Exoskeletons for everyday use: Non-invasive method for controlling prostheses
26.05.2023
Modern prostheses are already smart, but they still have their limits. The Assistive Intelligent Robotics Lab at FAU is therefore also researching an intuitive and non-invasive method for controlling prostheses. In our interview, those involved tell us exactly what they are working on together with neurologists and surgeons from the Erlangen University Hospital.
BarcelonaTech (UPC)
Low-cost robotic arm created by students as an alternative to conventional prostheses
25.05.2023
A low-cost robotic arm created by students as an alternative to conventional prostheses: The ARM2u biomedical engineering team, from the UPC’s Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (ETSEIB), is working on new functions for their low-cost 3D-printed transradial prosthesis.
Fraunhofer IDMT
EEG as an example of data protection for biosignals
16.05.2023
The “NEMO” project is exploring anonymisation techniques, using the example of electroencephalograms (EEG).
Fraunhofer IBMT
Human-machine interface stops muscle tremors
10.05.2023
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT have been working with international partners to develop a technology platform to help relieve the symptoms of muscle tremors.
Okrasyuk
Map of spinal cord formation gives new knowledge on diseases of the nervous system
03.05.2023
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have mapped how cells in the human spinal cord are formed in the embryo and what genes control the process.
RUB, Marquard
Effects of brain stimulation amenable to conditioning
28.04.2023
Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have successfully implemented a special form of classical conditioning. They showed on a group of 75 people that effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can be triggered solely by listening to a tone.
xalien/Shutterstock
Tiny plastic particles also find their way into the brain
28.04.2023
With the help of computer models, researchers have discovered that a specific surface structure (biomolecular corona) is crucial for the passage of plastic particles into the brain.
microgen
Computer-assisted procedure classifies Ataxia-related speech disturbances
25.04.2023
Researchers at DZNE and the University Hospital Bonn, together with the Berlin-based company PeakProfiling GmbH, have developed a computer-assisted method that recognizes the severity of speech disturbances resulting from ataxia, a brain disease, with great accuracy.
ONWARD Medical NV
Kick-off: new Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network "ReWIRE"
05.04.2023
Through ReWIRE, next-generation scientists will be trained to develop translational breakthrough therapeutic solutions for patients with paralysis caused by traumatic spinal cord injuries.
beta-web
Dementia prevention with memodio – app helps fend off memory loss
03.04.2023
Globally, 55 million persons are effected by dementia. The neurodegenerative disease is a chronic condition. Once the decline in brain function has started, it is difficult to stop it, thus underscoring the importance of prevention. This is where memodio comes into play. The app is designed to help people with cognitive training and prevent dementia.
private
Advances in brain modelling open path to digital twins for brain medicine
30.03.2023
In the current edition of The Lancet Neurology, researchers of the Human Brain Project (HBP) present the novel clinical uses of advanced brain modelling methods. Computational brain modelling techniques that integrate the measured data of a patient have been developed by researchers at AMU Marseille as part of the HBP.
chormail
Solution to classify epileptic syndromes in near real-time
21.03.2023
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), close to 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy, a chronic neurological disease, whose seizures are considered one of the main symptoms.
grafvision
Epilepsy could become easier to pinpoint with blood test
17.03.2023
Researchers from Lund University in Sweden have discovered higher levels of immune proteins in the blood before and after an epileptic seizure.
Bielefeld University/Sarah Jonek
Predicting outbreak of ALS disease with AI methods
08.03.2023
Using artificial intelligence (AI) methods, researchers led by Professor Dr Alexander Schönhuth from Bielefeld University’s Faculty of Technology have succeeded in recording and deciphering the genotype profiles of 3,000 ALS patients and thus learning more about the development of the disease.
microgen
Poor balance may indicate changes in brain volume
06.03.2023
In a study recently published in Gait & Posture, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have revealed that the volume of the hippocampus is correlated with a measure of balance ability in healthy older people.
imagesourcecurated
Electrodes grown in the brain – paving the way for future therapies for neurological disorders
02.03.2023
The boundaries between biology and technology are becoming blurred. Researchers at Linköping, Lund, and Gothenburg universities in Sweden have successfully grown electrodes in living tissue using the body’s molecules as triggers. The result, published in the journal Science, paves the way for the formation of fully integrated electronic circuits in living organisms.
