Articles by Chuck Seegert

81. New Legislation Increases Health Canada's Oversight Of Medical Devices 12/22/2014

    A newly implemented Canadian law has given Health Canada greater powers over the medical device market. The new legislation is designed to better align Canadian patient safety requirements with international standards.

82. 3D Printed Organs Help Make Radiotherapy More Precise 12/22/2014

    Tumors and organs from cancer patients have been replicated by 3D printing, making it possible to precisely determine the dosage of radiotherapy for the tissue. Early studies show that the models accurately copy the tumor and the surrounding organs, which helps calculate how much radiation needs to be applied to the site.

83. Are Medical Device Trial Approval Times Getting Shorter? 12/22/2014

    Approval times for clinical studies are decreasing, according to the FDA’s deputy director of science. The FDA science executive spoke to members of a medical device advocacy group in a recent meeting, where he also discussed a review of the premarket approval (PMA) process that may reclassify devices, removing some from high-risk categories.

84. Metal Test Could Improve Breast Cancer Diagnostics 12/19/2014

    A simple blood test that detects zinc in the body could help in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. By using zinc isotope analysis, a technique usually used to study planet formation, Oxford University researchers looked at how metals are processed in the human body.

85. Lens-Free Microscope Could Lead To Cheaper, Portable Imaging Tech 12/19/2014

    Research from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) has led to a new, lens-free microscope that can detect cellular abnormalities like cancer. The portable system has a similar accuracy to the larger, more expensive equipment often found in pathology labs, so it may enable diagnostics in more remote areas.

86. Double Amputee Is First To Control Two Robotic Arms Simultaneously 12/19/2014

    History was made recently when a bilateral, shoulder-level amputee learned to operate a pair of robotic prostheses. The patient performed complex tasks using both artificial limbs simultaneously. The modular prosthetic limbs (MPLs) are a product of Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory, and the patient became quite proficient with just a small amount of training.

87. Microwave Imaging System Could Improve Breast Cancer Screening 12/18/2014

    As a possible complement to routine mammography, a new microwave imaging system may be able to detect whether a lump is benign or malignant. The system provides 3D reconstructions of tissue, which are obtained without compressing the breast.

88. Mind-Controlled Robotic Arm Demonstrates Power Of Prosthetics 12/18/2014

    Using just her thoughts, a quadriplegic woman used a robotic arm to pick up objects with diverse shapes and orientations. The mind-controlled robotic device she used operated in 10-dimensional space and illustrated the technology’s potential to improve the quality of life for many patients.

89. Zapping Vocal-Cord Cancer With Lasers Proven Effective In Long-Term Study 12/18/2014

    A pioneering laser treatment for early vocal-cord cancer has shown promise as a long-term cure for the disease. In addition to being as effective as traditional approaches at curing tumors, the treatment developed at Massachusetts General Hospital is also able to spare the patient’s vocal cords and ability to speak.

90. 3D Printed Implant Promotes Meniscus Regeneration 12/17/2014

    Replacing the knee’s meniscus, the protective layer that the joint slides on, has been approached in a novel way by Columbia University researchers. The team printed a personalized 3D scaffold, and loaded it with growth factors that helped turn it into a collagen-like tissue when implanted. Tested successfully in sheep, it could provide a long-lasting repair option to millions of patients.