The idea is to develop a technique that could one day allow the early diagnosis of diseases through saliva. Saliva contains complex sets of molecules that can be used to create an impression of the person's general health, and by identifying biomarkers in the saliva scientists can develop tests that will produce accurate results. It is believed that in time the non-invasive saliva sampling method of diagnosing disease could be just as useful as blood tests. And since 20...

A paper-based blood test for liver damage could be of particular use in developing countries, where liver damage is widespread as a side effect of drug treatments. The test consists of a pattern of channels and wells on a piece of absorbent paper. A drop of blood placed on the paper is absorbed and sent to the test wells, which have been spotted with chemicals that will change color when they detect certain markers in the liquid. The chip works simply and without the need for much...

A new chewing gum designed to treat motion sickness takes effect more quickly than capsules or pills. The gum contains the active ingredient dimenhydrinate, a commonly-accepted medication for motion sickness. As the gum is chewed, the drug is absorbed through the space between the user's cheek and gums, which allow the medication to reach the user's system more quickly than conventional ingestion methods.

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.

The new knotless tissue control devices will allow surgeons to stitch and secure tissues without needing to tie knots in the sutures. The devices will be lined with barbs, which will be spaced 1mm apart and form a spiral along length of the string. The barbs will help maintain the tension in the suture while also providing anchor points that will eliminate the need to tie knots, thus allowing surgeons to close wounds more rapidly and reduce the amount of time patients are under...

A new cardiac monitor will send wireless data from the implant to physicians to help them track the condition of their patient's heart. The device will consist of a three-channel ECG system and home monitoring technology, which will allow the implant to continuously monitor the health of the heart and transmit the information to the cardiologist. Because the batteries have a lifespan of over 6 years, even with continuous use, the implant can be used over a long period of time,...

The bra is supposed to be an early warning system for breast cancer, able to detect emerging tumor long before the tumor becomes visible to a mammogram. The bra will feature technology that will enable the device to continuously measure the tiny variations in blood vessel growth in the breasts. Blood vessels feeding a cancerous tumor have a distinct heat signature, which will allow the growing tumor to be identified at a very early stage.

The bone press is designed to simplify the process of performing spinal fusions. The bone press quickly separates bone from liquid during surgery, creating a semi-dry and graft-ready material for use during fusion procedures. The two-step method includes the collection of bone tissue and blood during the procedure followed by manually deploying the press to suction away the fluid, creating a 10 cubic centimeter bone patty ready for grafting. The bone press can also be used...

The ultra-fine nano pen needle takes advantage of a 5-bevel design to help ease the pain of daily injections. The 4mm needle uses special design, which features a 5-bevel needle tip that is able to penetrate the skin more easily due to its flatter, thinner surface. In comparison with 3-bevel pen needles, this needle is significantly easier to insert and less painful, with the force needed to penetrate the skin reduced by 23 percent.

A smartphone app able to analyze the air volume of a person's lungs from audio recordings could make it easier for people to track their lung health. The application is able to analyze lip reverberation in order to monitor pulmonary diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and cystic fibrosis. By creating a model of a person's trachea and vocal tract, it is possible to mimic the tubes of a spirometer while using the phone to analyze sound wave frequencies as they...