Researchers at Radboud University Medical Center, in collaboration with the University of Twente, have developed a retina-on-chip platform that combines patient-derived retinal organoids with microelectrode arrays to evaluate the functional impact of gene therapies for rare inherited eye diseases. These conditions often lead to progressive vision loss and are difficult to treat due to the complexity of retinal structure and the limited availability of human tissue for testing. The new system allows scientists to measure electrical responses to light stimuli in lab-grown retinal tissue, providing insight into whether experimental therapies restore visual signal transmission. Retinal organoids are three-dimensional cell cultures…

A research team at Waseda University has developed a soft, integrated smart contact lens capable of real time intraocular pressure monitoring using ultra sensitive wireless technology. The innovation is designed to support early diagnosis and management of glaucoma, a chronic eye disease that affects millions and remains a leading cause of blindness. Existing tools for measuring intraocular pressure are bulky, non portable, and incapable of continuous monitoring, which limits their effectiveness in daily use. The new lens addresses these limitations by embedding a thin film sensor directly into a wearable contact lens platform. The sensor is based on a cracked…

A research team at the Institute of Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a soft, biodegradable wireless implant capable of monitoring internal physiological signals over long distances and wide angles. The device is designed to overcome major limitations in current passive implantable sensors, which typically require extremely close readout distances and strict alignment between the sensor and the external reader. These constraints make clinical use difficult, especially when the implant is located deep within the body or when patient movement alters the sensor’s orientation. The new system uses a passive inductor capacitor resonant circuit, allowing the implant…

A new soft, hair thin probe developed at Northwestern University is introducing a way to continuously monitor fetal vital signs during in utero surgery, a capability that has not been possible with existing tools. In current procedures, surgeons rely on intermittent ultrasound readings taken from outside the pregnant patient’s body, which can miss rapid changes in fetal condition. The new device is designed to provide uninterrupted measurements of heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and temperature from inside the uterus, offering a more reliable view of fetal well being throughout surgery. The probe is thin enough to pass through the same…

A research team at Koç University in Istanbul, Turkey has developed a wireless, light driven optoelectronic stimulation technology designed to help people with retinal degenerative diseases that currently have no curative treatment. Retinal degeneration affects millions worldwide and leads to progressive vision loss as photoreceptor cells deteriorate. Existing retinal implants face significant limitations because they rely on bulky components, complex wiring, or high intensity visible light, all of which can restrict clinical usability. The newly developed system aims to overcome these barriers by providing a safer, more efficient, and more flexible method of stimulating surviving retinal neurons. The research centers…

A research team at Virginia Commonwealth University is developing highly realistic hydrogel based rat brain models to better understand how physical forces travel through brain tissue during traumatic events. This work focuses on the physics of traumatic brain injury, an area where the biological consequences are well documented but the underlying mechanical forces remain difficult to measure directly. By creating soft, anatomically accurate phantoms that mimic the mechanical behavior of real brain tissue, the team aims to generate controlled, repeatable data that can clarify how impacts translate into tissue deformation and potential damage. The hydrogel models are designed to replicate…

Severe skeletal muscle injuries, especially volumetric muscle loss where large portions of muscle are destroyed, remain difficult to treat because the body struggles to regenerate such extensive damage on its own. Addressing this challenge, researchers at the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a fully biodegradable, self powered implantable electrical stimulation system designed to enhance muscle repair. The device, called the muscle defect electrical stimulation (MD ES) system, delivers controlled electrical cues directly to injured tissue without relying on external power sources or bulky hardware, aiming to provide sustained therapeutic stimulation while maintaining patient…

A soft, flexible wearable device developed at the University of Cambridge is offering a new noninvasive way for stroke survivors to recover natural speech by decoding neuromuscular signals from the throat. Many people who experience post stroke speech impairments retain full cognitive understanding of language but struggle to produce spoken words. The “Revoice” device is designed as a comfortable choker that captures subtle vibrations from throat muscles along with heart rate signals. These signals are processed using artificial intelligence models trained to reconstruct intended speech in real time, allowing users to communicate more naturally than with traditional assistive technologies. Revoice…

A new saliva based diagnostic tool developed at the University of Waterloo is being positioned as a faster and more objective way to identify concussions in real time. The technology was created by HeadFirst, a startup co-founded by a Waterloo alumnus who drew on his own experiences with sports related head injuries to address the long standing challenge of subjective concussion assessments. Traditional sideline evaluations depend heavily on self reported symptoms and observational checklists, which can be unreliable when athletes minimize or fail to recognize signs of injury. The new device instead measures a specific biomarker released by the brain…

Researchers at Pusan National University have developed a light activated tissue adhesive patch designed to rapidly and securely seal tears in the dura mater, the protective membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Dural tears, whether accidental or intentional during neurosurgery, can lead to cerebrospinal fluid leakage that increases the risk of headaches, delayed healing, and serious infections. Existing sealants and suturing techniques often struggle to provide a reliable watertight closure and can swell excessively, compressing nearby brain tissue or causing unwanted adhesions. The new patch aims to solve these problems by combining strong, controllable adhesion with minimal swelling and…