Advanced prosthetic limbs: Leveling the playing field for amputee athletes

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Prosthetics, artificial devices that take the place of a missing limb or an injured body part, have been used since Ancient Egypt and Greece. The earliest prosthetic limbs were simple affairs, often made of wood or iron, and had limited to no functionality other than to fill the space.

Prosthetic limbs have come a long way since then. Advances in biomedical engineering have made them lighter and stronger, with joints and moving parts that allowed for articulation and more natural movement.

Today's prosthetic limbs help amputees perform daily tasks and regain their quality of life. They also allow amputee athletes to accomplish great things in their sport and to compete on the same level as able-bodied athletes.

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In 2014, Markus Rehm, a German Paralympic long jumper who competes in the F44 class, became the first athlete with disabilities to compete in the German national championships and win the long jump event by leaping 8.24 meters. Rehm uses Össur prosthetic blades, similar to the ones used by sprinter Oscar Pistorius, who was allowed to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics after a protracted legal battle.

Advanced prosthetic limbs work so well that there are concerns as to whether they provided an unfair advantage to athletes with disabilities. However, a study has shown that while modern prosthetic blades carry benefits to wearers such as increased speed, faster leg turnover, and longer strides, they also diminish energy returns on the disabled athlete by about 90 percent, compared to the energy return of an able-bodied leg and foot (249 percent).

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Rehm, in an interview with The New York Times, stated, “People want to say the blade gives me an advantage. They forget that the blade is just helping me replace the leg that I lost.”

In the future, through more advances in the science of prosthetics, the debates could become more heated. For now, sports federations are faced with the task of determining whether prosthetic limbs do more than level the playing field for amputee athletes, and whether they should be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes.

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Smartphone-connected devices and the future of medicine

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Smartphones have become ubiquitous in today’s society with most people relying on their mobile devices to always stay connected and online. What if, however, these devices could be used for so much more? What if they became part of the tools that doctors have in order to monitor their patients and provide treatments for some conditions?

Advancements in medicine and technology may soon make this thought a reality. Already there are many applications being developed to turn smartphones into devices that can help monitor a person’s vital signs.

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In envisioning the future of medicine, some experts argue that decentralization is the way into the future. People may soon have gadgets at their disposal to check and monitor their health and send the data to their doctors easily. This setup will require less patient visits to medical centers for routine checkups while vastly improving the delivery of care. 

Meanwhile, many apps are now being developed for diagnosis and treatment of certain health conditions. For example, there are apps that monitor the subtle hints in the user’s voice during everyday phone conversations to detect for early signs of mood changes. This type of program has applications in monitoring the conditions of patients with bipolar disorder.

Another app that is currently being developed is a smartphone-connected device that will deliver electrical stimulation to the nerves in a person’s head to help improve mood. A possible application for such a device would be to help a person calm down and relax.

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Riyesh R. Menon is a research and development engineer for a medical device company in New York. For more articles on biomedical engineering applications, visit this Google+ page.

Embryo selection techniques increase IVF success

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The failure of the embryo to implant in the womb is a common reason many couples remain childless. This compels them to undergo IVF treatments.

However, IVF success rates have been significantly low over the years. Fox News reveals in its report that the standard techniques of choosing embryos are based on microscopic findings. This inadequacy puts many IVF cycles at risk of failure because the embryo chosen may have looked good through a microscope but not viable enough to develop. Thus, many fertilization clinics in the world have started to grasp the idea of closely monitoring embryo development.

In one study, published in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online, British fertility experts used the method to choose low-risk embryos using a new IVF technique that takes thousands of snapshots of a developing embryo. This technique can help fertility doctors identify embryos that are least likely to have chromosomal abnormalities and will develop successfully into healthy babies.

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Another study in Oxford University, led by Dr. Elpida Fragouli, found a way for doctors to pick out embryos most likely to have a 50 to 60 percent chance of generating pregnancy. The team found cutoff points which embryos could guarantee implantation. They also analyzed the amount of mitochondrial DNA found in early-stage embryos to determine whether they affected the chances of implantation after womb transfers.

These findings remain to be mere developments until scientifically assessed and proven. Time will tell if they can be worthy of the phrase “advances in the science of IVF.”

