Casio Computer announced the release of G-SHOCK THE RIDE, a virtual attraction that allows users to experience what it might be like to participate in the durability testing Casio puts the G-SHOCK line of shock-resistant watches through. The amusement park-like virtual ride is accessible on the social virtual reality platform VRChat.

In October 2023, Casio opened a virtual G-SHOCK STORE on VRChat to provide metaverse-based content offering visitors experiences with G-SHOCK customization, as well as seeing how VRChat avatars look wearing watches they have created, and more. The space is designed to serve as a touchpoint between the G-SHOCK brand and new users.

Now, as a second offering of VRChat-based content, Casio is releasing G-SHOCK THE RIDE, a ride-type attraction offering users simulated experiences of futuristic G-SHOCK durability tests.

While based on G-SHOCK durability tests actually conducted at the Hamura R&D Center, a base of development for the brand's watches, G-SHOCK THE RIDE goes far beyond, featuring a narrative that imagines the form those durability tests might take in the future. The attraction invites users to hop on board a G-SHOCK with their avatar as if stepping onto a ride at an amusement park, to enjoy the kind of fantastic, beyond-reality immersive experiences that are only possible in virtual reality spaces. In addition to the fun, game-like enjoyment G-SHOCK THE RIDE offers, the attraction provides a space expressing the true, reality-based worldview of G-SHOCK with the exacting durability tests the brand conducts to ensure the unparalleled toughness of its watches.

Related: VRSim’s Cutting Edge VRNA EMS Training Product

About VRChat

VRChat is a virtual reality metaverse platform that enables users to assume the forms of avatars and enjoy interactive experiences in virtual worlds. Millions of people have formed a wide array of user communities in which they can freely enjoy activities in metaverse spaces on the platform.

Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to expand its partnership with Cosmo Intelligent Medical Devices, a subsidiary of Cosmo Pharmaceuticals. This AI-driven partnership will further capitalize on the achievements already realized with the GI Genius intelligent endoscopy module, offering continued innovation and scalable healthcare advancements for patients and caregivers globally. Through this exclusive global partnership, Medtronic and Cosmo Pharmaceuticals remain committed to revolutionizing endoscopy by harnessing the power of AI to improve patient outcomes. This strategic alliance reinforces Medtronic's position in AI-integrated healthcare solutions and represents a significant leap in incorporating AI into endoscopic care.

The collaboration's focus on innovative and scalable AI platforms like AI Access™, which is designed to host multiple third-party AI applications to allow for faster innovation and streamlining of the AI development process across medical AI applications, exemplifies an innovative approach to healthcare and enables a broader spectrum of diagnostic tools and treatment options.

"Our alliance with Cosmo Pharmaceuticals is a testament to what can be achieved when two leaders in their fields unite for a common goal: transforming healthcare through AI. The GI Genius module, our first FDA-cleared AI product in gastrointestinal care, represents the initial milestone of this collaboration," said Ken Washington, chief technology officer at Medtronic. "However, the AI Access platform is where our partnership truly crystallizes our vision for healthcare transformation; it's a springboard for expanding Medtronic's AI's potential in healthcare. Our expanded partnership with Cosmo is fostering a collaborative ecosystem where Medtronic's broad spectrum of medical expertise converges with Cosmo's technological prowess, creating a synergy that propels us forward."

The GI Genius module, a computer-aided polyp detection system powered by AI, is the centerpiece of this collaboration and has already made a significant impact since its U.S. launch in 2021. The platform has helped redefine the landscape of gastrointestinal screening by assisting gastroenterologists performing colonoscopies – increasing the physician's adenoma detection rate by 14. With a continuous growth in customer installs base year over year, the GI Genius module is a testament to the potential of AI in enhancing medical procedures. The synergy between Cosmo's cutting-edge AI technology and Medtronic's market development expertise has created a powerful partnership, setting new benchmarks in healthcare efficiency, accuracy, and patient impact.

"Our expanded partnership with Cosmo Pharmaceuticals is a strategic milestone in our mission to leverage AI for enhanced patient care," said Geoff Martha, chairman and chief executive officer at Medtronic. "This aligns with our business objectives to provide cutting-edge tools to our customers while also elevating patient care standards in the fight against gastrointestinal diseases. We're setting a new course for the future, where AI-assisted healthcare is not just an option, but a fundamental aspect of patient treatment and outcomes."

Related: New Partnership for AI-Powered Medical Imaging

"The expanded agreement between Cosmo and Medtronic is a testament not only to our mutual commitment to rapidly improving the healthcare landscape but also to Cosmo's ability to transform the GI Genius platform into a revolutionary force in healthcare," said Alessandro Della Chà, chief executive officer of Cosmo Pharmaceuticals. "Our continued partnership with Medtronic, the largest medtech company in the world, is pivotal in further enabling the GI Genius platform to offer enhanced AI solutions and improved clinical outcomes to patients globally. This collaboration is set to unlock significant value, marking a major stride in our journey towards healthcare innovation."

"Our collaboration and enduring commitment to bringing AI advancements to the forefront of healthcare has culminated in exceptional know-how within our company, which is finally bearing fruit in line with our expectations," said Mauro Severino Ajani, non-executive director and chairman of Cosmo Pharmaceuticals. "This marks just the beginning of a remarkable journey, as our collective expertise in AI continues to transform the future of healthcare."

Under the terms of this expanded agreement, Medtronic will pay Cosmo $100 million upfront as well as a double-digit royalty on net sales on par with market standards, in addition to $100 million in potential milestone payments expected to be reached by the end of 2024. Cosmo Pharmaceuticals will continue to be the exclusive manufacturer, granting Medtronic exclusive, global, commercial rights.

About Medtronic

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Medtronic is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Their technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more.

About Cosmo

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products to treat selected gastrointestinal disorders, to improve endoscopy quality measures through aiding the detection of colonic lesions, and to treat selected dermatological conditions.

Embr Labs, Inc, makers of Embr Wave, the leading wearable that utilizes temperature for wellness applications, will be sharing key developments from its decade of innovation in human-temperature interaction and thermal haptic technology at the Wear and Smart Haptics 2023 Conferences in San Diego this week.

Embr's Chief Technology Officer, Matthew J Smith, PhD, will give two distinct talks. The Smart Haptics session will highlight advancements in understanding temperature biology, how Embr leverages that understanding, and Embr's work to create an AI-powered future for human-temperature interaction with its hot flash prediction technology development. In addition, Dr. Smith will keynote the Wear Conference Human Centric Design session, sharing Lessons Learned from Embr's First Ten Million Hours of temperature therapy delivered to its tens of thousands of Embr Wave customers.

"After ten years into our mission to improve lives through the power of temperature, the Wear and Smart Haptics 2023 Conferences offer an exciting opportunity to share how we've brought temperature into the digital age," says Matt Smith, co-founder and CTO of Embr Labs.

