Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[Another reason to buy gold: nanoparticles help to kill brain tumors]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/gold-nanoparticles-cancer-brain-tumor/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/gold-nanoparticles-cancer-brain-tumor/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/17/gold-nanoparticles-cancer-brain-tumor/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Another reason to buy gold: nanoparticles help to kill brain tumors

Stanford scientists have used lab-made gold nanoparticles to highlight malignant tissue in the brain, making it easier for surgeons to cut out tumors while leaving healthy bits in tact. Measuring just five millionths of an inch in diameter, these tiny glistening orbs are injected into the patient and then left to bleed out through leaky blood vessels in parts of the brain that have been damaged by the disease. They then get stuck in the bad tissue itself, marking it out for the scalpel when viewed with the right type of imaging. It's not totally new -- we've actually seen gold nanotech deployed against the Big C in stem cells before, but better to be useful than avant-garde.

[Brain image via Shutterstock]

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]]> brainbrain cancerbrain tumorBrainCancerBrainTumorcancerdiseasegoldimagingmedicalmedicinenanoparticlenanoparticlessciencestanford universitystanford-universityStanfordUniversitytumor Tue, 17 Apr 2012 18:56:00 -0400 21|20217278 <![CDATA[Get diagnosed by spitting on an iPhone, social graces terminal]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/get-diagnosed-by-spitting-on-an-iphone-social-graces-terminal/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/get-diagnosed-by-spitting-on-an-iphone-social-graces-terminal/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/30/get-diagnosed-by-spitting-on-an-iphone-social-graces-terminal/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments

Korean scientists reckon that the capacitive touchscreens on our phones and tablets could help diagnose diseases from what's floating around in your mouth. It works through the screen's ability to detect minute capacitive differences in disease-carrying liquids placed on its surface. Experiments by Hyun Gyu Park and Byoung Yeon Won at the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology in Daejeon managed to detect chlamydia microbes in three different concentrations. Once again, the iPhone acted as medical chief, although the setup isn't yet able to distinguish between different bugs. There are also teething troubles with the touchscreen, as capacitive read-outs can be affected by moisture and sweat that are on the screen alongside your 'sample.' One solution to this would be to create a disposable film that attaches to the iPhone surface. There's a second reason for this, as Park diplomatically puts it: "Nobody wants direct application of bio-samples onto their phone." Let's hope Siri doesn't take it personally.

[Sneezing photo via Shutterstock]

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]]> applecapacitivecapacitive touchscreenCapacitiveTouchscreendiagnosisdiseaseiphonemedicalmedicinemobilepostminisciencesneezespit Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:57:00 -0500 21|20117455 <![CDATA[Schizophrenic computer may help us understand similarly afflicted humans]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/schizophrenic-computer-may-help-us-understand-similarly-afflicte/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/schizophrenic-computer-may-help-us-understand-similarly-afflicte/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/schizophrenic-computer-may-help-us-understand-similarly-afflicte/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Although we usually prefer our computers to be perfect, logical, and psychologically fit, sometimes there's more to be learned from a schizophrenic one. A University of Texas experiment has doomed a computer with dementia praecox, saddling the silicon soul with symptoms that normally only afflict humans. By telling the machine's neural network to treat everything it learned as extremely important, the team hopes to aid clinical research in understanding the schizophrenic brain -- following a popular theory that suggests afflicted patients lose the ability to forget or ignore frivolous information, causing them to make illogical connections and paranoid jumps in reason. Sure enough, the machine lost it, and started spinning wild, delusional stories, eventually claiming responsibility for a terrorist attack. Yikes. We aren't hastening the robot apocalypse if we're programming machines to go mad intentionally, right?