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More scientific studies are featured on this Riyesh Menon blog.

Researchers generate sophisticated gene circuits for advanced bio-logic

Researchers at Rice University and the University of Kansas Medical Center are developing genetic circuits that have the ability to accomplish more complex tasks by swapping protein building blocks.

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Engineered from parts of unrelated bacterial genomes, the gene circuits provide the scientific community a wide array of options in designing synthetic cells that can be applied to biofuels, environmental remediation, or medical treatments.

As explained by the researchers, led by Rice graduate student David Shis, the genetic circuit is similar to those used in creating traditional computers and electrical devices, which allow the system to carry out its own instruction if all inputs are present. They explained further that the genetic logic circuit might lead to the “creation of a specific protein when it senses two chemicals or prompt a cell's DNA to repress the creation of that protein.”

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Rice's assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology, Matthew Bennett, revealed that one of the ultimate goals of the new technology is to allow cells to sense and respond to their environment in programmatic ways.

He explains: "We want to be able to program cells to go into an environment and do what they're supposed to do….These are akin to electronic circuits -- the logic gates in our computers. In cells, they work a little bit differently, but there are a lot of parallels."

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Lastly, apart from its aforementioned functions, the discovery is also seen as a gateway to solving biological issues, such as environmental pollution, and a program that can be able to cure tumors in the body.

More studies discussing the significant contributions of biomedical engineers can be read on this Riyesh R. Menon blog.

Exploring the power of edible batteries

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As wearable medical technologies like smart watches and fitness trackers continue to dominate the consumer tech market, researchers in the medical field are now adopting to the trend by creating edible devices that might soon power biodegradable electronic medical devices.

Spearheaded by two researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), the development of the sodium-based battery is said to be safe and non-toxic. Like a pill, the battery can be swallowed and utilized to power biomedical sensors or other biodegradable medical gadgets.

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Christopher Bettinger, the lead researcher, explains: “Instead of lithium and toxic electrolytes that work really well but aren’t biocompatible, we chose simple materials of biological origin.”

According to Bettinger, the batteries, which were made from pigments found in cuttlefish ink, uses the melanin of the source for the anode and manganese oxide as the cathode. Furthermore, all the materials in the battery break down into nontoxic components in the body, rendering them safe for any type of medical procedures.

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Doing further research on the study, the group is now working on making the edible electronics as digestible as pills. Though this, doctors will be able to deliver sensitive protein drugs, which are ordinarily destroyed in the stomach. The project also promises more bearable therapies for arthritis patients in the future.

Get more updates on biomedical technology by visiting this Riyesh R. Menon blog.

Directing research to create products for healthcare

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Biomedical engineers are known for addressing interesting questions that potentially restructure industries in medicine and engineering.  Because of the nature of their work, biomedical engineers get involved in research geared towards creating new products that revolutionize treatments and therapies.

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One of the examples of the impact of engineering and technology in the field of medicine is the use of imaging in neurology.  Previously, the neurological methods were very limited, as tools for observing the brain and the internal workings of the nervous system were limited.  Engineering, however, contributed leaps and bounds to the science by introducing neural imaging. 

Modern applications now involve the use of a non-invasive brain computer interface to pick up the weak electrical signals generated by the neurons, decode the signal, and to use that signal to control a device.  Advancing research in this field offers promising results in allowing paralyzed individuals to interact and communicate.

There are many other practical applications for the research done by biomedical engineers.  Among the fields that have seen increased activity recently is wearable technology, which integrates sensors into garments.

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Experts see a lot of potential in improving the healthcare system with the use of devices that can monitor a person’s vital signs regularly and upload data to the Cloud.  Doctors can then easily consult patient information online and gain better insights on a disease’s life cycle.  They can also alert patients to warning signs of dreaded conditions before they are needed to go to an emergency department because they already feel unwell. 


Riyesh R. Menon is a research and development engineer for a medical device company in New York. For more links to articles about biomedical engineering, visit this Google+ page.

