Prosthetics
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Researchers have developed a system that enables amputees to feel a range of intensity levels on their prosthetic hands, allowing them to hold objects, operate machinery, and interact with others. The system uses electrical stimulation to mimic natural touch, decoding the intensity of pressure in the nervous system.
A new study published in PLOS Biology shows that the adult brain retains residual capacity to process restored or artificial visual inputs. Blind individuals who received a prosthetic implant were able to recognize unusual visual stimuli and improve their perception over time with extensive training.
A $1.65 million Department of Defense grant will support the development of a brain-machine-brain interface (BMBI) aimed at helping TBI and stroke patients regain motor function. The BMBI records signals from one part of the brain, processes them in real time, then bridges the injury by stimulating a second part of the brain.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have created a new approach to manufacturing mechanical metamaterials that can deform in a complex manner. This breakthrough may lead to more comfortable and user-friendly prosthetics, as well as applications in soft robotics and wearable technologies.
Researchers discovered that albumin and globulin proteins improve the tribology of artificial joint implants, suggesting a potential solution to reduce wear and tear. The findings have implications for extending the lifespan of prosthetic joints and improving patient quality of life.
A novel technique called external stenting (ES) has been developed to relieve airway obstruction in children. The procedure involves suspending the airway wall to a rigid prosthesis, allowing for growth and stability. Long-term outcomes show high survival rates and successful weaning from ventilators.
The European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging has released new guidelines for the imaging assessment of prosthetic heart valves. The guidelines provide recommendations for a multimodality approach to diagnose and manage complications, including echocardiography as the first-line imaging modality. The study aims to improve assessme...
Dr. Joseph Rizzo, a neuro-ophthalmologist at Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School, has received funding from the US Department of Defense to develop a visual prosthesis that can bypass damaged optic nerves and restore vision. The project aims to improve the quality of life for wounded warriors and Americans with severe visual impair...
A University of Colorado Boulder study shows that left-leg amputee sprinters are slowed by curves on indoor tracks, losing valuable time in competition. Researchers estimate a 0.2 second difference in outdoor 200-meter races, suggesting that allowing left-leg amputees to run in outside lanes could level the playing field.
A study of 47 men with erectile dysfunction found that 79% were satisfied with the outcome of penile prosthesis surgery. The benefits included improved sexual function, enhanced male identity, and relationship improvements. Most men reported positive emotions, self-esteem, confidence, and increased desire after receiving the implant.
A Swedish registry study found that mechanical heart valve prosthesis has superior long-term survival rates compared to biological valve prosthesis, particularly for relatively young patients. The risk of stroke was similar for both types of prostheses, but patients with biological valves were more likely to require re-operation.
Researchers developed a lightweight, stretchable material that can mimic human organs and change shape by 300 percent. The material has potential applications in prosthetics and soft robotics.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology found that upper limb amputees who learned from fellow amputees using a similar prosthetic device showed significant improvement in motor skills and brain activity. The study suggests that people are better equipped to adapt when learning from someone with similar physical characteristics.
Researchers have developed an algorithm that can analyze a person's intention despite interruptions or disturbances, allowing for more accurate control of robots and prosthetics. This technology could be used to guide cars on icy roads or assist stroke patients with mobility issues.
A team led by Stanford electrical engineer Krishna Shenoy has developed a technique to make brain-controlled prostheses more precise, enabling people with spinal cord injuries to tap out commands with greater accuracy. The new approach continuously corrects brain readings to give users a more natural way to interact with devices.
Researchers examined nationwide trends in erectile dysfunction and surgical management from 2001 to 2010. The study found that while erectile dysfunction prevalence increased, penile prosthesis use decreased, but was more common in sicker patients.
Researchers at TU Wien and MedUni Vienna have developed artificial blood vessels that are biocompatible and can be broken down by the body. The new material has excellent mechanical properties and allows for the growth of natural tissue, making it a promising solution for bypass operations.
Researchers compared long-term survival, stroke, reoperation, and bleeding events after bioprosthetic vs mechanical prosthetic mitral valve replacement among 3,433 patients. They found no significant difference in survival at 15 years, but significant differences in risk of reoperation, bleeding, and stroke between the two groups.
Three Austrian men have undergone a new technique called 'bionic reconstruction', enabling them to use a robotic prosthetic hand controlled by their mind. The technique restored a high level of function, aiding in activities of daily living and improving quality of life.
