Everything that happens in the brain is a result of neurons sending and receiving signals in complex networks that are not completely understood by scientists. These networks are what allow us to pick up a cup of coffee, laugh at a joke or stand up from a chair. When some neurons do not send and receive signals properly, it can lead to problems such as epilepsy, depression, addiction, and chronic pain.

Read more: Innovative Brain Implant Reads and Stimulates Brain to Improve Parkinson’s Treatment

University of Arizona engineering researchers, led by biomedical engineering professor and Craig M. Berge Faculty Fellow Philipp Gutruf, are creating new tools for a method called optogenetics, which shines light at specific neurons in the brain to excite or suppress activity.

Optogenetics experiments are aimed at increasing understanding of how the brain works, allowing scientists to develop and test potential cures for illnesses such as neurodegenerative diseases, reports Emily Dieckman in the University of Arizona News.

In a new paper published in PNAS, UArizona researchers collaborated with researchers at Northwestern University to demonstrate an untethered light delivery tool to enable seamless optogenetics in the brain.

While this technique has huge potential to treat diseases on a neurological basis, the invasive nature of the current methodology is a major stumbling block. The light source developed at the University of Arizona aims to change that, and bring us a little closer to clinical optogenetics.

“This technique means we can use optogenetics without having to penetrate the skull or brain tissue, making it much less invasive,” said Jokubas Ausra, a biomedical engineering doctoral student in the Gutruf Lab and the first author of the paper.

Tiny Device, Big Results

In the new paper, Gutruf and his team report on the first wireless transcranial optogenetic simulation device that can send light through the skull rather than physically penetrating the blood-brain barrier. The transcranial technique is done using a wireless and battery-free device that's as thin as a sheet of paper and about half the diameter of a dime, implanted just under the skin.

“This is significant because when optogenetics become available for humans, we have technology that enables seamless light delivery to neurons in the brain or spine,” said Gutruf, who is also a member of the university's BIO5 Institute. “This means we have a precursor technology that could someday help manage conditions like epilepsy or chronic pain without invasive surgery and chronic use of drugs.”

Read more Wise Therapeutics and Soterix Announce Results of Their Collaborative Study Combining Digital Therapy With Neurostimulation Device

Speeding Up Future Progress

There is still a long way to go before the technology is available to humans. In particular, progress must be made on methods for introducing light-sensitive proteins into the human brain and periphery.

“This tool allows scientists to do a wide range of experiments that were previously not possible,” Gutruf said. “These possibilities enable the scientific community to make faster progress to uncover the working principles of the brain and develop and test treatments in accurate environments. This is important for many areas – for example, enabling drug-free pain therapies to beat the opioid crisis.”

LifeProof, a San Diego-based mobile phone cases and accessories maker, is making eco-friendly cases for Apple Watch, AirPods, and AirPods Pro and Eco-Friendly Band for Apple Watch, using ocean-based recycled plastic. In just over a year, more than 37,500 pounds of ocean-based plastic have been repurposed into LifeProof cases.

Read more: Apple Watch’s Future Band Design Could Boost Battery Life

"LifeProof was born from the ocean with waterproof cases, and it is our responsibility to protect those waters that are so dear to us," said Jim Parke, LifeProof CEO.  "These new designs align with everything that we stand for – uncompromised protection and a dedication to help preserve our ocean by building cases from ocean-based recycled plastic.”

Dive into sustainable style with the latest LifeProof accessories for Apple Watch, Apple AirPods, and Apple AirPods Pro, says a press release.

Synchronize your high-tech timepiece to Pacific Sustainability Time with the Eco-Friendly Case for Apple Watch 4/5/6/SE 40mm and 44mm. It delivers a form-fitting line of defense for the display and edges and is made with 85 percent ocean-based recycled plastic. Health monitors, activity trackers, dials, and buttons – everything you love about your watch works just the same with the case.

Combine protection with a sustainable band for the perfect duo. Slip into something more comfortable and sustainable with the LifeProof Band for Apple Watch 38/40 mm. Made from 99 percent ocean plastic yarn, it's easy on the environment and feels good on your wrist all day long. It pairs seamlessly with your watch, connects with a buckle closure, and resists both wear and fading.

Keep your charging case safe from calamities with the Eco-Friendly Case for Apple AirPods and Eco-Friendly Case for Apple AirPods Pro. Built from 75 percent ocean-based recycled plastic, each case delivers edge-to-edge protection. Outfitted with a quick clip carabiner, it's easy to attach to a bag or keyring.

Read more: PlusUs Introduces First-Ever Flexible Wireless Charging Pad Made of Eco-Friendly Materials

In line with its corporate mission of giving back, LifeProof is inviting its consumers to make a difference, too. In partnership with Water.org, Coral Reef Alliance, American Rivers, and Oceana, LifeProof will donate for every registered purchase to support a healthier future for our world's water.

Eco-Friendly cases for Apple Watch, LifeProof Band, and cases for Apple AirPods and Apple AirPods Pro are available now on the lifeproof website.

Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital have developed a wearable device that can measure the occurrence and severity of myoclonic jerks, which are sudden muscle movements experienced by patients with progressive myoclonic epilepsy.

Read more: ULTEEM: Noninvasive Epilepsy Monitoring Wearable That Attaches To Any Ordinary Eyeglasses

The method used in the study was based on the measurement of electrical neuromuscular function and movement, and it corresponded well to an assessment performed by an experienced physician. The findings were recently published in Clinical Neurophysiology.

Patients with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (EPM1) suffer from myoclonus, i.e., sudden muscle jerks that are activated by movement and other stimuli. The severity of these myoclonic jerks varies during the day, and myoclonus can be either positive or negative. A positive myoclonus refers to a sudden contraction of a muscle, while negative myoclonus refers to loss of muscle activation, which in a worst-case scenario may lead to the fall of a patient, for example.

The aim of this study was to develop and test a wearable technology-based method for assessing myoclonus symptoms in the home environment. Patients wore a small, wearable sensor on their arms for 48 hours, which measured their muscle function and movement. They also wrote down their own assessment of the severity of the myoclonus symptom. An algorithm that picks up the occurrence and variation of muscle jerks from the measurement data was developed to evaluate myoclonus symptoms, describing them as a myoclonus index, reports the University of Eastern Finland.

In current clinical practice, the Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale, UMRS, is used to assess myoclonus symptoms. When using the UMRS, an experienced physician views a video recording and scores the patient’s symptoms according to their severity. This UMRS assessment provides information on the occurrence of myoclonus at one point in time. The measurement-based myoclonus index developed in the study correlated well with the UMRS assessment performed by the physician. Patients’ at-home measurements showed that the measurement-based myoclonus index was able to detect variation in the occurrence of myoclonus symptoms during the day and night. The reliability of the measurement results was also supported by patients’ own, at-home assessments and reporting of their myoclonus symptoms.

According to the study, the myoclonus index can be used to reliably assess positive and negative myoclonus in patients with EPM1. This assessment correlates well with the assessment performed by an experienced physician, and also makes it possible to assess patients’ symptoms in the home environment.

Read more: CyMedica Launches Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of its Muscle Strengthening Device e-vive

The study was carried out as part of the larger New Modalities ecosystem funded by Business Finland, involving three universities and eight companies in Finland. The ecosystem is coordinated by Orion Corporation.

Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness.

Read more: Purdue Researchers Develop Wearable That May Help Prevent Sudden Death From Epilepsy

Treatments include:

• Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)
• Surgery to remove a small part of the brain that's causing the seizures
• A procedure to put a small electrical device inside the body that can help control seizures
• A special diet (ketogenic diet) that can help control seizures

Drug-resistant epilepsy, also known as intractable epilepsy or refractory epilepsy, is defined as the failure of at least two anti-seizure drugs.

