Lifeboat Foundation

Dr. David Cohen comments on 10-year results from a trial of transcatheter vs. surgical aortic valve replacement:

Over the past decade, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has evolved from a niche procedure to treat severe aortic stenosis in high-risk patients to a mainstream procedure that is also performed in intermediate-and low-risk patients. With this evolution in practice, the large number of younger patients with life expectancies 10 years now receiving TAVR has raised concerns about its durability and patients’ long-term outcomes. Now, 10-year results are available from the NOTION trial of TAVR versus surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) that was conducted between 2009 and 2013 (NEJM JW Cardiol May 29 2015 and J Am Coll Cardiol 2015; 65:2184).

Two hundred eighty patients aged 70 years (mean age, 79 years; mean predicted risk of surgical mortality, 3%) were randomized to SAVR using any commercially available bioprosthesis or TAVR using the first-generation self-expanding CoreValve device. At 10-year follow-up, there was no significant between-group difference in the composite of death, stroke, or myocardial infarction (66% for both groups) or any of the individual components. Rates of bioprosthetic valve failure and repeat valve intervention were also similar. However, the rate of bioprosthetic valve dysfunction was lower with TAVR, largely reflecting lower rates of patient–prosthesis mismatch. The rate of structural valve deterioration was lower with TAVR as well, driven mainly by lower transvalvular gradients with TAVR that emerged early and persisted throughout follow-up.

Continue reading “Long-Term Outcomes of Transcatheter vs. Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement” »

Researchers have built a device that helps users feel temperature through a prosthetic arm. A new study shows it works with high accuracy.

A few years ago, a team of researchers working under Professor Stanisa Raspopovic at the ETH Zurich Neuroengineering Lab gained worldwide attention when they announced that their prosthetic legs had enabled amputees to feel sensations from this artificial body part for the first time.

Unlike commercial leg prostheses, which simply provide amputees with stability and support, the ETH researchers’ prosthetic device was connected to the sciatic nerve in the test subjects’ thigh via implanted electrodes.

This electrical connection enabled the neuroprosthesis to communicate with the patient’s brain, for example relaying information on the constant changes in pressure detected on the sole of the prosthetic foot when walking. This gave the test subjects greater confidence in their prosthesis—and it enabled them to walk considerably faster on challenging terrains.

There’s a real life bionic woman, and a mindblowing technological advancement has made her life a lot better.

To show one of the advantages of being a cyborg, I typed my old prescription into ZEISS Optical Inserts which are for use with the Apple Vision Pro and it said “We are really sorry, but your prescription values go beyond the available range.”

But now that I’m a cyborg with artificial lenses, any optical inserts that I might need are very common and available.

Oh, I experimented a little and it looks like they can’t make lenses for −9.75 diopters or worse. My left-eye used to be −17.25!

Continue reading “Prescription guide” »

SNAP’s 144 gold-coated silicon microneedles, each shorter than a hundredth of an inch, can bypass pain receptors and ensure comfort during prolonged wear.

Engineers from Korea and the United States have developed a wearable patch, which is slated to have the potential to further technologies related to human-machine interaction and healthcare.

Like a Band-Aid, the stretchable microneedle adhesive patch (SNAP) sticks to your skin and detects signals from muscles. In tests, people used it to control robotic exoskeletons better. These machines copy and improve the strength of human muscles and bones.

Continue reading “Researchers unveil wearable patch for enhanced robotic exoskeleton control” »

Researchers have overcome a major challenge in biomimetic robotics by developing a sensor that, assisted by AI, can slide over braille text, accurately reading it at twice human speed. The tech could be incorporated into robot hands and prosthetics, providing fingertip sensitivity comparable to humans.

Human fingertips are incredibly sensitive. They can communicate details of an object as small as about half the width of a human hair, discern subtle differences in surface textures, and apply the right amount of force to grip an egg or a 20-lb (9 kg) bag of dog food without slipping.

Continue reading “Breakthrough could see robots with ‘fingertips’ as sensitive as humans” »

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed lighter, safer artificial muscles that outshine their predecessors. These advanced actuators boast a unique shell structure and utilize high-permittivity ferroelectric material, storing significant electrical energy.

Operating at lower voltages, the new design offers enhanced safety, waterproofing, and durability. The team claims that the innovation marks a leap forward by enabling safer, more versatile artificial muscles that herald a new era in robotics and prosthetics.

Continue reading “Experts craft waterproof, low-voltage artificial muscles for bot motion” »

Researchers at ETH Zurich have recently developed artificial muscles for robot motion. Their solution offers several advantages over previous technologies: It can be used wherever robots need to be soft rather than rigid or where they need more sensitivity when interacting with their environment.

Many roboticists dream of building robots that are not just a combination of metal or other hard materials and motors but also softer and more adaptable.

Continue reading “Soft artificial muscles developed for robot motion” »