Optimizing infection diagnostics with AI, masks and antibody tests
01.10.2024
Due to the increasing global challenges within infection diagnostics, it is becoming ever more important to develop new methods and technologies. Antibiotic resistance, changing disease patterns and new types of infections underline the importance of specific medical technology solutions.
Okos Diagnostics
From waste to sustainable wins: Rapid tests with biomaterials
27.08.2024
Over 2 billion rapid test (lateral flow assay) kits are produced every year, adding tens of thousands of tons of used materials to the growing global volume of medical waste. Every test kit contains around 12 grams of plastic and is designed for single use. The company Okos Diagnostics, founded in 2022, aims to reduce the waste with a sustainable rapid test solution.
HZDR / Anja Schneider
HZDR team introduces novel pathogen detection approach
12.03.2024
Detecting diseases early or predicting their onset is crucial for healthcare. Dr. Larysa Baraban's team at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) develops miniaturized biosensor devices using nanomaterials.
EU-Funded Project PAIR improves pandemic preparedness
08.02.2024
The EU-funded project PAIR has just started in Copenhagen with the participation of 20 partners from seven countries. This five-year project aims to ensure that Europe possesses the expertise and capabilities for advanced point-of-care systems and prognostic models based on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
University of Jyväskylä
Antiviral resin destroys COVID-19 from plastic surfaces
06.02.2024
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland are pioneering the development of antiviral surfaces to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases, particularly focusing on coronaviruses.
Nasal antibody spray demonstrates potential for COVID-19 prevention
26.01.2024
Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have achieved a significant breakthrough in COVID-19 prevention with the development of a nasal antibody spray. This approach offers new possibilities for enhanced protection against SARS-CoV-2 and its various variants, providing hope for high-risk individuals.
Magnus Johansson/Linköping University
Advanced MRI technology detects changes in the brain after COVID-19
15.12.2023
Researchers at Linköping University have examined the brains of 16 patients previously hospitalised for COVID-19 with persisting symptoms. They have found differences in brain tissue structure between patients with persisting symptoms after COVID-19 and healthy people.
elenabednykh
AI used in new COVID-19 test improves accuracy
06.12.2023
A new AI-assisted molecular diagnostic platform capable of identifying variants of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases has been developed by scientists in the UK. The low cost, portable device could play a crucial role in preventing future pandemics due to its accuracy and versatility.
UConn photo
EPA testing shows the power of D-I-Y air filters to trap viruses
07.11.2023
There is a low-cost way for you to protect yourself and reduce your risk of respiratory diseases such as flu, RSV, and COVID-19. Build yourself a Corsi-Rosenthal box (CR box) in 30 minutes with just $60 worth of common hardware store supplies.
gpointstudio
Coronavirus: Model can predict the evolution of new variants
31.10.2023
An international research team from the University of Cologne and the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai (New York) has developed a model that predicts the likely evolution of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
DragonImages
Breathment: AI-based breathing exercises for health
23.10.2023
For people with respiratory diseases, breathing can be a challenge. Breathment, a start-up from Munich, wants to change that. With their app, they want to help COPD patients with rehabilitation and disease management.
stetphotos
Rapid electronic diagnostic test for infectious diseases
04.10.2023
A new molecular test for bacteria and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 has been developed by scientists at the University of Surrey, as they warn that the world needs to be prepared for the next pandemic.
Malmö University
New sensors could replace current infection testing
04.10.2023
New technology could pave the way to a future of rapid testing in hospitals and at home for both covid and urinary tract infection. It could also be used to keep track of blood sugar levels during operations and wireless monitoring of various bacterial infections.
COMPASS: Inexpensive and fast detection method for viruses
02.10.2023
Since Corona, everyone has probably come into contact with a rapid test for checking viral load. A new device called COMPASS promises much faster and more effective testing than conventional methods. It was developed by researchers at Julius Maximilian University in Würzburg in cooperation with Erlangen University Hospital.