NeuroPace, a California-based MedTech company has developed the RNS system, an implantable neuromodulation device for treating drug-resistant epilepsy. It is the only FDA-approved epilepsy device that delivers personalized treatment by responding to abnormal brain activity and provides EEG data that can help improve patient care, reports NuroPace.

“The RNS System’s brain-responsive platform delivers personalized, real-time treatment at the seizure source. This platform can drive a better standard of care for patients suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy and has the potential to offer a more personalized solution and improved outcomes to the large population of patients suffering from other brain disorders,” Martha Morrell, Chief Medical Officer at NeuroPace, told Medgadget’s Conn Hastings.

The RNS System opens new possibilities for adults with focal drug-resistant epilepsy. The device responds to your unique brain activity and gives your doctor valuable information to help personalize your epilepsy treatment.

Read more: Medtronic to Launch Deep Brain Simulation for Medically-Refractory Epilepsy in the U.S.

Benefits of the RNS system:

Fewer seizures. In a real-world study, RNS System patients reported experiencing fewer seizures.

Lower SUDEP rate. SUDEP is the sudden, unexpected death of someone with epilepsy, who was otherwise healthy.

Improved health and wellness. In a clinical study of the RNS System, patients reported significant quality of life improvements.

When you pick up a balloon, the pressure to keep hold of it is different from what you would exert to grasp a jar. And now engineers at MIT and elsewhere have a way to precisely measure and map such subtleties of tactile dexterity.

Read more: Thermal Display Glove Enable Users to Feel Virtual Temperatures in Real-Time

The team has designed a new touch-sensing glove that can “feel” pressure and other tactile stimuli. The inside of the glove is threaded with a system of sensors that detects, measures, and maps small changes in pressure across the glove. The individual sensors are highly attuned and can pick up very weak vibrations across the skin, such as from a person’s pulse.

When subjects wore the glove while picking up a balloon versus a beaker, the sensors generated pressure maps specific to each task. Holding a balloon produced a relatively even pressure signal across the entire palm while grasping a beaker created stronger pressure at the fingertips.

The researchers say the tactile glove could help to retrain motor function and coordination in people who have suffered a stroke or other fine motor conditions. The glove might also be adapted to augment virtual reality and gaming experiences. The team envisions integrating the pressure sensors not only into tactile gloves but also into flexible adhesives to track pulse, blood pressure, and other vital signs more accurately than smart watches and other wearable monitors, reports Jennifer Chu in MIT News.

“The simplicity and reliability of our sensing structure hold great promise for a diversity of health care applications, such as pulse detection and recovering the sensory capability in patients with tactile dysfunction,” says Nicholas Fang, professor of mechanical engineering at MIT.

Fang and his collaborators detail their results in a study in Nature Communications. The study’s co-authors include Huifeng Du and Liu Wang at MIT, along with professor Chuanfei Guo’s group at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in China.

The glove’s pressure sensors are similar in principle to sensors that measure humidity. the team fabricated thin, kernel-sized sensing electrodes lined with thousands of gold microscopic filaments, or “micropillars.” They demonstrated that they could accurately measure the degree to which groups of micropillars bent in response to various forces and pressures. When they placed a sensing electrode and a control electrode onto a volunteer’s fingertip, they found the structure was highly sensitive. The sensors were able to pick up subtle phases in the person’s pulse, such as different peaks in the same cycle. They could also keep up accurate pulse readings, even as the person wearing the sensors waved their hands as they walked across a room.

“Pulse is a mechanical vibration that can also cause deformation of the skin, which we can’t feel, but the pillars can pick up,” Fang says.

The researchers then applied the concepts of their new, micropillared pressure sensor to the design of a highly sensitive tactile glove. They started with a silk glove, which the team purchased off the shelf. To make pressure sensors, they cut out small squares from carbon cloth, a textile that is composed of many thin filaments similar to micropillars.

They turned each cloth square into a sensing electrode by spraying it with gold, a naturally conductive metal. They then glued the cloth electrodes to various parts of the glove’s inner lining, including the fingertips and palms, and threaded conductive fibers throughout the glove to connect each electrode to the glove’s wrist, where the researchers glued a control electrode.

Several volunteers took turns wearing the tactile glove and performing various tasks, including holding a balloon and gripping a glass beaker. The team collected readings from each sensor to create a pressure map across the glove during each task. The maps revealed distinct and detailed patterns of pressure generated during each task.

The team plans to use the glove to identify pressure patterns for other tasks, such as writing with a pen and handling other household objects. Ultimately, they envision such tactile aids could help patients with motor dysfunction to calibrate and strengthen their hand dexterity and grip.

Read more: NeoMano Robotic Glove Helps People with Paralyzed Hands to Grip Objects

“Some fine motor skills require not only knowing how to handle objects but also how much force should be exerted,” Fang says. “This glove could provide us more accurate measurements of gripping force for control groups versus patients recovering from stroke or other neurological conditions. This could increase our understanding, and enable control.”

Semiconductor maker Renesas is partnering with deep learning chip technology firm Syntiant to develop a voice-controlled multimodal AI solution that enables low-power contactless operation for image processing in vision AI-based IoT and edge systems, such as self-checkout machines, security cameras, and video conference systems, and smart appliances such as robotic cleaning devices.

Read more: Renesas Launches RE Family – Energy Harvesting Embedded Controllers

The new solution combines the Renesas RZ/V Series vision AI microprocessor unit (MPU) and the low-power multimodal, multi-feature Syntiant NDP120 Neural Decision Processor to deliver advanced voice and image processing capabilities. The joint solution features always-on functionality with quick voice-triggered activation from standby mode to perform object recognition, facial recognition, and other vision-based tasks that are critical functions in security cameras and other systems. For example, while user-defined voice cues drive activation and system operation, vision AI recognition tracks operator behavior and controls operation or issues a warning when suspicious actions are detected.

The multimodal architecture makes it easier to create contactless user experiences for vision AI-based systems. Using a dedicated, power-efficient chip for voice recognition reduces standby power consumption while speeding up system development because it is possible to develop software independently of the vision AI functionality, reports Renesas.

“We anticipate that demand for multimodal systems that use multiple streams of input information – both image and voice – will increase moving forward as a way to improve both ease of use and safety,” said Hiroto Nitta, Senior Vice President and Head of SoC Business in the IoT and Infrastructure Business Unit at Renesas. “Through the collaboration between Renesas, a leader in low-power image AI technology, and Syntiant, a leader in voice AI technology, we will accelerate the adoption of low-power, ultra-small smart voice AI technology in embedded systems and deliver new combined solutions to customers globally.”

“Voice-based user interfaces will make it possible for customers to deliver new user experiences that bring the next generation of innovative ideas from concept to reality, said Syntiant CEO Kurt Busch. “We’ve already shipped more than 15 million of our deep learning NDPs globally to enable always-on voice in a wide variety of consumer and industrial IoT applications. Our collaboration with Renesas delivers a powerful, low-power voice and image solution that is certain to accelerate traction among a global customer base in a variety of devices and use cases.”

The Renesas RZ/V Series MPU for vision AI incorporates Renesas’ exclusive DRP-AI (Dynamically Reconfigurable Processor-AI) accelerator and combines high-precision AI inference with a power efficiency that is among the best in the industry. This superior power performance eliminates the need for heat dispersion measures such as heat sinks or cooling fans, which reduces the bill of materials (BOM) cost and makes it possible to integrate vision AI into a wide range of embedded applications.

The Syntiant NDP120 chip incorporates sophisticated AI capabilities that can be used to implement many high-precision, hands-free voice functions, including speaker recognition, keyword detection, multiple wake words, and local command recognition. Packaged with the Syntiant Core 2 neural network inference engine, the NDP120 can also run multiple applications simultaneously while minimizing power consumption to 1mW battery power.

