Month: May 2021

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a sweat sensor that measures glucose levels on the skin and converts those readings into accurate blood sugar estimates. As glucose levels in sweat can vary from person to person, the sensor incorporates algorithms that personalize the measurement for each user, requiring finger-prick calibration once or twice each month. The need for regular finger pricks is a barrier for many patients with diabetes in regularly testing their glucose levels, as…

Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a method to 3D print cartilage-like materials consisting of a collagen hydrogel containing human chondrocytes. The printed structures mimic human nasal cartilage in terms of its mechanical, molecular and histological characteristics. The researchers hope the technology could lead to personalized cartilage implants for skin cancer patients who have nasal cartilage defects following surgery to remove their tumors. The nose is a common site for skin cancer, and in many such patients, removal…

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a hexachromatic camera that can assist with tumor imaging during surgical removal. The device is inspired by the mantis shrimp which can perceive twelve colors, compared with just three colors that can be perceived by the human eye. The new camera can visualize tumors in the body during surgery when patients are administered near-infrared probes to label cancer cells. By seeing the entirety of the tumor and removing accurately around the…

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a series of soft sensors that can provide wireless monitoring of pregnant mothers during labor. The sensors are a replacement for the wires and belts typically used for monitoring during labor, and can send data directly to a clinician’s smartphone, opening the possibility of remote monitoring in rural or low-resource settings, or even for home births during the current pandemic. At present, clinicians monitor pregnant women during labor using a series of cumbersome belts…

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) in Korea have developed a new technique to treat cerebral aneurysms. Described in journal Advanced Materials, the treatment involves using a catheter to deliver an alignate hydrogel that is crosslinked in place within the aneurysm using light. The hydrogel is not degradable and can reside within the body for extended periods. As an alternative to coil embolization, the hydrogel stabilizes the aneurysm and reduces the chance of it bursting. Cerebral aneurysms…