Researchers have developed a fast and inexpensive way to create custom facial prostheses using 3D printing technology, providing an affordable alternative to traditional prosthetics. The novel process can produce prosthetics in hours at a fraction of the cost of conventional ones, which can range from $10,000 to $15,000.
A recent Cornell University study found that eating with someone who appears overweight can lead to consuming more unhealthy foods and less healthy portions. Researchers discovered that participants served and ate 31.6% more pasta when the actress wore a prosthesis, but reduced salad intake by 43.5%.
A study comparing bioprosthetic and mechanical aortic valve replacements found no significant difference in 15-year survival or stroke rates between the two groups. Bioprosthetic valves were associated with a higher likelihood of reoperation, but lower major bleeding rates.
A new study from Lund University reveals that both the cerebral cortex and other levels in the brain play a greater role in processing touch than previously thought, with a larger proportion of brain structures involved.
Women with mechanical heart valves are at high risk of thrombotic complications, haemorrhagic events, and late foetal loss during pregnancy. The study found that 1.4% of pregnant women with a mechanical valve died, while nearly 20% lost their baby.
A new study by the European Society of Cardiology found that the retrievable and repositionable DFM transcatheter aortic valve is effective and safe for patients with severe aortic stenosis. The device's unique features, such as retrieval and repositioning capabilities, may improve outcomes in these patients.
Researchers identify regulatory molecules involved in creating powerful electrical fields in electric fish, found only in fish and evolved independently half a dozen times. The study reveals a common genetic basis for the electric organ across six diverse species, highlighting convergent evolution in these fascinating creatures.
Researchers have made significant progress in creating artificial vision that mimics the retina's natural response to movement. By targeting specific cells, they were able to reproduce natural patterns of activity, bringing closer the goal of restoring high-fidelity vision to blind individuals.
Professional surfer Richie Lovett has made a full recovery from clear cell chondrosarcoma, an uncommon form of bone cancer, thanks to pioneering surgical procedures. The groundbreaking technique developed by Dr. Earl Warren Brien removed the tumor and damaged bone in its entirety, replacing it with a prosthetic implant.
The study found that approximately 2.5 million Americans are living with an artificial hip and 4.7 million with a knee replacement, highlighting the need for ongoing patient care. The prevalence of total hip and knee replacements among adults aged 50 and older is as high as 2.3% and 4.6%, respectively.
A study analyzing 301,718 revision total knee replacement surgeries found that periprosthetic joint infections were the most common reason for failure, occurring in 25% of patients. Mechanical loosening was also a significant cause of failure, accounting for 18.5% of cases.
A robotic prosthesis has been developed for an amputee drummer, allowing him to play with unprecedented control and creativity. The device features two drumsticks, one controlled by the musician's arms and the other using electromyography sensors that respond to muscle signals.
A patient's symptoms were linked to cobalt poisoning after a doctor used a TV show as a teaching tool to diagnose a rare disease. The patient had undergone a metal hip replacement, leading to severe heart failure and other symptoms that were eventually resolved with a new ceramic prosthesis.
Researchers have developed advanced prosthetic and orthotic devices that allow users to participate in a wider range of daily activities, exercise, and sports. The new technologies include adjustable ankle units for sub-freezing temperatures and multifunction prostheses for adventure-type activities.
Researchers at NC State University have developed wearable, stretchable sensors using silver nanowires that can measure strain, pressure, human touch, and bioelectronic signals. These sensors hold promise for creating responsive prosthetics and robots that can interact with their environment.
Dr. Walter Voit received a DARPA Young Faculty Award to develop medical devices with greater control of prosthetics for wounded soldiers. The goal is to create chronic microstimulation devices that can survive implantation in the body for over a year.
Scientists have successfully restored behavior in rats using a neural prosthesis after brain injury. The device, a closed-loop microelectronic system, recorded signals from one part of the brain and stimulated another to facilitate repair. Two weeks after implantation, rat models recovered nearly all function lost due to injury.
A new retinal implant system called the Argus II has shown positive results in helping people with retinitis pigmentosa recognize common objects. The device uses a miniature camera and electrodes to stimulate cells in the retina, creating patterns of light perception.
Percutaneous repair of paravalvular prosthetic regurgitation can mitigate known risks associated with increases in implanted valves, particularly in patients at high-risk of cardiac surgery. The technique has shown durable symptom relief and reduced mortality rates in selected patients.
Two newly described electric fish from the Amazon produce different electric signals, with one species having a monophasic EOD that is unusual in its kind. This trait may have evolved to mimic that of the electric eel, while also providing stability and communication benefits.