Read more: Will Combined Power of 5G and Artificial Intelligence Change Tech Innovations of Tomorrow?

The new voice-controlled multimodal AI solution uses multiple mutually compatible devices from the broader Renesas portfolio to provide customers an elevated prototyping platform for faster time to market and reduced risk. The new solution is part of Renesas’ Winning Combinations, which feature compelling analog, power, and embedded processing product combinations that help customers accelerate their designs and get to market faster.

Availability

The reference design for the new multimodal AI solution is available now, including circuit diagrams and BOM lists.

Nielsen today announced that starting in September 2021, it will begin placing approximately 3,000 new Portable People Meter (PPM) Wearables in a subset of its nearly 60,000 active PPM panelists. The deployment of PPM wearable devices and technologies is part of Nielsen's continued efforts to modernize its panels and improve the panelist experience, drive broader adoption among existing and new panelists, and increase engagement among more challenging demographics.

Read more: DIGISEQ’s New Solution Allows Consumers To Turn Any Wearable Into A Contactless Payment Device

The PPM is currently used to underpin Audio, Local TV, and National audience measurement. It is used to measure both in-home and out-of-home tuning for Audio and Local TV and out-of-home tuning for Nielsen's National TV estimates. The next-gen wearable PPM metering will serve as foundational support for Nielsen ONE, a cross-media solution that will deliver a single, deduplicated metric for total media consumption across TV, Digital, and Audio.

PPM Wearables feature an updated design that is smaller and more aligned with current wearable technology trends. The new PPM Wearable comes in a variety of ways to wear including wristbands, clips and pendants, which are more appealing among demographics that typically have lower compliance. In addition, a new companion app will help improve communication, encourage participation and enable data transmission when the device is outside the home. The companion app will also allow Nielsen to add new features and capabilities and adapt more seamlessly to new data and technology trends, according to a press release.

“By modernizing our panels with the PPM Wearable, we are not only improving the overall panelist experience and increasing engagement, but also ensuring our measurement is durable and can adapt to evolving technology changes,” said Mainak Mazumdar, Nielsen's Chief Research and Data Officer. “This is another example of how Nielsen is continuing to innovate in our march towards Nielsen ONE in order to create a better media future for the entire industry.”

Nielsen plans to share top-line findings in Q2 2022 of this subset of panelists phase, with the full rollout of PPM Wearables in new panel households planned for the second half of 2022. PPM Wearables have been through a series of rigorous tests and the system has performed very well in each phase. These tests included lab, focus groups, and dual-carry testing that measure how the wearables detect codes versus the current PPM among the same panelists.

PPM Wearables are part of Nielsen's ongoing commitment to innovation that enhances the quality of their panels and makes cross-platform measurement a reality in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

Read more: Validic’s High Frequency Data Support Will Enable Wearables to Deliver Minute-to-Minute Readings

About Nielsen

Nielsen Holdings plc is a leading global data and analytics company that provides a holistic and objective understanding of the media industry. With offerings spanning audience measurement, audience outcomes, and content, Nielsen offers its clients and partners simple solutions to complex questions and optimizes the value of their investments and growth strategies. It is the only company that can offer de-duplicated cross-media audience measurement. Audience is Everything™ to Nielsen and its clients, and Nielsen is committed to ensuring that every voice counts.

Synchron, a venture-backed brain data transfer company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application for its flagship product, the Stentrode motor neuroprosthesis. This early feasibility study (EFS) of the device will begin later this year at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, and will assess the safety and efficacy of patients with severe paralysis. Outcomes will include the use of brain data to control digital devices and achieve improvements in functional independence. The FDA granted Breakthrough Device designation to Synchron in August 2020.

Read more: Brain Computer Interface with Neurofeedback Can Improve Your Performance, Says Columbia Study

“The approval of this IDE reflects years of safety testing performed in conjunction with FDA. We have worked together to pave a pathway forward, toward the first commercial approval for a permanently implanted BCI for the treatment of paralysis. We are thrilled to finally be launching a U.S. clinical trial this year,” said Synchron CEO Thomas Oxley, MD, Ph.D.

Other implantable BCI approaches involve drilling into the skull and placing needle electrodes directly into the brain tissue, which can result in long-term brain inflammation. The Stentrode device is delivered into the brain via the blood vessels in a minimally invasive 2-hour procedure, similar to the insertion of stents in the heart. No robotic assistance is required for the procedure, which can be performed in widely available angiography suites. The implant is fully internalized with no wires coming out of the head or body, reports BusinessWire.

Patients begin using the device at home soon after implantation and may wirelessly control external devices by thinking about moving their limbs. The system is designed to facilitate better communication and functional independence for patients by enabling daily tasks like texting, emailing, online commerce, and accessing telemedicine.

“Synchron’s north star is to achieve whole-brain data transfer,” continued Oxley. “The blood vessels provide surgery-free access to all regions of the brain, and at scale. Our first target is the motor cortex for the treatment of paralysis, which represents a large unmet need for millions of people across the world, and a market opportunity of $20B.”

Synchron is collaborating with Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Mount Sinai Health System, New York City, on the new study, the COMMAND trial. A total of six patients are planned for the trial, with enrollment beginning later this year.

Read more: Elon Musk Demonstrates Neuralink Brain-Computer Interface with Live Pigs

Synchron continues to evaluate the device in the SWITCH clinical trial currently underway in Australia. Four patients have received the Stentrode implant and are utilizing this neuroprosthesis for data transfer from the motor cortex to control digital devices. Data from the first two patients in this study, which were published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery (JNIS) in October 2020, demonstrated each patient was able to control their devices to text and type through direct thought. Following implantation and a short period of machine learning-assisted training, they were able to use the system unsupervised in their homes to send text messages, do online shopping and manage their finances.

Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed SKINTRONICS – a wearable stress monitor that utilizes fully stretchable, wireless skin-conformal bioelectronics, designed to provide precise readings of heart rate and sweat gland activity via galvanic skin response.

Read more: Ultrasound Wearable Patch Could Provide Early Warning for Heart Attacks and Strokes

Georgia Tech’s thin, conductive film and flexible layered electrodes with nanomembrane sensors create an impressive device that weighs less than 7 g, including its rechargeable battery. Other galvanic skin response wearable monitors may weigh (in volume) six times more than this technology or greater.

Where other devices lack the ability to maintain adequate contact without pressure from a band or strap, this adaptable stress monitor can be applied directly to the skin and fits snugly to the natural curvature of the body at the wrist or shoulder. The bioelectric wearable device is designed for greater comfort—it is soft, thin, and less than 5 mm thick. The durability and performance of the portable stress monitor have been tested to confirm that it can endure the daily wear of its users, reports Georgia Tech.

The quality of the data output of the high-sensitivity nanomembranes in this novel device was also tested and measured to be comparable, if not superior when concurrently compared to two commercially available devices. Georgia Tech’s portable stress monitor is designed to provide more accurate ongoing measurements and delivers an improved wearable design so that cardiac patients, infants in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), or even athletes may receive improved health monitoring with greater comfort.

Benefits/Advantages

• All-in-one: The personal adhesive bandage-like single device platform offers wireless, multi-data sensing by simply mounting it on the skin.
• Disposable: This wearable device is fully disposable after use and the measured data can be simply sent to the cloud via a tablet or smartphone app.
• Compact: The unique, thin design of this bioelectric device is one-sixth the volume of current market offerings—weighing less than 7 g, including its rechargeable battery.
• Greater comfort: The pattern of the biosensor’s electrodes is constructed to allow more than 50% stretchability and 30% areal coverage to the skin without the need for a constricting band or strap.
• Durable: The device has been successfully tested for flexibility and stability of its components with 1,000 cyclic stretching experiments to mimic daily use on the skin.

