3-D printed bones could function as models for patient cases, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and helping surgeons prepare for complicated operations. The printed bones cost around $150 and can be completed in one week. A combination of available software programs and internet resources is used to create the models of bones. It is then possible to print the bones from a 3D CT scan.

A new contact lens will be able to deliver anesthetic over an extended time in uniform doses, providing better comfort for post-eye surgery patients. The lenses will be created specifically with laser eye surgery patients in mind. The dosing them with vitamin E will extend the time of release of 3 common anesthetics from 2 hours to a whole day. The vitamin E will also function as a barrier, keeping the medication on the eye.

A new HIV test able to deliver results visible to the naked eye could greatly benefit impoverished countries that lack sophisticated laboratories. The test involves adding serum from a blood sample to a solution of gold nanoparticles that react in a specific way when exposed to the HIV biomarker p24. If p24 is present, the nanoparticles will gather in an irregular pattern that turns the solution blue, while the absence of p24 will cause the nanoparticles to separate into ball...

1. Schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as your toothache turns from twinge to pain. Most home toothache remedies are aimed at getting rid of toothache pain, not solving the problem at the root of the toothache. 2. Numb and soothe the pain of your toothache with gentle heat and cold. Hold a hot or cold pack, or ice cubes wrapped in a towel, to your jaw next to your aching tooth. Sip hot soup broth, hot tea, or eat some ice cream. If your toothache is sensitive to...

The idea is to develop a test for acute pancreatitis that can perform much faster than conventional tests while costing just a dollar to manufacture. The sensor will consist of an LED light, milk protein, aluminum foil, gelatin, and a few other low cost materials. The sensor won't require any external energy source, and will able to detect acute pancreatitis within an hour with just drop of blood and, a bit later, a drop of lye. If the blood has high levels of trypsin (indicative...

I wish we had a vaccine for lung cancer, which could turn the deadly disease to a manageable illness. The vaccine would work by attacking the harmful mechanisms of lung cancer. The active ingredient would be based on a commonly found protein in victims of uncontrolled cancer, and could make cancer manageable by creating antibodies against the proteins that signal the uncontrolled cell cancerous cell growth.

Why not create a new fabric able to release active substances over time, delivering medicines through the skin of the wearer? The fabric will include a 'donor layer' which will coat each fiber. The wearer's own body warmth, perspiration, and vibration will cause the fabric to release its medicine at a controllable rate. The fabric will be washed in any conventional washing machine and then re-supplied with medicine.

The idea is to use silk to develop a new form of microneedle, which will deliver medication painlessly, more regularly, and will be manufactured without harsh chemicals. The microneedles will be created by casting a drug-filled silk protein over a negative mold. The process will be completed at room temperature and normal pressure, and the resulting needle will be bio-compatible. The application of tetracycline to the silk protein will help control the growth of the staph...

A new device will make it easier to monitor patients who are at risk for strokes without the need for invasive tests. Knows as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the small, thin device will attach to the patient's forehead like a sticker. It will measure blood oxygen levels in the brain using near-infrared light to penetrate the skin and reach the brain tissue, and readings can be taken simply by shining a light on the patient's brow. NIRS could replace the current methods of...

The clamp is a quick and effective way to slow the bleeding of traumatic wounds in the field. The plastic clamp includes long curved needles along its 'jaws'. The curved needles allow the wound to be drawn up into the device, where it is held with an even pressure that allows the blood underneath to form a clot and slow bleeding until further medical help is available.