Wow of the week

Daily

A ‘wearable’ for wheelchairs to prevent pressure ulcers

On the wrist, on the head, in a shoe – self-monitoring sensors are literally everywhere. Now a team from the University of Toronto is putting them in a place you might not have thought of: under a wheelchair cushion. The reason? Some wheelchair users have conditions or injuries that impair sensation, meaning they can’t feel […]

Daily

Pediatric innovation: How a 3D printer helped save life of toddler with congenital heart defects (VIDEO)

The 3D printer has rapidly become something of a medtech superhero. In its latest feat, the technology helped surgeons at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Ky., save a child born with congenital heart defects. 3D printing technology saved the day when pediatric surgeons needed a customized trachea splint when an infant’s trachea collapsed. It’s improved […]

Health IT

Wow of the Week: The quantified self goes to the Olympics

Since wearable health technologies seem to have found the most traction in a slice of the population with a great interest in being healthy, it makes sense that many Olympic athletes used sensors, algorithms and data to get themselves in top shape for the event. Here are a few examples: Data-obsessed Alpine skier Steven Nyman […]

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Devices & Diagnostics

Could biodegradable batteries power smart pills & medical devices? These engineers think so

Apparently, ink from a marine animal related to the squid could be a potential source of power for the next generation of “smart pills” and biodegradable medical devices. Some scientists and technology companies envision a future where swallowable or implantable electronics could monitor medication compliance or vital signs from inside the body. Or, tiny sensor-embedded […]