Prosthetic News and Research

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Prosthetic (Prosthesis) devices, such as an artificial leg, that replace a part of the body. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury (traumatic) or missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts. Inside the body, artificial heart valves are in common use with artificial hearts and lungs seeing less common use but under active technology development. Other medical devices and aids that can be considered prosthetics include artificial eyes, palatal obturator, gastric bands, and dentures.

Study findings strongly point to independent control of sensory neurons during motor learning

Sensory neurons in human muscles provide important information used for the perception and control of movement. Learning to move in a novel context also relies on the brain's independent control of these sensors, not just of muscles, according to a new study published in the journal Current Biology.

2 Apr 2016

Vibration sensor helps analyze sense of touch

Type an email on your computer. Raise a glass to your lips. Feel for the light switch in a dark room. Simple, everyday tasks can demand subtle interactions between our hands and our surroundings, but, surprisingly, much remains unknown about the mechanics of the sense of touch.

29 Mar 2016

Boston Children's, Edwards Lifesciences launch new prosthetic heart valve study for congenital heart defect

Surgeons in the Heart Center at Boston Children's Hospital have partnered with Edwards Lifesciences to launch a clinical study of a new prosthetic heart valve for patients born with a congenital heart defect.

17 Mar 2016

Amputee feels texture in real-time with artificial fingertip

An amputee was able to feel smoothness and roughness in real-time with an artificial fingertip that was surgically connected to nerves in his upper arm. Moreover, the nerves of non-amputees can also be stimulated to feel roughness, without the need of surgery, meaning that prosthetic touch for amputees can now be developed and safely tested on intact individuals.

8 Mar 2016

ResMed announces definitive agreement to acquire Brightree

ResMed, the world's leading tech-driven medical device company and innovator in sleep-disordered breathing and respiratory care, today announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Brightree, a leader in business management and clinical software applications for the post-acute care industry.

From ResMed Corp 22 Feb 2016

Johns Hopkins engineers successfully use mind-controlled prosthetic arm to control movements of fingers

Physicians and biomedical engineers from Johns Hopkins report what they believe is the first successful effort to wiggle fingers individually and independently of each other using a mind-controlled artificial "arm" to control the movement.

16 Feb 2016

Anti-biofilm compounds show promise against drug-resistant bacteria associated with hospital-acquired infections

Researchers at the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute and School of Public Health have discovered a new class of anti-biofilm compounds derived from marine microorganisms that show promise against a drug-resistant bacterium commonly associated with hospital-acquired infections.

16 Feb 2016

NTU Singapore scientists develop small smart chip to improve wireless transmission of brain signals

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore have developed a small smart chip that can be paired with neural implants for efficient wireless transmission of brain signals.

14 Feb 2016

CosmosID announces $6M in Series B funding round

CosmosID, the leading genomic big data company focused on microbiome research, outbreak investigations, and infectious disease diagnostics, using next-generation DNA sequencing, announced $6M in Series B funding.

28 Jan 2016

LivaNova receives FDA approval for Perceval Sutureless Heart Valve

LivaNova PLC announced that, on January 8, 2016, the Company received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration for the Perceval Sutureless Heart Valve.

18 Jan 2016

Interpretation of images starts in the retina

Tübingen researchers have shown that image processing in the eye is more extensive than previously thought. They investigated the channels that transmit information from the eye to the brain.

7 Jan 2016

Australian researchers develop new technique to combat chronic bacterial infections in hospitals

One of the scourges of infections in hospitals – biofilms formed by bacteria that stick to each other on living tissue and medical instruments, making them harder to remove – can be tricked into dispersing with the targeted application of nanoparticles and heat, researchers have found.

21 Dec 2015

Virginia Governor speaks at ADAMS Compassionate Healthcare Network Health Fair in Chantilly, VA

As ACHN Chairman Dr. Yahya Alvi explained, "Local and state officials have called the ADAMS Free clinic a model for healthcare to community members who could not otherwise afford that care. We are delighted Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe will attend and speak at the Fair on Saturday, along with many other County and State Civic Leaders who will join us. This is a perfect way for our officials to tell their constituents about our Clinic services."

14 Dec 2015

New prosthesis brings hope to patients with hearing loss

A new prosthesis for a traditional ear surgery is bringing hope to patients diagnosed with a hereditary disorder that causes hearing loss. After 63-year-old Diane Duncan was diagnosed with otosclerosis in her thirties, she transitioned into an isolated world where conversations with other people became limited, everyday noises like car engines running and cell phones ringing became almost inaudible.

10 Dec 2015

Coating implants with certain 'activator' can prevent S. aureus infection

Biofilms frequently coat the surfaces of catheters, and of various medical implants and prostheses, where they can cause life-threatening infections. New research at the Sahlgrenska Academy show that coating implants with a certain "activator" can prevent Staphylococcus aureus, the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, from forming biofilms.

18 Nov 2015

Common ingredient in sunscreen can prevent infections related to medical implants

A common ingredient in sunscreen could be an effective antibacterial coating for medical implants such as pacemakers and replacement joints.

11 Nov 2015

Coating implants with tissue plasminogen activator can prevent biofilm-related infections

Biofilms--mats of bacteria similar to the plaque that grows on teeth--frequently coat the surfaces of catheters, and of various medical implants and prostheses, where they can threaten lives or lead to failure of the implants. Antibiotics are impotent against biofilms.

31 Oct 2015

High-resolution X-ray method can predict risk of re-operation in patients who receive new hip prosthesis

Between 5 and 30 percent of those who receive a new hip prosthesis will require a re-operation during their lifetime. New research shows that a high-resolution X-ray method can predict which patients have the greatest risk of re-operation.

22 Oct 2015

Boehringer Ingelheim announces FDA approval of Praxbind (idarucizumab)

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval of Praxbind (idarucizumab). PRAXBIND is indicated for patients treated with Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate mesylate), when reversal of the anticoagulant effects of dabigatran is needed for emergency surgery/urgent procedures or in life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding.

16 Oct 2015

NC State scientists take a giant leap closer to understanding locomotion from the leg up

Using an "Avatar"-like bio-robotic motor system that integrates a real muscle and tendon along with a computer controlled nerve stimulator acting as the avatar's spinal cord, North Carolina State University researchers have taken a giant leap closer to understanding locomotion from the leg up.

13 Oct 2015