Potential Commercial Applications

• Stress monitoring for cardiac patients
• Neo-natal monitoring in PICU
• Pediatric patient health monitoring
• Baseline metrics and ongoing monitoring of athletes
• Corporate and public employee wellness programs

Read more: Janitri’s Wearable Patch Helping to Save Lives of Newborns and Mothers

Background and More Information

Stress monitors have evolved significantly from the originally wired electrodes—with limited placement near the palm/fingertips—to the wearable health monitors that multi-task as a pedometer, watch, and extension of the user’s cell phone. Though miniaturization of bioelectronics has improved the technology, the current market of monitors has been unable to break away from the combined plastic and metal frames that require a tight fit with a strap or band to conform to the body’s natural curvature at the wrist or ankle. Research shows that Georgia Tech’s wearable stress monitor brings greater comfort and flexibility without a constricting strap or band while providing accurate data about skin conductance changes, which is a quantifiable measurement of stress.

HingeConnect uniquely bridges the digital/in-person divide and enables real-time interventions by connecting Hinge Health’s Care Team across 71,000 clinical facilities

Digital musculoskeletal clinic Hinge Health launched HingeConnect to set a new standard in personalized care via seamless electronic medical record (EMR) integration, real-time interventions, and robust care coordination between digital and in-person providers.

Read more: Stryker Buys OrthoSensor and Its Knee Surgery Sensor Technology Verasense

The pandemic prompted a surge in digital care, providing Americans with greater access to convenient care. However, it also exposed a lack of coordination between in-person and digital providers, which can result in a poor participant experience, lower-quality care, and higher costs. This is especially relevant in musculoskeletal (MSK) health because ineffective care results in prolonged pain and increased costs and because 1% of plan members drive 55% of MSK costs, reports Hinge Health.

How HingeConnect works:

• Real-time interventions. EMR data from 750,000 providers across 71,000 care sites is proactively monitored to identify opportunities to offer less-invasive care by flagging select orders, such as surgery referrals or opiate prescriptions. Our care team can then intervene in real-time with noninvasive and nonaddictive alternatives, such as digital care programs or the groundbreaking impulse therapy device, the Hinge Health Enso.
• Personalized and coordinated care plans. Each member’s medical history is automatically compiled to inform the Hinge Health care team of issues such as injuries, pain medication use, and comorbid conditions so care plans can be personalized and carefully coordinated.
• Integrated medical history. By securely sharing Hinge Health outcome data with members’ external care providers, the platform promotes robust care coordination with in-person providers.

“As digital care continues to grow, the opportunity and need to integrate with in-person care grows in lockstep,” said Dr. Michael Fredericson, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Stanford. “HingeConnect not only creates an integrated experience for members but also affords Hinge Health the unique ability to identify patients early in their course of treatment.”

“HingeConnect uniquely empowers our care team to see the whole picture and seamlessly coordinate care,” said Dr. Jeff Krauss, Hinge Health’s chief medical officer. “What makes HingeConnect even more valuable is the speed at which our care team receives information: sometimes within an hour of an order being created. Our staff physicians can immediately intervene to offer alternatives to surgery, or our doctors of physical therapy can intervene to offer alternatives to opioids.”

Read more: VHA Expanding Pain Management Program With SAM Wearable Ultrasound Patch

About Hinge Health

Hinge Health is pioneering the world’s most patient-centered Digital Musculoskeletal (MSK) Clinic. Four in five employers and 90% of health plans with a digital MSK solution have chosen Hinge Health. Hinge Health reduces MSK pain, opioid use, and surgeries by pairing advanced wearable technology with a comprehensive clinical care team, including doctors of physical therapy, physicians, board-certified health coaches, and more. Available to millions of members, Hinge Health is the #1 Digital MSK Clinic™ for health plans and employers, including Boeing, Salesforce, and US Foods.

DexCom, the global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with diabetes, announced the FDA clearance of the Dexcom Partner Web APIs, enabling invited third-party developers to integrate real-time CGM data into their digital health apps and devices.

Read more: Dexcom G6 Pro CGM Offers Both Blinded And Unblinded Mode For Glucose Monitoring

“FDA clearance of our real-time APIs further solidifies Dexcom as the leader in interoperable CGM, giving Dexcom users even more choice in how they view and interact with their glucose data,” said Jake Leach, chief technology officer at Dexcom. “The new APIs will help seamlessly integrate the power of real-time Dexcom CGM data into some of the leading diabetes and digital health solutions.”

Several prominent diabetes and digital health companies have been invited to access the real-time APIs and are already in the testing and development phase, including Garmin® and Teladoc Health’s Livongo® for Diabetes, reports BusinessWire.

“Garmin welcomes the opportunity to bring Dexcom CGM data to runners, cyclists, and everyday users who rely on the technology 24/7 to proactively manage their diabetes,” said Joe Schrick, vice president of fitness at Garmin. “We are proud to be part of this integration that will allow users a secondary way to quickly and discreetly view estimated glucose levels and trends right from their smartwatch at any time.”

People with diabetes and their healthcare providers will benefit from the integration of real-time Dexcom CGM data into third-party apps and devices in a multitude of ways. For example, it will:

• Allow users to quickly see all their therapy data in one place
• Empower users to utilize the apps they find most beneficial for a more tailored Dexcom experience
• Enable in-the-moment diabetes management coaching and feedback

Read more: Livongo Partners with Dexcom to Integrate Dexcom’s CGM System into their Platform

About DexCom

Dexcom, Inc. empowers people to take control of diabetes through innovative continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Dexcom has emerged as a leader in diabetes care technology. By listening to the needs of users, caregivers, and providers, Dexcom simplifies and improves diabetes management around the world.

PKvitality – an innovative start-up brought up its unique solution to the 13 IoT/WT Innovation World Cup®. PKvitality develops K’Watch Glucose, a line of next-generation trackers with the ability to analyze key physiological markers by simply testing the skin rather than analyzing blood samples.

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1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF! – HOW DID IT ALL START?

PKvitality is an advanced bio-wearable company currently working on its innovative Skin Taste® technology. This technology will allow the analysis of key physiological markers by simply “tasting” the skin rather than analyzing blood samples. It will be placed at the back of K’Watch, a smartwatch providing a painless and discrete Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device. It will enable precise and continuous monitoring of glucose levels anytime and anywhere. Using the same technology, PKvitality is also working on K’Watch Athlete, a smartwatch that will provide real-time monitoring of their lactic acid – an indicator of muscle fatigue – to significantly improve an athlete’s training and performance.

Read more: PKvitality’s K’Watch Glucose Is a Smartwatch That Provides Continuous Glucose Monitoring

We started this project in 2016 and the name of PKvitality pronounced “Pekka” in French means star in Polynesian dialect. It’s the encounter of the Tribal world, our origins, and the Stars, a journey, an adventure. PK is a journey toward the human being.

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2. WHAT ARE THE KEY MILESTONES YOU HAVE REACHED SO FAR?

• 2016: project initiated
• 01/2017: Consumer Electronic Show presence: 3 awards including 1 BEST OF INNOVATION in “Tech for a Better World”
• December 2017: Laureate of Concours Innovation Numérique by BPIFrance (1 045K€)
• October 2018: Entering pre-clinical stage (more in vitro, 1st in vivo, ex vivo, in silico)
• October 2019: Beurer Gmbh, a major distributor of blood monitors in Germany, Italy, and Austria invests 2M€ alongside a 250K€ private investment from Beurer Managing Director
• November 2019: PKvitality first company to be co-accelerated by Dassault Systemes and Sanofi
• December 2019: Winner in the Medtech category of EIT Health Catapult contest, the largest European startup health contest
• June 2020: Seed fundraising tour closed with a total of €3,4m
• September 2020: Laureate of the Eurostars and Innov’up Leader PIA programs and the start of the research on multi-analyte monitoring solutions
• September 2020: Laureate of the highly selective EIC Accelerator program
• November 2020: Won the 12th edition of the Healthcare Innovation World Cup®

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3. WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE FACED?