MBExC/spförtner
Optical cochlea implant: ERC Proof of Concept Grant for Tobias Moser
02.03.2023
In the ImageTox project, the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and the CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security are pooling their expertise in the fields of drug discovery and artificial intelligence (AI).
LightFieldStudios
Balance ability predicts cognitive impairment
28.02.2023
In a study recently published in BMC Geriatrics, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have revealed a new measure of physical balance that could help to identify individuals who are at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD).
GabiStock
ENT surgery – Interventions for speech and hearing
27.02.2023
Speaking and hearing are the two most important abilities that connect humans to their environment. If they get limited through disease or injury, it is all the more important to restore them as broadly as possible. Depending on the cause for their limitation, there are different surgical treatment possibilities. We take a look at current methods in our Topic of the Month.
EPO
Low brain pressure could be a risk factor for developing glaucoma
20.02.2023
An international team of researchers led by Lithuanian scientists provide additional evidence that intracranial pressure plays an important role in normal-tension glaucoma, which accounts for up to 50 per cent of all glaucoma cases.
Image-Source
Predicting dementia using neural network characteristics
13.02.2023
In many neurodegenerative conditions, brain changes occur before symptoms emerge. But now, researchers from Japan have found a new way to distinguish these conditions in the early stages according to changes in brain activity patterns.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Non-invasive technology reduces symptoms of insomnia, improves autonomic nervous system function
09.02.2023
A new study from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows significant improvements in not only sleep quality, but also in improved autonomic nervous system function using a closed-loop, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology.
University of Oklahoma
Researchers designing device to improve brain aneurysm treatment
03.02.2023
Under the direction of Chung-Hao Lee, Ph.D., at the University of Oklahoma, a five-year research project will lead to the design of a device that can be customized to better treat unique aneurysms, the irregular bulge in a blood vessel that can be deadly.
Alex Dolce, Florida Atlantic University
Study unravels interplay between sleep, chronic pain and spinal cord stimulation
02.02.2023
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine, in collaboration with Albany Medical Center, conducted a study to better understand the effect of spinal cord stimulation on chronic pain and sleep.
AG Klinische Neurotechnologie, Charité Berlin
Controlling neural exoskeletons more precisely with diamond sensors
02.02.2023
In the recently launched NeuroQ lighthouse project, the project partners develop highly sensitive diamond-based quantum sensors that will enable paralyzed people to control neural exoskeletons more precisely.
private
Smart clothing and Artificial Intelligence: Diagnosis and monitoring of neurological diseases
01.02.2023
International research groups led by Prof. Dr. Aldo Faisal, Professor of Digital Health at the University of Bayreuth, have developed a novel set of tools for diagnosing and monitoring neurological diseases based on body-worn sensors (wearables) and artificial intelligence.
Kaunas University of Technology (KTU)
Altered speech may be the first sign of Parkinson’s disease
31.01.2023
Lithuanian researcher from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Rytis Maskeliūnas, together with colleagues from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), tried to identify early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease using voice data.
Wavebreakmedia
Muscles and nervous system: Space research helps combat degeneration
30.01.2023
Injuries do not just happen to athletes: along with surgeries, they are often the reason for prolonged bed rest. Meanwhile, extended physical inactivity can trigger changes in muscles and the nervous system. Sports medicine wants to counteract these negative effects and use insights from space research in the future.
Booyabazooka
Mechanical stimulation could be used to prevent falls and strengthen muscles
24.01.2023
Mechanical vibrations could help improve our muscles and our balance control, according to research at Aston University. Researchers in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences have examined the effect of stimulation on muscle spindles which ‘speak’ to the central nervous system to help keep us upright and walk straight.
gstockstudio
New blood test differentiates neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease from other dementias
23.01.2023
A new blood test that can track and follow the neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease – and exclude other dementias.
margaritaylita
AI detects rare forms of dementia
20.01.2023
Researchers at MPI CBS and University of Leipzig Medical Center have used new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning techniques to detect rare forms of dementia on MRI images.
