Philips is teaming up with NeuroNexus Technologies, out of Ann Arbor, Michigan, to develop smaller, more responsive, and MRI friendly deep brain stimulation devices. NeuroNexus has an expertise in silicon and polymer based micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) designed specifically for brain interface. According to the company's website, they have developed the technology that enables "placement of sophisticated microelectronic and fluidic components on the surface of miniaturized brain probes that can be used to 'map' brain function, to record or transmit information, to stimulate or modulate functions in specific regions where the brain's natural abilities to do so are compromised, or even to deliver drugs to precisely where they are needed."

Here's what Philips expects from this collaboration:

By combining Philips Research’s strengths in microelectronics, signal processing, ultra-low power system design and miniaturization with NeuroNexus Technologies’ expertise in micro-scale electrode design and fabrication, the two companies aim to show the technical feasibility of highly programmable and MRI-safe deep brain stimulation devices. Their initial research will aim to meet the functional requirements of a deep brain stimulation device for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. This is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that impairs people’s motor skills and speech, leading to a progressive loss in quality of life. Recent publications suggest that deep brain stimulation could also be suitable for treating psychiatric disorders such as clinical depression.

Late-stage Parkinson’s disease is increasingly being treated using deep brain stimulation – a technique that involves implantation of a medical device, a “brain pacemaker” that sends electrical impulses to specific parts of the patient’s brain via permanently inserted electrodes. The pacemaker control unit is normally implanted into the patient’s chest or abdomen, with a connecting lead routed under the skin to the brain electrode. While offering an effective therapy that helps many patients, currently available technologies have significant limitations.

“As currently used, deep brain stimulation poses several challenges to both the patient and the physician: The implantation requires a lengthy surgical procedure involving both neurosurgeons and neurologists. Following surgery, setting the right stimulation parameters requires painstaking efforts on the part of the neurologists before the patient can be sent home. In the long term, patients may for example develop spine problems that would require further examination using MRI, but with current implants MRI scans are not possible due to the materials used in the fabrication of DBS electrodes and the stimulators”, explains Prof. Maximilian Mehdorn, Head of Neurosurgery at the Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Germany.

The joint research project aims to address these clinical needs, and will leverage Philips’ expertise in medical imaging and surgery planning with the aim of simplifying the implantation process and shortening the surgical procedure. Philips will also contribute to making the entire device MRI compatible so that patients fitted with the implant are not barred from MRI scans. With its world-leading track record in neural micro-electrodes, NeuroNexus Technologies brings in key technology and knowledge for novel brain probes.

Press release: NeuroNexus Technologies and Philips partner to research next-generation deep brain stimulation devices for the treatment of central nervous system disorders...

NeuroNexus Technologies homepage...

The Medical Phone Ltd out of Edinburgh, UK is working on a mobile device that will provide step-by-step instructions during emergency medical situations, and can quickly call 911, your doctor, as well as a nearby hospital. iCEphone™ (iCE for in Case of Emergency), though a simple and smart idea, might as well be a software package that can be installed onto any smart phone capable of handling such functions.

From the device info page:

iCE Aid is designed to assist anyone, anywhere in the world affected by a medical emergency. The software package reduces the time to receive appropriate treatment -- the critical factor in emergency medicine. It has three main functions:

Provides step by step emergency first aid software to lead you by the hand and show you what to do and how to do it

Automatically records what has been done and compiles a handover report to give to the emergency services

Holds your medical records in a safe and secure fashion

iCE Aid is for everyone. Whether you are going about your daily life, travelling alone in the mountains, trekking through the desert, swinging through the jungle or gliding over the ocean waves and you need some medical help - here it is. It is particularly suited to remote contractors, travellers and backpackers who may need to deliver some care themselves; or access foreign healthcare in remote parts of the world with sparse medical services.

Product page: iCEphone...

