Industry Leaders Find Major Faults with Ethelene Oxide (EtO) Proposal: The Environmental Production Agency’s (EPA) proposed changes regarding the use of EtO for medical device sterilization has drawn sharp criticism. The medtech industry voices major concern about the EtO proposals and potential negative impacts to patient care.
Sourcing Bioplastics for Medical Packaging: A packaging expert advises weighting the pros and cons before sourcing bioplastics for medical device packaging.
Despite regulatory hurdles and other obstacles to rebuilding the domestic PPE supply chain, there are some success stories.
The Dazzling Future of Diabetes Tech: The diabetes tech market will not be losing its luster any time soon. News emerging from the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions makes it clear that the diabetes tech market won’t be losing its luster any time soon.
App turns smartphone into thermometer: An application called FeverPhone that uses the heat sensors of an existing battery and a smartphone’s touchscreen to turn phones into thermometers has been developed by researchers at the University of Washington.
A new report claims that manufacturing defects are now the number one reason for product recalls in the United States.
Blood pressure monitor prototype clips onto phones: A clip-on device prototype that takes readings of systolic and diastolic blood pressure using an algorithm and a smartphone camera has been developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego. “Using a standard blood pressure cuff can be awkward to put on correctly, and this solution has the potential to make it easier for older adults to self-monitor blood pressure,” said study co-author Alison Moore.
AI tool aids MRI diagnosis of brain injuries in athletes: A new AI tool that uses machine learning techniques was able to identify subtle changes in brain MRIs, allowing researchers to differentiate between athletes engaged in contact sports from those in noncontact sports, according to a study published in The Neuroradiology Journal. “Our results highlight the power of artificial intelligence to help us see things that we could not see before, particularly ‘invisible injuries’ that do not show up on conventional MRI scans,” researchers said.
Self-management app shows promise in anxiety reduction in autism: The use of the Brain in Hand self-management system resulted in a decrease in anxiety among adults with autism who used the app for 12 weeks, according to a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. The study also found that participants saw improvement in their ability to deal with challenges of daily life after use of the system.
Vaccine patch trial promising for improved access: A clinical trial for a patch-based vaccine delivery system showed measles and rubella immune responses that were comparable to conventional injections, and experts say the delivery method has potential to improve vaccine access in low-income countries because administration requires minimal training and the patch does not require refrigeration or clean water. Vaccine patches are also being tested for other diseases including rabies, tuberculosis and hepatitis B.