TUD
Diagnostics: pioneering approaches for the detection of viral antigens
22.09.2023
Scientists from the Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology at TU Dresden (TUD) have made considerable progress in the development of highly innovative solutions for the detection of viral pathogens in two studies they presented recently.
Ryan Hull
Pathogen detection through electronic detection of DNA nanoballs
19.09.2023
Researchers at Karolinska Institute have developed a novel method using DNA Nanoballs to detect pathogens, aiming to simplify nucleic acid testing and revolutionize pathogen detection.
ThamKC
AI-powered triage platform could aid future viral outbreak response
12.09.2023
A team of researchers from Yale University and other institutions globally has developed an innovative patient triage platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that the researchers say is capable of predicting patient disease severity and length of hospitalization during a viral outbreak.
InfectoGnostics
InfectoGnostics study: Benefits of on-site tests in general practices
05.09.2023
General practitioners (GP) regularly use on-site rapid tests because they find their application useful. However, frequent utilisation fails due to costs and remuneration regulations. These are the results of a study by InfectoGnostics researchers at the University Hospital Jena in the project "POCT-ambulant", in which 292 GPs in Thuringia, Bremen and Bavaria participated.
Beate Armbruster/University Hospital of Tuebingen
Protection for cancer patients
05.09.2023
Tübingen T-cell activator offers protection against coronaviruses in immunocompromised patients
monkeybusiness
Pandemic prevention: progress in research infrastructure
15.08.2023
The Covid-19 pandemic has clearly shown that there is still a lot of potential in research structures and funding to better manage a pandemic. Prevention plays just as important a role as dealing with the pandemic. Technological measures that can facilitate virus detection or help to analyze the course in more detail need to be developed.
Imagery created using BioRender.com.
AI-based tracking and early-warning system for viral pandemics
27.07.2023
Scripps Research scientists have developed a machine-learning system—a type of artificial intelligence (AI) application—that can track the detailed evolution of epidemic viruses and predict the emergence of viral variants with important new properties.
Joseph Puthussery
Biosensing: air monitor can detect COVID-19 variants
13.07.2023
Scientists are looking at ways to surveil indoor environments in real time for viruses. By combining recent advances in aerosol sampling technology and an ultrasensitive biosensing technique, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have created a real-time monitor that can detect any of the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants in a room in about 5 minutes.
drazenphoto
Revolutionizing virus detection: the power of AI and CRISPR
04.07.2023
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists and researchers have been tirelessly working to develop innovative and accurate tests to identify the presence of viruses. One breakthrough technology that has emerged is the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and CRISPR, which has revolutionized virus detection.
maxxyustas
Corona: The virus needs only a single door opener
15.06.2023
Why is the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus able to spread so efficiently? Various hypotheses are still circulating in the scientific community. A group of researchers from Würzburg has now found groundbreaking answers.
Swen Reichhold
Infectious diseases: digital 'vaccine library' against pandemics
12.06.2023
The Institute for Drug Discovery led by Humboldt Professor Jens Meiler is to receive 1.9 million dollars (1.77 million euros) for the development of vaccines. The international Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will fund computer-aided vaccine development at Leipzig University with the aim of building a digital ‘vaccine library’ of components and virtual antigen designs.
Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin
Panadea Diagnostics: new start-up for better infection diagnostics
06.06.2023
"Get the right result, every time": the start-up Panadea Diagnostics has set this as the goal of its work. Operating since April 2023, the biotechnology company founded by researchers at Hamburg's Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) develops special technologies for antibody detection of tropical and emerging infectious diseases.