Both talks come on the heels of Embr's announcement of its new technology to predict a menopausal hot flash before it occurs to activate immediate cooling on the Embr Wave to mitigate or alleviate the hot flash experience. Embr has established the Embr Wave as an effective solution for hot flash relief for women and for men experiencing hot flashes as a result of prostate cancer treatment.

Read more: CALERA brand: Core Body temperature technology ready for OEM integration

About Embr Labs

Embr Labs is the leading health tech company addressing the symptoms of chronic health conditions by pioneering the use of temperature as a new pathway to the brain. Embr Wave is now distributed through major US retailers, and internationally in over 25 countries. The company's patented technology has been clinically validated and delivers a brand-new category of safe and natural solutions to manage hot flashes, sleep issues, stress, and thermal discomfort. The company was founded by MIT-trained engineers and is backed by investors including Bose Ventures, DigiTx Partners, Safar Partners, Esplanade Ventures, and Intel Capital, and is backed by Ghost Tree Partners. Embr Labs has won numerous awards for the Embr Wave, including the AARP Innovation in Aging Award, Time Magazine's Best Inventions, and the iF Design Award, and was named to CB Insights' Digital Health 150.

Singapore-based global IT company Playground, with hubs in South Korea and Vietnam, is set to unveil 'AI EYES,' a groundbreaking innovation in the 2024 wearable device market. Going beyond technological advancements, this premium wearable device deeply integrates artificial intelligence into everyday life, redefining user experiences. AI EYES, equipped with high-performance cameras, cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi, GPS, and a robust battery, offers an intuitive user interface based on the Android platform.

AI EYES significantly enhances convenience in daily life, maximizing practicality in various situations. For instance, through its personal assistant feature, users can manage schedules, make calls, and send text messages with voice commands. Additionally, the built-in AI camera automatically captures important moments, storing them in the cloud for convenient access anytime. These functionalities can be beneficial in diverse situations such as business meetings, childcare assistance, learning support for adolescents, healthcare monitoring and companionship for the elderly, and travel.

Playground actively seeks partnerships with global giants such as Samsung, Google, AWS, and SoftBank, engaging in talks for distribution collaborations with telecom companies worldwide. AI EYES are set to transcend smartphone limitations, offering users advanced connectivity and communication methods. The project goes beyond typical product development, delving into societal and cultural changes through AI and wearables, marking a notable milestone in technological progress.

Playground is actively seeking partnerships with global companies like Samsung, Google, AWS, and SoftBank, and is in discussions for distribution collaborations with telecommunications companies worldwide. AI EYES are expected to go beyond the limitations of smartphones, providing users with new connectivity and communication methods through its rich features and enhanced convenience.

Read more: Exo Iris: New Handheld AI-Powered Ultrasound System

Playground's AI EYES project goes beyond simple product development, exploring societal and cultural changes through the combination of AI and wearable technology. The launch of AI EYES is a significant milestone opening new horizons in technological advancement.

About Playground

Playground operates in various fields, including the development of artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, online game development, O2O platforms, and smartphone operating system development, providing an optimal experience for users.

In a world where vision loss and impairment affect millions, Ocutrx Technologies, Inc., a pioneer in augmented reality (AR) and 3D technology, has been recognized for its groundbreaking work. Today, Ocutrx announces its inclusion in Fast Company's third annual Next Big Things in Tech list, a prestigious accolade that honors technology breakthroughs with the potential to shape the future of industries and improve lives.

At the heart of Ocutrx's recognition is its latest innovation, OcuLenz, an AR/XR headset engineered to enhance visual clarity for individuals living with advanced macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in adults over 65. This innovative device represents a significant step forward in visual aid technology. User-friendly and lightweight, OcuLenz stands as a beacon of hope for those who need it most, employing advanced pixel manipulation to overlay high-contrast images onto the user's viable field of view.

"The Next Big Things in Tech is not just a look around the corner—it's a look around the corner after that," says Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. "These are the products and ideas that will define technological innovation for the rest of this decade and beyond—and solve some of the world's most pressing issues. We are thrilled to honor the organizations that are making them a reality."

Adding to its capabilities, the OcuLenz headset is designed for both functionality and mobility. Users can freely move and perform everyday tasks while wearing it, benefiting from its high resolution of 2.5K per eye and an extensive field of view. This transformative tool shifts the focus from impaired central vision to more effective peripheral vision, enhancing users' overall experience.

"What an incredible honor," said Michael Freeman, co-founder, CEO and CTO of Ocutrx. "Developing the OcuLenz headset was directly inspired by our father, Gen. Richard Freeman's, diagnosis with Advanced Macular Degeneration. His condition and indomitable spirit were the catalysts for our invention. This personal endeavor has evolved with the hope of helping millions more face similar visual challenges. Receiving this award is not only a recognition of our technological innovation but also a validation of our mission to significantly improve the quality of life for those affected by visual impairments."

Related: Mojo Vision Unveils Augmented Reality Contact Lens Prototype

About Fast Company

Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Brendan Vaughan. Fast Company is headquartered in New York City.

About OcuLenz

OcuLenz for AMD, Ocutrx Technologies' advanced AR headset, marks a major advancement in aiding those with advanced macular degeneration(AMD) and Stargardts (the juvenile form of AMD). This innovative device, rooted in personal experience and driven by compassion, is set to significantly enhance visual perception and quality of life for AMD sufferers. With its high-tech design utilizing pixel manipulation, high resolution, and a broad field of view, OcuLenz opens up a clearer, more vivid world, ensuring that the central vision loss characteristic of AMD no longer dictates the boundaries of a patient's world.

Pre-orders for the OcuLenz headset are now available on the Oculenz website.

About Ocutrx

Ocutrx Technologies, Inc., anchored in the US and Europe, he leads in AR/XR and 3D visualization, expanding its horizons across various industries. Founded by Michael and Mitch Freeman, two Emmy Award Winning Inventors of mobile video in the 1990s, the company emerged from a passion to tackle the adversities of Advanced Macular Degeneration.

Shotel Medical announced its Shotel Ankle Arthrodesis Nail System, which uses a novel device design to treat end-stage ankle arthritis. It was used in Florida for the first time in a procedure in Delray Beach last month. Two weeks post-operation, the patient was weight-bearing with the use of a CAM walker boot, a significant improvement from the six to eight weeks’ time to weight-bearing that traditional ankle arthrodesis systems deliver.

The patented Shotel Nail System, which is manufactured and distributed by BioPro Implants, differs from traditional ankle arthrodesis devices because its unique curved design allows for a minimally invasive approach with very small incisions. It is designed to achieve fusion at the tibiotalar joint while allowing unrestricted motion to remain at all other joints. This benefits the patient with faster healing, quicker recovery, and earlier time to weight bearing. End-stage ankle arthritis is increasingly common and can lead to notable physical disability. There are an estimated 50,000 new cases of ankle arthritis each year in the U.S.