National University of Singapore
Scientists identify blood biomarker for cognitive impairment and dementia
02.01.2023
A recent study by a team comprising researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the National University Health System (NUHS) revealed that low levels of ergothioneine (ET) in blood plasma may predict an increased risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, suggesting possible therapeutic or early screening measures for cognitive impairment and dementia in the elderly.
Empa
Personalized treatment of acute stroke: diagnostics with 3D virtual histology
23.08.2022
Every minute counts when someone is having an acute stroke. If the cause is a vascular blockage caused by a blood clot (thrombus) in the brain, detailed insights into the thrombus composition is critical to remove or dissolve it successfully and help restore blood flow. But that’s often easier said than done when "time is brain".
PantherMedia/happysuthida
Dementia: "We want to achieve earlier diagnosis for more people"
29.03.2022
As we get older, we tend to become more forgetful, sometimes strange or even confused and overwhelmed by everyday life. But is it always just the age? With an increasing lifespan, the possibility to suffer from a cognitive disease at one point is also increasing. The majority of cognitive diseases is never diagnosed.
Phil Hubbe/ZKN
Konectom: App supports self-management of Multiple Sclerosis
08.02.2022
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous systems that requires regular checkups with the neurologist every three months. However, an exacerbation of MS, also known as a flare-up, can occur between these appointments. The Konectom smartphone app aims to close this diagnostic gap.
UMG
Cochlear implants: Using light to improve hearing
01.12.2021
Cochlear implants are devices that partially restore hearing in wearers. Unfortunately, the signal transmission from the implant to the auditory nerve is still rather basic, thus limiting the sound quality. Future implants could be more accurate in this setting by using light versus electrical pulses to stimulate nerve cells in the ear.
PantherMedia/npudov
Implants: When technology makes sense – quite literally
01.12.2021
Disease, injury, or a condition you were born with – reasons why some people must live without one or several of their five senses. Fortunately, there are many modern sensory aids that help replace one sense with another, which is especially the case when it comes to vision and hearing. Given technology's advancements, can artificial or biological implants someday soon be a viable alternative?
Deep Brain Stimulation – Measuring electrodes against Parkinson's disease
23.08.2021
We cannot heal Parkinson’s disease yet, all we can do is alleviate the symptoms. One possibility to do this are implantable electrodes that stimulate part of the brain and counteract the characteristic tremor. In our video, Prof. Cordula Matthies and Prof. Jens Volkmann from the University Hospital Würzburg explain how this stimulation can be targeted better with a new electrode generation.
Kessler Foundation
High-dose gait training with robotic exoskeleton after acute stroke
09.08.2021
Preliminary findings by Kessler researchers show that the use of a robotic exoskeleton during inpatient rehabilitation for acute stroke may improve function. Gait training in the robotic exoskeleton can provide high-dose therapy soon after stroke, when it is likely to have its maximal effect on functional ambulation.
PantherMedia/photographee.eu
Stroke rehabilitation: regaining arm movement with nerve stimulation
09.08.2021
Stroke rehabilitation exercises are essential to regain mobility and strength in the body. Each patient recovers lost skills and function differently. A recent study has now examined how vagus nerve stimulation with electrical impulses during stroke rehab could improve arm mobility.
PantherMedia/fizkes
Wearable EEG gathers reliable sleep data from the ear
16.06.2021
Preliminary results of a new study show that a wearable electroencephalogram device that gathers data from the ear measures sleep as reliably as traditional EEG electrodes attached to the scalp.
PantherMedia/Med_Photo_Studio
Alzheimer's disease: early detection using an eye exam
22.03.2021
Alzheimer's disease is still incurable, but if detected early enough, countermeasures can improve treatment and slow the progression. Unfortunately, there is still no reliable early detection test at this juncture. This might soon change thanks to a non-invasive spectroscopy of the retina.
Evercot AI GmbH
Good connection: AI and EEG work hand in hand
17.02.2021
Artificial intelligences (AI) are able to help medical professionals detect diseases. This is based on medical data records from which the AI can draw conclusions about diseases. These conclusions are most accurate when the extraction of the data sets is directly linked to the processing.
Fredrick Johnson Joseph/Surgeons Lab
4D-Simulator breakthrough in brain surgery
13.01.2021
Aneurysm operations in the brain rank among the most delicate procedures in neurosurgery. The highest demands are placed on surgeons when choosing the type of intervention, planning the route and carrying out extremely delicate procedures on the blood vessel.