A new study has designed and tested a vestibular prosthesis to help restore balance in individuals with Meniere's disease. The prosthesis uses electrical stimulation to activate the vestibular nerve, aiming to alleviate symptoms such as vertigo and tinnitus. However, further research is needed to fine-tune the device for individual cal...
A new minimally-invasive procedure, Valve-in-Valve, uses a collapsible aortic heart valve to restore function without cardiopulmonary bypass or chest opening. The results showed excellent outcomes for elderly high-risk patients with low procedural complications and improved functional status.
Researchers suggest using haptic devices early in children fitted with visual prosthetics and for older congenitally blind and late-blind individuals. Haptics provide supplementary information that helps train the brain to understand electrical input from prosthetics, leading to improved outcomes.
Research shows that individuals with spinal cord injuries perceive their wheelchairs as a functional substitute for their affected body part. This perception is not limited by time since injury or experience with using the wheelchair, indicating a deeper integration of prosthetics into bodily awareness.
Researchers found that people naturally switch between walking and running when given optimal travel times, resulting in energy savings. The 'transition region' between 4.5-6.7 miles per hour showed consistent use of a mix of both gait patterns.
New IDSA guidelines provide a framework for diagnosing and treating prosthetic joint infections, which affect up to 20,000 people each year. The guidelines recommend multidisciplinary teams and evidence-based treatment, including debridement, prosthesis replacement, and amputation as last resort.
A UT Arlington research team is developing smart skin applications for robots that can perceive the environment and assist humans, with a focus on improving prosthetics and home assistance. The $1.35 million NSF grant will advance robotic technology and unlock new applications for sensor skins and clothing.
Researchers have developed improved artificial voice devices that can produce age-appropriate voices for children and women with vocal cord problems. The new technology enhances speech signal analysis by tackling the challenge of identifying glottal excitation signals in higher-pitched voices.
Researchers at the University of Manchester tested replicas of ancient Egyptian artificial toes, finding they may have been used as practical tools to help people walk. The tests showed that volunteers were able to achieve significant flexion with the prosthetic devices, indicating their potential use as early prosthetics.
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center used an electronic prosthetic system to tap into existing brain circuitry and record neural pulses. The device restored and improved decision-making ability in monkeys, even when exposed to a drug that disrupts cognitive activity.
A neural interface has restored function in motor control brain areas of an amputee, allowing for natural control of a prosthetic hand. The study used multielectrode arrays to re-establish communication between the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Researchers deciphered the neural code of a mouse retina and created a novel prosthetic device that restores normal vision. The device uses a chip to convert light patterns into electrical impulses, which are then sent to the brain via light-sensitive proteins.
Researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering have created a robot equipped with a tactile sensor capable of identifying natural materials by touch. The robot outperforms humans in identifying textures, enabling potential applications in prostheses and consumer product testing.
Researchers at the University of Strathclyde and Stanford University have developed a prosthetic retina that can restore sight to patients with age-related macular degeneration. The device uses video goggles to deliver energy and images directly to the eye, eliminating the need for complex surgery.
Researchers at Hebrew University developed a method for training blind persons to use sensory substitution devices. Participants were able to read letters and words with sizes smaller than the international standard for blindness.
Researchers have discovered that graphite carbon is a key component of the lubricating layer on metal-on-metal hip implants. This finding could lead to improved designs and longer lifespan for these devices, which are often used by younger, more active individuals.
Introducing new knee replacement models can lead to increased risk of early revision surgery, especially for the first 15 patients. A study published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research found that hospital staff must consider the consequences of their decisions when choosing implants and instruments.
Researchers used mathematical models to assess knee replacement implants and found that older patients or those with multiple conditions may not benefit from incremental gains in implant durability. This highlights the need for personalized approach to medical device development and evaluation.
After TAVI, patients experience improved hemodynamic values, including reduced valve gradients and increased effective orifice area. The study also found sustained reduction in end-diastolic septal wall thickness and improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction at 12 months post-implantation.
Researchers develop a way to duplicate the neural mechanism of learning in rats, restoring memory function. The team's artificial hippocampal system can strengthen internal brain memory and enhance cognitive processes, paving the way for potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.
Researchers recreated ancient Egyptian artificial toes and tested them on volunteers, finding they could help with walking. The toes date from before 600BC, predating the Roman Capula Leg as the earliest known practical prosthesis.