"We designed our ankle fusion nail system so that patients have smaller incisions, which enables them to heal faster and return to function much earlier, giving them an enhanced quality of life. The improvement in time to weight bearing for the patient is meaningful," Christopher Weathers, Chief Commercial Officer, said. "We are thrilled to see our Shotel Nail System gaining traction among surgeons around the country. To date, 24 operations with it have been performed."

Kevin Palmer, DPM, double board-certified podiatric surgeon of Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL, who performed the procedure, said, "The patient presented with a progressively deteriorating ankle condition and pre-existing structurally compromised hardware. The novel design of the Shotel Nail System gave me confidence that it would be stable and hold up over the long term. During the procedure, after I removed the patient's current hardware, the Shotel Nail System went in smoothly, with a smaller incision, and a much less invasive approach than traditional ankle fusion systems. I also like that it provides several layers of compression, which is required across the fusion site to expedite healing.

Related: The Booming Market of Digital Musculoskeletal Care. What The Future Holds?

"I cannot emphasize enough how significant it is that the patient started walking at less than two weeks with a CAM walker boot," Dr. Palmer added. "This will be a game changer – and life-changing – for many patients going forward."

About Shotel Medical

Shotel Medical is the developer of the Shotel Ankle Arthrodesis Nail System, an entirely novel device that has the potential to transform patient care and significantly impact the healthcare landscape. Developed in conjunction with a team of biomechanical engineers, orthopedic surgeons and industry thought leaders, the device addresses the needs of patients with end-stage ankle arthritis. Its unique design provides patients with faster healing, an earlier return to function, and an improved quality of life compared to current treatment options. The company, founded in 2017, has offices in New Orleans and Atlanta.

Procyrion, Inc., a medical device company dedicated to improving outcomes for patients with cardiac and renal impairment, announced the enrollment of the first patients in the company's IDE pivotal trial. The DRAIN-HF (Diuretics Alone vs. Aortix Endovascular Device for Acute Heart Failure) study will evaluate the Aortix percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) technology in patients with acute decompensated heart failure(ADHF) who are unresponsive to standard medical therapy. The first patient in the randomized portion of the trial was enrolled by Bassem Chehab, MD, FACC, at the Ascension Via Christi Hospital.

"I am thrilled to enroll the first patient in this important trial. Today, there are no effective treatment options for patients with ADHF who remain congested despite being treated with high-dose intravenous diuretic therapy. These patients have very poor outcomes in terms of death and rehospitalization and therefore new therapy options are critically needed," stated Dr. Chehab.

The study also includes a registry for advanced heart failure patients who are end-stage and not considered to be surgical candidates for a heart transplant or left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant due to excessive fluid retention and poor kidney function. The first patient in the registry was enrolled at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan by Gillian Grafton, DO.

"The Aortix pump demonstrated promising results to help off-load fluid and improve kidney function. I am excited to be able to include the advanced heart failure patients in the trial," commented Dr. Grafton.

The DRAIN-HF pivotal trial (NCT05677100) is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Aortix pump compared to standard-of-care medical therapy including high-dose IV diuretics in patients hospitalized with ADHF who have persistent congestion and demonstrated diuretic resistance despite optimal medical management. The study will enroll up to 268 patients across 45 centers in the US and will include a randomized arm as well as a registry arm that will enroll patients who are targeted for a heart transplant or LVAD but are too sick to be considered for surgery. The company recently announced it has received CMS approval for Medicare coverage during the DRAIN-HF pivotal trial.

Approximately 25-30% of ADHF patients admitted to the hospital have cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) characterized by resistance to standard of care intravenous diuretic therapy1, where underlying heart failure leads to reduced blood flow to the kidneys, causing the kidneys to become less effective at removing excess fluid from the body. Effective treatment options for CRS are lacking, as evidenced by up to a 25% rate of heart failure hospitalization or mortality at 30 days2,3 for those patients who remained clinically congested after 96 hours of the standard of care medical therapy and were discharged from the hospital.

"The initiation of the DRAIN-HF pivotal study represents a major milestone in the company's commitment to make Aortix available for these acutely decompensated heart failure patients who have failed aggressive standard of care medical therapies," said Eric S. Fain, MD, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Procyrion. "We look forward to working with our investigators and research teams to advance the scientific evidence around this groundbreaking technology."

Read more: AI-Powered Stethoscope Detects Heart Disease

Aortix is a catheter-deployed pump that is placed in the descending thoracic aorta and designed to directly unload the heart and improve cardiac performance while increasing perfusion to the kidneys. In the CRS Pilot Study, which was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure, patients demonstrated rapid decongestion with substantial removal of excess fluid and improved hemodynamics, as well as significant improvements in kidney function, cardiac function, and patient-reported assessment of shortness of breath, sustained out to 30 days after treatment with the Aortix pump.

About Procyrion

Procyrion, Inc. is a privately held medical device company dedicated to providing effective treatment options for patients with cardiac and renal impairment. The company is developing the Aortix percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device, a catheter-deployed pump technology that uniquely harnesses fluid entrainment to pump blood to address multiple conditions with significant unmet needs. Aortix is limited by Federal law to investigational use only and is not approved for sale in any geography.

Lunit, a leading provider of AI-powered solutions for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, partners with NTT DATA Singapore to introduce Lunit INSIGHT CXR to Singapore's public healthcare system.

As part of the agreement, Lunit collaborated with CARPL to provide NTT DATA with Lunit INSIGHT CXR. NTT DATA then facilitated the software delivery to Synapxe, Singapore's national health-tech agency. This strategic collaboration aims to seamlessly integrate the solution into the clinical radiology workflow of Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and Changi General Hospital (CGH). Both are award-winning public hospitals with over 1,000 beds and are members of SingHealth, Singapore's largest group of public healthcare institutions.

With the introduction of Lunit INSIGHT CXR into the chest X-ray workflow, both hospitals aim to enhance the efficiency of chest screening while providing their patients with innovative medical services with improved accuracy.

AimSG Pilot Project

The AimSG pilot project is a collaboration amongst Synapxe, SingHealth, Lunit, NTT DATA, and its partners (DeepTek and CARPL), supported by Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) and Smart Nation Singapore. AimSG allows public healthcare institutions to integrate AI imaging solutions, like Lunit INSIGHT CXR, seamlessly into their existing clinical radiology workflow, enhancing medical professionals' diagnostic capabilities and efficiency.

"The AimSG platform is an enabler that aims to accelerate Singapore public healthcare institutions to validate and deploy credible AI imaging models in a complex healthcare technology landscape. Such an AI model may be developed within the Singapore healthcare ecosystem or selected from industry partners. AimSG is an open and vendor-neutral platform that will serve multiple use cases that apply AI to clinical images, such as chest X-ray, mammogram, cardiac CT, and more," said Glenn Neo, Head of Innovation Capabilities Enablement, Synapxe.