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]]> aiartificial intelligenceArtificialIntelligencebrainDISCERNdiseasedopaminehyperlearninglearningmachine learningMachineLearningmedicalmedical researchMedicalResearchmedicinemental healthMentalHealthneural netneural networkneural networksNeuralNetNeuralNetworkNeuralNetworksrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypserobotsSchizophreniaschizophrenicUniversity of TexasUniversityOfTexas Wed, 11 May 2011 09:31:00 -0400 21|19936972 <![CDATA[Carbon nanotubes used to more easily detect cancer cells, HIV]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/carbon-nanotubes-used-more-easily-detect-cancer-cells-hiv/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/carbon-nanotubes-used-more-easily-detect-cancer-cells-hiv/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/carbon-nanotubes-used-more-easily-detect-cancer-cells-hiv/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Cancer's not slowing its march to ruining as many lives as it possibly can, so it's always pleasing to hear of any new developments that act as hurdles. The latest in the world of disease-prevention comes from Harvard University, where researches have created a dime-sized carbon nanotube forest (read: lots of nanotubes, like those shown above) that can be used to trap cancer cells when blood passes through. A few years back, Mehmet Toner, a biomedical engineering professor at Harvard, created a device similar to the nano-forest that was less effective because silicon was used instead of carbon tubes. Today, Toner has teamed up with Brian Wardle, associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, who together have redesigned the original microfluid device to work eight times more efficiently than its predecessor. The carbon nanotubes make diagnosis a fair bit simpler, largely because of the antibodies attached to them that help trap cancer cells as they pass through -- something that's being tailored to work with HIV as well. Things are starting to look moderately promising for cancer-stricken individuals, as hospitals have already began using the original device to detect malignant cells and ultimately prevent them from spreading -- here's hoping it's qualified for mass adoption sooner rather than later.

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]]> antibodiesBrianBrian WardleBrianWardlecancercarboncellsdetectiondevicediseaseengineerharvardharvard universityHarvardUniversityHIVmalignantMehmetMehmet TonerMehmetTonernanonano tubenanotechnologynanotubepreventionprofessorresearchresearcherssciencespreadTonertrapuniversityWardle Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:31:00 -0400 21|19897564 <![CDATA[Scientists separate plasma from blood with working biochip]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/scientists-separate-plasma-from-blood-with-working-biochip/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/scientists-separate-plasma-from-blood-with-working-biochip/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/scientists-separate-plasma-from-blood-with-working-biochip/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Disposable biotech sensors won't let you diagnose your own diseases quite yet, but we've taken the first step -- a research team spanning three universities has successfully prototyped a lab-on-a-chip. Called the Self-powered Integrated Microfluidic Blood Analysis System (or SIMBAS for short, thankfully), the device takes a single drop of blood and separates the cells from the plasma. There's no electricity, mechanics or chemical reactions needed here, just the work of gravity to pull the fluid through the tiny trenches and grooves, and it can take as little as ten minutes to produce a useful result. It's just the first of a projected series of devices to make malady detection fast, affordable and portable. Diagram after the break!

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]]> biochipbloodblood testBloodTestdiagnosisdiseaselab on a chiplab-on-a-chipLabOnAChipmedicalmedicinemicrofluidicmicrofluidicsnanonanofluidicnanofluidicsnanotechnanotechnologySIMBAStesttestsUC BerkeleyUcBerkeley Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:44:00 -0400 21|19885407 <![CDATA[Thanko's USB kitty mask might get you noticed]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/thankos-usb-kitty-mask-might-get-you-noticed/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/thankos-usb-kitty-mask-might-get-you-noticed/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/thankos-usb-kitty-mask-might-get-you-noticed/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments You know why he's so happy? Because he's Japanese, and being Japanese is awesome. Trains run on time, robots do the work, and you get to wear kitty-faced masks with a USB- or battery-powered fan to circulate the atmosphere in front of your air holes... and nobody cares. ¥1,980 (about $24), or ¥2,190 gift wrapped for someone special.

