Harvard Medical School

Tethered soft exosuit reduces metabolic cost of running

Researchers have demonstrated that a tethered soft exosuit can reduce the metabolic cost of running on a treadmill by 5.4%.

Shedding light on how humans walk...with robots

With the recent boom of the robotic exoskeleton industry, more and more patients are being strapped into machines that apply forces to their legs as they walk, gently prodding them to modify their movements by lengthening their strides, straightening their hips, and bending their knees. But, are all patients benefiting from this kind of treatment?

Bionic Eye Technologies

In this profile, Alexis Karandrea reports on correspondence with Richard Birney, the CEO of Bionic Eye Technologies, Inc., and the retinal implant technology they are developing.

Stretchy optical fibers for implanting in the body

Researchers have developed a biocompatible and highly stretchable optical fiber made from hydrogel — an elastic, rubbery material composed mostly of water. The fiber, which is as bendable as a rope of licorice, may one day be implanted in the body to deliver therapeutic pulses of light or light up at the first sign of disease.

Drug-dispensing contact lens

A contact lens designed to deliver medication gradually to the eye could improve outcomes for patients with conditions requiring treatment with eye drops, which are often imprecise and difficult to self-administer.

Tough new hydrogel hybrid doesn't dry out

Engineers have found a way to prevent hydrogels from dehydrating, with a technique that could lead to longer-lasting contact lenses, stretchy microfluidic devices, flexible bioelectronics, and even artificial skin.

Bionic leaf turns sunlight into liquid fuel

The days of drilling into the ground in the search for fuel may be numbered, because if Daniel Nocera has his way, it'll just be a matter of looking for sunny skies.

Printing metal in midair

The increasing demand for flexible, wearable electronics, sensors, antennas, and biomedical devices has led a research team to innovate an eye-popping way of printing complex metallic architectures as though seemingly suspended in midair.

Wearable exosuits for patients with limited mobility

The soft exosuit — which is a soft wearable robot that is the first of its kind — was developed through extensive prototyping that included the involvement of roboticists, mechanical and biomechanical engineers, apparel designers, and software engineers.

New material temporarily tightens skin

Scientists have developed a new material that can temporarily protect and tighten skin, and smooth wrinkles. With further development, it could also be used to deliver drugs to help treat skin conditions such as eczema and other types of dermatitis.

Wearable tech for detecting, treating allergy attacks

Partnership to advance research and development efforts in the early detection and treatment of anaphylaxis.

New frontiers in 3D printing

Three dimensional printing is revolutionizing the production of new devices and structures, including soft robots, flexible electronics and engineered tissue replacements, but advances have been challenged by the inherent complexity of integrating multiple materials.

Researchers use bacteria to convert solar energy into liquid fuel

Scientists have created a system that uses bacteria to convert solar energy into a liquid fuel.

Smart bandage emits phosphorescent glow for healing below

Researchers have created a paint-on, see-through, smart bandage that glows to indicate a wound's tissue oxygenation concentration.

New coating turns ordinary glass into super-slippery glass

A new transparent, bioinspired coating makes ordinary glass tough, self-cleaning and incredibly slippery according to Researchers

Microbial fuel cell-based charger for mobile phones

A project to use dirt-powered batteries to charge cell phones in Africa has won a $100,000 grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

RFID experience highlights from Smart Labels USA

The following is a summary of user's experiences, as they reported it, from the fourth Smart Labels USA conference in June