Science, Medicine and Technology News

[Vadimus]

I thought it might be helpful to start a thread where we can share news from science, medicine, and technology that directly or indirectly relates to potential treatments or diagnoses for tinnitus. This could include information about new drug delivery methods, treatments for conditions related to tinnitus, and emerging technologies or discoveries in the medical field that might be useful for managing tinnitus.

 

[Vadimus]

SPIRE Deploys Effective, Safe Ultrasonic Neuromodulation Device

SPIRE, an early-stage company spun out from the University of Utah, was established to produce controlled deep brain neuromodulation for chronic pain and depression. Its primary device, DIADEM, delivers low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) neuromodulation to selectively and controllably modulate the deep brain circuits involved in these disorders.

"We've been blown away by the positive results so far," said Dr. Riis, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, in the University of Utah's press release. "After just a single 40-minute stimulation session, patients are showing immediate, clinically substantial improvements in symptoms."

SPIRE has completed Phase 2 clinical studies for chronic pain and depression. The company is now conducting Phase 3 trials for these indications with the goal of obtaining regulatory approval and providing the treatments to the large number of patients who are currently in need of new treatment options.

 

[Vadimus]

AI-powered neurotech developer Elemind emerges from stealth with backing from Bezos, Gates

It's electric! A startup emerged from stealth this week with grand plans to pioneer a new form of neurotech dubbed "electric medicine."

Elemind's approach centers on artificial intelligence-powered algorithms that are trained to continuously analyze neurological activity collected by a noninvasive wearable device, then to deliver through the wearable bursts of neurostimulation that are uniquely tailored to those real-time brain wave readings.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company claims that its approach—which is based on research from its founders, a group of high-profile scientists hailing from the likes of MIT, Stanford and Harvard—offers a more "natural" treatment option than pharmaceuticals for neurological conditions like insomnia, essential tremor and memory loss.

"Chemical drugs affect the entire body, often leading to unwanted side effects. Elemind offers a nonchemical, direct and on-demand solution that learns and dynamically adjusts to each person," Meredith Perry, a co-founder of Elemind and its CEO, said in the company's debut announcement. "We're the first and only company able to precisely guide and redirect brainwaves in real time."

The company has yet to unveil its physical hardware, but noted that its first application will be as a "general wellness device," allowing it to avoid undergoing FDA review before launching.

→ Elemind

 

[Vadimus]

New dropletronic devices could transform bioengineering and medicine

Oxford University researchers have made a significant step towards realizing a form of 'biological electricity' that could be used in a variety of bioengineering and biomedical applications, including communication with living human cells. The work has been published today (28 November) in the journal Science.

Iontronic devices are one of the most rapidly-growing and exciting areas in biochemical engineering. Instead of using electricity, these mimic the human brain by transmitting information via ions (charged particles), including sodium, potassium, and calcium ions. Ultimately, iontronic devices could enable biocompatible, energy-efficient, and highly precise signalling systems, including for drug-delivery.

Up to now, however, iontronic devices are typically set within solid scaffolds, which hinders their integration with soft tissues. In this new study, Oxford University researchers succeeded in developing miniature, multifunctional iontronic devices constructed from biocompatible hydrogel droplets. The hydrogels function as ionic analogues of electronic semiconductors, enabling ion movement to be controlled similar to the control of electron movement in electronics. The tiny microscale droplets are assembled with the aid of surfactants (soap-like molecules) and conduct ions after they have been triggered by light to link together (a technique developed by the group).

The researchers have named their collection of devices dropletronics, a compound of droplet and iontronics. By creating combinations of microscale nanolitre hydrogel droplets, the team produced dropletronic diodes, transistors, logic gates, and memory devices. The dropletronic devices perform better than any soft iontronic devices developed to date, including a higher efficiency and faster response time. They are even comparable to solid iontronic devices, with the added advantage of not being embedded in a hard matrix.

New dropletronic devices could transform bioengineering and medicine