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]]> catcat maskCatMaskdiseasefangermsjapankittymaskthankousb maskUsbMaskvirus Thu, 03 Feb 2011 04:24:00 -0500 21|19826728 <![CDATA[Scientists attempt to predict flu spread, give ZigBee radios to 700 high school students]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/scientists-attempt-to-predict-flu-spread-give-zigbee-radios-to/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/scientists-attempt-to-predict-flu-spread-give-zigbee-radios-to/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/scientists-attempt-to-predict-flu-spread-give-zigbee-radios-to/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments This is the Crossbow TelosB wireless remote platform, and it did an important job for science in January of last year -- it monitored the close proximity interactions among 788 students and staff at one US high school to track a virtual flu. After collecting over 762,000 sneeze-worthy anecdotes among the module-toting teachers and teens, Stanford researchers ran 788,000 simulations charting the path the virus might take and methods the school might try to keep it in line. Sadly, the scientists didn't manage to come up with any easy answers, as virtual vaccination seemed to work equally well (or poorly) no matter who got the drugs, but that if only we could actually monitor individuals in real life as easily as in a study, prevention would be much easier. But who will bell the cat, when it's so much less political to ionize?

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]]> 802.15.4coldcrossbowdiseaseflugermshealthIEEE 802.15.4Ieee802.15.4infectioninfectionsoutbreaksciencesicksicknessspreadstanfordStanford UniversityStanfordUniversitytelosbTPR2400viruszigbee Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:43:00 -0500 21|19769289 <![CDATA[Gurus track inhaled nanoparticles as they experience Mach 5 lung travel]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/gurus-track-inhaled-nanoparticles-as-they-experience-mach-5-lung/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/gurus-track-inhaled-nanoparticles-as-they-experience-mach-5-lung/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/19/gurus-track-inhaled-nanoparticles-as-they-experience-mach-5-lung/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Ever wondered what kind of objects you inhale on a daily basis, leaving your lungs to sort out whatever it is that you snort in? Scientists at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Harvard School of Public Health have, and they're tired of simply imagining. A crew of wizards at the institution have started to test a so-called FLARE system (fluorescence-assisted resection and exploration), which enables them to see and monitor nanoparticles as they enter and travel through the lungs. The goal here is to "determine the characteristics and parameters of inhaled nanoparticles that mediate their uptake into the body -- from the external environment, across the alveolar lung surface and into the lymphatic system and blood stream and eventually to other organs." In short, this here study may offer a better understanding of the health effects surrounding air pollution... or restart the mask-wearing craze that SARS initiated. But probably both.

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]]> diseaseFLAREHarvardhealthimagingmedicalmedicinenanoparticlesnanotechnanotechnologypulmonaryresearchsciencetrackinguniversity Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:14:00 -0500 21|19725717 <![CDATA[Funding brings at-home STD tests closer to reality]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/09/funding-brings-at-home-std-tests-closer-to-reality/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/09/funding-brings-at-home-std-tests-closer-to-reality/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/09/funding-brings-at-home-std-tests-closer-to-reality/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It's an idea that's been around the medical block a time or two already, but so far, no one has really stepped up to the plate in an effort to make at-home and on-the-go STD testing a mainstream reality. According to a new Guardian report, however, a grand total of seven entities (including the Medical Research Council) have moved to fund development in the space. The UK Clinical Research Collaboration is the end result, with £4 million at its disposal right from the get-go. The idea is to develop small chips that can accept urine samples, and then those chips would be plugged into PCs or mobile phones (likely via a USB adapter of some sort) in order to give individuals information on any sexually transmitted infection they may have. The goal is to provide that data in private and "within minutes," and experts in the field are hopeful that this kind of innovation would help reduce the growing number of STIs across the UK. If all goes well, the "rapid testing devices" could be sold for £1 or less in "vending machines in nightclubs, pharmacies and in supermarkets," but there's still no clear indication of when it'll happen.

