#medicaldevice

Skin Displays: The Ultra-Thin Future of Wearable Devices“I believe skin displays can get us to a future of technologies that are gentle, kind, and spread warmth, not just information.”These are just some of the words of Takao Someya, a University of Tokyo professor that envisions a “future of electronic devices that not only transmit data but also feelings.” While smartwatches and other wearable devices are already available in the market, some people still find them clunky and impractical to use given their small display.Professor Takao, along with his group and Dai Nippon Printing Co, aims to resolve this by working on a 46mm square, 2mm thin display capable of sticking to one’s skin and other surfaces. This is made possible by using micro-LEDs attached to a stretched silicon substrate connected via silver wiring. This silver wiring comes in the form of a paste that is conductive even as it is stretched and molded into the curvature of one’s hand. The silicone material also acts as a natural adhesive, making attachment easy.  Apart from the obvious health monitoring benefits, skin displays also make accessing information easier and can be very useful in situations where both hands are preoccupied. The flexible design also makes it viable for contact sports, where traditional devices may easily break when struck.  While this design is surely promising, it is not without room for improvement. Professor Takao notes improving power sources, pixel density, and striking a balance between comfort and durability. He and his team are aiming to bring skin displays into consumer’s hands within the next three years. Image: University of Tokyo | Yoshiaki Tsutsui #wearable #display #future #technology #electronics #sports #wellness #microLED #medicaldevice

Tired? Just Shock Yourself in the Neck to Reduce FatigueThere are times when a soldier has to go a long time without sleep, so the military is interested in ways to combat fatigue.In a new study, researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio conducted a test with a handheld device that stimulates the vagus nerve.From IEEE Spectrum:Twelve hours into the experiment, half the volunteers each received two minutes of electrical stimulation to the left cervical vagus nerve and two to the right, with two minutes of rest in between. The other half had a sham device that looked identical to the real machine pressed to their necks that made similar vibrations and clicking sounds but did not deliver any current. Both groups were asked to not nap or consume any caffeine or similar stimulants during the experiment.The scientists found the volunteers who received vagus nerve stimulation performed better at tasks testing focus and multi-tasking. They also reported less fatigue and higher energy. These benefits peaked 12 hours after simulation, with boosts to alertness lasting for up to 19 hours.Image: Lindsey McIntire#vagusnerve #vagusnervestimulation #VNS #biomedicaldevice #medicaldevice #electricalshock #fatigue #AirForce

Needle-Free Injection DeviceAfraid of needles? If Bobby Dyer, Chief Device Architect at Portal Instruments, has anything to say about it, you'll be able to say goodbye to syringe needles in the future.The company is developing a needle-free injection device that shoots a tiny jet of liquid that pierces the skin, without the use of a syringe needle. The jet of liquid is sixteen times smaller than a traditional needle and travels at about the speed of an airplane or 500 mph (800 kph)Alie Ward of The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation interviews Dyer about the invention in this YouTube clip:

This CPR Bot Can Perform Mechanical Chest CompressionNo need to do CPR to the tune of Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees anymore! Just slap on this CPR bot that'll do the job.Meet LUCAS 3, a new medical device that delivers cardiopulmonary resuscitation chest compressions consistently and without interruption - from the moment the emergency crews arrive on the scene and put the device on until the patient gets to the hospital.The device will also allow CPR in difficult locations, such as a narrow flight of stairs. It also makes it safer for ambulance crew. "There are also significant safety risks to ambulance personnel being unrestrained and performing CPR in the back of vehicles travelling at high speed," said Dr. John Black, medical director at South Central Ambulance Service, "These devices don’t fatigue or change the delivery in any way, meaning high quality CPR can be delivered for as long as is required while freeing up the paramedic, keeping them seated and belted and able to focus on other critical aspects of patient care on a journey.""It ultimately acts as a robotic third crew member for our teams."#robot #paramedic #CPR #ambulance #emergencymedicine #medicaldevice