Doctor visits may soon get a bit less scary with a new needle-free injector able to deliver precise doses of medicine with different levels of force. The injector will use a Lorentz-force actuator to deliver a high-pressure jet of medicine through the skin without the need for a needle. The actuator will work through a powerful magnet surrounded by a coil of wire attached to a piston inside the drug ampoule. An applied current will interact with the magnetic field to push the...

It was found that transplanting a mother's stem cells into her fetus could be a treatment for genetic blood diseases before birth. Stem cell transplants could prepare the fetus for a bone-marrow transplant from a tissue matched donor after birth. Standard bone-marrow transplants usually require the recipient to take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their life, but a dose of maternal tissue matched donor cells could prime the developing fetus's immature immune system for...

I suggest developing a new noninvasive technique to help monitor brain pressure while reducing patient discomfort and the risk of infection. The method will use an algorithm to calculate intercranial pressure based on arterial blood pressure. Arterial blood flow will be measured with a simple device similar to a blood pressure cuff, much less invasive than the conventional drill and catheter used by surgeons.

It will be great to have a device to help doctors identify suspicious moles that may require a biopsy. The device will scan for molecules with relative concentrations characteristic of melanoma. Shining a laser light on the molecular bonds will cause a shift in the reflected light, which will enable the doctors to identify the types and concentration of molecules, and whether or not a biopsy is necessary. With such a technology it will be possible to reduce the number of...

A new method of delivering eye medicine through contact lenses could ensure a more controlled and thorough dosing of medication. The contacts will come in two varieties- disposable daily wear and 30 day extended wear. The medication will be released slowly, controlled by drug memory in the lens structure. The lenses could make life more comfortable for patients who have to administer eye medications daily.

The recent researches showed that men with type-1 diabetes might soon be able to grow new insulin cells using their own testicular tissue. Sperm cells have the genes needed to become embryonic stem cells. They might be a safer treatment than stem-cell therapies (which can actually result in rejection).

It would be great to have a quicker test for tuberculosis. The standard diagnostic test for TB cannot detect forms that are resistant to drugs, and cell culture tests can take several weeks. With a new test the results are supposed to be ready in a couple of hours and determine if the patient has TB and whether or not it is drug resistant. Early detection of TB can drastically cut down on transference of the disease.

Why not create small pacemakers that can be inserted by a catheter, eliminating the need for invasive surgery? The pacemaker is supposed to be injected under the clavicle, where intercardiac leads then carry surges of electricity to the heart. The electricity will be sent exactly where it will needed, resulting in greater efficiency and less power requirements. Since the procedure is less invasive, it will be a simpler procedure to learn.

The idea is to develop an insulin delivery device able to control blood glucose levels overnight, automatically dispensing insulin as needed. The artificial pancreas will use a closed loop insulin delivery system to monitor the insulin levels in people with type 1 diabetes. The system will took insulin level readings every 15 minutes, and automatically dispense the correct amount of insulin.

Why not create a urine bag sensor which will be equipped with wireless technology, enabling it to send a message about the fill status and fluid temperature to any selected device? The device will consist of a fluid sensor, software, and wireless communication capabilities, and will be used with a conventional urine bag. Such a bag is supposed to help to reduce urine spills as well as monitor rising bladder temperature, which can serve as an early warning for infections.