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.
Implants
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.
Sponsored • Beyond average
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.
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…
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.
News • Inflammatory flareup detection
Crohn's disease: Implantable sensor could lead to timelier treatment
A team of Northwestern University scientists has developed the first wireless, implantable temperature sensor to detect inflammatory flareups in patients with Crohn’s disease.
Sponsored • Hip arthroplasty
Endoprostheses for elderly and frail patients: Preparation is half the battle
An ageing population and modern lifestyle conditions have greatly increased the case numbers for hip arthroplasty. To prevent complications, it is important for orthopaedic surgeons to identify high-risk patients and take proper precautions. At the Heraeus symposium at DKOU, two experts explored the special measures that should be taken to ensure better outcomes for elderly and frail patients.
News • Promising prototype solution
An artificial heart valve that grows with the child
Many children born with heart problems receive prosthetic valves, but the valves cannot grow with them. A prototype expanding artificial heart valve could greatly reduce the number of surgeries.
News • Researchers look into mammoplasty aftereffects
Immune system disorders after silicone breast implant surgery
Russian scientists have conducted a comprehensive examination of why some women present with autoimmune conditions after silicone augmentation mammoplasty.
News • Insulin and oxygen production
An implantable device for injection-free diabetes control
Engineers from MIT are developing a device containing insulin-producing cells and a tiny oxygen-producing factory to keep the cells of diabetes patients healthy.
