Latest Inventions

posted by admin on Feb 16

There has been so much going on so far this year - and we are only in it by around 6 weeks!

So, let’s start with the question that is on everyone’s lips since the iPad was launched and the Kindle wanted to get bigger: so read Tabitha Mcivers article 25 Essential Free iPhone Apps to “Kindle-ize” Your iPhone to save you some money on upgrades if you can resist these new gadgets!

Shakira Dawn joins in the debate too with a great use for one of this years greatest releases: The Clinical iPad? 25 Ways Tablet PCs Are Used in Healthcare.

Another current topic in the news at the mo is related to social networking sites (and Facebook have changed their layout AGAIN) and here Aaliyah Williams gives us her opinion with her article titled: Google launches Buzz to take on Twitter and Facebook.

A comical article now from Big Cajun Man with a wishful article on a Financial Shock Collar!

Onto the future now with an interesting article by Will - who thinks that there is the potential for 3D Content & Programming On The Way - interesting, no?

A short one to finish with Ankesh highlighting a potential eco-phone: Sharp rolling out solar powered phone this month.

Happy Pancake Day!

posted by admin on Dec 24

The University of Western Ontario has received a $200,000 grant to find out!

There has long been the idea that sensors in contact lenses could help to identify certain medical conditions including diabetes.  In the latter it could be of use if it kept changing color when sugar levels rise or fall in the body and other conditions could be monitored in a similar way.

There is much debate over whether this is of real use to everyday adults with the condition - and many people have commented that they don’t want other people to know they have an illness by using the color change lenses.  However, there is overwhelming support for it’s use in less able individuals who need home support or other forms of care - as a much better alternative to test needles.

And, it is just in contact lenses at the moment - so a normal sighted individual would have to start wearing plain lenses.  But, as technology advances, this could be moved to other areas of the body which are easy to monitor (it’s tricky to see your own eyes) and easier to apply (have you ever tried to get lenses out of your eyes when you aren’t a lens wearer?).

The Big Idea:
Put simply, the fluid secreted from your tear ducts to moisten your eyes can be analyzed for sugar levels and therefore be used to indicate your blood sugar level.

More technically, the use of extremely small nano-particles embedded into the material of the lens will allow for a chemical reaction with the blood sugars secreted by the body allowing for a color change to occur across the whole surface of the lens.

Therefore, the sufferer does not have to repeatedly test their blood sugar levels with a needle testing kit to make sure they are not about to become gravely ill - they just look in a mirror! 

Obviously, diabetes is just one of many conditions that this technology could benefit, but it is one of the world biggest health issue affecting around 220 million people worldwide according to WHO so this technology could save many lives - as around 500 people a day die of the condition.

Imagine if just a quick glance at your friend could save their life! 

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posted by admin on Nov 29

It’s not a Latest Invention, but I just had to pass on something I found a company doing that I wanted to introduce!

They are called the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) and they work hard and for free to match up empty seats on smaller corporate jet flights with cancer patients who are unable to fly to the specialist appointments on normal planes, either due to insurance clauses or due to the risk of infection in large crowds.

Since 1981, CAN - a not-for-profit organisation based in the States - has been working with corporations with their own fleets of small aircraft to fill their empty seats for free (yes - totally free to the patient and the person who travels with them) to help them travel between home and various hospitals and specialists as and when.

CAN currently transport around 250 patients a month according to their own stats, and uses the services of over 500 airlines.

It’s a great concept and for a great cause and it’s even sort of eco friendly (filling seats on an already scheduled flight).  So if you can help other patients, recommend them to a friend in need or make even a small donation - this charity needs voices to spread the word!

Thanks.

posted by admin on Nov 10

Llamas, Alpacas, Camels and other camelids are offering the world of medicine something real special! 

They possess an anti-body totally different to any other mammal, alongside the ‘normal’ ones that we already have - and it could change the fight against disease!

So, What Is It?
Well, during some random research in the 1980’s, a group of students were given a project to investigate camel antibodies.  All mammals have a standard type of antibody type - the heavy and light chain antibody for those interested - but camels and other members of the same evolutionary branch also have a different type - an antibody with only heavy chains.

The scientist in charge of the discovery named them ‘nanobodies’ and they have many interesting features that are beneficial to science - and us!

Antibodies Do What, Exactly?
Now, antibodies are key to the mammalian immune system, and it is their job to target specific ‘nasty’ bugs and cells in the body and immobilise or destroy them - to stop them harming the body.

Medicine at the moment has to ‘grow’ normal antibodies in a time consuming and expense way, and they can only target certain illnesses - however, the new smaller nanobodies could be manufactured much more easily and cheaply AND they can fight many more illnesses including intestinal disorders, cancer and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease!

Other potential uses include binding to certain proteins in developing organisms to see which cells are responsible for certain processes and therefore highlighting the role of certain cells in the nervous system and the like!

Another possible angle for these tiny nanobodies is to be grown inside of plants and vegetables.  Now, this could be to help that plant to defend itself against pests or disease - but it could also be a way to offer whatever eats it a defence against something else.

Imagine cattle being able to eat themselves healthy without the need for other medication - or humans on a diet of certain fruit to make sure they get enough antibodies for a specific illness!

Whatever will they think of next……

See Related Article On Alpaca’s: Latest Fox Deterrent