Read more: Clarius Awarded for Wireless Ultrasound

"The AimSG platform enables clinicians from public healthcare institutions to deploy AI algorithms to help them deliver better healthcare to the population. This will enhance our efforts to enable the '3Ps'of Preventive, Predictive, and Personalized medicine," said Dr. Charlene Liew, Director of Innovation, SingHealth Duke-NUS Radiological Sciences Academic Clinical Programme and Deputy Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Changi General Hospital.

"Harnessing AI solutions through the AimSG platform and integrating the AI directly into the clinical workflow can potentially advance our ability to enhance the interpretation and diagnosis of chest diseases for patients. This holds the potential to facilitate and expedite patient care while minimizing the strain on the healthcare workforce," said Dr Chan LaiPeng, Academic Vice-chair of Clinical Service Operations, SingHealth Duke-NUSRadiological Sciences Academic Clinical Programme and Head of Diagnostic Radiology, Singapore General Hospital.

"Taking part in the AimSG project and collaborating with our partners to bring Lunit INSIGHT CXR to Singapore's public healthcare system is a significant step in our mission to advance the cancer care landscape worldwide," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Considering Singapore's position as the primary destination for medical AI companies in Southeast Asia and the largest contributor to the market in the region, this collaboration holds immense potential. It will not only bring significant benefits to Singapore but also pave the way for us to tap into the broader Southeast Asian market."

About Lunit

Founded in 2013, Lunit is a deep learning-based medical AI company on a mission to conquer cancer. We are committed to harnessing AI to ensure accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment for each cancer patient using AI-powered medical image analytics and AI biomarkers.

Clarius Mobile Health has been awarded a Technology Breakthrough Designation in the Ultrasound contract category with Premier, Inc. Effective December 1, 2023, the new agreement allows Premier members, at their discretion, to take advantage of special pricing and terms pre-negotiated by Premier for Clarius technology.

Premier offers Breakthrough Technology designations to innovations that offer a major advantage in terms of patient safety, clinical outcomes, and operational efficiencies. Clarius proved to provide these benefits to Premier members with their broad range of specialty-focused ultrasound scanners, market-leading AI applications, and best-in-class image quality.

"Being awarded Premier's Technology Breakthrough is an important step towards achieving our mission to put accurate, easy-to-use, and affordable ultrasound into the hands of every clinician," says Clarius President and Chief Executive Officer Ohad Arazi. "Point-of-care ultrasound is a critical tool for achieving the quadruple aim in healthcare and Clarius is the ideal portable device for rapid diagnoses and safe ultrasound-guided treatments. We look forward to supporting Premier members in providing the best patient experience, improving health outcomes, enhancing clinician satisfaction, and ultimately reducing healthcare costs."

Powered by artificial intelligence and designed to work wirelessly with current iOS and Android devices, Clarius has miniaturized diagnostic quality ultrasound to the size of a smartphone for ultra portability from patient to patient throughout the hospital. Only Clarius offers a comprehensive line of wireless scanners and advanced specialty packages designed to deliver superior imaging for an extensive range of clinical applications.

‍For emergency medicine, critical care, anesthesia, internal medicine, and nursing, the Clarius PAL HD3 dual-array(phased plus linear) scanner delivers high-resolution imaging of superficial and deep anatomy delivering versatile whole-body imaging.

‍For obstetrics and gynecology, labor and delivery, and urology, the Clarius C3 HD3 convex and Clarius EC7 HD3endocavity scanners offer a complete ultraportable solution.

‍‍For physiatry, orthopedic surgery, pain management, and rheumatology, clinicians can choose from three linear scanners, the Clarius L15 HD3, Clarius L7 HD3, and Clarius L20 HD3, with the Clarius C3 HD3 convex for deeper hip and spine imaging.

 For pediatric ultrasound, the Clarius C7HD3 offers high-resolution, high-frame-rate imaging clearly down to 18 cm.

"In addition to the actual quality of the image, you're getting it wirelessly. It's on par with any corded device I have," says orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Alan Hirahara. "For me, being able to bring it into the operating room and pop it into a bag that's sterile is so much better than having a cord that could be prone to contaminating the surgical field. And you can place your monitor anywhere because you're not tethered by a cord."

Related: Wireless Handheld Whole-Body Ultrasound Scanner

Premier is a leading healthcare improvement company, uniting an alliance of approximately 4,300 U.S. hospitals and 300,000 other providers to transform healthcare. With integrated data and analytics, collaboratives, supply chain solutions, consulting, and other services, Premier enables better care and outcomes at a lower cost.

About Clarius

Clarius is on a mission to make accurate, easy-to-use, and affordable ultrasound tools available to all medical professionals in every specialty. With decades of experience in medical imaging, the team knows that great ultrasound imaging improves confidence and patient care. Today, Clarius handheld wireless ultrasound scanners connect to iOS and Android devices, delivering high-resolution ultrasound images traditionally only available with bulkier, high-end systems at a fraction of the cost.

Emeryville, California-based Eko Health is implementing an initiative headed by Imperial College London to distribute its stethoscopes with artificial intelligence to primary care practitioners around the United Kingdom.

TRICORDER, a National Institute for Health and Care Research(NIHR) funded implementation program led by researchers at Imperial College London, will deploy Eko's AI-enabled technology (marketed in the U.S. as SENSORA™) to primary care practices across the UK. This novel implementation will assist clinicians in their evaluation of heart failure (HF), valvular heart disease (VHD), and atrial fibrillation (AFib), ultimately serving as an AI-enabled clinical decision support tool for echocardiogram referrals.  

The team at Imperial College London will deploy Eko's technology to 100 General Practitioner (GP) practices across the UK. Patients visiting their GP will receive a brief, non-invasive cardiac exam. The exam uses an Eko digital stethoscope and app powered by the company's AI. When Eko's AI detects possible signs of cardiac disease, the GP can rapidly initiate further tests and potentially life-saving treatments. The current gold standard to detect heart failure is a blood test (NT-proBNP) that when ordered alone, initiates a long pathway that often fails to achieve early diagnosis and treatment in those who need it most. This novel deployment could improve heart disease outcomes for millions of people in communities across the UK.        

"Heart failure admission alone costs the UK over £2 billion annually, and an unacceptable 80% of these diagnoses are made during emergency admissions," said Dr. Nicholas Peters, Professor of Cardiology, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and the clinical-academic implementation team lead. Co-investigators Dr. Patrik Bächtiger and Dr. Mihir Kelshiker commented, "TRICORDER is a system-wide implementation of Eko's clinically effective AI technology. Implementing this tool in primary care could save the health payer system £2,400 per patient, eliminating the potential need for an emergency room visit."

"This deployment around the UK of our AI-enabled heart disease detection technology demonstrates the need for accurate and early heart disease detection," said Connor Landgraf, Co-founder and CEO of Eko Health. "We're proud to partner with leading academic institutions such as Imperial College London to validate the clinical utility and positive impact our technology has on the lives of millions of patients."

