Category: Medical Breakthrough

In a San Francisco laboratory, a woman named Ann interacts with an avatar using a groundbreaking brain–computer interface (BCI). Paralyzed by a brainstem stroke in 2005, Ann regained a semblance of speech control through a grid of more than 250 electrodes implanted by neurosurgeon Edward Chang. As she thinks of words, the BCI converts her neural activity into text at an impressive 78 words per minute, a significant leap from previous BCI capabilities.

Researchers have achieved remarkable feats in 2023, contributing to the growing enthusiasm around implantable BCIs. Beyond rapid text conversion, a study showcased a digital connection between the brain and spinal cord, enabling a paralyzed individual to walk by decoding intentions. This progress has ignited hopes of transitioning from proof of principles to transformative therapies within the next five years.

A groundbreaking development in bioprinting has the potential to transform the field of human skin replacement. This innovative bioprinted skin is the result of a novel process that combines all six primary skin cell types with hydrogels, enabling the creation of thick, multilayered skin. When successfully transplanted, this advanced skin can accelerate wound healing and significantly reduce scarring, heralding a new era of reliability and natural integration for skin grafts and transplants.

The integration of hydrogels with the primary skin cell types represents a remarkable advancement. It offers the prospect of faster healing and less evidence of transplants, as patients require less time to nurse the bioprinted skin back to health. While researchers have previously explored the creation of living skin for robots, this breakthrough demonstrates that generating full-thickness human bioengineered skin is both achievable and highly beneficial. It promotes faster healing and a more authentic appearance following the application of bioprinted skin.

A pioneering research endeavor, spearheaded by Professor Ja Hyoung Ryu from UNIST’s Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with Professor Hyewon Chung from Konkuk University, has achieved a major milestone in the quest to combat age-related diseases. Their state-of-the-art technology promises a fresh perspective on tackling these ailments by selectively eradicating aging cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. This groundbreaking advancement is poised to reshape the landscape of healthcare and usher in a new era of precisely targeted therapeutic solutions.

As people age, senescent cells, commonly referred to as aging cells, play a significant role in contributing to various inflammatory conditions and age-related maladies. To address this formidable challenge, the research team set their sights on developing a technology capable of accurately homing in on and eliminating aging cells, all while preserving the vitality of normal healthy cells. Their study revolved around the creation of organic molecules tailored to specifically target receptors that are excessively expressed on the membranes of aging cells. These molecules harnessed the heightened levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) found in aging cells, thereby promoting the formation of disulfide bonds and generating oligomers that bind together.

In a significant scientific breakthrough, researchers from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland have reported the discovery of a novel type of brain cell, revealed in a study published in the journal Nature. This newfound cell exhibits characteristics that bridge the gap between neurons and astrocytes, the non-neuronal glial cells crucial for supporting and safeguarding neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

The researchers identified these hybrid cells within specific regions of the brain, in contrast to the usual dispersed distribution of astrocytes. Notably, these hybrid cells demonstrated the ability to produce the neurotransmitter glutamate, a key regulator of neuronal activity and excitation levels.

Keith Thomas, a Long Island native, remembers the sunny Sunday afternoon vividly. He dove into the wrong side of the pool, and his world went dark. That July day in 2020, a few months into the pandemic, marked a tragic turn in his life. He suffered a severe neck injury, fracturing the C4 and C5 vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down. But a groundbreaking clinical trial, employing a pioneering bioelectrical therapy known as a double neural bypass, has brought hope and progress back to his life.

The experimental procedure, conducted at Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, was led by Chad Bouton, a professor at Northwell’s Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine. The therapy combines artificial intelligence (AI), brain-computer interface (BCI) implants, external computers, and wearable technology, offering a unique solution to restore communication between the brain and the body when traditional means fail.

Medical technology company Fountain Life is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to detect heart attack risks years before symptoms appear. With nearly half of all heart attacks being “silent,” this AI coronary artery scan offers a crucial tool in identifying pre-symptomatic heart conditions.

