Artificial foot saves energy every step of the way: At the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, engineers developed prosthetic foot technology that can intelligently transfer what would otherwise be lost energy into powering the foot’s next step. Because more energy can be saved over currently available models, this technology could lead to smaller and lighter artificial legs: “In their energy-recycling foot, the engineers put the wasted walking energy to work enhancing the power of ankle push-off. The foot naturally captures the dissipated energy. A microcontroller tells the foot to return the energy to the system at precisely the right time.”
Bioresorbable, acellular, biphasic scaffold wins EU approval for knee cartilage repair : Kensey Nash of Exton, Pa., won CE Mark of approval to market the firm’s cartilage repair device for treatment of articular cartilage defects of the knee in the European Union.
Leveraged Freedom Chair brings smart mobility just about anywhere: Amos Winter, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at MIT, developed an innovative wheelchair specifically for people living in the developing world. The device is really just a design concept that any bicycle repair shop should be able to replicate using already available bike parts. Because of this approach, small local manufacturers can custom-build the chair and avoid the delays and bureaucratic hassles of dealing with aid agencies and inter-governmental institutions typically involved in similar projects.
New nanogenerators could power implantable devices: A group of engineers from the University of California, Berkeley, designed and tested nanofibers that can generate energy when stretched or twisted. Think of a miniature epicardial patch that powers a pacemaker or an intramuscular implant that powers a neurostimulator.
A weekly roundup of new developments in medical technology, by MedGadget.com.