The main challenge PKvitality has faced is due to the pluridisciplinary and complexity of the project. PKvitality has successfully gathered a team of medical experts, entrepreneurs, people with a consumer electronics approach, and a competent IT and engineering team. And all of these people work together to foster collective intelligence, that was a challenge.

The funding is also a major key to a startup's success. Many supports are foreseen so that startups can continue to develop, especially in public funding. One very important thing is to understand the ecosystem and the international, continental, or national grants/training/supports that can be applied to your company and the right timing to use them.

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4. WHAT IS COMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

We are currently preparing the first clinical trials that will happen in a couple of months on a reduced number of people.

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5. DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE INNOVATION WORLD CUP® AND BEING THE WINNER?

The Innovation World Cup® was a great experience for PKvitality and we will definitely be back in the competition next year!

Related PKvitality’s SkinTaste Sensor and Tiny Needles Measure Glucose by Painlessly Penetrating Your Skin

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6. CAN YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR THREE TIPS FOR UPCOMING START-UPS?

• Gather concrete elements and results to show your product/prototype is on track and present them in an understandable and attractive way.
• Build your presentation around coherent and fluid storytelling.
• Practice practice practice… your pitch!

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THANK YOU FOR THE INTERESTING INSIGHTS AND WE SHALL KEEP WATCHING YOUR NEXT BIG STEPS!

Visit PKvitality and learn more about their tracking devices that will help millions of people to improve their health or athletic performance.

Join the 13th IoT/WT Innovation World Cup®. Submit your solution free of charge. The top selected finalists will be invited to present their solution live at HANNOVER MESSE 2022.

Don´t miss your chance!

As part of its 75anniversary celebrations, American speaker maker Klipsch has announced two new pairs of true wireless (TWS) earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) technology and artificial intelligence (AI). According to Klipsch, both models have been designed to provide ultimate comfort and performance.

Read more: Huawei Launches Freebuds 4i True Wireless Earbuds, Band 6, and Fit Elegant Smartwatch

The new Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC earphones feature active noise canceling and run on the Bragi OS, allowing for motion-based head controls, reports CNet.

The built-in Bragi OS uses embedded AI to enable hands-free and advanced gesture control. The TWS earphones also offer Bragi-developed artificial intelligence (AI) powered gesture controls called Bragi Moves. Bragi Moves allows the user to take phone calls simply by nodding their head. This innovative operating system will enable plenty of new functionality over the life of the product.

Bragi GmbH is a Munich, Germany-based startup. The company was making "smart" true-wireless earbuds even before Apple's AirPods came to dominate the market. The company’s early smart earbuds were Bragi Dash and Dash Pro. In 2019, Bragi sold off its device business and with its Bragi OS, the company has since evolved into a software platform for true-wireless earbuds. Its customers are now Klipsch and Skullcandy.

Key specifications

• Style: In-Ear Earbuds
• Driver: Dynamic Moving Coil Micro Speaker
• Mic: Six-mic Beamforming
• Frequency response: 10Hz-19kHz
• Noise isolation: -22dB
• Battery (earphones): 50 mAh. Up to seven hours of battery life (five hours with ANC), 21 hours in case (15 hours with ANC)
• Battery (case): 360 mAh
• Bluetooth: Version: 5.0
• Range: Up to 10m
• Weight: Buds: 5.5g (.012 lbs)

Read more: Ultimate Ears Announces UE FITS The First Ever True Wireless Earbuds With Instant Custom Fit

Price and Availability

The new Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC earphones are available in copper, gunmetal, or silver colors for $299 (£299) and also come in a McLaren Edition version for $349 (£379).

Houston Methodist Neurological Institute researchers from the department of neurosurgery shrunk a deadly glioblastoma tumor by more than a third using a helmet generating a noninvasive oscillating magnetic field that the patient wore on his head while administering the therapy in his own home. The 53-year-old patient died from an unrelated injury about a month into the treatment, but during that short time, 31% of the tumor mass disappeared. The autopsy of his brain confirmed the rapid response to the treatment.

Read more: Robotic Neck Brace Helps Doctors Analyze Neck Mobility In Cancer Patients

“Thanks to the courage of this patient and his family, we were able to test and verify the potential effectiveness of the first noninvasive therapy for glioblastoma in the world,” said David S. Baskin, M.D., FACS, FAANS, corresponding author and director of the Kenneth R. Peak Center for Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment in the Department of Neurosurgery at Houston Methodist. “The family’s generous agreement to allow an autopsy after their loved one's untimely death made an invaluable contribution to the further study and development of this potentially powerful therapy.”

In a case study published in Frontiers in Oncology, Baskin and his colleagues detailed the journey of their pioneering patient who suffered from end-stage recurrent glioblastoma, despite a radical surgical excision, chemoradiotherapy, and experimental gene therapy, reports Houston Methodist.

Glioblastoma is the deadliest of brain cancers in adults, nearly always fatal, with a life expectancy of a few months to two years. When the patient’s glioblastoma recurred in August 2019, Baskin and his team, already working on the OMF treatment in mouse models, received FDA approval for compassionate use treatment of the patient with their newly invented Oncomagnetic Device under an Expanded Access Program (EAP). The protocol also was approved by the Houston Methodist Research Institute Institutional Review Board.

The treatment consisted of intermittent application of an oscillating magnetic field generated by rotating permanent magnets in a specific frequency profile and timing pattern. First administered for two hours under supervision in the Peak Clinic, ensuing treatments were given at home with help from the patient’s wife, with increasing treatment times up to a maximum of only six hours per day.

The Oncomagnetic Device looks deceptively simple: three oscillators securely attached to a helmet and connected to a microprocessor-based electronic controller operated by a rechargeable battery, an invention by case study co-author Dr. Santosh Helekar. During the patient’s five weeks of treatment, the magnetic therapy was well-tolerated and the tumor mass and volume shrunk by nearly a third, with shrinkage appearing to correlate with the treatment dose.

Read more: Optune: FDA-Approved Wearable for Innovative Treatment of Glioblastoma

Co-authored by associate professor of neurosurgery Santosh Helekar, M.D., Ph.D., research professor Martyn A. Sharpe, Ph.D., and biomedical engineer Lisa Nguyen, the case study is entitled “Case Report: End-Stage Recurrent Glioblastoma Treated with a New Noninvasive Non-Contact Oncomagnetic Device.” The ongoing research is supported by the Translational Research Initiative of the Houston Methodist Research Institute, Donna and Kenneth Peak, the Kenneth R. Peak Foundation, the John S. Dunn Foundation, the Taub Foundation, the Blanche Green Fund of the Pauline Sterne Wolff Memorial Foundation, the Kelly Kicking Center Foundation, the Gary and Marlee Swarz Foundation, the Methodist Hospital Foundation and the Veralan Foundation.

“Imagine treating brain cancer without radiation therapy or chemotherapy,” said Baskin. “Our results in the laboratory and with this patient open a new world of non-invasive and nontoxic therapy for brain cancer, with many exciting possibilities for the future.”

After the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, engineers at the Estonia-based Respiray began working on a high-tech wearable air purifier to protect people from getting infected. The company’s team of experts and scientists began working on a face mask alternative that would eliminate the need to cover a face or restrict breathing. They designed their product with teachers in mind to help them communicate better whilst staying protected from any respiratory viruses and their mutations.

Harnessing decades-old technology to fight the modern pandemic

Harnessed for decades, UV has been deployed within technology solutions to provide a range of products widely used by society worldwide. Commercial and medical organizations have been using it to disinfect environments for years.