Related: Verily and iRhythm Deliver AFib Detecting Zio Watch

Eko's AI-enabled technology pairs a digital stethoscope with an electrocardiogram (ECG) to advanced machine learning algorithms that analyze ECG and heart sound data. TRICORDER utilizes clinically validated algorithms that detect reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) indicative of heart failure, structural murmurs indicative of valvular heart disease, and atrial fibrillation. The algorithms will empower clinicians to make more confident decisions for their patients' heart health.

• Eko's HFrEF algorithm has been independently validated to achieve a detection sensitivity and specificity approaching 80%.
• Eko's structural murmur algorithm was validated in a real-world evidence study presented at the 2023 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions (Abstract 306), which found that the algorithm has more than doubled the detection of valvular heart disease compared to the standard method by primary care professionals, 94.1% vs. 41.2%.
• Eko's atrial fibrillation detection algorithm has been clinically validated to perform at 100% sensitivity and 96.2% specificity.

Eko's AI-enabled technology is commercially available in the U.S. and marketed to health systems as SENSORA™. The company's algorithm for HFrEF detection is undergoing U.S. FDA review for 510(k) clearance with the intent to market under SENSORA™ once 510(k) is obtained. U.S.-based health systems interested in learning more about SENSORA™ can visitekosensora.com.  

About Eko Health

Eko Health, Inc. is a leading digital health company advancing how healthcare professionals detect and monitor heart and lung disease with its portfolio of digital stethoscopes and AI detection platform, SENSORA™. The company's FDA-cleared technologies are used by hundreds of thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide.

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, one company stands out for its groundbreaking work in the field of mental health. Flow Neuroscience, with its mission to make everyone feel better and live healthier, is spearheading an innovative solution to address the pressing issue of depression.

Unlocking the Science of the Brain

The core belief at Flow Neuroscience is that understanding the science of the brain is paramount to unraveling the complexities of mental health. Their vision is to simplify and make depression treatment accessible to everyone, anywhere, through a groundbreaking solution named Flow.

The Flow Method: Science Meets Technology

Depression often manifests with lower levels of activity in the frontal area of the brain, responsible for regulating mood, sleep, and motivation. Flow employs a revolutionary technology called transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to send gentle electrical impulses into the affected brain area. This stimulation jumpstarts cellular activity, effectively reducing symptoms of depression.

Previously, tDCS treatment was confined to clinics and came with a hefty price tag. Flow has democratized this technology, enabling users to access the treatment from the comfort of their homes.

Scientific Backing: Twice as Effective as Antidepressants

Flow's claims are backed by a robust clinical trial, the gold standard in scientific research. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, Flow emerged as twice as effective as the 21 best-selling antidepressants. This remarkable result is measured using an 'odds ratio,' a standardized method of comparing results across trials.

Moreover, the safety and efficacy of tDCS are supported by over 30 clinical trials, with the NHS endorsing tDCS as a legitimate treatment for depression on their official website.

Flow distinguishes itself from conventional depression therapies with many significant advantages:

‍No major adverse Effects from Medication: Unlike conventional antidepressants, Flow's non-invasive tDCS approach has no documented major adverse effects. This is a notable divergence from the 50% of antidepressant users who claim suicidality and the 60% who experience at least ten negative side effects.‍

Quick Results: Flow doesn't require appointments or waiting lists. You can start the treatment immediately from the comfort of your home. Within three weeks, an astounding 88% of customers report observable changes.‍

Money-Back Promise: Recognizing that there isn't a single solution that works for everyone, Flow provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. If consumers do not see the anticipated benefits, the business offers a refund with no questions asked.

‍

Future Outlook

Flow Neuroscience's commitment to leveraging science and technology to address mental health issues is not just innovative; it's transformative. By making depression treatment accessible, fast, and safe, Flow is carving a path toward a future where mental health solutions are as commonplace and accessible as any other form of healthcare.

In a world where mental health awareness is on the rise, Flow Neuroscience's pioneering work marks it as the Innovation of the Month, setting a new standard for the industry and offering hope to millions seeking effective, side-effect-free depression treatment.

Masimo announced that its Masimo W1 medical watch has received FDA 510(k) clearance for over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription use(Rx). Masimo W1 is the first FDA-cleared watch to provide continuous real-time oxygen saturation (SpO2) and pulse rate (PR) for OTC and Rx use. The FDA clearance expands the indications for the Masimo W1 in the U.S. as a medical devic­­­e for use by adults in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and in the home. Developed to be comfortable and lifestyle-friendly, the MasimoW1 medical watch empowers users with untethered continuous pulse oximetry as they move about their lives – no matter where they are.

The clinical power of the Masimo W1 comes from its integrated Masimo MW-1 sensor, hardware, and software module, which incorporates over 30 years of Signal Extraction Technology® pulse oximetry knowledge into a single wearable module. It has an integrated optical sensor and electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode pads that can be used to detect physiological signals. The Masimo MW-1 module also processes these signals using Masimo’s proprietary signal processing algorithms to output high-resolution SpO2, PR, perfusion index (Pi), and heart rate (HR) from an ECG. The continuous pulse oximetry data, under the care of a physician, can give greater visibility of changes in oxygen saturation to help patients better manage their oxygen levels daily. Managing oxygen levels can be prescribed for recovery after surgery, managing chronic breathing conditions (e.g. COPD), and for patients with congenital heart failure (CHF).

The continuous data from the Masimo MW-1 module is displayed in real-time on the Masimo W1 watch touchscreen in an easy-to-interpret format. To help individuals identify low oxygen saturation, high pulse rate, or low pulse rate, the SpO2 and PR values are displayed in red when they fall outside of their normal ranges.

Joe Kiani, Founder and CEO of Masimo, said, “Clinicians at numerous prestigious institutions in Europe and the Middle East are already using Masimo W1 in a variety of innovative ways. For example, Cambridge University Hospitals in England is using it to expand its Virtual Health program to support more confident patient discharge. The Department of Anesthesiology at CHUV in Lausanne, Switzerland is using Masimo W1 on preoperative patients, to help anesthesiologists better understand the physiology and areas to improve for each patient they care for in the hospital, prior to surgery. We are excited about the hospital-to-home innovations the Masimo W1 can bring to the U.S., with this FDA clearance, and the empowerment of patients at home.”

Related: World's First Health Tracker Powered by the User

The Masimo W1 and the integrated Masimo MW-1 module are also intended for the spot-checking of functional oxygen saturation of arterial hemoglobin (SpO2) and pulse rate (PR). The Masimo W1 and the integrated MasimoMW-1 Module are indicated for adults in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and homes.

About Masimo

Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) is a global medical technology company that develops and produces a wide array of industry-leading monitoring technologies, including innovative measurements, sensors, patient monitors, and automation and connectivity solutions. In addition, Masimo Consumer Audio is home to eight legendary audio brands, including Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Marantz, and Polk Audio.

People who want to keep an eye on their health parameters while they're out and about will probably put on a fitness tracker or wristwatch. For those who want a more straightforward choice, a wearable company Omate has recently introduced the Ice Ring in Europe. The wearable device is now available at Louis Pion and jewelry shops all across Europe.

