Collaborate Disseminate
In what is being described as a world-first, scientists in Israel have reportedly grown spinal cord implants utilizing tissue extracted from human volunteers. Those implants were then used to restore full walking abilities to previously paralyzed mice…. Continue reading Lab-grown human spinal cord tissue gets paralyzed mice walking again
Researchers have developed a new type of artificial muscle that’s entirely made out of natural proteins. Responding to changes in its environment allows the muscle to flex on demand, which could make it useful for implants, prosthetics or robotics.Cont… Continue reading Artificial muscles made of human proteins make for better implants
As people get older, the intervertebral discs in their spine tend to deteriorate, some of which end up being surgically replaced with implants. A new patient-specific spinal model, however, could help determine how successful such surgery will be.Conti… Continue reading Patient-specific spinal model may predict the effect of disc implants
By stimulating cells to reproduce, electricity has already been shown to help heal soft tissue injuries. Now, an electricity-producing implantable material likewise appears to boost the regrowth of cartilage in compromised joints.Continue ReadingCatego… Continue reading Piezoelectric material shown to help regrow knee-joint cartilage
When studying heart disorders, it’s important to know how electrical signals travel through cardiac tissue, and even through individual heart cells. A new pop-up sensory tool could soon provide that information, in more detail than ever before.Continue… Continue reading Tiny, toothy cardiac sensors “stab” heart cells without hurting them
Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed an ultra-thin device that permanently bonds onto bones, and beams data out wirelessly. The breakthrough could allow doctors to monitor the health of a patient’s bones over time, or how well they’r… Continue reading Wireless sensor grows into bone to monitor health data in real-time
A landmark pilot study has demonstrated how a brain implant can deliver targeted bursts of electrical stimulation to improve cognitive functions. In real-time the implant senses electrical biomarkers of cognitive deficits and responds by stimulating sp… Continue reading Computer-controlled brain implant enhances mental function in human trial
While there are already eye implants that allow the blind to see simple patterns, Spanish scientists have recently had success with a different approach. They bypassed the eyes, producing perceivable images by directly stimulating the brain’s visual co… Continue reading Brain implant bypasses the eyes to help blind users “see” images
Living with chronic pain can be very difficult, especially since heavy-duty pain relievers typically have unwanted side effects, and can be habit-forming. An experimental new treatment, however, gets around those limitations by using implanted electrod… Continue reading Implanted microelectrodes used for side-effect-free pain relief
Patients with kidney failure require dialysis regularly, which is an invasive and potentially risky treatment. But now researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have successfully demonstrated a prototype bioartificial kidney that… Continue reading Bioartificial kidney prototype aces lab tests, could replace dialysis