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...

The sensor will monitor your sleep patterns and bedroom environment to help ensure the best sleep possible. The system will be made up of two main components. The globe-shaped sensor will monitor the bedroom ambiance, gathering information on the room's levels of noise, light, temperature, humidity and air particulates, while another sensor will attach to your pillow to track sleep behavior. The first sensor will glow green when the environment is well-suited for sleeping, and will...

Portable air quality sensors could help people suffering from chronic conditions like asthma and COPD breathe a bit easier by allowing them to check the air condition in their immediate with their smartphones. The system will consist of small air quality sensors that could be carried by the individual or deployed around a particular area. The sensors will be able to measure local concentrations of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and ozone, and transmit the data wirelessly to...

A new digital system that will allow the visually-impaired to 'read' graphs could provide them with more learning and employment opportunities while also making day-to-day business a bit easier. The system will provide a way for the visually-impaired to read the graphs and statistics that are so commonly used today. The device will use pattern recognition, machine learning and segmentation methods to identify blocks of texts or pictures and arrange them in the proper reading order....

A waterproof hearing aid could allow the hearing impaired to take part in more activities while still enjoying the added accessibility that hearing aids provide. The rugged hearing aid will be dustproof, shockproof and waterproof at depths up to 3 feet for as long as 30 minutes. The battery compartment will be connected using a silicon sealant, and oxygen will be able to reach the zinc air batteries by moving through a waterproof membrane.

The idea is to create a wearable device to reduce the symptoms of psoriasis through light instead of medication. The battery-powered device will be simple to use, with only a single on/off button. It will be equipped with an array of 40 high-intensity LEDs that will shine UV-free, blue light onto the skin - a therapy that has been proven to reduce the rate at which the cells divide. The device will fit both the arms and legs and can be worn at any time, making it easier to...

A hearing aid that transmits sound to the inner ear by sending vibrations through the skull could restore some hearing in people suffering from problems in the middle ear. Most hearing aids are designed for people with problems of the inner ear, and previous bone conduction-based hearing aids require the implant to be anchored in the skull bone using a titanium screw that protrudes from the skin. In comparison, the new bone conduction implant, which measures just under six...

The vision implants will let some people do away with reading glasses by automatically adjusting to bring near objects into focus. The vision implants will be implanted in just ten minutes using topical anesthesia. The key to the technology will be the inlay, an extremely thin ring with an opening in the center that will be placed beneath the surface of the cornea. The inlay will be able to adjust automatically to focus the light entering the eye - much like a camera's aperture -...

Taking advantage of the new microneedle patch technology, I suggest developing a dissolving patch that will allow patients to self-administer vaccines - painlessly. The patch will consist of microneedles only seven-tenths of a millimeter long and use dry virus-like particles instead of the usual liquid containing the dead or attenuated virus. An added stabilizing agent means the patches will not have to be refrigerated, and the precise delivery method of the small needles will...

A skin patch that delivers drugs directly into the foot could provide a new source of relief for diabetics who frequently suffer from foot ulcers. Diabetes causes both blockages in the blood vessels and hinders the formation a protein called hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1a)--a protein that triggers the genes that form capillaries at wound sites. These two factors both slow wound healing, which can in turn lead to amputation. In order to assist in the body's healing, a...