The Ice Ring is a stylish and sophisticated wearable device that seamlessly integrates advanced health monitoring features into a sleek and compact design. Eight years after the Omate x Ungaro smart ring, Omate comes back with the Ice Ring, a new wearable design with state-of-the-art sensors and comprehensive monitoring apps.

The Ice Ring provides users with real-time insights and personalized feedback on their vital health metrics, enabling them to make informed decisions about their well-being.

Key Features

Comprehensive Health Monitoring: The Ice Ring monitors vital health metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen, activity and stress levels, providing users with a holistic view of their well-being.

The Ice Ring can also remind you to engage in physical activity and get medical assistance based on your personalized settings such as a reminder to move and a heart rate level alert.

Sleep Analysis: With advanced sleep analysis capabilities, the Ice Ring tracks the 4 sleep stages (Awake/Deep/Light/REM), providing users with actionable insights to improve their sleep quality and overall restfulness.

The ring provides a sleep quality score every morning according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) that considers both the duration of the sleep and the quality of the recovery as well as key biometrics from the user’s health data, helping you set achievable goals and make positive lifestyle changes.

Related: Oura Ring Launches Period Prediction and Educational Content

Fitness Center: Track your biometric data with real-time information to keep you informed about your performances when you are running, hiking, cycling, and swimming. You can also use GPS through the Ice Ring app to record your map and distances. Data are only stored locally in your phone. The Ice Ring does not collect any health and location data.

Stylish Design: Technology is what you carry, fashion is what you wear. The Ice Ring features a sleek and fashionable design, made of titanium. It is available in 6 sizes and 3 colors (Gold, Silver, and SpaceBlack) to suit individual preferences.

By analyzing different metrics, the Ice Ring offers personalized suggestions for improving sleep, managing stress, and optimizing daily routines.

All this valuable information is easily accessible via the IceRing app, allowing users to take control of their health and lifestyle choices.

Brainomix, the AI-powered medtech solutions company, has continued US expansion with the launch of its full suite of FDA-cleared modules in its Brainomix 360 platform for stroke care.

The US launch, which included its previously announced FDA-cleared e-ASPECTS module, represents a comprehensive platform designed to support clinicians and their imaging-based treatment decisions at all points across the stroke pathway, from simple imaging to more advanced imaging.

Long established as a market leader in Europe and a pioneer in the development of innovative stroke AI solutions, the company will continue to introduce its transformative technology to more US stroke centers.

The Brainomix 360 platform is powered by state-of-the-art AI algorithms that provide real-time interpretation of brain scans to aid treatment and transfer decisions for stroke patients, with an aim towards enabling more patients to receive the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time.

The launch included Brainomix exhibiting at the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN) Conference in Miami, with Dr. Waleed Brinjikji, Professor of Radiology and Neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, providing a keynote presentation on his experience with the Brainomix360 platform.

"We have been collaborating with the Brainomix team around numerous research projects over the past couple of years, including a recent study that validated the performance of their e-ASPECTS module," noted Dr Brinjikji. "The results showed that the accuracy of ASPECTS scoring by physicians improved across disciplines and levels of experience, which makes the e-ASPECTS module a powerful tool for clinicians across the US who are managing stroke patients."

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to introduce our Brainomix 360 platform to more and more US stroke networks, and to showcase the extensive validation of our technology, a good portion of which was conducted in the US at such institutions as the Mayo Clinic, Emory University, Mount Sinai in New York, and UCLA," said Dr. Michalis Papadakis, co-founder and CEO of Brainomix.

The recent FDA clearances included Brainomix 360 e-CTP and Brainomix 360 e-MRI, both software modules that can support thrombolysis and thrombectomy treatment decisions, particularly for late-window patients who present to the hospital more than 6-12 hours after stroke onset.

Brainomix 360 Triage LVO and Brainomix 360 Triage ICH are two new notification tools, which send real-time alerts to clinicians when a bleed or large vessel occlusion (LVO) is suspected. The presence of LVO can be a key determinant when deciding a patient's eligibility for mechanical thrombectomy.

Related: MIT Researchers Develop Touch-Sensing Glove That May Help In Stroke Recovery

Brainomix has established commercial operations in the US and will continue to expand as it rolls out its products across US hospital networks. The company announced the FDA clearance of its e-ASPECTS module in March 2023, its flagship software that is powered by patented, explainable AIto assesses non-contrast CT scans to automatically generate an ASPECTS score and features a unique overlaid heatmap that enables a more nuanced assessment of each region.

With deployments across more than 30 countries, Brainomix'sAI stroke software has been studied and validated in more than 60 publications, including a set of recent studies showing that the implementation of Brainomixsoftware enabled faster treatment by reducing door-in-door-out times by more than one hour, and improved patient outcomes by tripling the number of patients achieving functional independence after stroke,1 while also increasing the rates of both thrombolysis and thrombectomy by more than 50%.2

About Brainomix

Brainomix specializes in the creation of AI-powered software solutions to enable precision medicine for better treatment decisions in stroke, lung fibrosis, and cancer. With origins as a spin-out from the University of Oxford, Brainomix is an expanding commercial-stage company with operations in the UK, Ireland, and the USA. A private company, backed by leading health tech investors, Brainomix has innovated award-winning imaging biomarker and software solutions that have been used in more than 30 countries worldwide.

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The largest names in virtual reality are introducing their newest models of mixed reality (MR) headsets, emphasizing on lighter, more compact designs with remarkable spatial computing power.

People's work and play patterns are being permanently altered by the adoption of XR technologies by an ever-expanding range of companies and users as the extended reality (XR) ecosystem grows.

Mixed reality headsets have been used by businesses like Google and Lowe's to let customers play games, retail staff work together in immersive 3D representations of stores, and medical professionals simulate the human body to find new drugs and enhance surgery planning, reports XRToday.

Although the use of virtual reality in business and consumer-oriented organizations is not new, recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) such as speech recognition, computer vision, and AI assistants have made it possible for small, lightweight devices to provide seamless mixed reality, photorealistic immersion, and interaction.

The Potent Pair

As the industry works to get from a niche-like 20 million gadgets sold to placing a device on the head of every adult in a family, AI and XR go hand in hand.

AI speeds up rendering so that it can reach the high framerates and high resolution needed for smooth immersion. Companies all around the world are using augmented reality (AR), which offers a simple, approachable way to engage with virtual material, to recognize and monitor real-world things.

Among these is Medicalholodeck, a virtual reality platform for medical teamwork and collaboration. It streams 3D medical imaging content to headsets without a tether by utilizing integrated AI and GPU capability.

Related: Partnership to Develop Premier Metaverse Experiences

Doctors now have access to features like preoperative planning, real-time CT and MRI scan reconstruction, and medical education on an XR headset thanks to new cloud rendering technologies.

By utilizing these virtual experiences, surgeons can reduce the amount of time and effort needed to import or modify hospital facilities prior to starting complex procedures, improving their readiness for operations.