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]]> diseasefundinghealthmedicalstdstiuk Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:30:00 -0500 21|19708798 <![CDATA[Olympus E-330 shoots vacations by day, spots cancer cells by night]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/olympus-e-330-shoots-vacations-by-day-spots-cancer-cells-by-nig/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/olympus-e-330-shoots-vacations-by-day-spots-cancer-cells-by-nig/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/olympus-e-330-shoots-vacations-by-day-spots-cancer-cells-by-nig/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Yeah, that's right -- the first DSLR to ever ship with a live-view LCD on the back is now being put to use for something far more monumental, a full four years after it's original introduction. A smattering of researchers at Rice University have somehow discovered that the Olympus E-330 can be used to distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells, and there's no need to even export the photos; instead, the camera's own rear LCD is good enough to show whether or not a dyed cell is harmful or salubrious. The whole skinny is down there in the source link, but the takeaway is pretty staggering: if an off-the-shelf DSLR can now be used to make such profound decisions, why in the world are you still in med school?

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]]> cameracancerdiagnostic imagingDiagnosticImagingdigicamdigital cameraDigitalCameradiseaseDSLRmedicalmedicineOlympus E-330OlympusE-330researchricescienceuniversity Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:23:00 -0400 21|19536069 <![CDATA[Study finds cellphone use may fend off effects of Alzheimer's disease]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/study-finds-cellphone-use-may-fend-off-effects-of-alzheimers-di/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/study-finds-cellphone-use-may-fend-off-effects-of-alzheimers-di/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/study-finds-cellphone-use-may-fend-off-effects-of-alzheimers-di/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Could cellphone radiation actually be good for you and bad for you at the same time? It might, according to a group of researchers at the University of South Florida, who say that tests on mice suggest that long-term cellphone use might actually help fend off some of the effects of Alzheimer's disease. That, as you might have suspected, is the exact opposite of what the researchers expected to find, and they say that exposure to electromagnetic waves from cellphones could both prevent some of the effects of Alzheimer's if the exposure is introduced in early adulthood, or potentially even reverse some of the impairment among those already memory-impaired. Needless to say, the tests are still in the earliest of stages, but the researchers are apparently planning on modifying the experiment to try to speed up the results, and eventually expand it to include tests on humans. Tests on mice still found cellphones to be an impairement while driving.

[Thanks, Antonio]

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]]> alzheimerscellphone researchcellphone studyCellphoneResearchCellphoneStudydiseasemedicalresearchstudyuniversity of south floridaUniversityOfSouthFlorida Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:33:00 -0500 21|19310301 <![CDATA[Scientists shoot down malaria-carrying mosquitoes with frickin' lasers]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/15/scientist-shoot-down-malaria-carrying-mosquitoes-with-frickin-l/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/15/scientist-shoot-down-malaria-carrying-mosquitoes-with-frickin-l/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/15/scientist-shoot-down-malaria-carrying-mosquitoes-with-frickin-l/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Seriously, is there anything a laser can't do? A team of mad scientists in Washington have concocted a system that could essentially eliminate malaria-carrying mosquitoes with lasers, and the whole thing can be built from parts sourced on eBay. The so-called mosquito laser is credited to an idea from Lowell Wood, an astrophysicist who worked with Edward Teller, the "architect of the original plan to use lasers to shield America from the rain of Soviet nuclear arms." In theory, at least, the technology could one day be used to draw a laser barrier of sorts around a village. Of course, the trick is to make the lasers powerful enough to smoke the bugs without harming humans -- any of you Earthlings up for a clinical trial or two?

