Designing a mechanical heart that mimics the natural flow of blood is no small feat. At Linköping University in Sweden, researchers have used advanced imaging techniques to study blood movement inside a pulsating artificial heart. This work is helping engineers refine the device to reduce complications such as blood clots and red blood cell damage. The team partnered with Scandinavian Real Heart AB and used magnetic resonance imaging to observe how blood flows through the artificial heart in real time. By comparing these patterns to those in a healthy human heart, they identified areas where turbulence or stagnation could pose…

Understanding how the human lung responds to infection is a complex challenge. A team from Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt University has created a lung-on-a-chip that includes a functioning immune system, offering a new way to study respiratory diseases and test treatments. This miniature device contains living human cells arranged to replicate the structure and behavior of a real lung, and it can circulate immune cells that respond to pathogens in real time. When researchers introduced a severe influenza virus, the chip reacted with inflammation and immune cell activation, closely mirroring human biology. This allows scientists to observe how lungs respond…

In emergency medicine, realism matters. Simulated training tools often fall short when it comes to replicating the feel and behavior of actual human tissue. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new 3D printing method that creates lifelike tissue models designed to improve hands-on medical training. These printed tissues mimic the mechanical properties of skin and organs, including directional strength and bleeding behavior, offering a more accurate experience for trainees. The innovation uses anisotropic voxel structures and embedded fluid capsules to simulate how real tissue responds to pressure, cutting, and manipulation. When sliced, the capsules release a blood-like…

Not all wounds heal at the same pace, and chronic wounds can be especially difficult to treat. Engineers at the University of California, Santa Cruz have created a smart bandage called a-Heal that uses artificial intelligence and bioelectronics to monitor and accelerate healing. The device combines a small camera, machine learning, and therapeutic delivery in one wearable system. Every two hours, a-Heal captures images of the wound and analyzes them using an AI model. If healing is slower than expected, the system responds by applying either fluoxetine to reduce inflammation or an electric field to stimulate cell migration. This closed-loop approach allows for personalized treatment based on real-time data. The AI model, developed by Marcella Gomez, uses reinforcement learning to adapt its strategy over time. It learns from each patient’s healing progress and adjusts interventions accordingly. The device also sends updates to a secure web interface, so clinicians can monitor recovery remotely. Tests conducted with the University of California Davis showed that wounds treated with a-Heal healed about 25 percent faster than those receiving standard care. The device attaches to a regular bandage and operates wirelessly, making it easy to use in both clinical and home settings. This technology represents a major advance in personalized wound care. By integrating sensing, diagnosis, and treatment into one system, a-Heal could help patients recover faster and reduce the burden on healthcare providers.

Replacing batteries in medical implants often requires surgery, which adds risk and cost. Researchers at RMIT University have developed a new material that could eliminate the need for batteries altogether. Their device combines titanium with microscopic diamond particles to generate electricity from fluid movement and receive wireless power through tissue. This breakthrough could lead to smarter, longer-lasting implants such as stents, drug delivery systems, and prosthetics. The device works passively, harvesting energy from flowing liquids like blood and receiving wireless signals without active electronics. This makes it safer and more compatible with the human body. Dr. Arman Ahnood and his…

Monoclonal antibodies are vital tools in modern medicine, used to treat everything from cancer to autoimmune diseases. Producing them efficiently, however, remains a challenge. Scientists at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation have developed a new biosensing platform that could revolutionize how these antibodies are manufactured. The system allows researchers to monitor antibody secretion from cells in real time, making it easier to identify the most productive cell lines. The platform combines a photonic crystal biosensor with a microtranswell chip, enabling precise tracking of antibody output from hybridoma cells. This setup reduces the need for traditional end-point assays, which are…

Walking may seem effortless, but for many people with neurological conditions or age-related mobility issues, it can be a daily challenge. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new smart insole that could make walking safer and more manageable by monitoring foot pressure in real time. The device fits inside any shoe and contains over 170 thin, flexible sensors that track how weight is distributed across the foot. This data can help identify imbalances that often lead to falls. The insole was created using screen-printed nanomaterials and piezoresistive sensors, a technique that keeps costs low and makes…

A multidisciplinary team at Politecnico di Milano in Italy has developed BAMBI (Balloon Against Maternal BleedIng), a low-cost medical device designed to stop postpartum hemorrhage (PPH)—a leading cause of maternal death in low-resource regions. The device is now entering clinical trials, marking a critical step toward global deployment. The concept originated with gynecologist Alberto Zanini, who witnessed the devastating impact of PPH during volunteer work in Africa and Southeast Asia. He partnered with researchers from Politecnico di Milano’s Departments of Chemistry, Mechanics, and Design to engineer a solution that could be safely used even in facilities lacking specialized personnel. BAMBI’s…

Researchers at the University of Osaka have introduced a novel technique for recording brain activity by threading ultra-thin electrodes through blood vessels, offering a safer and less invasive alternative to traditional neurosurgical methods. This approach could reshape how clinicians diagnose and treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy, and it opens new possibilities for advanced brain-computer interfaces. Conventional methods for capturing brain signals typically involve removing part of the skull to place electrodes on the brain’s surface or inserting them directly into brain tissue. These procedures carry significant risks, including infection, inflammation, and long recovery times. Non-invasive techniques like EEG are…

Researchers at Rice University have developed a soft, programmable metamaterial that can rapidly change its shape and size when activated remotely, offering a new foundation for safer and more versatile medical devices. This innovation could revolutionize how implantable and ingestible systems are designed, especially for applications that require flexibility, durability, and precise control inside the body. Unlike traditional materials that rely on chemical composition for their properties, metamaterials derive their behavior from their physical structure. The Rice team, led by mechanical engineer Yong Lin Kong, created a fiber-like material composed of trapezoidal segments and reinforced beams. These geometric features allow…