Nano Loudspeaker Could Improve MRI Technology

If a theory about detecting extremely faint electrical signals by means of a nanomechanical loudspeaker can be shown to work in experiments, it could result in much simpler MRI procedures, reports Nanowerk News.

A team of physicists from the Joint Quantum Institute and Harvard University in the United States and the Neils Bohr Institute in Denmark has described coupling a nanomechanical membrane to an electrical circuit so that even a very faint electrical signal will cause the membrane to quiver slightly. The signal is then read by bouncing photons off the membrane and measuring the modulation of the reflected light. If the theory holds, it could lead to a significant reduction in the strength and size of MRI magnets.

A paper on the theory is published in Physical Review Letters.

Posted in Nanotechnology and Microtechnology, Research, medtechinsider | 1 Comment 

Medilink Launches Medtech Funding Resource

Tony Davis, Chair, Medilink UK

UK medtech business support organisation Medilink has launched a funding and finance leads service for companies operating in the life sciences sector. The service provides subscribing companies with access to a regularly updated database compiling sources that are willing to fund innovation.

“Many firms in the [UK health technology] sector are SMEs, which are finding it incredibly difficult to access funding and loans that are essential to enable innovation and investment,” explains Medilink UK Chair Tony Davis. “The economic reality and failure of banks to lend to entrepreneurial firms, as well as withdrawal of government-funded business support, is making it harder than ever for companies to succeed.” This programme, adds Davis, connects manufacturers with specialist support to increase sales and stimulate innovation.

In addition to the funding tool, Medilink has also developed a complimentary tender and sales leads service.

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MEDDEV Guidelines on Stand-Alone Medical Software Published

The MEDDEV guidelines on stand-alone software have just been published, prompting the question: What does it all mean? We asked lawyer and blogger Erik Vollebregt. He had the answers (and a few more questions). Vollebregt is a partner at Amsterdam-based life sciences boutique law firm Axon Lawyers and maintains the medicaldeviceslegal blog.

Erik Vollebregt

medtechinsider: Can you give us some background on the genesis of this document and why it is needed?

Vollebregt: This MEDDEV basically came about as a result of the movement started by the now-famous report from the Swedish Competent Authority Lakemedelsverket: the “Proposal for guidelines regarding classification of software-based information systems used in health care.” This very useful document published in 2009 addressed issues involving both the classification of software as a medical device and risk management of software in a clinical environment. The report also contained a useful set of examples. COCIR later developed a flow chart that could be used for qualification under the medical device directives.

The current MEDDEV is a version of these two documents drafted by the Medical Device Expert Group minus the part on risk management of software and IT implementation in clinical settings from the Swedish report.

The guidance is needed because stand-alone software is playing an increasingly important role for clinical purposes: there is an app for everything these days. However, the current medical device rules in the European Union were drafted with embedded or pre-installed software in mind. For that reason, it is incredibly important to have guidance on how to deal with this for regulatory purposes. Read more…

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UK Spin-Out Company Markets Biomedical Carbon with Unique Properties

Mast Carbon, a manufacturer of synthetic carbon–based specialty materials based in Basingstoke, UK, has established a spin-out company to commercialise biomedical carbon in a joint venture with Second Mile. Named Acesco Health, the spin-out is developing a proprietary range of activated carbon bead products that combine the usual benefits of activated carbon with some specific advantages. Read more…

Posted in Materials, Nanotechnology and Microtechnology, medtechinsider | 1 Comment 

Japan’s Regulatory Agency Goes Back to School

Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) has entered into a collaboration with Gifu University to promote education and research involving medical technology. Under the agreement, students at Gifu University’s United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences can attend classes taught by PMDA staff and have an opportunity to spend time working at PMDA headquarters and getting an in vivo view of the medical device review process. Read more…

Posted in Industry News, Japan, Medtech World News: Update from Japan, Regulation | Add Comment 

Terahertz Transmitter Developed at TU Darmstadt Shows Promise for Medical Applications

A tiny terahertz (THz) transmitter developed at the Technische Universität Darmstadt Institute for Microwave Technology and Photonics achieves the highest frequency on record for a device of this kind and can operate at room temperature.

