National Science Foundation

Wireless Implantable Vascular Monitoring System

Vascular diseases are public enemy number one: the leading killers worldwide, accounting for nearly a third of all human deaths on the planet. Continuous monitoring of hemodynamics - blood flow through the vascular system - can improve treatments and patient outcomes. Researchers are trying to improve the odds for patients with development of an implantable soft electronic monitoring system. Their new device, consisting of a smart stent and printed soft sensors, is capable of wireless real-time monitoring of hemodynamics without batteries or circuits.

New Miniature Heart Could Help Speed Heart Disease Cures

An interdisciplinary team of engineers, biologists, and geneticists has developed a new way of studying the heart: they've built a miniature replica of a heart chamber from a combination of nanoengineered parts and human heart tissue. There are no springs or external power sources—like the real thing, it just beats by itself, driven by the live heart tissue grown from stem cells.

Joystick-Operated Robot Could Help Surgeons Treat Stroke Remotely

Engineers have developed a telerobotic system to help surgeons quickly and remotely treat patients experiencing a stroke or aneurysm. With a modified joystick, surgeons in one hospital may control a robotic arm at another location to safely operate on a patient during a critical window of time that could save the patient's life and preserve their brain function.

A Fabric That Hears Your Heart Beat

Inspired by the human ear, a new acoustic fabric converts audible sounds into electrical signals.

Imitation Red Blood Cells to Deliver Lifesaving Drugs

From the liver to the kidneys to the lungs, the human body is equipped with many levels of filters, which protect the body from harmful outside materials. But this system also has its downsides. Critically important drugs such as chemotherapy or multiple sclerosis treatments are also foreign materials, so the body filters out a large portion of these drugs - up to 90%, in some cases.

Robotic Assistive Device Helps Infants with Movement Difficulties

Researchers have received a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a robotic assistive device to help infants with movement difficulties. The soft wearable device will fit over little arms to support them or offer an extra boost in their movements.

Trial of Exoskeleton Technology for Children with Cerebral Palsy

A major, five-year clinical trial to test a treatment strategy for children with cerebral palsy using patented and patent-pending inventions comprising a lightweight, wearable robotic device that provides neuromuscular training while making walking easier.

SkyNano LLC

SkyNano LLC is a Tennessee-based start-up focusing on the electrochemical production of carbon additives using greenhouse gases as inputs. In October 2021, IDTechEx Technology Analyst Dr. Hydra Rodrigues spoke to Dr. Anna Douglas, Co-Founder & CEO of SkyNano Technologies.

Sustainable and Scalable Manufacturing of Microelectronics

Presentation on Sustainable and Scalable Manufacturing of Microelectronics Using Directed Assembly of Nanomaterials, given as a Keynote at TechConnect 2021 by Ahmed Busnaina, W. L. Smith Professor, Distinguished University Professor and Director of The Advanced Nanomanufacturing Cluster for Smart Sensors and Materials and the NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing Northeastern University, Boston, USA.

SPEC Sensors LLC

Tess Skyrme interviewed Ed Stetter, co-founder of SPEC sensors to discuss their business producing screen-printed electrochemical gas sensors, with primarily low-cost applications for OEMs in the safety, industry, air quality and health markets.

Engineers Invent Ultra-Fast Manufacturing Technology

A team of engineers has invented new technology that could forever change the manufacturing of wearable, electronic sensors. They've figured out a way to speed up production without having to use polymer binders - the industry standard in printing flexible sensors, which are often used to monitor vital signs in health care settings.

The Hidden Potential of High Efficiency Solar Cells

One of the greatest challenges of solar cells is the Shockley-Queisser limit, the assumption that there is a fundamental limit to the amount of energy a solar cell can absorb and convert into usable energy.

Nanofabrication of Electronics and Sensors

Paper on Nanofabrication of Electronics and Sensors Based on Directed Assembly of Nanomaterials by ZhiminChai, Anthony Childress, and Ahmed A. Busnaina

Which COVID-19 Patients Are Most Likely to Need Ventilators?

Researchers are developing a computational tool to help medical staff decide which patients will need the most extensive treatment for COVID-19.

Tiny Robot Earns World Record

The creator hopes his robots can someday be used to solve tricky engineering problems by emulating talented creatures like squid or mice that can seamlessly squeeze themselves like liquid into tight places. Biology, particularly insects, still surpass their robotic counterparts in almost every aspect, but he hopes to develop robots in the next decade that are significantly better at mimicking natural systems.

New Technology Solution for Breastfeeding Mothers

Nextiles' patent-protected manufacturing process blends traditional sewing techniques with printed circuit boards to embed flexible sensors directly into fabrics for the new mom uniform - a breastfeeding-friendly bra.

Bipedal Robot Learns to Run and Completes 5 Kilometres

Cassie the robot has made history by traversing 5 kilometers, completing the route in just over 53 minutes.

Nextiles Launches Software Development Kit

Nextiles announced a newly designed software development kit that will enable any existing application to access Nextiles' software platform and leverage its novel human movement analytics to build custom algorithms and partner-specific metrics.

Bridge Energy to be Harvested in Pioneering Research Project

Unused energy trapped within bridges is to be harvested in a major new international project. Traffic and wind regularly cause low frequency vibrations to ripple through bridge building materials such as steel and concrete. This energy would normally travel away from its source before dissipating but academics have recognised an opportunity. They intend to capture and recycle this untapped source by using the principles of physics.

Detecting Gravitational Waves with Artificial Intelligence

A new production-scale AI framework that allows for accelerated, scalable and reproducible detection of gravitational waves.