Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei via Getty Images
Advances in materials, microfabrication and medical imaging are accelerating the pace of innovation in implantable neuroprosthetics. These soft, biocompatible devices, which rely on the electrical stimulation of the nervous system, have shown enormous potential in improving quality of life for patients with a range of conditions such as paralysis and deafness. Despite their promise, most of these groundbreaking discoveries never make it out of the lab.
Few discoveries make it to market
Researchers tend to underestimate the amount of engineering and development work needed to get a discovery out of the lab and into clinical use. These discoveries can be so far ahead of the curve that finding an industry partner willing to do the development work is practically impossible, says Stphanie Lacour, who heads EPFLs Laboratory for Soft Bioelectronic Interfaces (LSBI).
There is often a disconnect between the evaluation of new implantable devices and the physical and biological reality of healthcare practice. With a new soft, implantable interface, you have to go through extra validation steps that dont apply to conventional implants, adds Lacour.
The EPFL team has developed an experimental protocol for testing, optimizing and validating soft, personalized implants such as the devices developed by researchers at the LSBI. The method, which should help facilitate the transition from lab to market, is described in a paper published in the journalAdvanced Materials.
A four-step process
The first step is to develop a personalized, anatomically accurate, biophysical prototype of the tissue into which the device will be implanted. This process is made possible by medical imaging data and 3D printing techniques. This means that, for each patient, we reproduce the precise structure of the tissue that will ultimately host the implant, explains Giuseppe Schiavone, a scientist at the LSBI.
Next, the fabrication process is optimized to make sure it is both reliable and reproducible. The soft implant is inserted into the tissue prototype, which is then placed in an environment that replicates the biophysical conditions inside the human body. Using a biomimetic platform developed in the lab, the researchers apply mechanical stimuli to the implant and the surrounding tissue to mimic the dynamic in vivo environment and to validate the devices biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy. The platform also ages the implant physically and electrochemically under near-realistic conditions.
Fine-tuning through tests
With this method, were able to test implants more quickly, realistically and cheaply without the need for surgical procedures, adds Schiavone. And because we evaluate the device at each stage of the process, we can fine-tune and improve it on the fly with minimal disruption. According to Schiavone, a lack of standardized validation processes for soft, biocompatible implants means that research teams currently devise their own protocols.
Researchers at the LSBI worked with the group of Marco Capogrosso at the University of Fribourg and EPFL and Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) teams led by Grgoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch to test the protocol on e-dura, an EPFL-developed neuromodulation device implanted in the epidural space of the spinal cord.
Although these new soft, implantable devices are not yet ready to proceed to clinical trial, the papers authors hope that their work will encourage other researchers to apply translational principles and support further advances in medtech innovation.
Read the original post:
Getting Groundbreaking Medical Technology Out of the Lab - Global Health News Wire
- Reell Precision Manufacturing Names Chet Zaslow as Business Development Manager for Medical Technology - January 31st, 2013 [January 31st, 2013]
- FastWay - December 25th, 2018 [December 25th, 2018]
- PaperPk jobs in Pakistan 2018 in newspaper ads daily ... - December 25th, 2018 [December 25th, 2018]
- Health technology in the United States - Wikipedia - January 2nd, 2019 [January 2nd, 2019]
- McLEOD SCHOOL OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY - Pee Dee Area Health ... - January 29th, 2019 [January 29th, 2019]
- Medical technologist - Wikipedia - January 29th, 2019 [January 29th, 2019]
- Medical Technology Ireland - January 29th, 2019 [January 29th, 2019]
- Medical Laboratory Science/ Medical Technology at APSU - February 5th, 2019 [February 5th, 2019]
- RWJBarnabas Health - Comprehensive Healthcare in New Jersey - February 5th, 2019 [February 5th, 2019]
- Home - Secaucus, NJ - February 5th, 2019 [February 5th, 2019]
- Ultrasound - Wikipedia - February 14th, 2019 [February 14th, 2019]
- Indian Health Service | Indian Health Service (IHS) - February 14th, 2019 [February 14th, 2019]
- Medical Technology | Statista - February 19th, 2019 [February 19th, 2019]
- Medical Technician Career Guide | All Allied Health Schools - February 19th, 2019 [February 19th, 2019]
- Medical Technology Insurance | Travelers - February 19th, 2019 [February 19th, 2019]
- The Field of Medical Technology : : About the Program ... - February 19th, 2019 [February 19th, 2019]
- Technology Essay Sample: Medical Technology ... - February 19th, 2019 [February 19th, 2019]
- Medical Technology Degree Program | Med Tech Certification - February 19th, 2019 [February 19th, 2019]
- Medical Technologist Career Profile - verywellhealth.com - February 19th, 2019 [February 19th, 2019]
- B.S. in Medical Technology - Caldwell University, New Jersey - March 5th, 2019 [March 5th, 2019]
- 17 Amazing Healthcare Technology Advances of 2017 - March 12th, 2019 [March 12th, 2019]
- Department of Medical and Research Technology | University ... - March 17th, 2019 [March 17th, 2019]
- Home | FMC Meditech - Medical Technology Recruitment - March 17th, 2019 [March 17th, 2019]
- BS in Medical Technology in the Philippines - April 4th, 2019 [April 4th, 2019]
- Medical Technologist Jobs, Employment in New Jersey ... - April 11th, 2019 [April 11th, 2019]
- Medicine - Scientific American - April 20th, 2019 [April 20th, 2019]
- Medical Technologist: Job Description, Duties and Requirements - May 12th, 2019 [May 12th, 2019]
- Medical Technologist Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com - May 19th, 2019 [May 19th, 2019]
- Medical Technology : College of Nursing and Health ... - May 20th, 2019 [May 20th, 2019]
- Salary: Medical Technologist | Glassdoor - May 20th, 2019 [May 20th, 2019]
- Medical Technologist Degrees | All Allied Health Schools - May 20th, 2019 [May 20th, 2019]
- Online Medical Lab Technician & Medical Technology Degrees - May 20th, 2019 [May 20th, 2019]
- Medical Technology Jobs in the U.S. Navy - Navy.com - May 22nd, 2019 [May 22nd, 2019]
