Mummified crocs get tomographed: Conservators from Phoebe A. Hearst Museum at UC Berkeley teamed up with Stanford physicists and clinicians to CT scan two Egyptian crocodile mummies that reside at the museum. Stanford’s SCOPE blog is reporting that the crocs were also put through a physics laboratory CT scanner that produces higher resolution images than clinical ones.

Syncardia’s Freedom mobile artificial heart driver wins CE Mark: SynCardia of Tucson, Ariz., maker of the CardioWest Total Artificial Heart, won European Union approval for the Freedom wearable driver. The device allows patients to get off the “Big Blue” driver that powers their heart in the hospital after implantation and regain a sense of mobility while on wait for a permanent donated organ. It’s not clear how long the batteries last before requiring a recharge.

Cook Medical’s Hercules 3-stage esophageal balloon hits the market: Cook Medical received the Food & Drug Administration’s 510(k) clearance and CE Mark approval in rthe European Union to market its Hercules 3 Stage Esophageal Balloon. The device is indicated for treatment of GI strictures in patients with cancer, s/p XRT, etc.

EEG used in absurd torture device: Harcos Laboratories, a small company that normally makes silly energy drinks like Bloodlust (coincidentally a fun gift for the anesthesiologist in your clinic) created an even more ridiculous product. Although not for sale, the plans to make your own Most Painful Toy Hack Ever are readily available, no doubt accompanied by a list of disclaimers. Essentially it’s an EEG that shocks you if you concentrate too much. Check out the video — it’s painful enough to watch and it’ll probably turn someone insane within a very short amount of time. So why are we writing about it? Because you just love to read about it.

A weekly roundup of new developments in medical technology, by MedGadget.com.