[Via eHow]

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]]> diseasehealthlaserlasersmalariaMosquitoesrocket scienceRocketSciencescienceweapon Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:22:00 -0400 21|1488316 <![CDATA[Medtronic's implantable OCD treatment okayed by FDA]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/medtronics-implantable-ocd-treatment-okayed-by-fda/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/medtronics-implantable-ocd-treatment-okayed-by-fda/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/medtronics-implantable-ocd-treatment-okayed-by-fda/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Looks like those brain pacemaker researchers are a bit late on this one, as folks at Medtronic are apt to get the jump on advanced OCD treatment given a recent FDA approval of their device. Hailed as the first implantable device "designed to deliver electrical therapy to the brain to suppress symptoms associated with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder," the Reclaim DBS (deep brain stimulation) Therapy was said to be able to treat OCD patients in cases where drugs and psychotherapy failed. Understandably, Medtronic is doing everything it can to get the product out by the middle of this year, and following up on its good fortune, it also proclaimed that it had started up a randomized clinical trial of DBS for treatment-resistant depression. There's no mention of an expected price, but apparently only 4,000 or so will be needed each year.

[Via Vos Iz Neias, thanks yossi]

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]]> braindiseaseelectrical therapyElectricalTherapyFDAhealthmedicalMedtronicOCDReclaim DBSReclaim DBS therapyReclaimDbsReclaimDbsTherapy Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:25:00 -0500 21|1469149 <![CDATA[Tattoo-like nanosensor could monitor glucose levels, enhance your cool factor]]> http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/tattoo-like-nanosensor-could-monitor-glucose-levels-enhance-you/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/tattoo-like-nanosensor-could-monitor-glucose-levels-enhance-you/ http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/tattoo-like-nanosensor-could-monitor-glucose-levels-enhance-you/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Make no mistake, there are quite a few sophisticated ways to monitor one's glucose levels, but we're pretty certain we've never seen an approach as simple and as bodacious as this. Massachusetts-based Draper Laboratories has stumbled upon a new embeddable nanosensor that could, at least in theory, eliminate those painful pricks endured today by so many diabetics. The so-called "injectable nanotech ink" could be inserted under the skin much like a tattoo, though Draper's Heather Clark notes that it "doesn't have to be a large, over-the-shoulder kind of tattoo." In fact, it can be as small as a few millimeters in size, though if it were us, we'd use it as the perfect excuse in order to plaster our backs with Ice Climbers. Testing of the new approach is expected to begin very soon, though that usually means it won't be ready for humans until at least a few years later. Ah well, plenty of time to dream up the perfect design, right?

[Via medGadget]

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]]> DiabetesdiseaseDraper LaboratoriesDraperLaboratoriesglucosehealthinkmedicalnanotechnanotechnologysciencetattoo Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:48:00 -0500 21|1460813 <![CDATA[Cellphone hacked to analyze blood, detect diseases on the spot]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/21/cellphone-hacked-to-analyze-blood-detect-diseases-on-the-spot/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/21/cellphone-hacked-to-analyze-blood-detect-diseases-on-the-spot/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/21/cellphone-hacked-to-analyze-blood-detect-diseases-on-the-spot/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Not that the whole using-cellphones-for-disease-detection is completely fresh, but the latest handset hack for medical purposes is still mighty impressive. UCLA researcher Dr. Aydogan Ozcan has essentially converted a standard cellphone into a portable blood tester of sorts, which is capable of detecting HIV, malaria and various other illnesses. Put as simply as possible, the device works by analyzing blood cells that are placed on an integrated off-the-shelf camera sensor and lit up with a filtered light source. Said light source exposes unique qualities of the cells, and from there, the doc's homegrown software interprets the data and determines what's what. So, has anyone given this guy the main line to NTT DoCoMo, or what?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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]]> aidsbloodblood testerBloodTesterdiseasehivLEDmedicalmobilesciencesesony ericssonSonyEricssonUCLA Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:37:00 -0500 21|1407780 <![CDATA[Cellphone hacked to analyze blood, detect diseases on the spot]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/21/cellphone-hacked-to-analyze-blood-detect-diseases-on-the-spot/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/21/cellphone-hacked-to-analyze-blood-detect-diseases-on-the-spot/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/21/cellphone-hacked-to-analyze-blood-detect-diseases-on-the-spot/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Not that the whole using-cellphones-for-disease-detection is completely fresh, but the latest handset hack for medical purposes is still mighty impressive. UCLA researcher Dr. Aydogan Ozcan has essentially converted a standard cellphone into a portable blood tester of sorts, which is capable of detecting HIV, malaria and various other illnesses. Put as simply as possible, the device works by analyzing blood cells that are placed on an integrated off-the-shelf camera sensor and lit up with a filtered light source. Said light source exposes unique qualities of the cells, and from there, the doc's homegrown software interprets the data and determines what's what. So, has anyone given this guy the main line to NTT DoCoMo, or what?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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]]> aidsbloodblood testerBloodTesterdiseasehivLEDmedicalsciencesesony ericssonSonyEricssonUCLA Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:37:00 -0500 21|1407769 <![CDATA[Palm-sized lab could detect food-borne diseases]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/palm-sized-lab-could-detect-food-borne-diseases/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/palm-sized-lab-could-detect-food-borne-diseases/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/palm-sized-lab-could-detect-food-borne-diseases/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments There are literally entire stores devoted to devices that detect drink spiking (okay, maybe not stores), but what about those of us concerned over food-borne pathogens? A crew of European researchers are addressing said worries by "creating one of only two prototype systems in the world that prepare samples and perform DNA tests on bacteria in a portable, easy-to-use and cost-effective chip." Essentially, the EU-funded OptoLabCard project is aiming to concoct a small, disposable laboratory that humans could carry around and use to detect diseases such as campylobacter and salmonella before ingesting contaminated grub. Team members are suggesting that a commercial product could be ready to roll within three years, with prices for each "lab" reaching as low as $0.50. 'Til then, always make your buddy have the first bite.

