Medgadget » ENT

Bovie J-Plasma Handpiece Greenlighted in U.S.

Gene Ostrovsky — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:33:32 +0000

Bovie Medical received FDA clearance for its J-Plasma handpiece with retractable cutting feature for coagulating soft tissue during surgeries. It is available for both open and laparoscopic procedures.

The device is powered by a previously approved Bovie GS electrosurgical generator.

Feeling Dizzy? Sensixa’s e-AR Device Wants to Know

Scott Jung — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:20:26 +0000

Via an FCC filing we learn of a new device from Shenzhen, China-based Sensixa that can measure and record the movement and orientation of one’s head. The ear-worn device, called e-AR, is actually designed to mimic the human vestibular system that keeps you walking straight and tells you if you’ve ridden too many roller coasters. Besides the three-dimensional accelerometer, the e-AR also contains a microcontroller, battery, flash memory for storing data, and a radio for transmitting the data to a receiving unit.

The e-AR is currently being investigated for use by athletes for such applications as monitoring the effects of painful football hits, but Sensixa is also looking into the device being worn by senior citizens for those times when you’ve fallen and you can’t get up.

Fitness Trackers and Hearing Aids Receive Top Honors at CES 2012

Scott Jung — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:07:00 +0000

The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas kicks off today, but the recipients of this year’s annual CES Innovations Awards have already been announced.

As in past years, one of the award categories includes innovations in health and wellness. Like last year, hearing aids were notable in the list of award recipients. Both Able Planet Incorporated and Starkey Laboratories, Inc. won the award again for their technologically advanced and nearly invisible hearing devices.

Panasonic Unveils R1-W Series Receiver-in-Canal Hearing Aids

Gene Ostrovsky — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:37:36 +0000

Panasonic has released the new R1-W Series Receiver-in-Canal (RIC) hearing aids. The devices feature Bluetooth connectivity and can interface with Bluetooth enabled phones, computers, and anything else comporting to the standard.

The Hearing Hub that facilitates this can also be used to record voice memos such as reminders in files up to 2 minutes 40 seconds long.

Advanced Bionics’ Neptune Processor Plays Safe Around Water

Scott Jung — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:20:37 +0000

You’ll probably agree that learning how to swim is a typical rite of passage for adolescents, but for children who are hearing impaired this common skill becomes a major challenge. Fortunately, advancements in cochlear implants and hearing aids make learning a little easier for these kids, but the learning tends to stop at the water’s edge because electronic devices and the wet stuff tend to not get along very well.

Valencia, California-based Advanced Bionics has made bath time and trips to the pool a little more fun with the U.S. and Canadian approval of its revolutionary Neptune sound processor. Neptune is the world’s first and only waterproof sound processor. Designed to withstand extreme aquatic environments, the Neptune incorporates Advanced Bionics’ hearing technology into a lightweight, durable, and flexible package. The Neptune processor is able to be worn in a variety of ways, such as on the arm, collar, or hair (basically anywhere but on the ear), and comes in a variety of colors that will especially appeal to children who use the device.

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation System for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Receives CE Approval

Wouter Stomp — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:08:02 +0000

Apnex Medical has received CE Mark approval for its Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation (HGNS) system for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The pacemaker-like device monitors the patient’s breathing patterns and is activated during sleep to stimulate the hypoglossal nerve, timed to the patient’s own respiration. The hypoglossal nerve in turn controls muscles in the upper airway, ensuring they keep the airway open. The system is programmed to work only when the patient is asleep, but can also be turned on and off through a handheld controller. A clinical study is currently underway to test the effectiveness of the system in patients with OSA who were not helped with CPAP and other OSA treatments.

Press release: Apnex Medical, Inc. Receives CE Mark Approval for HGNS® System to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea…

Air Barrier System Helps Airborne Bacteria Fly Past Surgical Incision Site

Gene Ostrovsky — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:54:11 +0000

Via Gizmag we discovered an interesting surgical space ventilation system that moves a continuous stream of purified air across the incision site. The Air Barrier System from Nimbic of Stafford, Texas uses a HEPA filter and delivers a turbulence free flow that creates an invisible barrier for airborne microorganisms.

Features of the Air Barrier from the product page:

Siemens Improved iScan Digitizes Ear Impressions for Customized Hearing Aids

Wouter Stomp — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:54:28 +0000

Siemens has launched a new improved version of its ear impression scanner, the iScan. The iScan digitizes ear impressions in 3D in just a few minutes. The resulting 3D model is displayed on the computer screen and is accurate to a tenth of a millimeter. Scans can then be sent online to hearing aid manufacturers to order devices completely customized to the patient’s ear canal.

The new version is faster than its predecessor, which was introduced back in 2005, and uses an open data format ensuring files can be used with all manufacturers. Previously scanned ear impressions are archived on Siemens’ servers for 36 months from which they can be retrieved when needed. The new iScan will be available at the beginning of November 2011.

How To Do High-Quality 3D Bone Model Printing On The Cheap

Scott Jung — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:32:34 +0000

Orthopedic and maxillofacial surgeons sometimes prepare for surgery by creating physical models of 3D scans of bones that they need to work on. Such models are also useful in educating med school students, doctors, and patients. However, these models tend to be very expensive, usually seen only in well-funded research projects or used by expensive medical professionals. Oftentimes, because the cost of the model is so high, a compromise must be made, so the resulting models end up being truncated or less than actual size.

Shapeways, a company that prints custom-designed 3D models, published a blog post about how Max Frame, an orthopedic surgeon at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow, Scotland, managed to produce a full-size human pelvis for about $230, less than one-fifth the cost of a smaller, professionally made model.

Encore for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Gets U.S. Green Light

Gene Ostrovsky — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:10:22 +0000

Siesta Medical out of Los Gatos, California won FDA approval for its Encore Tongue Suspension System for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

The system, which raises the tongue to clear obstruction of the upper airway, takes about 45 minutes for an ENT specialist to implant and can be done with local or general anesthesia.