The procedure, which takes less than an hour, involves injecting a simple dye into the vein and performing a quick CAT scan of the heart. The ultra-flexible micro-endovascular probes are precisely delivered into tiny blood vessels without the need for invasive surgery, accessing brain regions that were previously challenging to reach safely. AI then analyzes the results, providing valuable insights into plaque buildup, its stability, and potential risks.

Researchers from Stanford University and Harvard Medical School have achieved a remarkable milestone in neuroscience with the development of ultra-flexible mesh neural probes. These tiny probes can be precisely implanted into sub-100-micrometer-scale blood vessels in the brains of rodents, offering a revolutionary approach to brain research.

Published in the journal Science under the title “Ultraflexible endovascular probes for brain recording through micrometer-scale vasculature,” the researchers detail their groundbreaking device’s potential. Unlike traditional methods requiring open-skull surgery, this cutting-edge technology measures field potentials and single-unit spikes in the cortex and olfactory bulb of rats without causing any brain or vasculature damage. A Perspective piece in the same journal issue highlights the significance of the team’s work.

A groundbreaking study published this week reveals the development of a small robot inspired by pangolins, designed to perform safe and minimally invasive medical procedures inside the human body. These untethered soft robots have the potential to access hard-to-reach regions, such as the stomach and small intestine, by morphing their shape.

Contrary to the conventional perception of robots as rigid, metallic structures filled with circuitry, one of the most exciting advancements in robotics lies in the realm of “soft robotics.” This field focuses on animated materials capable of performing tasks without the typical wiring and circuitry. An example is the recently introduced “gelbot,” a heat-manipulated soft robot capable of inching along.

In a significant scientific achievement, researchers have managed to cultivate monkey embryos in a laboratory environment long enough to witness the early stages of organ formation and nervous system development. These critical milestones, which are challenging to observe in utero, were reached by the embryos, making them potentially the oldest primate embryos to be grown outside the womb. The findings were separately reported by independent teams in two papers published in Cell on May 11.

Lab-grown embryos typically struggle to survive beyond a few weeks, often resulting in an assortment of cells in a dish without any significant progress. Previously, both research teams had successfully cultured monkey blastocysts (clusters of dividing cells) in Petri dishes for up to 20 days. However, further development beyond that point was impeded, preventing the observation of advanced stages such as early signs of organ formation and the nervous system.

A team of researchers led by neurotechnology expert Stephanie Lacour from Switzerland’s Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne has made significant progress in the development of a less invasive method for treating brain conditions that require implantation. Inspired by soft robots, the researchers have created a groundbreaking cortical electrode array capable of passing through a small opening in the skull.

Cortical electrode arrays are used to stimulate, record, or monitor electrical activity in the brain of patients suffering from conditions like epilepsy, which affects approximately 1.2 percent of the US population. Epilepsy often results in seizures, characterized by bursts of electrical activity in the brain, leading to uncontrollable shaking, sudden stiffness, collapsing, and other symptoms. Although microelectrode arrays were invented several decades ago, their use in deep brain stimulation for epilepsy patients has only recently received FDA approval. Nonetheless, existing devices have limitations in terms of electrode resolution, cortical surface coverage, and aesthetic appeal, as noted by the authors of the research paper.

Scientists have developed a device that can generate electricity from glucose found in human blood. The research team, led by Dr. Serge Cosnier from the National Center for Scientific Research in Grenoble, France, created a tiny biofuel cell that uses enzymes to break down glucose and generate a small electrical current.

According to Dr. Cosnier, “The biofuel cell acts like a tiny factory in the body, using glucose as a fuel to generate electricity that powers implantable medical devices.” He also noted that the technology could potentially be used to power devices such as pacemakers and continuous glucose monitors, eliminating the need for battery replacements.

The research team tested the device on rat models, where it was able to generate enough electricity to power a light-emitting diode (LED) for up to 12 hours. However, Dr. Cosnier noted that the efficiency and reliability of the device over time will need to be further tested and improved.