Miscellaneous:
New Biotech Breakthroughs about to change Medicine
The
recent advances in the world of medicine have blurred the differences between
biology and technology. Some of these examples are:
1) Decay-Fighting Microbes: Since,
bacteria living on teeth transformsugar into lactic acid, which erodes the
enamel and lead to tooth decay, a new bacterial strain, called SMaRT, has been
bioengineered by Florida-based Company ONI BioPharma. The antibiotic released
by SMaRT kills the natural decay-causing strain. One swabbing of SMaRT onto
teeth would keep them healthy for a whole life.
2) Artificial Lymph Nodes: Doctors
could fill the nodes with artificialversions of lymph node cells explicitly
tuned to treat certain conditions, such as HIV or cancer.
3) Asthma Sensor: Asthma
accounts for a quarter of all emergencyroom visits in the U.S., but a sensor
developed at the University ofPittsburgh may finally cause that number to
plummet. A handheld sensor is developed which is a polymer-coated carbon
nanotube and 100,000 times thinner than a human hair. It analyzes breath for
small amounts of nitric oxide as this gas is produced in prior to asthma
attacks.
4) Cancer Spit Test: Researchers
at the University of California, LosAngeles detect oral cancer from a single
drop of saliva. Proteins associated with cancer cells respond with dyes on the
sensor and emit fluorescent light, detectable by microscope.
5)
Prosthetic
Feedback: The prosthetic limbs are difficult to monitorbecause
they can’t sense the position of limbs. Stanford University graduate student
Karlin Bark is developing a device. It stretches the skin of amputee near the
prosthesis in such a way that it provides feedback about the limb's position
and movement.
6) Speech Restorer: Illinois-based
Ambient Corporation has developeda device called phonetic speech engine for
patients who have lost the ability to talk. Here, patients imagine slowly
sounding out words; then this quarter-size device, located in a neck brace,
transmits those impulses wirelessly to a computer or mobile phone and produces
speech.
7) Muscle Stimulator: In
the time it takes for broken bones to heal,nearby muscles often atrophy from
lack of use. Israeli company StimuHeal has developed MyoSpare, a
battery-operated device. It uses electrical stimulators to solve the problem of
atrophy of muscles nearby broken bones. It facilitates the exercise of muscles
and maintains them strong during recovery.
8) Nerve Regenerator: A
nanogel developed at NorthwesternUniversity eliminates that impediment of
growth of nerve fibres along the injured spinal cords.
9) Rocket-Powered Arm: Vanderbilt
University scientist MichaelGoldfarb developed a power source: rocket
propellant in prosthetic arm which can lift 20 pounds, three to four times more
than current prosthetics. This power source is pencil-size version of the
mono-propellant rocket-motor system used to move the space shuttle in orbit. H2O2
powers the prosthetic arm for 18 hours to perform normal activity. This has the
potential to replace bulky battery packs required to add strength to prosthetic
limbs.
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