Constructor University
Post- and long-COVID syndrome: eHealth interventions can help
06.06.2023
Psychological and physical exercises digitally instructed can improve the health of post- and long-COVID patients. These findings were confirmed in a current meta-analysis by a team led by Sonia Lippke, professor of health psychology and behavioral medicine at Constructor University in Bremen.
leungchopan
AI helps create better, simpler hepatitis, COVID-19 tests
11.05.2023
University of Florida scientists have used artificial intelligence tools to simplify a test that works for both hepatitis C and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The simplified test happens in one small test tube in just a few minutes.
BLINK DX
BLINK DX: revolutionizing digital PCR
11.04.2023
The polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, plays a major role both in the diagnosis of infectious diseases and in research. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the term has become widely known. At MEDICA 2022, the BLINK AG from Jena, Germany, presented the BLINK Beads, a technology that is bound to revolutionize the applications of PCR.
Helmholtz Munich/Matthias Balk
Helmholtz Munich: research infrastructure for pandemic management and prevention expanded
05.04.2023
From now on, an improved research infrastructure for pandemic management and prevention will be available in the Greater Munich area: on the 29th of March 2023 a new biosafety level 3 laboratory was introduced at Helmholtz Munich.
HZDR/Sandoval Bojorquez
Nanobiosensor developed for detecting SARS-CoV-2
04.04.2023
Infection and immunity status of the population are considered key parameters for handling pandemics. For this purpose, detecting antigens and antibodies is of great importance. The devices currently used for this purpose - what are known as point-of-care (POC) devices- are one option for rapid screening. Their sensitivity, however, needs further improvement.
Uni Tübingen
Targeted computer modelling to accelerate antiviral drug development
31.03.2023
Andreas Dräger from the University of Tübingen is working on a computer-based method that can help to accelerate the time-consuming identification and development of antiviral agents.
Astrid Eckert / TUM
COVID-19 and beyond: a deeper look into the lungs with dark-field X-rays
28.03.2023
Imaging reaches its limits when it comes to looking at the lungs: Alveoli are tiny, balloon-shaped air sacs in our lungs. These tissue structures are micrometers in diameter and currently cannot be visualized directly. Meanwhile, they exhibit early changes prompted by lung diseases such as COVID-19. Dark-field X-ray images could visualize these signs in the future.
ckstockphoto
Smart microscopy works out where to take the picture
16.03.2023
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now developed a software solution for smart, data-driven microscopy, which makes this possible.
Karin Kaiser / MHH
What leads to severe COVID-19 diseases?
01.03.2023
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 leads to severe disease in some people, while others do not get ill or only experience mild disease. But why is this the case? Unfortunately, we do not know exactly. We do know that an overactive innate immune system is causing severe COVID-19 disease, but it is unclear how this is regulated.
HIPS/Boese
New cell model for the human lung
16.02.2023
A team led by Prof Claus-Michael Lehr of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) has developed a novel human lung cell line that should enable much more accurate predictions of the behavior of active substances or dosage forms in humans than previous systems.
NTNU
Super quick COVID test uses new technology
13.02.2023
The ability of gold particles to reflect light in different colours is used in applications from stained glass to pregnancy tests. Now researchers are set to exploit the same properties in an ultra-fast sensor for the coronavirus.
Iakobchuk
AI can help patients interpret home tests for COVID-19
03.02.2023
George Mason University researchers found that computerized symptom screenings can supplement at-home COVID-19 tests to better confirm the diagnosis for patients and clinicians.
Universitätsmedizin Halle
Long COVID: blood values indicate reprogramming of immune cells
26.01.2023
The underlying mechanisms of long COVID are not yet fully understood. Molecular clues to different subgroups of long COVID have now been provided by a research group at University Medicine Halle.
Karin Kaiser/Abb.
How COVID-19 permanently damages the heart
12.01.2023
An interdisciplinary research team from MHH has used innovative molecular methods and a high-resolution microscopy technique to show how the ongoing inflammation in COVID-19 attacks the heart tissue.
lorenzocapunata
When antibodies do a pirouette
12.01.2023
Researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg have developed a method for binding specific molecules in samples and serums, such as antibodies in the blood, to the surface of iron oxide particles thus allowing them to be identified using an inexpensive and compact detector.