Read more: LG Launches PuriCare, A Rechargeable Wearable Air Purifier Mask

Recently, there have been big advancements in UV-C LEDs (265 nm), which are now low maintenance, reliable, and do not produce any ozone, causing another resurgence of UV disinfection.

UV-C causes damage to the DNA and RNA of pathogens like viruses and biological micro-organisms and prevents them from replicating, effectively inactivating the pathogens. UV technology solutions like Respiray offer extra protection against respiratory viruses.

How does Respiray work?

Respiray uses the latest UV technology to protect people against respiratory illnesses. This wearable air purifier disinfects the air you breathe and eliminates 99% of viruses and bacteria with invisible UV-C light.

The air purifier takes in unfiltered air, runs it through the UV disinfection module, and blows virus-free air to the front of the wearer’s face. In fact, the device purifies up to 55 liters of air per minute which is up to 4x more than an average resting human breathes.

Ergonomic design

Respiray’s wearable air purifier has an ergonomic design.  The weight is evenly distributed along your shoulders to provide maximum comfort. The device has an 8-hour battery that gives you peace of mind to smile and communicate all day long while being protected against unwanted airborne viruses. It also comes with an attachable face shield that can be worn when close to others.

Where is Respiray used?

Respiray can be used in crowded indoor environments such as schools, universities, offices, restaurants, supermarkets, events, and hotels – areas where communication is critical. Respiray is used by every business that wants to give their staff added protection, particularly those working in busy, poorly ventilated, or enclosed spaces.

At present, the device is only available in the EU, but soon it will be launched worldwide. Respiray devices have been sold for private customers across Europe in 12 different countries. Plus, several companies have bought the devices to offer extra protection to their employees and customers. The 4-star business and conference hotel Nordic Hotel Forum is recently using Respiray’s wearable air purifiers in their conference rooms to safeguard their guests.

Respiray is seeing a high demand for the product in educational environments. Schools are very keen to protect their teachers, especially those that cater to children with special educational needs. The Estonian Ministry of Health bought 100 devices for schools in Estonia.

Indrek Reimand, Deputy Secretary General at the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, highlights that the ministry is delighted to endorse innovation. “Respiray provides a fantastic example of how the collaboration between engineers, scientists, designers, and entrepreneurs drives creative solutions for complex issues,” Reimand said.

The first wearable air purifier for the new post-COVID world

Respiray is the world’s first company to engineer and produce a wearable air purifier that uses UV-C technology to disinfect air breathed in without covering a wearer's face. The patent-pending disinfection module is unique in its concept – it provides maximum disinfection with minimum energy consumption. This module enabled us to design a wearable product that efficiently kills viruses and that lets the wearer breathe effortlessly, while others can see their facial expressions.

Respiray isn’t only a mask alternative for COVID-19 – it is a personal air purifier for a post-covid world that protects people against airborne viruses, including regular flu and virus mutations. It complements ventilation and minimizes the risks of getting infected.

Safety is paramount

Does UV-C produce ozone? Is UV-C safe?

These are important questions concerning UV technology as UV light can often be associated with ozone production. However, ozone is only produced at short wavelengths. Respiray’s device is lab-tested to prove zero-emission of ozone. The highest quality Crystal IS Klaran’s 265 nm UV-C LEDs are sealed in double plastic enclosures to prevent any leaks.

Read more: Wearable Freeze-Dried Cell-Free Face Masks for COVID-19 Detection

Innovation backed by science

Respiray’s UV-C disinfection modules have been independently tested by the University of Tartu and the University of Lodz. They achieved over 99% effectiveness at inactivating various viruses and bacteria.

“The efficiency test of the UV-C module was performed on Alphavirus to research if and how effectively the device inactivates virus particles. Alphavirus is a similar single-stranded RNA-genome virus to SARS-CoV-2 and both viruses are comparable in size: approximately 70-100 nanometers. The results concluded that 99.4% of the virus particles were inactivated. It’s important to highlight the significance of these findings because the remaining diminutive concentration of virus particles is very unlikely to cause infection in the target organism,” says Liane Viru, Ph.D., lead researcher Professor of Applied Virology at the University of Tartu Ph.D. Andres Merits, and Head of Biosafety Core Facility at the University of Tartu.

About Respiray

Respiray was founded by Aleksandr Frorip, Robert Arus, and Indrek Neivelt – the founder of Pocosys, a company acquired by Norwegian software company Opera in 2020. Respiray is funded by a research and development company Ldiamon, which has 15 years of expertise in developing and manufacturing medical UV-C LED sensors for leading medical companies across Europe. The company has raised a total of 1.2 million euros, including from Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn’s investment vehicle Metaplanet Holdings.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego developed a soft and stretchy ultrasound patch that can be worn on the skin to monitor blood flow through blood vessels as deep as 14 centimeters inside a person’s body. The flexible patch can be worn on the neck or chest and may help doctors to monitor and diagnose various conditions, including blockages that could cause an infarct.

Read more: Sweat-Proof Smart Skin Takes Reliable Vitals, Could Be Used For Tracking Skin Cancer and Other Conditions

Knowing how fast and how much blood flows through a patient’s blood vessels is important because it can help clinicians diagnose various cardiovascular conditions, including blood clots; heart valve problems; poor circulation in the limbs; or blockages in the arteries that could lead to strokes or heart attacks, reports Liezel Labios in UC San Diego News.

This new ultrasound patch can continuously monitor blood flow—as well as blood pressure and heart function—in real-time. Wearing such a device could make it easier to identify cardiovascular problems early on.

A team led by Sheng Xu, a professor of nanoengineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, reported the patch in a paper published July 16 in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

“This type of wearable device can give you a more comprehensive, more accurate picture of what’s going on in deep tissues and critical organs like the heart and the brain, all from the surface of the skin,” said Xu.

“Sensing signals at such depths is extremely challenging for wearable electronics. Yet, this is where the body’s most critical signals and the central organs are buried,” said Chonghe Wang, a former nanoengineering graduate student in Xu’s lab and co-first author of the study. “We engineered a wearable device that can penetrate such deep tissue depths and sense those vital signals far beneath the skin. This technology can provide new insights for the field of healthcare.”

Another innovative feature of the patch is that the ultrasound beam can be tilted at different angles and steered to areas in the body that are not directly underneath the patch.

This is a first in the field of wearables, explained Xu, because existing wearable sensors typically only monitor areas right below them. “If you want to sense signals at a different position, you have to move the sensor to that location. With this patch, we can probe areas that are wider than the device’s footprint. This can open up a lot of opportunities.”

How It Works

The patch is made up of a thin sheet of flexible, stretchable polymer that adheres to the skin. Embedded on the patch is an array of millimeter-sized ultrasound transducers. Each is individually controlled by a computer—this type of array is known as an ultrasound phased array. It is a key part of the technology because it gives the patch the ability to go deeper and wider.

The phased array offers two main modes of operation. In one mode, all the transducers can be synchronized to transmit ultrasound waves together, which produces a high-intensity ultrasound beam that focuses on one spot as deep as 14 centimeters in the body. In the other mode, the transducers can be programmed to transmit out of sync, which produces ultrasound beams that can be steered to different angles.

“With the phased array technology, we can manipulate the ultrasound beam in the way that we want,” said Muyang Lin, a nanoengineering Ph.D. student at UC San Diego who is also a co-first author of the study. “This gives our device multiple capabilities: monitoring central organs as well as blood flow, with high resolution. This would not be possible using just one transducer.”

