A Johns Hopkins University research team has created a robot that can perform laparoscopic surgery on a pig’s soft tissue without a human being’s aid. The researchers described their latest advance with their Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR) in the January 26 issue of Science Robotics. “Our findings show that we can automate one of the most […]
Johns Hopkins University
Abbott researchers help discover a clue to an HIV cure
Abbott announced today that a team including its scientists has uncovered a rare group of Democratic Republic of Congo residents who are HIV positive but have almost nonexistent viral loads without using antiretroviral treatments. This group of “HIV elite controllers” opens up a new area for researchers to discover biological trends that could inform the […]
Thrive raises $257m for CancerSeek
Investors once again lined up behind Thrive Earlier Detection and its potentially revolutionary cancer diagnostic The one-year-old start raised a $257 million Series B round from a syndicate of venture and crossover investors, including round leaders Casdin Capital and Section 32 and new investors Bain Capital Life Sciences, Brown Advisory, Driehaus Capital Management, Intermountain Ventures, […]
How 3D printing is enabling ventilator splitting
Amid the shortage of ventilators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers are finding success using 3D printing to enable “ventilator splitting.” The search continues to go on for more machines, but there have already been government actions taken to increase amounts, while researchers have taken it into their own hands to create homemade-style ventilators. However, there could […]
President Trump signs $8.3b coronavirus emergency funding bill
President Donald Trump today signed an $8.3 billion emergency package to help address the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19, which is caused by the coronavirus. According to a report by Politico, about $7.7 billion of that $8.3 billion is slated for discretionary spending to improve vaccine development, research, equipment stockpiles and both state and local health budgets. […]
AirXpanders touts study results
AirXpanders (ASX:AXP) said that a retrospective clinical study has concluded that the use of its AeroForm tissue expanders may be associated with reduced infection rates, less medical treatment and lower costs for patients and health systems. The Palo Alto-based company makes the AeroForm tissue expander for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. The device is designed to expand and […]
What should the Mann Foundation do next?
Dr. Robert Greenberg, the Mann Foundation’s new executive chairman, has ideas about where to take one of medtech’s top research and development outfits. He explained more at DeviceTalks West in December. The new executive chairman of the Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research sees the foundation continuing its mission of developing devices for unmet medical needs. The foundation […]
Longeviti’s ClearFit gives neurosurgeons a view inside the head
Longeviti Neuro Solutions has launched its novel ClearFit implant to correct and/or restore bony voids or defects of the cranium. This clear, patient-specific implant enables neurosurgeons to see neuroanatomy and critical functional components beneath the ClearFit once it is implanted. “The real advantage to this system is the ability to see what’s underneath the […]
“Snake oil” BP app got high user marks despite inaccurate results
People may like mobile blood pressure apps better when the apps reveal positive results, even if those results are inaccurate 80% of the time, according to a recent study. A team of researchers who previously revealed the inaccuracy of the Instant Blood Pressure (IBP) app returned to the topic to study 81 adults who compared the app’s readings […]
6 surgical robots that will surprise you
Researchers around the globe have created surgical robots for solutions to procedures that are generally invasive and time-consuming. Whether its eye surgery or even finding a vein to draw blood, healthcare practitioners face daunting tasks, but robots have made these procedures easier (as easy as the DaVinci makes it look when peeling a grape and […]