Implants

News • Device biocompatibility research

Improving the body's tolerance to prosthetic implants

Coating an electronic neural implant with a potent anti-inflammatory drug helps the body better tolerate the implant, improving its long-term performance and stability, according to new research.

News • Restored movement in rat study

Electric implant shows promise in repairing spinal cord injuries

An ultra-thin implant could repair injuries to the spinal cord with carefully controlled electrical current. This could help restore movement and revert loss of sensation, the researchers hope.

Article • Technology applications

Medical 3D printing: from niche to mainstream

From personalized medical guides and implants to advanced surgical planning solutions: 3D printing and visualization has seen considerable growth over the past years and is already making a…

News • Potential for patients with knee pain

Artificial lateral meniscus makes clinical debut

Researchers have designed an artificial lateral (outer) meniscus that could help patients with chronic knee pain. The first patients have already undergone surgery and begun rehabilitation.

News • Cybersecurity protocol

Protecting wireless medical implants from being hacked

Cyberhealth threats such as the hacking of a medical implant are of real concern as technology moves toward smart, wirelessly connected implants. A new security protocol aims to protect these devices.

News • High-channel prostheses

One step closer to visual implants

Electrodes implanted directly onto the brain’s visual cortex could eventually restore a rudimentary form of vision to people suffering from blindness worldwide, new research suggests.

News • For newborns with congenital heart defects

Tiny pacemakers safely stabilize baby hearts

A pacemaker designed for babies could fill an unmet need for newborns with congenital heart defects and other heart conditions, finds a new study.

Video • Zwitterion research

Polymer coating to prevent blood clotting in medical implants

Researchers at the University of Sydney are using so-called Zwitterions to create a surface coating that could stop blood clotting in medical devices and implants like catheters and stents.

News • Impact on long-term survival

Biological vs mechanical heart valve replacement: study compares outcomes

Patients aged between 50 to 70 years with a mechanical heart valve replacement had better long-term survival compared to those with a biological valve, new research has found.

News • Neural implant degradation

Building more durable implantable brain chips

New insights on the degradation of implantable chips in the body could lead to enhanced longevity of the chips and better treatments for patients with Parkinson's or clinical depression.

News • Rupture prevention

Breast implants: the importance of regular screenings

Women with breast implants should regularly attend follow-up care to avoid the risk of "silent" implant ruptures and their long-term complications, experts caution in a new publication.

News • Accelerated bone-to-implant integration

Responsive coating could fast-track implant integration after surgery

A new type of photocurrent-responsive coating has been shown to shorten the bone-to-implant integration time after orthopaedic surgery to just two weeks.

Article • Experts explore the future of CSP, CRT, ICD

Implantable cardiac devices: which techniques are ready for prime time?

Opposing views on new implantable cardiac devices were aired in a Great Debate session at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual 2024 congress in London. Experts discussed emerging techniques and technologies and debated whether they are actually ready for clinical application. At the core of the session was the issue of whether conduction system pacing (CSP) should replace cardiac…

A technological solution for preventing device-detected subclinical AF?

As pharmacological options for subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and atrial high-rate episodes continue to run into challenges, new research suggests more physiological pacing solutions can help reduce risks of progression to clinical AF.

News • Regenerative materials

Paving the way for personalized, blood-based, 3D-printed implants

A newly developed ‘biocooperative’ material based on blood can guide key processes taking place during the natural healing of tissues to create living materials that enhance tissue regeneration.

News • Research on bearing materials

Hip replacement: Study shows which implants are built to last

New research has identified hip implant materials with the lowest risk of needing revision, helping hospitals, surgeons and patients to choose what hip implant to use for replacement surgery.

News • Photothermal disinfection

Frying bacteria on implants with tiny gold radiators

New technology shows promise in protecting an implant against infections from resistant bacteria: By heating up small nanorods of gold with near-infrared light (NIR), the bacteria are killed.

News • Planning of implant positioning

Force sensor to improve hip replacement surgery

A sensor that measures forces passing through the hip joint could help surgeons assess and balance the soft tissues before performing hip implant surgery, leading to more accurate implant positioning.

News • Highly entangled polymer networks

3D printing heart bandages, custom implants and more

A band-aid for the heart? US researchers have developed a new way to 3D print material that is at once elastic, tough, and shapable enough to fit a patient’s unique heart or joint defects.

News • Biomaterial-based device

Heart valve made of human collagen opens up new treatment avenues

A new heart valve comprised of biological material obtained from human cells, opens up new therapeutic avenues for patients with paediatric heart diseases, such as tetralogy of Fallot.

News • New technology approach

‘Personalised’ hip replacements to improve outcomes

Using advanced technology from the automotive and manufacturing industries, researchers are driving medical advancement to create ‘personalised’ hip replacements.

News • Circumferential bioelectronics

A ‘wraparound’ implant to treat spinal cord injuries

A tiny, flexible electronic device that wraps around the spinal cord could represent a new approach to the treatment of spinal injuries, which can cause profound disability and paralysis.

News • Minimally invasive procedure

Aortic valve replacement: TAVR on par with surgical approach

Decreased rates of death and stroke: new research shows the validity of transcatheter aortic valve replacement in low-risk patients. This advocates a less invasive alternative to surgical options.

News • Potential fix for intertrochanteric fractures

Bionic nail to reduce femur fracture complications

Traditional fixation techniques often fall short in addressing the mechanical challenges of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures. A new nail aims to fix this issue.

News • Implant and app

New device monitors bladder fullness

A new bioelectronic sensor enables continuous monitoring of bladder function. This could be a game-changer for people with paralysis, spina bifida, bladder cancer or end-stage bladder disease.

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