The Week in Tech - 1/19/2024
What a kickoff to 2024. Here is the BiWeekly Recap of the most prominent news in medical technology in the New Year:
Brain implants may soon assist thought-based communication using higher-density flexible electrodes for improved spatial mapping, and consequently signal resolution.
Focused ultrasound is utilized to open the blood-brain barrier and treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease with anti-amyloid antibodies, showing a greater reduction in amyloid-beta levels in treated brain regions compared to untreated regions.
Scientists engineered smart skin bacteria, Cutibacterium acnes, to produce a therapeutic molecule that holds the potential to treat acne symptoms.
Researchers generate brain organoids from fetal brain tissue, offering potential assistance in creating accurate models and advancing the understanding of developmental disorders or brain cancers.
Machine-learning models were employed to forecast visual acuity outcomes, revealing that a regression model and binary classification models can effectively anticipate and illustrate the risk for visual impairment at 3 and 5 years.
Chronic liver disease is expected to see a sustained increase over the next 25 years, imposing a significant burden on healthcare systems. Projections suggest a nearly twofold increase in liver cancer cases and almost a threefold surge in the need for liver transplants by 2050.
Deep Learning Algorithms enable the identification of new antibiotics, resulting in finding several that were effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci—after testing 283 promising compounds identified.
MIT engineers develop a robotic replica of the heart that mimics the functions of both a healthy and a diseased organ, incorporating soft robotic muscles along with pig heart tissue.
A novel method in drug research integrates automated experiments with artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of new drugs by identifying correlations among reactants, reagents, and the performance of reactions using a dataset comprising over 39,000 pharmaceutically relevant reactions.
A shoe-clip sensor improves stability in Parkinson's patients by alerting wearers about their walking stride.
Researchers find a cost-effective diabetes diagnosis method using a mathematical calculation from two blood values.
Low-frequency ultrasound impacts blood parameters, potentially enhancing oxygen transfer in pulmonary patients.
Active lifestyle, social interactions, and effective management of blood pressure and diabetes contribute to improved mental function.
International researchers develop a biochip mimicking the human retina.
U.S. utilities commit to a complete shift to renewable electricity by 2060, driven by state mandates and industry initiatives.
Scientists successfully revive lost brain function post-stroke.
Synapshot enables real-time observation of synapse formation, extinction, and alterations, marking a significant breakthrough.
Noteworthy Innovations in Technology and Gadgets From CES 2024:
Whole Home Backup Battery System from Goal Zero
Transparent Television Design Showcased by Samsung and LG. Along the same lines, LG debuted its projector CineBeam Qube, measuring just over 3 inches thick and 5.3 inches tall and deep. It can project 4K images from 50 up to 120 inches, has a 450,000:1 contrast ratio, auto screen adjustment with auto-focus,
L'Oreal's AirLight Pro Incorporates High-Speed Motor and Infrared Technology for Faster Hair Drying
BeamO Multiscope Integrates Thermometer, Electrocardiogram, Oximeter, and Stethoscope for Comprehensive Health Monitoring
Introduction of Rabbit R1: It resembles the concept of Alexa or Google Assistant, but is portable with an all-day lasting battery. Its OS can manage your music, arrange a ride, purchase groceries, send messages, and perform various tasks through a unified interface without the need for multiple apps and logins – even more impressive is that its specialized training mode enables users to instruct the device on a particular task, and it is expected to autonomously replicate the action in the future.