(hat tip: Gizmodo)

More news from Düsseldorf, Germany, where the largest in the world medical technologies conference, Medica 2008, is being held right now. Kontron AG, a Munich firm, is showing off its new 10.4" MediClient Panel PC. The unit is a complete computer with the touch screen as the primary interface.

Details of the device from Kontron:

The new Kontron MediClient 104 is a fanless medical Panel PC with a durable, lightweight plastic housing that offers IP65 protection and can be tailor-made to suit OEMs’ corporate designs. Despite its compact size, the Kontron MediClient 104 offers a comprehensive set of interconnects including dual Ethernet (10/100), dual USB 2.0, serial RS232 (opt. RS422/RS485) and an optional CAN bus interface. VESA arm mounting makes the fanless Kontron MediClient 104 the easy-to-integrate medical HMI for a wide spectrum of cost-sensitive OEM medical applications in operating theaters, emergency stations and other infection-sensitive areas that require sharp graphics and intuitive user interfaces in a space-saving, robust and hygienic design.

Scalable up to the Intel® Celeron® M processor with 1.0 GHz, the cost-optimized Kontron MediClient 104 features up to 1024 MB of RAM and a Compact Flash socket plus an optional 2.5 inch HDD for data storage. The 800x600, easy-to-read bright (230 cd/m²) TFT touch screen, which is usable with gloves and stylus pens, is resistant to disinfectants and detergents. The plastic housing (ABS UL94V0) is scratch-proof, corrosion resistant and chemical resistant for long life and easy cleaning.

Shock and vibration resistance, thermal stability and compatibility with EN60601-01 are standard features of the Kontron MediClient Panel PCs, as is long-term availability of at least 5 years. The fanless cooling concept not only reduces noise but also ensures very high reliability with a MTBF of more than 40,000 hours. The CE, FCC, cULus certified Kontron MediClient complies to US:FCC47 CFR PART15, Class A level, EN61000-6-2 and EN55022/A (CISPR22) regulations.

Press release: New compact Kontron MediClient Panel PC with 10.4 inch SVGA touch display...

Product page: MediClient 104 ...

New Zealand company Multifit Hospital Supplies has developed an\ device that helps the elderly and the disabled get into bed by assisting them to move their legs from sitting to lying position.

The company is demonstrating its LegLifter at the ongoing Medica 2008 conference in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The video below demonstrates the mechanics.

Product page: Multifit LegLifter

Multifit company profile at Medica 2008...

Olympus has announced this year's winners of the BioScapes Digital Imaging Competition, a contest of the finest photographs from recent research in the life sciences. Shown above is the overall winner, but do browse through the entire winner's gallery for all the amazing works.

A luminous golden ‘fairy fly’ that seems to defy gravity as it hovers with feathered wings against a dark background took top prize in the 2008 Olympus BioScapes Digital Imaging Competition®, the world’s foremost forum for showcasing microscope photos and videos of life science subjects. Mr. M. I. “Spike” Walker of Staffordshire, England, took top honors for the shimmering image of what is called a fairy fly, actually a tiny wasp that may be the world’s smallest insect at only 0.21mm long, or 1/25 the length of the average red ant. The eerily glowing wasp, captured in exquisite detail, reveals the extraordinary delicacy, balance, beauty, and numerous colors in the diminutive creature.

This year’s winning images reflect a fascination with the awe-inspiring influence of science in everyday life, with surprising views of white wine, human teeth, ticks, wings and feathers, fruit flies, honeybees, mosquitoes, moss, pollen, lobster eggs, tongues, snails and petrified wood among the honorees. Across the spectrum are other images that reflect the latest advances in neuroscience and cell biology, including the Fourth Prize image of zebrafish neurons captured by Albert Pan of Harvard University, using the “Brainbow” imaging technique, one of the most advanced fluorescence imaging methodologies available today. (Last year’s top prize winner was a Brainbow image captured by another researcher in the same Harvard University laboratory.)

BioScapes 2008 Gallery of Winners...

Press release: It's a Bug's Life, as Flawless Photo of Wasp Wins Worldwide Olympus BioScapes Competition