Teams can also communicate and work together electronically to coordinate and receive training on surgical techniques. AI and XR's combined capability is expected to revolutionize medicine by expediting surgical training and preparation for international health professionals.

The Future

The next great step will be characterized by a wider distribution of amazing XR experiences, which will incorporate AI assistants to help people create in the virtual world and build and play in the real world AI and XR are already a powerful dynamic combo.

Everyone will be able to use digital assistants to access generative AI, which will allow them to add intricate 3D models, breathtaking, expansive settings, and even fully articulated, interactive 3D characters to their virtual worlds on demand. The applications of generative artificial intelligence AI to XR are virtually endless.

Digital experiences will be powered by the new trends of enhanced XR and potent AI helpers, which will also impact other industries like manufacturing and virtual production. As the XR market's user base keeps growing, significant advancements have been made in areas like eliminating the headset cord and moving VR to the cloud.

Users' communal realities are growing beyond what was previously feasible because they are no longer limited to a single, designated place. Businesses may take advantage of the latest advancements in VR, AR, and AI to establish a presence in the expanding ecosystem, whether they choose to use XR for e-commerce or invest in it for educational purposes.

Humane, a startup founded by former Apple executives Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, has unveiled the AI pin, an apparel-adhesive wearable gadget. The AI pin offers a variety of functionalities by utilizing projectors, sensors, and AI technology. It is a small, lightweight, wearable gadget without a screen. The AI pin can control other devices and offer contextual information by using cameras, microphones, and accelerometers.

“AI Pin is the embodiment of our vision to integrate AI into the fabric of daily life, enhancing our capabilities without overshadowing our humanity,” the startup’s founders said in a release. “We are proud to finally unveil what we and the team at Humane have been working on for the past four years. For us, AI Pin is just the beginning.”

The Ai Pin can be tapped to talk to a virtual assistant powered by technologies from ChatGPT-creator OpenAI and cloud computing power from Microsoft. It uses a laser projection system to display text and monochromatic images on a user's hand, reports Reuters.

The device does not have a screen but there is a touchpad. Moreover, the pin responds to motions. The Ai Pin is made to be used independently of a tethered smartphone, in contrast to the plethora of other items that claim to be able to free us from our addiction to screens. This is accomplished by the use of a T-Mobile-based Humane-branded wireless network.

The Laser Ink Display, which replaces the touchscreen with a projection of text, such as an incoming call, is by far the most visually fascinating component of this setup.

When the built-in speaker and camera on the AI Pin are activated, a light will flash. Humane's web app allows you to watch the photo or video that is taken when you double-tap the pin.

Read more: Motorola’s New Bendable, Wearable Phone

According to the presentation, the device can translate spoken conversations from Spanish to English and vice versa in real-time in addition to sending and receiving texts.

Instead of downloading apps, users can use the internet to access AI services. According to the corporation, AI services are being contributed by Microsoft, Google, Open AI, and other businesses. Clients can ask for information or to "play songs," and huge language models will respond. To access music, you must have a Tidal subscription.

The assistant on the gadget can also provide a summary of the user's daily schedule, messages received, and health information like how much protein they've had today.

The AI pin costs $699. In addition to the upfront cost of the device, customers will have to pay a $24 monthly data subscription toT-Mobile, the company said. Having a separate phone number means that, unlike smart watches, the pin isn’t tethered to a smartphone.

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A respiratory patient's COPD flare-up can have extremely detrimental effects, sometimes even leading to death. A California-based startup Samay announced a new wearable that detects such exacerbations early.

Dubbed Sylvee, the wearable is affixed to the patient's chest, where it tracks the patient's lungs' acoustic resonance while they go about their regular lives. The device is named after CEO Dr. Maria Artunduaga's grandmother, Sylvia, who died of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)complications.

Sylvee is connected wirelessly to a companion app on the user's tablet or smartphone, which analyzes the received signal using artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithms.

Read more: Flexible, Antibacterial Conductive Hydrogel-ePatch for Accelerated Wound Healing

“Our platform continuously captures pulmonary function data, including early COPD diagnostic biomarkers and predictors of exacerbations,” said Samay founder and CEO Maria Artunduaga.

Sylvee ‘injects’ noise into the lungs and then measures the sound produced. If there is air trapped in the lung, the sound it generates differs from the resonance of sound created when air is totally released from the lungs, similar to a thud on a drum. The key and early indication of respiratory deterioration is air trapping. The Sylvee app analyzes the results using DSP (digital signal processing) and AI, which pulmonologists and primary care physicians can assess, focusing on lung volume, capacity, flow rates, and trapped air, reports Innovation Village.

“Well-established science reveals that air trapping can be assessed with over 90% accuracy using low-frequency sound,” stated Dr. Artunduaga.“The acoustic resonance spectra of COPD patients and healthy controls show a significant difference. With over 100 million Americans suffering from COPD, COVID-19, and asthma, and an aging population, it can be lifesaving to remotely and properly monitor lung function and detect a problem early enough to prevent fatal repercussions. Our goal is to detect irregularities early, allowing patients to receive therapy at home sooner and empowering them to manage their own health.”

In a recent study, Sylvee detected air trapping by measuring differences in residual volume (RV) and total lung capacity (TLC) with 83%accuracy compared to pulmonary function tests (PFT) in hospital settings.

A Scottish company, Jomarg Innovation Ltd, has just launched an Indiegogo Campaign this month, featuring its one-of-a-kind, patented, foot exercise and strengthening system. The Novabow System, is a ground-breaking device packed with innovative technology that allows the foot muscles to be strengthened and foot tissues mobilized, in ways that have not been possible before now.

Most people who wear modern shoes have feet that only operate at 50-60% of their natural strength levels. Correcting this weakness can improve an athlete's performance and help people avoid injury. Astonishingly, a recent study showed that strengthening the foot can reduce the risk of running injuries by more than half.

The Novabow System has been the subject of a scientific study at Edinburgh Napier University where it was proven to effectively strengthen the foot, and a second pilot study at Stirling University demonstrated that the patented Novabow also exercises vital muscles around the ankle such as the tibialis anterior muscle which is found at the front of calf raises.

Furthermore, the Novabow has been trialled by Olympian, Chris Bennett. Chris, a hammer thrower, and a very powerful athlete was suffering from chronic pain in his knees and his lower back. After using the device this pain was eliminated but then returned when he stopped using the device. He started using it again, the pain went, and he has used it daily ever since.

" I wish I'd had the Novabow System all along. It's absolutely amazing".

                      (Chris Bennett, Olympic Athlete)

The Novabow has also been trialed by Charlie Fox, a professional footballer. Charlie had always suffered from painful feet and ankles but found the Novabow a revelation.