[Via Physorg]

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]]> diseaseeuropefoodhealthlabLabOnFoilOptoLabCardresearchscience Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:23:00 -0400 21|1243465 <![CDATA[Researchers craft new testing device to detect early Alzheimer's]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/19/researchers-craft-new-testing-device-to-detect-early-alzheimers/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/19/researchers-craft-new-testing-device-to-detect-early-alzheimers/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/19/researchers-craft-new-testing-device-to-detect-early-alzheimers/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
We've heard that the "gold standard" pen and paper test seems to work fairly well at detecting the earliest stage of Alzheimer's disease, but gurus from Georgia Tech and Emory University have teamed up to develop a much quicker method for accomplishing the same. The ten-minute DETECT test utilizes a head-worn visor with a built-in LCD, headphones and a handheld controller, which the patient interacts with as he / she is put through a series of visual and auditory tests that "assess cognitive abilities relative to age," gauge reaction time and measure memory capabilities. Initial tests have purportedly shown it to have "similar accuracy" to the aforementioned pen and paper test (which takes around 90-minutes to administer), and while we've no idea when the device will be available for public use, its creators have already formed a firm (Zenda Technologies) to commercialize it. Finally, a legitimate use for head-mounted displays -- thought we'd never see the day.

[Via Wired]

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]]> AlzheimerAlzheimersDETECTdiseasegeorgia techGeorgiaTechhealthmedicalresearchuniversity Sat, 19 Jan 2008 20:34:00 -0500 21|1091317 <![CDATA[Researchers clear up TV watching for visually impaired]]> http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/researchers-clear-up-tv-watching-for-visually-impaired/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/researchers-clear-up-tv-watching-for-visually-impaired/ http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/16/researchers-clear-up-tv-watching-for-visually-impaired/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Yeah, we've got HMDs for the visually impaired, but seriously, who's for sporting one of those things just to catch an afternoon soap? Thankfully, Dr. Eli Peli (and colleagues) from Harvard Medical School is lookin' out for said sect, and has developed a method for "enhancing the contrast of images of people and objects of interest on their digital televisions," which, during trials, was found to enhance legibility and overall enjoyment when watching. Furthermore, the technology is said to be the first to play nice with digital TV images, which seems fairly important considering that analog signals have but a few months to live here in America. Purportedly, the all-important modification that made the adjustments possible could be applied to HDTVs and digital STBs in the future, and sure enough, Peli has already sparked up conversation with Analog Devices in order to create a prototype chip for use in forthcoming sets. Now, if only clearing up those Get Smart reruns were this simple...