Universität Oldenburg/Abteilung Neuropsychologie
Wearable EEG: A comfortable way to record brain activity
09.11.2020
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that is used in cognitive research or to diagnose conditions such as epilepsy and sleep disorders. EEG electrode caps are somewhat difficult to wear, which is why they are only used in laboratories. One viable alternative are measuring devices made of printed electronics. They are more comfortable to wear and allow users to continue their daily activities.
PantherMedia/belahoche
Bionic prosthesis: easy to put on, intuitive to use
22.09.2020
Patients who receive a prosthesis after the amputation of a limb often have to train for weeks or months until they can control the technology and use it in everyday life without problems. At the Medical University of Vienna, the world's first bionic prosthesis has now been developed that has a closed control loop and enables immediate, intuitive use.
Stroke therapy of the future: Stimulating entire networks
19.08.2020
The Neurological University Hospital in Tübingen is a world leader in research on TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation). In this report you will learn how the stroke therapy, which is always complemented by physiotherapeutic treatment, is being developed from a punctual to an entire network treatment in the brain.
PantherMedia/Kzenon
Big Data: early warning system for the ICU
03.08.2020
Patient monitoring systems in the ICU sound up to 700 alarms on average per patient per day, which boils down to one alarm every two minutes. An excessive number of them are false alarms. This generates vast amounts of data, which can make it difficult for doctors and nurses to identify the most critical alarms to manage. It also has a negative effect on the treatment of intensive care patients.
PantherMedia/AndrewLozovyi
Stroke care: When every minute counts
02.06.2020
Stroke can affect anyone – older as well as younger people. The minutes after the stroke determine whether disability or death is the result. Only if acute care, inpatient treatment and rehabilitation are carried out in a targeted and effective manner, the chances are greater that only minor damage remains or that impairments even recede.
Comprehensive stroke care: faster, closer, better
02.06.2020
"Time is brain!" – a fundamental rule in stroke care because time is of the essence when brain regions are undersupplied with oxygen and glucose. If circulation is not restored quickly, brain damage can be permanent. However, the key point here is not just to "be fast", but also to "use the time to treat stroke effectively".
panthermedia.net/draoscondreaw
Sensor-Based Smart Glove Enables Parkinson's Diagnosis
25.02.2020
Neurological disorders like Parkinson's are often diagnosed once the disease has already progressed to a later stage. The VAFES project was initiated to facilitate an early detection. Sensor technology and VR are used in the creation of a playful test system.
Telemedicine: easy breathing with AI for respiratory tract
01.10.2019
Pneumonia, COPD or cystic fibrosis – people with such lung diseases have to consult their doctor regularly. Little children have to undergo certain measurements by the doctor, too. In order to save people`s need to visit a doctor, telemedicine offers many ways to do examinations at home.
Man vs. machine – the benefits of AI in imaging
02.09.2019
Radiology is a field that produces large volumes of data, which can no longer be managed without the help of intelligent systems. This is especially true when it comes to the interpretation of medical images. While this takes physicians years of training and experience, several hours of work and the highest level of concentration, AI only requires a few seconds to accomplish the same task.
AI in radiology: reliable partner for diagnosing CT images
02.09.2019
More patients, more examinations, more CT images – in radiology there is too much work for too few physicians. CT scans are evaluated in the shortest possible time, which leads to anomalies being overlooked. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, works with constant speed and performance, which is why radiological routine increasingly relies on its support.
AI in imaging: how machines manage our Big Data
02.09.2019
In modern medicine, especially in the field of imaging, huge amounts of data are produced – so much that radiologists can hardly keep up with diagnosing the images. Artificial Intelligence could be the solution to this problem. But how exactly can it help in this task? How can man and machine work together? And what else will be possible in the future with the support of intelligent systems?
Deep Learning Image Reconstruction – what AI looks like in clinical routine
02.09.2019
Artificial intelligence is no longer a dream of the future in medicine. Many studies and initial application examples show that it sometimes achieves better results than human physicians. At Jena University Hospital, the work with AI is already lived practice. It is the first institution in the world to use algorithms in radiological routine to reconstruct CT images.