"I have always struggled with foot and ankle pain as a result of the demands of my sport. I never used to condition these areas, I had always thought calf raises and single-leg balance work would be enough. After suffering a fracture in my foot last season, Gerry gave me a Novabow to try. The difference has amazed me. My feet feel so much stronger and more robust. The chronic pain in my ankles and calf muscles has now subsided" (CharlieFox, professional footballer)  

As well as helping to prevent injury through its unique strengthening method the Novabow system also includes a new, patent-pending, stretching, and mobility feature.

The foot has 26 bones, and these must be able to move relative to each other for the foot to work properly. Several conditions can cause foot mobility to be reduced which stops the foot from moving properly and using the Novabow can help restore this mobility.

Related: In-Shoe Foot Function and Gait Analysis System

Simple to use even whilst seated watching TV, lightweight, easy to store and transport... the Novabow is an ideal tool for prehab, rehab, improved performance, and injury prevention.

Future research may look at the Novabow as a tool for helping to treat the diabetic foot since studies have shown that supervised foot exercises can help reverse diabetes-related foot weakness, neuropathy, and circulatory problems.

About Jomarg Innovation

Jomarg Innovation Ltd is a company based in Glasgow, UK. Founded in 2010 it has invented, patented, and refined a highly innovative foot exercise and strengthen system that is to be marketed Worldwide.    

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MIT researchers have designed a wearable ultrasound monitor, in the form of a patch, that can image organs within the body without the need for an ultrasound operator or application of gel.

The researchers demonstrated that their patch can precisely scan the bladder and measure its fullness in a recent study. According to the researchers, this could make it easier for people with kidney or bladder problems to monitor whether these organs are operating normally.

By relocating the ultrasonic array and adjusting the signal's frequency, this method might also be used to monitor other organs inside the body. These gadgets have the potential to facilitate the early diagnosis of malignancies, such as ovarian cancer, that originate deep within the body.

“This technology is versatile and can be used not only on the bladder but any deep tissue of the body,” said Canan Dagdeviren, the study’s corresponding author. “It’s a novel platform that can do identification and characterization of many of the diseases that we carry in our body.”

The researchers focused on a bladder ultrasound because they were partly inspired by Dagdeviren’s younger brother, who’d been diagnosed with kidney cancer a few years ago. Since having a kidney removed, he’d had difficulty fully emptying his bladder, reports NewAtlas.

“Millions of people are suffering from bladder dysfunction and related diseases, and not surprisingly, bladder volume monitoring is an effective way to assess your kidney health and wellness,” Dagdeviren said.

A flexible silicone rubber patch embedded with five ultrasound arrays made of a novel piezoelectric material that the researchers created specifically for the device is called the conformable ultrasound bladder patch, or cUSB-Patch. The new material, called Sm/La-PMN-PT, is a samarium/lanthanum-doped blend of lead titanate and lead magnesium niobate ceramics.

Because of the arrays' X-shaped arrangement, there is a wide field of view. In this instance, the entire bladder—which measures roughly 4.7 by 3.1 in. (12 by 8 cm) when full—could be imaged by the gadget. The patch is simple to attach and remove because it is inherently adhesive and gently sticks to the skin. Leggings or underpants might keep it in place more firmly.

Related: Non-Invasive Bladder Control Therapy Device

Twenty individuals with a range of BMIs, ages 18 to 64, were used by the researchers to test the cUSB-Patch's capacity to assess bladder volume. Before being photographed with their bladders fully, partially, and empty, the patients' bladders were first filled. No matter the patient's BMI, the cUSB-Patch produced images that were equivalent to those obtained with a traditional ultrasound probe.

The device's wide field of view eliminated the requirement for gel and the need for pressure, which would have been necessary with a traditional ultrasonic transducer. The researchers linked the conventional ultrasound machine to their ultrasound arrays in order to view the images captured with the cUSB-Patch. They are developing a small gadget that might be used to see the photographs; it is roughly the size of a smartphone.

The goal of the research is to create ultrasonography equipment that can image other organs such as the liver, pancreas, or ovaries. Because each organ is located at a different depth, the ultrasound signal's frequency would need to be changed, requiring the use of new piezoelectric materials.

“For whatever organ that we need to visualize, we go back to the first step, select the right materials, come up with the right device design, and then fabricate everything accordingly before testing the device and performing clinical trials,” said Dagdeviren.

The study was published in the journal Nature Electronics.

Avation Medical, an innovative neuromodulation and digital health company with a mission to make wearable peripheral neuromodulation accessible to patients across a variety of clinical conditions, today announced the publication of safety and efficacy results from a multicenter study, "FREEOAB", for its novel Vivally System in Urology, a leading, peer–reviewed journal for urologists.

"The Vivally System represents a significant advancement in bladder control therapy as a non-invasive, patient-centered therapy providing patients with effective treatment, performed in the home, without the need for surgery or drugs," said Dr. Colin Goudelocke, Principal Investigator for the FREEOAB Study. "In our study, significant reductions in symptom burden were observed at 12 weeks which, notably, persisted out to 12 months, even with a reduction in the frequency of therapy sessions."

"Physician and patient response to Vivally has been overwhelmingly positive. Vivally will bring meaningful relief to millions of patients seeking treatment for symptoms of OAB that do not want the risks of surgery, or the side effects of drug therapies," said Avation CEO, Jill Schiaparelli. "We are grateful to the investigators and patients that participated in the study for helping us bring the Vivally System to market."

The Vivally System is a non-invasive bladder control therapy device and companion mobile application to treat patients with urge urinary incontinence (UUI) and urinary urgency caused by OAB, without the need for surgery, drugs, or needle-electrodes. Vivally is the only non-invasive, wearable neuromodulation system for bladder control with personalized calibration and automated closed-loop adjustment through electromyographic (EMG) monitoring cleared for sale in the United States. Worn on the ankle, Vivally is used at home with therapy sessions lasting only 30 minutes, as little as once per week.

Results of the FREEOAB Study demonstrated significant reductions in three-day diary parameters for the daily void, incontinence, and urgency episodes at 12 weeks. Quality of life (QOL) measures exceeded the minimal clinically important difference in all questionnaires. Long-term efficacy results remained robust at 12 months, with sustained improvement in diary parameters. Device-related adverse events were mild and there were no device-related significant adverse events. Mean therapy compliance at 12 weeks was 88.5%. High satisfaction rates were also reported for the device overall, including device ease of use.

Vivally is FDA-cleared and available by prescription in select geographies in the United States.

Read more: Positive Results for Theranicas Neuromodulation Device

About Avation Medical and the Vivally System

Avation Medical is an innovative neuromodulation and digital health company with a mission to make wearable peripheral neuromodulation accessible to patients across a variety of clinical conditions. The Company's Vivally System combines a patient-friendly, closed-loop neuromodulation system with a companion mobile application, offering a comprehensive therapy and support system. Prescribed by a clinician, the Company's smart ankle wearable objectively confirms activation of the target nerve, sets a personalized therapeutic range for each patient, and delivers clinically effective therapy in just 30 minutes as little as once per week. Vivally is FDA-cleared to treat the conditions of urinary incontinence and urinary urge caused by overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome.