Other small monitoring devices include wearable heart monitors in various forms. Astronauts on International Space Station missions are using BodyMedia's FIT Armbands, which look like a large wristwatch, to track their levels of physical activity and sleep patterns. The armbands contain a proprietary four-sensor system that collects 5,000 data points per minute. Its materials include ABS, polycarbonate, polyurethane, nylon, polyester, silicone, and stainless steel.
Another electronic heart monitor, made by iRhythm Technologies, is the wearable, bandage-sized Zio Patch, in a thermoplastic elastomer housing. Compared to the much larger standard heart monitor, the Zio's electronics depend on one lead, not three, and it can gather data for two weeks, not two or three days.
An explosion in wearable medical monitors includes many that monitor activity levels, sleep patterns, or heart rhythm. iRhythm Technologies' Zio Patch ECG monitor houses electronics in a 4.8 inch x 2.0 inch x 0.4 inch, bandage-sized thermoplastic elastomer housing. (Source: iRhythm Technologies)
One of the biggest drivers of design and technology crossovers from consumer electronics is the trend toward home healthcare instead of hospitalizing patients. Fallon said:
We are seeing devices used in the home healthcare arena, such as sleep apnea machines, becoming smaller, both for ease of use, which can positively impact patient compliance, and for greater aesthetic appeal. Medical equipment used in the home needs to include design features, such as decorative handles, that make it look like it belongs there, instead of resembling a piece of medical equipment.
For injection molding of healthcare devices, SABIC offers Lexan EXL and Lexan HFD resins, which enable high-flow materials without sacrificing impact and ductility. High flow helps to fill out the mold completely, including fine details like thin walls, or delicate decorative elements. The company's Cycoloy CX resin provides thin walls and flame retardancy, helping devices maintain UL performance while becoming smaller and lighter.
As electronics are more frequently included in miniaturized medical devices, effects on materials not only include greater use of plastics, but also changes in thermally conductive materials. For example, copper, which is common in other electronic devices, can't be used for those that contact patients' bodies.
One new thermal control material is annealed pyrolytic graphite (APG). APG is typically encapsulated within a biocompatible metal, and is a lighter and more efficient solid heat conductor compared to metals such as copper or aluminum. This encapsulation makes APG versatile enough to be used in several medical designs, such as surgical instruments and devices that contact the human body.
A few years ago, I wrote a trend report titled "Smaller, Faster, Better" highlighting not only nano and micro technologies but also a general sizing down across the board. A striking number of experts dismissed it as irrelevant for the American market. I love having articles like this that back up my trend reports with current information. Thank you!
I'd love to see the process 3M and IBM are developing in action. It sounds amazing. It's good to see 3M in new areas.
Some of the most interesting and fun applications I found during reporting this story were the small health monitoring devices. For example, you can see pictures of the Japanese swallowable endoscope in use, both outside and inside the body, here: http://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/articles/170187/20110627/japanese-scientists-invent-mermaid-tiny-remote-controlled-pill-camera-examine-digestive-tract.htm and a video of one from the University of Washington here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlQN3c04mu0
Inspired by the hooks a parasitic worm uses to penetrate its host's intestines, the Karp Lab has invented a flexible adhesive patch covered with microneedles that adheres well to wet, soft tissues, but doesn't cause damage when removed.
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego are designing a robotic arm that takes inspiration from the loose, flexible, yet very strong structure of the armored plates on a seahorse's tail.
Researchers at the Missouri University of Science & Technology have designed a new nanoscale material that can transmit light faster than the 186,000 miles per second it usually takes to travel through air.
It has often been said that as California goes, so goes the nation. This spring, the state's wind power is setting energy generation records and solar energy generation is expected to rise sharply during the second half of 2013.
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A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
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