The sharp beak of the Humboldt squid is one of the hardest and stiffest organic materials known. The question of how a gelatinous creature can operate it without injury has captivated those interested in creating new materials that mimic biological materials. The results are published in the journal Science.
The technology was developed in Georgia Tech’s Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) as part of a project to design a portable erythema and bruise-detection technology that will enhance early prevention and diagnosis of pressure ulcers, a secondary complication for people with impaired mobility and sensation. Read more about it at GT Newsroom
Researchers at Davidson College have created a living computer. Researchers bred the computer from e-coli rather than using stamped silica and used it to solve a mathematical puzzle known as the Burnt Pancake Problem.
"In a biology-based computer, each bacterium becomes a single computer that runs a different part of the problem simultaneously. Since a million bacteria-based computers can fit into a single drop of water, all of them working together could speed up the calculations dramatically."
More from Discovery news:
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/05/28/bacteria-computer.html
Researchers at Duke University have created microscopic robots able to dance on an object smaller than the head of a pin. "Each microrobot is shaped something like a spatula but with dimensions measuring just microns, or millionths of a meter. They are almost 100 times smaller than any previous robotic designs of their kind and weigh even less."
An upcoming paper on the robots will be published in the Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems.
Complete article:
http://news.duke.edu/2008/06/microrobots.html
French scientists have invented a prototype for the first fully autonomous artificial heart. Beating in a similar fashion to a real heart the artificial heart uses sensors to monitor and control blood flow and heart rate.
Full article on CNN.com
ASM has released a number of additions to the Materials for Medical Devices database
New ISO Standard Added
ISO 10993 Biological Evaluation of medical devices – Part 18: Chemical characterization of materials
Characterization of medical device materials is clearly identified as one of the first steps in ISO 10993’s overall evaluation. ISO 10993- Part 1 “Guidance on Selection of Tests” states that “in the selection of material to be used in device manufacture, the first consideration should be fitness for purpose having regard to the characteristics and properties of the material, which include chemical, toxicological, physical, electrical, morphological, and mechanical properties”.
PMA/510(k) Updates
This latest version of the database features all the new PMA and 510(k) approvals up to November 12th, 2008, in both the Orthopaedic and Cardiovascular modules, fully integrated for ease of searching, and linked to materials and supplier data.
New Materials with Bioresponse Information Added:
Orthopedic:
* Demineralized Bone Matrix
* Poly(ester urethane urea)
* Hydroxyapatite
* Hydroxyapatite, Silicon Substituted
* Hydroxyapatite/Tricalcium Phosphate
* Tricalcium Phosphate
Schematics Added:
* Intra-Aortic Balloon (General) 870.3535
* Phalangeal (General) Toe 888.3730
* Semi Constrained (General) Ankle 888.3110
New Database Functionality Added
There is a new function in the database that allows the user to see a list of materials used in a chosen Device Category (e.g.. Spinal, Hips, Knees etc). See below!
To use this new functionality:
1. Click on "Select" button and choose "Materials" Table and "All Materials" Subset then click GO
2. Don't enter anything in "Required Properties” section, just click GO again (bottom right hand side of screen) to have a list of all materials.
3. Click on "Advanced Selection" in the upper right-hand corner (located in the black tab area)
4. About half way down the page, go to the “Cross-tabular selection…” area just below the gray spreadsheet
5. Open "Devices" section by clicking on the “crossbar”.
6. Click on “General Information”. You will then see a drop down box on the right hand side of the screen. You can then choose a category of interest e.g. Orthopaedic-Hips
7. Click GO on the bottom of the page and list of materials used in Hips devices will appear on the left hand pane
8. You can save this information, place it in a report or modify your search accordingly.
This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Stanford Engineering Library Blog in the Bioengineering category. They are listed from oldest to newest.
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