[Via InventorSpot, image courtesy of Harvard (PDF)]

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]]> diseaseeyeeye diseaseEyeDiseasehandicaphandicappedharvardhealthmacular degenerationMacularDegenerationmedicalocularresearchSchepens Eye Research InstituteSchepensEyeResearchInstitutesciencetelevision Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:02:00 -0500 21|1088615 <![CDATA[Femtosecond laser pulses could safely destroy viruses, bacteria]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/femtosecond-laser-pulses-could-safely-destroy-viruses-bacteria/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/femtosecond-laser-pulses-could-safely-destroy-viruses-bacteria/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/09/femtosecond-laser-pulses-could-safely-destroy-viruses-bacteria/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments The world is already well aware of just how potent (and useful) femtosecond lasers are, and a recent study conducted by a team of Arizona State University physicists explains how pulses could be used to dismantle viruses and bacteria without harming a single innocent cell. Rather than follow in the footsteps of indiscriminate laser treatment options, the group of Sun Devils reportedly figured out a way to "produce lethal vibrations in the protein coat of microorganisms," which has the potential to at least treat "blood-borne diseases such as AIDS and Hepatitis." The technique, dubbed ISRS (Impulsive Stimulated Raman Scattering), has shown to not harm healthy human cells while fighting the good fight against viral pathogens, and while there's no easy way to surmise how quickly we'll see this in action, we're gonna wait for a bit more proof before getting our hopes up.

[Via Switched]

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]]> aidsArizona State UniversityArizonaStateUniversityasudiseaseFemtosecondinfraredisrslaserlasersmedicalMRSAoutbreakresearchscienceuniversity Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:28:00 -0500 21|1035481 <![CDATA[NASA helps predict, prevent disease outbreaks]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/08/nasa-helps-predict-prevent-disease-outbreaks/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/08/nasa-helps-predict-prevent-disease-outbreaks/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/08/nasa-helps-predict-prevent-disease-outbreaks/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We could almost swear we've heard this same scenario played out in a 80s era sci-fi drama, but apparently, this ain't out of any movie script. By utilizing 14 orbiting satellites and enlisting the assistance of NASA's Applied Sciences Program, scientists are reportedly observing our planet's environment to "help predict and prevent infectious disease outbreaks around the world." Apparently, the satellites collect environmental change data, which is then forwarded on to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Defense and broken down to estimate and track epidemics. The remote sensing technology is currently be used to target and track malaria (among other things), and NASA surveillance systems can also be used to determine if a given outbreak was caused by "natural circumstances" or if bioterrorism was to blame. Phew, at least we know 28 Days Later won't become an infamous example of life imitating art... right?

[Via Slashdot]

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]]> diseasemalariamedicalnasaoutbreakoutbreakssatellitesatellitesspace Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:02:00 -0500 21|1034295 <![CDATA[Four-armed surgical robot joins Edmonton hospital staff]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/05/four-armed-surgical-robot-joins-edmonton-hospital-staff/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/05/four-armed-surgical-robot-joins-edmonton-hospital-staff/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/05/four-armed-surgical-robot-joins-edmonton-hospital-staff/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments While dexterous robots have been helping surgeons in America for some time, Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital is finally getting with the program. Beginning in September, a four-armed surgical robot will be used in procedures to treat prostate cancer, and should provide a much improved in-depth view of the body as well as boosting overall agility while operating. One of the diminutive arms will grasp a camera while the others wield the tools, and trained surgeons will be controlling the action from a three-dimensional screen positioned at a nearby base. Notably, one of the primary reasons Canada has been slower to adopt this type of technology is the price, and while it did cost some $4 million to purchase and retrofit the system into the OR, the shorter recovery time and improved precision whilst operating will certainly prove worthwhile to the average patient.

