Training dogs to sniff out lung cancer in the breath of humans could lead to an easy, early detection method that could help save lives. The dogs are able to recognize lung cancer in 71 out of 100 samples and also identify the absence of cancer in 372 samples out of 400. The next steps is to identify the lung cancer marker and develop an electronic nose that could be used to diagnose the disease by smell.

A new optical blood pressure monitor will be able to measure blood pressure without the need for direct pressure on the body. The monitor will take continuous blood pressure readings through its optical sensor, providing beat-to-beat readings in nanoseconds with no calibration necessary. The device can also be used to detect white coat hypertension, which is caused by the natural stress of a patient in a clinical setting. The technology could eventually be used to measure...

The new device will turn any smartphone into a scanner for oral cancer, and will be designed for low cost to aid in public health initiatives. The device will be about the size of a pack of gum and will contain two rows of fluorescent LED's that will illuminate the mouth to highlight dark spots and lesions. The incorporation of the phone will also make it easy to transmit images for off-site diagnosis. The oral scanner is expected to enable earlier diagnosis of oral cancers,...

It will be possible to remove the cast piece by piece as the bone heals, helping to speed recovery and cut physical therapy time. Intended for use on broken arms, the modular cast will secure the limb in the same as a regular cast, but its six removable pieces can be disassembled by the patient's doctor as the bone heals. This will allow different parts of the arm to gradually regain flexibility while also increasing blood flow, and can cut physical therapy time in half.

A new mattress-based patient monitoring system may help take the burden off medical staff. The system will monitor heart rate, respiration rate and patient movement through contact-free sensors placed under the mattress. The data will be converted to translate the patient's large body movements and respiratory motion pattern into more precise vital sign information, which will be displayed on the bedside, nurse's station and other necessary locations.

Most endoscopes are costly and need to be sanitized after every use. My idea is to create a new endoscope which will consist of a complete video camera of only one cubic millimeter in size. The small size as well as cost effective technique could be achieved by adding contacts to one side of the camera's sensor wafer and then joining it face to face with the lens wafer. This will allow the tiny cameras to be cut out of the joined wafers, and also to be more self-contained. BTW,...

The idea is to develop implantable medical devices powered by blood sugar and oxygen, eliminating the need for batteries and wires. The implantable glucose fuel cells are supposed to work on the basis of noble metal catalysts such as platinum, which is very stable and can be sterilized. Equipping systems with the fuel cells could enable them to be powered by a continuous electrochemical reaction between the glucose and the oxygen from the tissue fluid. Typical pacemaker...

A small, lightweight dialysis machine is small enough to be wearable, which could allow sufferers of renal disease to have access to continual dialysis and reduce the need for visits to a clinic. The machine is the size of a woman's handbag and can easily be worn by the patient. The device uses a disposable cartridge that needs to be changed up to 3 times a day, although the fluid solution only needs replacing once a month. Since so little fluid is required, the cost to patients...

The idea is to develop a contact lens able to wirelessly monitor and report the blood sugar level of the wearer. The contact lens will work through enzyme-based electrochemical process, which will be able to measure the glucose levels in tear fluid. Small radios will interact with the sensor to wirelessly transmit the data, eliminating the need for daily monitoring by needles.

Why not turn the average cellphone into a medical diagnosis tool, potentially cutting back on trips to the doctor? The otoscope attachment will be needed. The device will capture an image of the inside of the ear magnified up to 10 times, which will then be uploaded to the website with a list of other symptoms. The images and symptom notes will be examined by a doctor, who will provide enough information for a prescription to be called in.