The phased array consists of a 12 by 12 grid of ultrasound transducers. When electricity flows through the transducers, they vibrate and emit ultrasound waves that travel through the skin and deep into the body. When the ultrasound waves penetrate through a major blood vessel, they encounter movement from red blood cells flowing inside. This movement changes or shifts how the ultrasound waves echo back to the patch—an effect known as Doppler frequency shift. This shift in the reflected signals gets picked up by the patch and is used to create a visual recording of the blood flow. This same mechanism can also be used to create moving images of the heart’s walls.

A Potential Game Changer in the Clinic

For many people, blood flow is not something that is measured during a regular visit to the physician. It is usually assessed after a patient shows some signs of cardiovascular problems, or if a patient is at high risk.

The standard blood flow exam itself can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. A trained technician presses a handheld ultrasound probe against a patient’s skin and moves it from one area to another until it’s directly above a major blood vessel. This may sound straightforward, but results can vary between tests and technicians.

Read more: This Wearable Patch May Provide Painless, More Effective Chemotherapy For Melanoma

Since the patch is simple to use, it could solve these problems, said Sai Zhou, a materials science and engineering Ph.D. student at UC San Diego and co-author of the study.

In tests, the patch was performed as well as a commercial ultrasound probe was used in the clinic. It accurately recorded blood flow in major blood vessels such as the carotid artery, which is an artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain.

The researchers point out that the patch still has a long way to go before it is ready for the clinic.

Hapbee, the leading wearable, wellness technology company and creator of the Hapbee headband, has announced the launch of their eighth and latest signal, "Boost," which will provide users with a caffeine-free and calorie-free energy boost whenever they need it.

Read more: This Wearable Empowers Its Users to Reach Their Desired Feelings on Command

A healthier alternative to typical afternoon pick-me-ups such as coffee or energy drinks, "Boost" promotes a gradual rise in physical energy levels to help users feel less drowsy and more alert, with a reduction in mental fatigue. Developed through Hapbee's licensed, patented ability to record and broadcast the frequencies of various compounds, the Boost signal was partially derived from theobromine, a nootropic commonly used to help clear away brain fog, helping users stay focused while supporting attention and reaction time, the company said in a press release.

The company pre-released the Boost signal a few weeks ago to a select group of Hapbee "power users" to gauge early reaction prior to its broader release. "I have been an avid Hapbee user since the product first launched last year and can't tell you how excited I am about Boost," said Ben Greenfield, renowned biohacker, fitness guru, and New York Times best-selling author. "I have been using Boost as a mid-day enhancer since it was first released and it's making a big difference in my afternoon energy levels."

“Through customer feedback and our market research, we identified a growing chorus of requests in the areas of alertness and attention,” said Hapbee CEO Yona Shtern. “Adding Boost to our expanding roster of signals helps users who are mentally exhausted to stay more alert and focused during their daytime activities. We anticipate that Boost will quickly become a favorite among Hapbee users.”

Hapbee leverages patented, magnetic-field technology to help people choose how they feel. Ultra-low frequency electromagnetic signals are derived from compounds such as caffeine, nicotine, and melatonin and are then played digitally through the Hapbee headband to deliver sensations such as Happy, Alert, Focus, Relax, and Deep Sleep without the side effects or dependencies that might otherwise result from ingesting the substances.

"This is a natural extension of the Hapbee signal library and one we see benefiting everyone from the office professional, to busy parents, to students studying, and even to athletes looking to charge up before a big performance," explained Hapbee Chief Science Officer, Dr. Brian Mogen. "Providing an aid to the ongoing needs of users is our mission and always at the forefront of how we approach product development.”

Read more: US Army Outfits Paratroopers With WHOOP Strap To Assess Level of Stress

Hapbee originally launched with six signals and has added "Bedtime" and now "Boost" to their growing lineup in 2021 as they continue to expand their catalog. The Company is currently in the research and development phases of an extensive expansion of signal blends and time-released routines.

About Hapbee

Hapbee is a wearable magnetic field technology company that aims to help people choose how they feel. Powered by EMulate Therapeutics' patented ultra-low radio frequency energy (ulRFE®) technology, Hapbee delivers low-power electromagnetic signals designed to produce sensations such as Happy, Alert, Focus, Relax, Boost, and others.

Engineers from Stanford University have developed a new calorie burn measurement system that is small, inexpensive, and accurate. Also, people can make it themselves. Whereas smartwatches and smartphones tend to be off by about 40 to 80 percent when it comes to counting calories burned during an activity, this system averages 13 percent error.

Read more: Calibre: The First Of Its Kind, Most Accurate Wearable Calorie and Fitness Tracker With Real-Time Results

“We built a compact system that we evaluated with a diverse group of participants to represent the U.S. population and found that it does very well, with about one-third the error of smartwatches,” said Patrick Slade, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at Stanford who is the lead author of a paper about this work, published in Nature Communications.

A crucial piece of this research was understanding a basic shortcoming of other wearable calorie counters: that they rely on wrist motion or heart rate, even though neither is especially indicative of energy expenditure. (Consider how a cup of coffee can increase heart rate.) The researchers hypothesized that leg motion would be more telling – and their experiments confirmed that idea.

There are laboratory-grade systems that can accurately estimate how much energy a person burns during physical activity, but they involve bulky, uncomfortable equipment and can be expensive. This new wearable system only requires two small sensors on the leg, a battery, and a portable microcontroller (a small computer), and costs about $100 to make. The list of components and code for making the system are both available writes Taylor Kubota in Stanford News.

“This is a big advance because, up till now, it takes two to six minutes and a gas mask to accurately estimate how much energy a person is burning,” said Scott Delp, director of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Stanford and the James H. Clark Professor in the School of Engineering, who is co-author of the paper. “With Patrick’s new tool, we can estimate how much energy is burned with each step as an Olympic athlete races toward the finish line to get a measure of what is fueling their peak performance. We can also compute the energy spent by a patient recovering from cardiac surgery to better manage their exercise.”

Looking at the legs

How people burn calories is complicated, but the researchers had a hunch that sensors on the legs would be a simple way to gain insight into this process.

The system the researchers designed consists of two small sensors – one on the thigh and one on the shank of one leg – run by a microcontroller on the hip, which could easily be replaced by a smartphone. These sensors are called “inertial measurement units” and measure the acceleration and rotation of the leg as it’s moving. They are purposely lightweight, portable, and low cost so that they could be easily integrated into different forms, including clothing, such as smart pants.

To test the system against similar technologies, the researchers had study participants wear it while also wearing two smartwatches and a heart rate monitor. With all of these sensors attached, participants performed a variety of activities, including various speeds of walking, running, biking, stair climbing, and transitioning between walking and running. When all of the wearables were compared to the calorie burn measurements captured by a laboratory-grade system, the researchers found that their leg-based system was the most accurate.

By further testing the system on over a dozen participants across a range of ages and weights, the researchers gathered a wealth of data that Slade used to further refine the machine learning model that calculates the calorie burn estimates.

Read more: Flexible Cable Based Capacitors Support Energy Harvesting for Wearables

“A lot of the steps that you take every day happen in short bouts of 20 seconds or less,” said Slade, who mentioned doing chores as one example of a short-burst activity that often gets overlooked. “Being able to capture these brief activities or dynamic changes between activities is really challenging and no other system can currently do that.”

An open design

Simplicity and affordability were important to this team, as was making the design openly available because they hope this technology can support people in understanding and looking after their health.

“We’re open-sourcing everything in the hopes that people will take it and run with it and make products that can improve the lives of the public,” said Mykel Kochenderfer, an associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford who is a co-author of the paper.

The NSW Smart Sensing Network is part of a group of 37 university and industry partners leading the establishment of a new $24 million Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health. Today, the Hub has been awarded $5 million in funding under the latest round of the Australian government’s ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP).

Read more: VivoSense Awarded the NIH/NCI Grant To Develop Platform For Cancer Research and Clinical Care

Led by Professor Chun Wang, Head of the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW, the Hub aims to develop, manufacture, and export high-tech, cyber-secure IoT sensors to global health markets.