Typically used to nondestructively inspect materials, THz transmitters have found limited adoption because of their cost and size. However, researchers at TU Darmstadt have built a resonance tunnel diode that can generate THz electromagnetic radiation using relatively conventional semiconductor manufacturing technologies in a size of less than 1 sq mm. The device has numerous potential applications, including in vivo detection of diseased tissue, according to the researchers.

To learn more about the technology, read the post about the tiny transmitter on the Medtech Pulse blog.

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T-Ray Imaging Technology Could Lead to Real Version of Star Trek Tricoder Device

The Consumer Electronics Show, taking place in Las Vegas each year, is primarily a showcase of products about to hit the market, but this year Qualcomm made news when it announced a US$10 million competition for the development of a device similar to the Tricoder in Star Trek. The hand-held scanner is used on the show to diagnose medical conditions.

Now researchers from the United Kingdom and Singapore say they have developed a new technology that could result in such a device. The scientists from Imperial College London in the United Kingdom and the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), a research institute of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore, developed a technique that increases the strength and efficiency of T-rays. Read more…

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Biochip Detects Glucose Levels in Saliva

The schematic shows glucose molecules “dancing” on the sensor surface illuminated by light with different colors. Changes in light intensity transmitted through the slit of each plasmonic interferometer yield information about the concentration of glucose molecules in solution. Credit: Domenico Pacifici

For patients with diabetes, checking glucose levels by drawing blood can be uncomfortable, inconvenient and painful. Several companies are attempting to develop painless, noninvasive glucose tests, but so far, none have been successful in introducing one to the market. As the number of diabetics continue to grow, this market is a highly lucrative one.

Now, researchers at Brown University have developed a biochip that measures glucose concentrations in saliva, a technique they say could eliminate the need for diabetics to draw blood to check their glucose levels. The technique incorporates nanotechnology and surface plasmonics (the interaction of electrons and photons).

The researchers etched plasmonic interferometers onto a biochip. They then measured the concentration of glucose molecules in water on the chip. The biochip could detect glucose levels similar to the levels in human saliva, levels that are about 100 times less concentrated than in the blood. The approach could also also be used to test for other substances.

Read more in the Brown University press release.

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Medtech Week Recap: PVC Under Fire Again

PVC’s reputation has seen its up and downs, despite recent technical developments that could make PVC both safer and greener. Now PVC is under fire again by US health provider Kaiser Permanente, which is banning the use of PVC in tubing and bags. Read more…

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BMS Launches Bio-absorbable Scaffold for Implant Devices

Sheets of Biomedical Structures' Biofelt absorbable textile

Biomedical Structures LLC (BMS), a designer, developer and manufacturer of biomedical textiles, this week announced its new Biofelt absorbable scaffold for implant devices. The bio-absorbable textile is an updated version of its Biofelt product with process improvements and QA control updates. The fabric is especially suited for the orthopaedic and cardiovascular spaces.

Biofelt is a three-dimensional nonwoven structure with high surface area and void volume designed to promote natural cell adhesion and regeneration. Biofelt is produced from polyglycolic acid, poly-L-lactic acid and copolymers such co-polylactic acid/glycolic acid. Read more…

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The Medtech Side of Pharmapack Europe

Ypsomed's UnoPen.

Obviously, there’s an awful lot of pharmaceutical packaging on display at Pharmapack Europe, but medical packaging also gets a fair amount of attention at the annual event. If you live in or near Paris, or are just looking for an excuse to spend some time in the city of light, the event is definitely worth checking out. Need more motivation? Here are five reasons you should consider attending Pharmapack Europe.

1. DuPont Performance Polymers will showcase its new Delrin SC699 acetal resin, which played a key role in the design and manufacture of the UnoPen, a disposable, variable-dose injector pen for insulin and other therapies developed by Ypsomed AG. The material is used to mould the pen’s dose dial sleeve. Its low-friction behaviour facilitates use of the pen by diabetes patients, according to DuPont. Other attributes of the material in the UnoPen application include its mechanical properties and compatibility with laser marking when using a masterbatch. Read more…

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Luciano Cattani Takes Over as Eucomed Chief Executive Ad Interim

Eucomed has announced that Luciano Cattani has taken over as Chief Executive ad interim until a suitable successor is found to John Wilkinson, who left the position at the end of 2011. Cattani previously served as a Board Member and Vice Chairman of Eucomed. He has previously held management positions at Pfizer and Stryker. Read more…

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