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]]> canadacancerdiseaseedmontonEndoWristshealthmedicaloperationsurgery Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:02:00 -0400 21|957795 <![CDATA[Electrical fields deemed potentially harmful to your health]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/21/electrical-fields-deemed-potentially-harmful-to-your-health/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/21/electrical-fields-deemed-potentially-harmful-to-your-health/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/21/electrical-fields-deemed-potentially-harmful-to-your-health/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We've already heard that electricity could cause all sorts of fatal side effects, and it's all but conclusive that stray WiFi can warp your brain, but how come magnetic signals are helping people get their lives back together? If you haven't already guessed, here we have yet another alarmist story which claims that "electrical fields generated by everyday electrical equipment may cause an increased risk of respiratory diseases and infection." The study, published by Imperial scientists, strongly suggests that these toxic fields (some created by computers, no less) can attract airborne particles thanks to stray electrostatic charges, and can then lead to excess amounts of potentially unwholesome deposits making their way into one's lungs. Of course, unless these masterminds wrote their research up via pencil and paper while dressed in ESD suits, we'd say they're just as exposed as the rest of us.

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]]> diseaseElectrical fieldsElectricalFieldshealthresearchstudy Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:31:00 -0400 21|945714 <![CDATA[Alzheimer's patients, caregivers receiving VeriMed RFID chips]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/11/alzheimers-patients-caregivers-receiving-verimed-rfid-chips/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/11/alzheimers-patients-caregivers-receiving-verimed-rfid-chips/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/11/alzheimers-patients-caregivers-receiving-verimed-rfid-chips/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Caring for those with Alzheimer's could be getting a whole lot less stressful, as VeriChip has reportedly doled out 25 VeriMed RFID implantable microchips at the Alzheimer's Community Care 2007 Alzheimer's Educational Conference. Of course, these aren't the first invasive chips that the company has crammed under folks' skin for one reason or another, but these data packin' devices are aiming to provide medical personnel "quick access to identification and medical records information in an emergency situation." Interestingly, not much else was said about future rollouts beyond this small sample trial, but we can't imagine these not showing up en masse (and in humans) once it gets the green light from regulators.

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]]> AlzheimerscarecaregiverdiseaseelderlyhealthImplantablemedicalremote careRemoteCarerfidverichipverimed Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:12:00 -0400 21|915552 <![CDATA[Virtual Hallucinating goggles make you temporarily Schizophrenic]]> http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/23/virtual-hallucinating-goggles-make-you-temporarily-schizophrenic/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/23/virtual-hallucinating-goggles-make-you-temporarily-schizophrenic/ http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/23/virtual-hallucinating-goggles-make-you-temporarily-schizophrenic/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We can't say we'd be first in line to get a dose of Schizophrenia or anything, but Janssen L.P.'s Virtual Hallucinations system shows promise of helping cops, paramedics, and social workers understand a bit more of what the afflicted go through. The technology consists of set of goggles and earphones that envelope you in one of two interactive scenarios that a typical Schizophrenic might face, including being a passenger on a bus in which the other riders continually vanish and reappear while stray birds attempt to invade the inside. The system is reportedly being trialed in a half dozen or so states, and professionals that had made it through the mind warp seem to have a new outlook on respecting and dealing with those with mental illnesses. Of course, if you're just interested in creeping yourself out, there's always easier alternatives.

[Via MedGadget]

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]]> diseasegogglesHallucinatinghead mounted displayhead-mounted displayHead-mountedDisplayHeadMountedDisplayhealthhmdJanssenmedicalMentally IllMentallyIllpsychiatristsSchizophreniatrainingtraining deviceTrainingDevice Wed, 23 May 2007 13:03:00 -0400 21|902270