“In addition to the development of new connected sensors and digital analytics, the Hub will also contribute to uplifting our domestic medical technologies and pharmaceuticals sector’s skills in advanced manufacturing of sensors and new equipment, regulatory approval, and product commercialization,” said Professor Wang.

“NSSN has contributed to the success of the Hub by connecting researchers with relevant companies, helping the team to identify industry needs, and guidance in the governance structure of the Hub.”

NSSN founding Co-Director Professor Justin Gooding, who has been directly involved with the Hub as part of the leadership team, congratulated Professor Wang on the success of the ITRP grant and praised Professor Wang’s superb leadership of the project, reports NSSN.

“The Hub will create an opportunity for Australia, and NSW, to become a world leader in the manufacture and commercialization of connected health devices and wearable sensors,” said Professor Gooding.

“The NSSN was integral in the team effort that got this Hub over the line. The success exemplifies the value add that NSSN has in connecting researchers to industry and helping to develop large research initiatives that benefit NSW and Australia,” said Professor Gooding.

NSSN MedTech Theme Leader Ms Jane Evans, who has been working closely with the Hub’s leadership team, said long-term partnerships between universities and industry are vital for the future of technology development.

“The ARC Research Hub for Connected Sensors for Health is an excellent demonstration of researchers, industry, and entrepreneurs working together with a focus on genuine and innovative transformation in the healthcare sector,” said Ms. Evans.

“Successful innovation relies heavily on the people and a transparent culture; you need people that are allowed to think differently and have come together to form a vision for a better future.

“I would like to congratulate Professor Wang for his thoughtful leadership in steering 30 partners, 7 universities, and 36 Chief Investigators throughout the development process and for being tirelessly humble and grateful to all involved.”

In addition to Professor Chun Wang and Professor Justin Gooding, the Hub’s leadership team includes Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, Professor Kim Delbaere, and Professor Nigel Lovell.

Read more: Australian Researchers Develop Brain Implant That May Restore Limited Sight In Blind People

University partner organizations

UNSW Sydney, Macquarie University, University of Newcastle, RMIT University, Queensland University of Technology, Monash University, and the University of Wollongong.

Industry partner organizations

Roebuck, NeuRa, Nutromics, Santevation, Hunter Medical Research Institute, David Penn Consulting, Prince of Wales Hospital, Minifab (AUST), Sensoria Health, Vlepis, Nthalmic, ANDhealth, Australian Read Cross Lifeblood, Primestone Capital, Australian Advanced Materials, Tiger Pharm, Soft Sense, Sydney Pain Management Centre, Flame Security International, Genesys Electronics Design, Global Edge MedTech Consulting, Glia Diagnostics, Vitalcare, STMicroelectronics, NSW Institute of Sport, and the NSW Smart Sensing Network.

In a paper published in June 2021, researchers at the Imperial College London have explored the future of wearable technologies. The wearable technology industry is expanding rapidly. The most obvious example is the growth of the Apple Watch. First launched in 2015, it sold 31 million units in 2019 alone, 10 million more than the entire Swiss watch industry. Globally, the wearable technology market was valued at $32.63bn in 2019 and is forecast to expand at an annual growth rate of 15.9% to 2027.

With the emergence of fitness monitors, such as Fitbit and smartphone apps, driven by low-cost microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and optical sensors, wearable wellness monitors have become mainstream.

Read more: Popularity Of Smartwatch And Wristband Is Opening Door To Advanced Wearable Fitness Technology In Medical Platforms

Up until now, wearable devices have predominantly been used to measure heart activity or patterns of respiration. One example of a widely used wearable device in healthcare is the Holter monitor. Dating back to the 1960s, it measures the electrical activity of the heart, termed an electrocardiogram (ECG), over a longer period of time than the traditional resting ECG which typically collects just a few beats for analysis.

Wearable sensors for animals

Apart from human applications, wearable devices have huge potential in both livestock farming and domestic pets. In animal farming, the lack of an ability to distinguish sick animals from healthy ones has led to mass antibiotic usage or culling, resulting in antimicrobial resistance and economic issues, respectively. High-intensity farming has also contributed to the spread of many pathogens of animal origin to humans, for example, the highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu), and may also be associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wearables in Healthcare

Diabetes

A good example of how wearable devices are currently improving medical care is in the treatment of diabetes. Constant monitoring of blood glucose is required to keep levels within a safe range. Conventional methods Conventional methods require a “finger stick test” to obtain a blood sample for analysis, known as self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), reports Imperial College London.

COVID-19 and infectious diseases

Another important potential use for wearable technology is when a patient has an infectious disease and direct contact with healthcare workers is not desirable. In this scnario, rudimentary surrogate measures of health provided by wearables could be useful for the clinician. This has become much more relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. One example of how wearables have been utilized by healthcare providers during the pandemic is the use of wireless pulse oximeters to detect early deterioration of COVID-19 patients.28 Patients are able to remain at home, monitored by the oximeter, which notifies healthcare providers should the patient require hospitalization.

The next generation of wearables

At Imperial College London, numerous new avenues to bring chemical and biochemical wearables to their full potential are currently being researched. One example includes employing biochemical engineering and optical outputs to design simple medical devices capable of diagnosing and monitoring medical conditions.

Wireless auscultation of dogs

Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a stretchable wearable device made of a polymer composite that can be used for wireless auscultation of dogs. The wearable sensor takes the shape of the body and removes air bubbles among the fur to improve the conduction of signals on the contact surface, allowing the recording of heart sounds.

Wearable chemical and biochemical devices

By utilizing microfluidic channels these patches non-invasively sample minute volumes of sweat released from the skin. Passing analytes over sensing components probes allows for real-time readout of biomarkers such as electrolytes.

Microneedle patch

Microneedles penetrate the outer layer of skin to gain access to the interstitial fluid. This minimally invasive technique allows for a more in-depth analysis of the body's homeostasis. Microneedles act as electrodes for simple electrochemical analysis of biomarker concentrations. These patches are worn in a similar way to plaster and leave a little imprint upon removal making them ideal for point-of-care analysis.

Smart tattoos

An interesting technique to monitor analytes is smart tattoos. In normal tattoos, the ink is in contact with the analyte solution under the skin. By including pigments that are sensitive to changes in biomarkers (such as pH, glucose, ions, and enzymes), the tattoo responds to changes in biomarkers by changing color.

What are the main barriers to progress?

Privacy concerns

As the internet of things becomes more widespread, the public is becoming more conscious of how much of their life is quantified in data and may feel uncomfortable with sharing large quantities of personal data collected by wearable devices. This issue is also compounded by the suspicion users have about where their data is going. For wearable sensors to reach their full potential, protecting user information is paramount.

Read more How Wearable Technology Could Revolutionize Manufacturing Industry

Startups

Spyras

An Imperial College London-led startup Spyras spun out of the Güder Research Group at Imperial College London. It has developed a technology that analyses breathing patterns using sensors integrated into disposable facemasks. Respiration rate is one of the four vital signs of health, however, it is generally not measured using high-precision instruments. Spyras measures patterns of breathing, and breath biochemistry, which can play an important role in the early detection and monitoring of diseases and inform treatments.38,39 Real-time respiratory monitoring is also expected to play a growing role in the wellness segment in sports, meditation, and sleep.

Flow Bio – Imperial expertise in the industry

The flowPATCH is a wearable, non-invasive patch that captures an athlete’s sweat and interprets key bio-markers in real-time, starting with electrolytes and total body fluid loss. This system provides users with personalized recommendations that allow them to improve their performance. Ali Yetisen, from the Department of Chemical Engineering, is the Science Advisor to Flow Bio, the company that developed the flowPATCH.