- New Study in Medical Devices industry of the High-intensity Focused Ultrasound System Market include Strategies, Competitive Research & Growth By... - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- Should investors take a bet on surgical robotics? - The Globe and Mail - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- How Springfield Technical Community College is training medical professionals to respond to crisis situations with robotic patients - MassLive.com - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- The FDA's Critical Focus on Women's Health - FDA.gov - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- Stock In The Spotlight ::Creative Medical Technology Holdings Inc, (OTC:CELZ) - Ws News Publisher - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- Is There Enough Room Left To ::Creative Medical Technology Holdings Inc, (OTC:CELZ) - Ws News Publisher - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- Artificial Intelligence Is Being Used To Diagnose Disease And Design New Drugs - Forbes - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- Axonics Provides Full One-Year Results from ARTISAN-SNM Pivotal Study at AUGS/IUGA Joint Scientific Meeting - Business Wire - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- Time For A Checkup On This Health Care ETF - Benzinga - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- AngioDynamics Acquires Eximo Medical, Ltd. and its Innovative 355nm Laser Atherectomy Technology - Business Wire - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- How to improve screening for social determinants of health - American Medical Association - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- Bipartisan team of lawmakers put the squeeze on medical device tax - Chamber Business News - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- The Rise of the Deep: Eric Topols Deep Medicine To Stand The Test Of Time - Forbes - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- New Technology Makes Moves in the Medical Industry - Machine Design - October 4th, 2019 [October 4th, 2019]
- Medical Imaging Diagnosis Market Investigation by Application, Technology and Product Type - The Charterian - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- TIER Mobility raises US$60 million in its Series B led by Mubadala Capital and Goodwater Capital - Business Wire - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- 4 Reasons Why CT is the Best Method for Medical Device Quality Inspection - Quality Magazine - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- Artificial Joints Market Research and New Innovations in Medical Sector 2019 to 2025 - The Chicago Sentinel - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- Medical Technologist Job in Multiple Locations - Department of the Air Force - LemonWire - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- UI graduate student works to commercialize drug that prevents osteoarthritis - UI The Daily Iowan - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- CONMED Corporation to Announce Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results on October 30, 2019 - BioSpace - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- TE Connectivity Collaborates With Hanhaa and Avnet to Advance Smart Tracking - PRNewswire - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- Medtronic Initiates Worldwide Pivotal Study of a New Approach to Treating Dangerously Fast Heart Rhythms - GlobeNewswire - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- Axonics Broadens EU Commercial Footprint with Recommendation for Reimbursement in France and Supply Contract in Norway - Business Wire - October 7th, 2019 [October 7th, 2019]
- Safe Orthopaedics Announces the Approvals of SteriSpine LC and CC in Japan - Business Wire - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Microspheres Market 2019 | Remarkable Growth Factors with Industry Size & Share, New Innovations of Leading Players & Forecast till 2024 -... - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Members Move Medicine: Tackling the underlying barriers to care - American Medical Association - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Why collaboration is key for the medtech industry to deliver life-saving innovations - create digital - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- PhenoMx executes MOU to develop strategic initiatives for Thailand's biotech, life sciences and medical industries - The New Economy - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- X-Ray Detectors Market Report Extensive Analysis 2019 | Specified by Production, Technology, Competition, and Revenue Forecast till 2024 - Elamal News - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- The Future of Proton Beam Therapy - Nature World News - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- GTX merges with NeuroRecovery Technologies to form GTX medical BV - Medical Device Network - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Misonix to Report Fiscal 2020 First Quarter Financial Results and Host Conference Call and Webcast on November 7 - GlobeNewswire - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Private health insurers say cost of medical devices putting pressure on premiums - The Guardian - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- These Apps Say You May Have a Health Disorder. What if Theyre Wrong? - The New York Times - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- The real horror this Halloween is the FDA's drug approval process | TheHill - The Hill - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- OraSure simplifies medical testing worldwide. Why the CEO says theyre still based in Bethlehem. - lehighvalleylive.com - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- 10 Medical Advances That Will Shape the Future of Healthcare - Discover Magazine - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Medical billing is a nightmare, but start-up Ooda is working to make it way easier, and some insurers are optimistic - CNBC - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- What We Know About the Man Accused of Stabbing His Mother to Death in a Plainville Kitchen - NBC10 Boston - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Where Are The Medical CIOs Investing? - Medical Tech Outlook - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Neuronetics and Success TMS Partner to Increase Patient Access to Leading Depression Treatment, NeuroStar Advanced Therapy - The Courier-Express - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Medical Device Security Market Growth Analysis 2019 to Share Key Aspects of the Industry with the details of Influence Factors Forecast to 2024 -... - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- 3Ms Shares Could Cross $200 Next Year Thanks To Acelity Acquisition - Forbes - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Judge to hear motion aiming to temporarily shut down Newton County plant - CBS46 News Atlanta - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- NYC Marathon Runners Turning To Intensive Medical Technology To Reach Peak Performance - CBS New York - October 28th, 2019 [October 28th, 2019]
- Misonix to Participate in Three Upcoming Investor Conferences - Associated Press - November 5th, 2019 [November 5th, 2019]