The wrist-worn, wireless mobile system will track vital signs in real-time, allowing ambulatory patients to be monitored outside the ICU setting. The mobile system will feature a 3-lead or 5-lead ECG as well as an array of sensors that will monitor respiratory rate, skin temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and more. The data will be sent over standard wireless to a central server, allowing the personnel to keep an eye on many patients at once using a tablet or computer. ...

A new diagnostic method could allow doctors to diagnose neural diseases by examining a patient's eyes. The method will work by identifying the amyloid proteins, which gather in the eye as well as the brain and serve as markers for several different, though related, degenerative brain diseases. To identify the different amyloids, thereby diagnosing the specific disorder, the fluorescent probes will be created. They will change color depending upon which amyloid they will come in...

A new visually augmented stethoscope could make it easier for hard-of-hearing medical professionals to detect heart and lung irregularities. The stethoscope is compatible with most hearing aids and can amplify the sound of the scope by more than 30 times that of a conventional scope. It also features a visual display which helps the user to locate the various sounds of the cardiac cycle, and murmurs and defects of the lungs are also easily detectable. The data can be downloaded and...

A new super-fast camera coupled with a powerful optical microscope could lead to the development of a simple blood test for cancer. The device works by locating the circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that break away from tumors as they form in the body. Finding a tumor cell amongst all the other materials in a blood sample is a tedious process. To overcome this, a super-fast camera is used and the images then sent to a computer able to identify the cancer cells based upon their...

Sunken chest, or pectus excavatum, affects about one in 500 people, usually boys. Traditional methods for treating sunken chest work well but tend to cause tremendous pain, and some children have become addicted to pain killers as result. A new technique using magnets to treat sunken chest syndrome could eliminate the need for painful and invasive surgery. The treatment involves inserting a magnet just under the skin at the base of the concave area. This magnet works in...

The new bandage will warn users if it detects an infection in the wound. The bandage features a dressing cover that is sensitive to any pH changes in the wound that would signify an infection. If it does detect an infection--indicated by a pH level between 6.5 and 8.5--a cross-shaped indicator on the top of the bandage will turn purple. The bandages are made of a material with a leather-like feel, come in a variety of colors, and are packaged with Braille instructions.

An ultrasound pill could help to deliver drugs as effectively as an injection, reducing the need for needles and syringes. Ultrasound has long been used to speed the transfer of drugs and increase absorption, and is commonly used for delivering protein-based drugs such as insulin, cancer medications, and vaccinations. The idea is to apply the same technique to a pill. The pill would be coated with the desired drug and swallowed, enabling the device to send ultrasonic waves through...

An isotope-infused skin patch could be used as a spot treatment for basal cell carcinoma. The patch is infused with phosphorus-32, a radioactive isotope that is used to treat some forms of cancer. In studies, the patches were applied over the course of a week to 10 patients with facial basal cell carcinoma. After 6 months, the basal cell cancers had come back in only 2 of the test subjects. The patches could provide a non-surgical, non-radiotherapy alternative to the...

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.

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.