Sports medicine: Neuromuscular training for optimal performance
20.08.2019
Movement, strength and coordination - after injuries as well as in healthy athletes, these three components must be intact for movements to run smoothly. At the Beta Klinik in Bonn, Dr. Markus Klingenberg, a specialist in orthopaedics, trauma surgery and sports medicine, offers neuromuscular training with a playful character that can be adapted to the patient's needs.
Sports medicine – keep moving to stay healthy
01.07.2019
Physical activity plays a big role in today's society. Whether you are an amateur or professional athlete – incorporating exercise into your life positively impacts your mental and physical health. Ideally, sport should be fun, pressure-free and not overburden you. But can you measure individual performance and align it with sports?
Training and rehabilitation: fit thanks to hover technology
01.07.2019
Amateur and professional athletes are susceptible to sports injuries, balance disorders or deficits in motor function and posture. Prevention and the right training can help avoid these incidents, while targeted therapy can support a return to sports after an injury.
Medtronic
VISUALASE: epilepsy surgery with the laser catheter
11.06.2019
Epilepsy patients are currently treated with either medication or surgical options. The aim is to remove the distinct regions of the brain that cause epileptic seizures. Laser ablation for epilepsy is a new, catheter-based surgical procedure that is now also available in Europe, preventing patients from having to undergo open brain surgery.
Walking is an issue of mind over matter – how robots assist rehabilitation
03.06.2019
Humans are living longer than ever but still want to continue to live independently as they age. Meanwhile, our motor and cognitive abilities decline as we age, sometimes as the effects of a stroke. The number of people in need of long-term care is growing at breakneck speed. At the same time, fewer and fewer young people choose stressful careers as caregivers.
Robotics – rehab with motors and sensors
03.06.2019
They work with power, precision and tirelessly. This makes robots an ideal instrument for rehabilitation. In gait or motor training, movement sequences must be repeated thousands of times so that they can be learnt anew. What tires the patient and costs the therapist's time can easily be managed by robot-assisted systems. Learn more about the possibilities of robotics in rehabilitation.
Rehab with a robot – robot-assisted therapy in neurology
03.06.2019
It takes consistent repetitions if rehab patients want to relearn skills after surviving a stroke. This requires extreme effort. The industrial sector uses robots to perform repetitive tasks or handle jobs that require strength. What has been a fixture in factories for decades is now also making its way into rehabilitation facilities.
Of exoskeletons and service robots – the future of rehabilitation
03.06.2019
For most people, enjoying a good quality of life means having the ability to move freely, safely and independently. Intensive and costly rehabilitation is needed if this is no longer an option after a stroke for example. We are introducing some projects that deliver innovative robotic solutions.
panthermedia.net/adriaticphoto
Cardiac arrhythmia: treatment in the linear accelerator
08.04.2019
Cardiac arrhythmia is a group of conditions where nerve cells trigger uncontrolled contractions of the heart muscle. They are treated with either medicine or catheter ablation of the tissue. In an interdisciplinary collaboration, cardiologists and radiotherapists took a different approach and used high-precision radiation therapy to treat a patient for whom the other options proved unfeasible.
Functional imaging: what makes the brain tick?
01.04.2019
Our brain is the command center of our body. This is where all information and impressions are collected and converted into responses and movements. Modern imaging techniques offer physicians and researchers unique insights into the actions of the human central nervous system. The functional imaging technique allows them to watch our brain in action.
Stroke: 4D brain perfusion accelerates treatment
01.04.2019
In an ischaemic stroke, rapid treatment is essential. In this moment good imaging data is particularly important to enable doctors to make the best possible decision for therapy. Modern CT scanners are increasingly being used to assess stroke patients because they can show the blood flow to the brain over time.
Functional imaging: a look at the command center
01.04.2019
All information from our body and the environment converges in our brain and is transformed into reactions in milliseconds. It is essential for medicine and research to know what our switching centre looks like. Functional methods are used to observe it more closely during work.
Brain mapping: preoperative planning with functional MRI
01.04.2019
A surgery already begins before the patient is lying on the operating table – namely with the planning. For example, if brain surgery is imminent, the brain must first be mapped. This makes the activity level of certain brain areas visible. Functional magnetic resonance imaging makes this possible.