Advances in artificial organ technology

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The application of biomedical engineering in the medical field has been studied for many years. The goal of this field is to help create systems that would help medical professionals diagnose illnesses faster, more efficiently, and with the least amount of inconvenience to patients. A proper diagnosis could then lead to better treatment. Biomedical engineering also studies the use of technology to innovate treatment options. Nevertheless, it is only until recently that scientists are starting to overcome the hurdles to this field of study. This may be due to the rapid growth of modern technology. For example, innovations meant for commercial applications such as high-definition cameras, scanners, and pumps have found their use in the study of artificial organ technology.

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For example, scientists recently created an artificial lung for newborn infants that consisted of stackable single oxygenator units (SOUs) that help facilitate breathing. The engineering of the lung assist device (LAD) and the use of the SOUs are a classic example of how biomedical engineering is utilizing the development of technology to create devices that could be used to ease medical treatment.

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Another example would be the development of 3-D printing to effectively and safely scan the body for possible illnesses. Recently in Boston, doctors were able to create the first synthetic blood vessels through the process of artificial vascularization aided by advances in 3-D printing and biomaterials. Doctors and scientists still agree that much research still needs to be made into these artificial organs so that they will function perfectly within the patient’s body. However, they remain optimistic and hopeful that these advances are milestones in creating a better and healthier society.

Riyesh Menon finished his master’s degree in biomedical engineering at Rutgers University and currently works for a medical device company. Like this Google+ page for the latest in biomedical engineering.

The future of biometrics: 3D-printed fingerprints

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Biometric technologies have purposes beyond security infrastructure support. They make way for next-generation identification and verification solutions and prevention of identity theft and fraud, among others. Thus, biometrics is one of the critical components of a successful operation of an organization, establishment, and government agency. The most commonly implemented or studied biometrics are the following: face, iris, voice, signature, hand geometry, and fingerprint. Employee identification, electronic banking, law enforcement, and healthcare services are a few of the fields that have upgraded their operations through the integration of biometric technologies.

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However, just like any technology, biometric systems have vulnerabilities. There are cases when their accuracy is compromised. It is then critical to have a reasonable evaluation of the performance of any biometric system in an operational setting before its deployment. A research partnership between Michigan State University and National Institute of Standards and Technology tested the accuracy of a fingerprint matching system by coming up with the first 3D-printed fingerprint. The researchers projected 2D images on a generic 3D finger surface, which then fabricates the 3D fingerprint in a commercial 3D printer.

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This system avoids the laborious task of running millions of fingerprint images through the biometric system's matching software, which can be inaccurate. 3D fingerprinting is helpful to both sensor manufacturers and algorithm developers to boost hardware and software fingerprint matching systems. Moreover, 3D fingerprinting will also contribute to the potential touchless fingerprint sensing solutions being developed.

 To read more news on biomedical studies, visit this Riyesh R. Menon blog.

Biomedical engineering as a discipline

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Biomedical engineering is one of the fastest growing fields of medical technology. From laboratory instrumentation to the computer analysis of the human genome, it is considered one of the fields that have achieved astounding achievements over the past few years.

In the United States, it is estimated that there are now around 15,000 biomedical engineers in various companies, particularly in the healthcare industry. Riyesh Menon of Greater New York, is one of these young practitioners who have high hopes for the field. Mr. Menon has a master’s degree in biomedical engineer from Rutgers University. He has worked as a product development engineer at The Dow Chemical Company, where was involved in the research and development of new healthcare products such as shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, body washes, and soaps containing proprietary chemicals. He has also helped the company develop and analyze innovative, cost-effective, and superior formulation methodologies for healthcare products.

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Today, Mr. Menon works as a product development engineer in New York by helping a medical technology company that is dedicated on providing the best patient care and innovative solutions in orthopedic extremity surgery, neurosurgery, spine surgery, and reconstructive and general surgery. Among the projects that he has handled include the development mechanisms and systems of neuro-critical care products such as external drainage devices, shunts and catheters.

Like Mr. Menon, more and more people are now pursuing a career in biomedical engineering. From manufacturing companies and hospitals to research facilities and universities, biomedical engineers have play a vital role in developing solutions to problems in biology and medicine.

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More discussions on the critical role of biomedical engineers in improving the healthcare system are featured on this Riyesh Menon blog.