Tel Aviv University
Monitoring heart measures using smartwatches shows that Corona booster vaccine is safe
11.01.2023
The first study of its kind that used smartwatches to monitor the physiological data of close to 5,000 Israelis for two years found that: Monitoring heart measures using smartwatches shows that the Corona booster vaccine is safe and there is no evidence of unusual adverse events.
Prostock-studio
COMPASS for highly sensitive rapid tests
09.01.2023
A newly developed rapid test needs only a few seconds to reliably detect pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. It is based on specially designed magnetic nanoparticles.
9_fingers_
Electrical current to fight COVID-19: The intelligent electric pill
28.11.2022
In 2020, Prof. Eugenijus Kaniusas and his research partners hypothesized that stimulating the auricular vagus nerve has anti-inflammatory effects in severe COVID-19 cases. In 2022, they were able to confirm this hypothesis thanks to a clinical trial.
Messe Düsseldorf/C. Tillmann
RNA technologies make targeted immune activation possible
03.11.2022
MEDICA 2022 is right around the corner, ready to deliver insights into the advancements and innovations in laboratory medicine. One of the key topics of the MEDICA LABMED Forum is RNA technologies and the wide range of applications that involve cell biology. RNA technologies not only enable Covid-19 vaccines but promise an array of treatment options for genetic diseases, in and beyond oncology.
Wavebreakmedia
Breathe again: Diaphragm stimulation after prolonged mechanical ventilation
24.10.2022
For the past two years, the Greifswald University Medical Center has been collaborating in an international study in which a therapy using electrostimulation of the diaphragm is designed to wean patients off artificial respiration. The innovative system aims to achieve faster independence from the ventilator.
DC_Studio
Why some people get a more severe COVID-19 progression than others
22.08.2022
A team of scientists from the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) together with colleagues from the United Kingdom and Canada have found genes and proteins that contribute to a higher risk of severe COVID-19.
PantherMedia / Marushy99
FFP2, N95, and KN95 masks: Does wearing them affect endurance and athletic performance?
08.04.2022
Does wearing a mask diminish athletic performance? Do we fatigue faster while wearing a face mask during exercise? Our subjective perception might suggest that a mask or face covering restricts us. A study by the University of Wuppertal explored the physiological effects of wearing KN95 or FFP2 (European Union standard) face masks.
PantherMedia/kleberpicui
Respiratory diseases: "AI helps patients track symptom severity"
01.04.2022
When they are presented with respiratory disease, physicians listen to the lungs and airways to assess the sound of the patient’s breath and cough. Artificial intelligence now helps patients with respiratory diseases even outside of the doctor’s office: "ResGuard Med" monitors coughing during the night, detects the worsening of symptoms and issues an alert.
TUM
Telediagnostic solutions: expert exams with no physical contact
01.04.2022
Applications of telemedicine surged in popularity in efforts to reduce the COVID-19 infection risk for both medical professionals and patients. Unfortunately, the services typically lack a proper diagnostic option.
PantherMedia / Andriy Popov
How prepared are we to treat patients with Long COVID?
15.03.2022
Most people who have been treated for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) recover completely within a few weeks. But for some people, symptoms can persist, requiring treatment for what is known as long COVID. The goal is to find better treatment options and implement them in rehabilitation centers.
PantherMedia / Fotofabrika
How to reduce plastic waste: innovative process promises recycling of single-use face masks
01.03.2022
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the use of disposable face masks. Discarding them has become an environmental challenge on a global scale. This has prompted the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE and the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT to develop an innovative recycling process for used plastics.
PantherMedia / Wavebreakmedia ltd
Better management of hospital resources in pandemic times through DNA measurement
15.02.2022
For nearly two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has kept a firm grip on the world and caused many intensive care units to hit full capacity. It would help medical professionals tremendously if they could make a reliable prognosis the moment patients are hospitalized. cfDNA screening could play an important role in the assessment of COVID-19 severity in patients.
Mark Stone/University of Washington
Fast and cheap test can detect COVID-19 virus' genome without need for PCR
25.01.2022
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a new test for COVID-19 that combines the speed of over-the-counter antigen tests with the accuracy of PCR tests that are processed in medical labs and hospitals.
PantherMedia / marilyna
Climate Change: "Meat Should be Reserved for Special Occasions"
18.01.2022
The global food system today directly and indirectly impacts personal and planetary health and burdens the health care system and climate as a result. Rethinking our diet and food choices and using technology can make a lasting difference on the health of people and our planet.
Universität des Saarlandes
Coronavirus: Using odors to detect an infection
10.01.2022
Rapid COVID-19 tests can be rather uncomfortable as samples are typically collected with a deep nasal or throat swab. Scientists now explore an alternative to rapid diagnostic tests based on a patient’s breath.
LMU University Hospital Munich
Room divider based on UV-C light inactivates SARS-CoV-2 aerosols
22.12.2021
Despite myriad precautionary measures, virus-contaminated aerosols still pose a serious problem indoors. An invisible protective wall of UV-C ligh could provide a solution and reliably curb the spread of viruses and other pathogens in rooms in the future while allowing total freedom of movement.
Duke-NUS Medical School
COVID-19 saliva Amplified Antigen Rapid Test is as sensitive as PCR test
09.12.2021
A potentially game-changing Antigen Rapid Test (ART) technology to diagnose COVID-19 has been developed by scientists in Singapore. Using a proprietary on-kit amplification technique, a person's saliva can be self-administered or tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Clear signals in uncertain times – Zimmer MedizinSysteme GmbH
18.11.2021
The Corona pandemic has put the brakes on the medical industry worldwide through logistic problems and contact restrictions. But despite the crisis, opportunities are still created and companies are still able to develop. We learn more about this at the stand of Zimmer MedizinSysteme at MEDICA 2021.
Telemedicine at MEDICA 2021 - Boom through Corona?
18.11.2021
Telemedicine offers a wide range of technical applications for almost all medical situations: patients no longer have to visit the doctor's office in person, pharmacies can keep a close eye on medication dosages, and sensors prevent patient falls in nursing care. Has the industry received a boost through the Corona pandemic? We find out at MEDICA 2021.
The laboratory industry between Corona and AI
17.11.2021
The laboratory industry is currently in commotion: the whole world is watching when it comes to news from the Corona pandemic. But tests and the sequencing of new variants are not the only stress factors: robotics, networking and AI are finding their ways into laboratories and turn existing processes upside down. We talked to some of the exhibitors at MEDICA 2021 about this.
Ventilation in the ICU - Treatment of COVID patients
16.11.2021
In situations such as a pandemic, intensive care medicine is challenged as rarely before. In particular, the technical requirements must be right in order to treat intensive care patients as effectively and efficiently as possible. At MEDICA 2021, we will learn what has happened in the industry during the pandemic and where the journey is headed.
Karin Kaiser / MHH
New X-ray technique shows vascular damage in intact COVID-19 lungs for first time
05.11.2021
When the coronavirus enters the lung, it causes massive tissue damage. Now, an international research team has been able to demonstrate for the first time, using a highly innovative X-ray technique in a non-destructive manner, that severe COVID-19 causes massive remodelling of the finest blood vessels by causing normally separate blood systems to join together with unusual frequency.
Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann
MEDICA 2021: Return to the fair halls!
02.11.2021
The last year was quite different, since MEDICA had to take place online due to the Corona pandemic – but in 2021 we return to the fair halls in Düsseldorf again! There are not only about 2.900 exhibitors from 70 nations expecting you, but also a rich program in our forums and conferences. We took an advanced peek on some of the exciting highlights for you in our Topic of the Month.
MIT
Carbon nanotube-based sensor can detect SARS-CoV-2 proteins
26.10.2021
Using specialized carbon nanotubes, MIT engineers have designed a novel sensor that can detect SARS-CoV-2 without any antibodies, giving a result within minutes. Their new sensor is based on technology that can quickly generate rapid and accurate diagnostics, not just for Covid-19 but for future pandemics, the researchers say.
LampSeq – Scalable and cost-effective mass test
15.10.2021
Vaccinations and tests once again enable safe gatherings during the Corona pandemic. But unfortunately, existing test technologies are not suitable for every situation: A lot of time is lost for example due to testing at schools and the workplace. Now the University Hospital Bonn has developed a new kind of test which has numerous advantages over existing technologies.
GSI/FAIR
New sensor for SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses based on GSI nanotechnology
12.10.2021
Easy and fast detection of viruses are crucial in a pandemic. Based on single-nanopore membranes of GSI, an international interdisciplinary team of researchers developed a test method that detects SARS-CoV-2 in saliva, without sample pretreatment, with the same sensitivity as a qPCR test, and in only 2 hours. On top, the sensor can distinguish infectious from non-infectious corona viruses.
Asociación RUVID
Researchers release masks that instantaneously deactivate SARS-CoV-2
20.09.2021
Researchers released a new type IIR surgical mask with an intelligent fabric that can instantaneously deactivate the SARS-COV-2 virus that is responsible for COVID19.
Philippine Genome Center Mindanao
SARS-CoV-2: portable sequencing platform for developing countries
02.09.2021
Philippine Genome Center Mindanao (PGC Mindanao) has partnered with Accessible Genomics, a group of volunteering scientists from all around the world to implement a low start-up cost genomic sequencing platform for laboratories in developing countries.
Gettyimages
Optimal usage time for face coverings
23.08.2021
Researchers from Surrey's renowned Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) explore two key questions: how long a mask should be worn; and when should it be discarded, recycled or washed to optimise its usage time.
Manabu Tokeshi
SARS-CoV-2: rapid method to quantify antibodies
29.07.2021
Scientists have developed a rapid, highly accurate test to detect antibodies against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 in human serum, opening a new avenue for understanding the full extent of the pandemic and evaluating the effectiveness of vaccines.
PantherMedia/Patrick Daxenbichler
Research finds ways to improve accuracy of Lateral Flow Tests
24.06.2021
Research published in the journal ACS Materials and Interfaces has provided new understanding of how false-negative results in Lateral Flow Tests occur and provides opportunity for simple improvements to be made.
Point-of-care tests: rapid diagnosis in emergency situations
01.06.2021
In emergency medicine, a faster diagnosis leads to a faster treatment of the patient. Point-of-care test solutions can provide immediate on-site insights into the patient’s condition. COVID-19 adds another dimension: the devices can provide a level of security and safety – one that goes beyond intensive care.
Adapted from ACS Nano 2021, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c02154
Ultrafast, on-chip PCR to speed diagnosis during pandemics
28.05.2021
Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been the gold standard for diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the PCR portion of the test requires bulky, expensive machines and takes about an hour to complete, making it difficult to quickly diagnose someone at a testing site.
PantherMedia/ryanking999
Coronavirus: "A pandemic is a behavioral phenomenon"
31.03.2021
At the virtual.MEDICA 2020 trade fair, Prof. Dirk Brockmann delivered the keynote address in the MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM on digital epidemiology, which got a big boost thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. It can help us understand how human behavior influences the course of the pandemic.
V. D'Alessandro, M. Falone, L. Giammichele, R. Ricci
Irradiating COVID-19 cough droplets with UV-C lamps
16.03.2021
Using supercomputer numerical modeling of saliva droplets' diffusion produced by coughs, researchers in Italy explore deactivating COVID-19 virus particles via UV-C light.
Hygiene and disinfection: innovations against Covid-19
01.03.2021
When urgently needed products such as masks become scarce or conventional disinfection processes reach their limits, inventiveness is called for. And there is usually plenty of it in times of crisis. What innovations has the current corona pandemic already produced? How can they supplement or even replace existing products and processes?
Necessity is the mother of invention – innovations in the corona pandemic
01.03.2021
Keeping your distance, washing your hands, wearing a mask – such protective measures have been the order of the day since the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic began. But appropriate products or procedures are not suitable for everyone, are often unavailable or, despite everything, carry a residual risk. The need for new, better solutions is high. But necessity is the mother of invention.
Miama: transparent face mask uncovers facial expressions
01.03.2021
Over 50% of our communication is made up of facial expressions and gestures. Nonverbal communication is especially important to deaf or hearing-impaired people or people with dementia. A conventional mask makes this more difficult, may promote miscommunication and contribute to medical errors in extreme cases. Yet it is paramount to use a mask amid this pandemic. Miama helps solve this problem.
Tel Aviv University
Ozone effective against coronavirus
25.02.2021
Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 remains active on aerosols and surfaces for between several hours and several days, depending on the nature of the surface and environmental conditions.
Wang lab/UC San Diego
Wearables: skin patch as an all-in-one health monitor
17.02.2021
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a soft, stretchy skin patch that can be worn on the neck to continuously track blood pressure and heart rate while measuring the wearer's levels of glucose as well as lactate, alcohol or caffeine. It is the first wearable device that monitors cardiovascular signals and multiple biochemical levels in the human body at the same time.
PantherMedia/DraginImages
Wearables can detect COVID-19 symptoms and predict diagnosis
09.02.2021
Wearable devices can identify COVID-19 cases earlier than traditional diagnostic methods and can help track and improve management of the disease, Mount Sinai researchers report in one of the first studies on the topic. The findings were published in Journal of Medical Internet Research.
ZHAW/Hannes Heinzer
Self-disinfecting mask: germ-free at the push of a button
08.02.2021
Disinfection and masks are essential to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Swiss scientists from ZHAW and Osmotex AG have now combined the two and developed a mask that disinfects itself at the push of a button. It is to be launched on the market as early as this spring.
PantherMedia/halfpoint
Biostatistics: using data and models to fight Covid-19
27.01.2021
We are all familiar with these images from some countries: Completely full intensive care units, doctors working frantically despite being ill, being forced to decide who lives and who dies due to critical shortages of respirators. How can you forecast Covid-19 impact on healthcare systems to avoid overload? Biostatistician Professor Frank Klawonn studies this issue.
Fraunhofer IBP
Covid-19: protective canopy prevents infection
19.01.2021
The risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 is particularly high indoors. This is because, in addition to smear and droplet infection, infection via aerosols that accumulate and spread in the air is also possible there. Sufficient air exchange or air purification help to prevent this. The protective canopy developed by Fraunhofer IBP also follows such an approach.
PantherMedia/Jakub Mrocek
Reviewing the evidence for cloth mask use among health care workers
13.01.2021
A rapid, evidence-based review summarizes the effectiveness of cloth masks in protecting health care clinicians from respiratory viral infections, such as COVID-19. Nine studies were included in the review, and all but one were conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
mHealth for asthma: Help me manage it myself!
11.01.2021
According to the WHO, around 600 million people worldwide suffer from chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma. Key in the fight against these diseases is therapy adherence, but many sufferers often find this difficult. The result is increased hospitalization, which ultimately comes at the expense of the healthcare system. Smart and mobile technologies could change that.
TU Graz
COVID-19: Screening system for lung sound analysis
08.12.2020
Our bodies constantly make sounds that are not always audible to the naked ear. The occurrence of certain noises or changes in normal sounds can be an indication of illness. Using the example of the lung, a research team at Graz University of Technology has been intensively engaged in noise recording and the development of computer-aided analysis methods as a supplement to medical diagnosis.
Fraunhofer IPA
Alone in the lab – robot Kevin relieves the staff
08.12.2020
If Kevin was alone in the lab at night, the next morning, the workers will not find chaos, but labeled tubes and prepared samples. Kevin is a laboratory robot developed by Fraunhofer IPA to relieve the strain on laboratory workers so that they can concentrate on the essentials: research and diagnostics.
mHealth for cardiology – CardioSecur helps from a distance
20.11.2020
Bringing the technology to the patient and not the other way around – that is the idea behind CardioSecur. The physician can connect the mobile ECG system to his smartphone and thus have it with him always and everywhere. We asked MD and Founder Felix Brand how this works, to what extent patients also benefit from it and why the technology is particularly useful in corona times.
The medical technology industry and the pandemic – a close look at market numbers
16.11.2020
Does the medical technology industry profit from the corona pandemic? Partly yes, but at large, it also suffers through this crisis. This is one of the topics that the industry association SPECTARIS addresses during virtual.MEDICA 2020. Marcus Kuhlmann talks about this and other topics in our video interview.
virtual.MEDICA 2020: Experience medicine online
02.11.2020
This year is completely different! Normally, we would offer you an advanced peek into the MEDICA’s halls in Dusseldorf at this point. But due to the corona pandemic, the trade fair takes place online as virtual.MEDICA. We nevertheless took a look at this year’s topics of special interest.
Disinfection: let mist do the work
02.11.2020
Healthcare settings require sharp weapons to fight both hospital-acquired infections and pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Besides protective equipment, regular room disinfection is one of them. But they require time and are also prone to error if done manually. Fully automated solutions are needed to relief hospital staff from this exhausting work and perform it reliably. So, why not fog the room?
PantherMedia/sudok1
In the Intensive Care Unit: smart solutions for better care
03.08.2020
In recent months, its central importance for the healthcare system has become more visible in the public eye due to the corona pandemic: the Intensive Care Unit. Patients who are in a critical condition due to illness, injury or surgery are cared for here by numerous high-tech devices. In addition, more digital solutions are being introduced.
Fraunhofer IPT
Personal protective equipment: ramping up medical mask production to 50,000 pieces per day
22.07.2020
Necessity is the mother of invention: While many companies have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, some were able to find the hidden business opportunities the unique situation has created. One example of how companies can benefit from the Covid-19 crisis is the production of medical protective gear.
Fraunhofer IBMT/Foto Bernd Müller
epiLab: Coronavirus testing in the mobile safety laboratory
08.07.2020
A key to preventing SARS-CoV-2 spread is frequent, comprehensive testing. This allows the early detection of infections and helps break the chain of infection. It always comes down to Coronavirus testing capacity. In Germany's southwest state of Saarland, the mobile epiLab (epidemiological laboratory) supports the search for infections lurking in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
In the intensive care unit: Together against COVID-19
27.04.2020
The coronavirus is pushing healthcare systems worldwide to their limits. The number of infections continues to rise – and with it the number of people who need intensive medical treatment and artificial respiration. However, the number of ventilators is limited. Solutions to support intensive care units are needed – quickly. We have taken a closer look at some of them.
panthermedia.net/cristalov
In-ear sensors for monitoring vital parameters
22.04.2020
Wearables offer practical solutions for the flexible measurement of data. The sensor from cosinuss° is worn directly in the ear and offers a precise monitoring of vital parameters.
by UVentions
Hygiene: Smart protection against pathogens like the coronavirus
23.03.2020
Germs such as bacteria, viruses or pathogenic fungi can spread from one person to another through direct contact when we shake hands or touch objects. People touch door handles and push elevator buttons in public places and constantly move in and out of spaces. Regular manual high-level disinfection is practically impossible. UVentions GmbH has found an intelligent solution for this problem.