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The Third Eye Retroscope from Avantis Medical Systems (Sunnyvale, CA) is getting some good reviews in two studies just published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The device works in conjunction with a standard colonoscope to look behind, kind of like a rear view mirror in a car. And as designed, this device is proving valuable in spotting polyps that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. From an Avantis Medical press release: The first study was led by Dr. Jerome D. Waye, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Titled “A Retrograde-Viewing Device Improves Detection of Adenomas in the Colon: A Prospective Efficacy Evaluation,” the study involved 14 investigators and 249 patients at 8 medical centers in the U.S.1 The investigators found that the Third Eye improved detection and removal of polyps by 13.2% compared to the colonoscope alone. For adenomas, the polyps that are most likely to become cancers over time, the additional detection rate with the Third Eye was 11.0% for lesions of all sizes. For medium-size adenomas (at least 6 mm in diameter), the additional detection rate with the Third Eye was 25.0%, and for large adenomas (at least 10 mm), they found 33.3% more with the Third Eye. Thus, the Third Eye not only allowed for identification of more polyps, but its greatest yield was in the detection of larger adenomas, which are further along in the progression to cancer. The second study was led by Dr. Daniel C. DeMarco, Director of Endoscopy at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX. Titled “Impact of Experience with a Retrograde-Viewing Device on Adenoma Detection Rates and Withdrawal Times during Colonoscopy: the Third Eye Retroscope Study Group,” the study involved 298 patients at 9 U.S. sites, and was conducted by 17 investigators who had not previously used the device.2 Overall, beginning with the very first time they used the device, the Third Eye allowed the investigators to find 16.0% more adenomas in addition to those they were able to find with the colonoscope alone. However, after each investigator had gained some experience with the device by performing 15 procedures, their average additional adenoma detection rate with the Third Eye compared to the colonoscope alone was 25.0%. Again considering their overall results from start to finish, the endoscopists found a higher proportion of larger pre-cancerous adenomas that were hidden from the colonoscope by folds, including 24.3% more adenomas at... Michael

Next week at the Intercompany Long Term Care Insurance Conference (ILTCI) in New Orleans, Robosoft a company out of Bidart, France, will unveil a new robot that can assist the elderly and dependent in their own home. Although the video below spotlights some impressive capabilities, the robot has no hands to bring you a cup of water and is essentially a Dell laptop on wheels. From Robosoft's press release: Kompaï is intended to help dependent persons in their daily lives. It is a mobile and communicative product. Somewhat like a dog, it has its "basket", which is the recharging dock that it heads back to when its batteries are low. Equipped with speech, it is able to understand simple orders and give a certain level of response. It knows its position within the house, how to get from one point to another on demand or on its own initiative, and it remains permanently connected to the internet and all its associated services. Its primary means of communication with people is speech, with an additional touch screen that features simple icons. Future generations of Kompaï will be equipped with visual abilities, and also the possibility to understand and express emotions. And later, the addition of arms will allow it to handle objects, leading to meal preparation and tidying; more practical functions, yet still fundamental in everyday life. Press release: Robosoft introduces Kompaï...... Michael

St. Jude Medical is touting results of a recently published study that analyzed the clinical benefits of frequent and regular left atrial pressure (LAP) monitoring in patients with heart failure. In the study, patients wore a special device, called HeartPOD, that monitored their LAP and routed the data wirelessly to their cardiologist. The physician, in turn, was able to adjust the prescription drug dosage taken by the patient on a daily basis. The results show that this leads to better overall outcomes for patients and a greater understanding of the condition for the physicians involved. The above picture was given to us by St. Jude Medical. And we think it has a clue as to the future of this technology. Imagine this kind of monitoring shows more and more positive outcomes in the future clinical studies, and it wins all needed regulatory approvals. One day we might be seeing these pressure monitoring sensors embedded into the electrodes of AICDs and pacemakers. Wouldn't that be neat? Results from this study demonstrated that regular monitoring of LAP in combination with a dynamically adjusted prescription plan can be used to drive appropriate adjustment of HF treatments, and as a result, improved LAP control and reduction of HF events that may result in hospitalization or death. Following implantation of an LAP sensor, all subjects in the study were free of major adverse cardiac and neurological events at six weeks, meeting the trial's primary endpoint. Over a median follow-up of 25 months, LAP control was achieved for at least six consecutive months in 76 percent of patients, with a 67 percent reduction in the frequency of elevated LAP readings (over 25 mmHg). Throughout this same period, there was a significant 84 percent average decrease in HF events including HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality once LAP-guided therapy was initiated. Over the course of treatment, patients also had significant improvements in HF symptoms and quality of life. The report outlined results of the first 40 patients enrolled in the trial; 20 patients enrolled in three Australian or New Zealand sites and 20 patients enrolled in four U.S. sites. The early results of the HOMEOSTASIS trial led to the establishment of the LAPTOP-HF (Left Atrial Pressure Monitoring to Optimize Heart Failure Therapy) Study, a larger pivotal, randomized, controlled, prospective, multi-center clinical investigation. The LAPTOP-HF study will be conducted under a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational... Michael

Nuance Communications (Burlington, MA), makers of the popular Dragon Naturally Speaking voice recognition software, have unveiled new smart phone apps specifically developed for clinical professionals. The Dragon Medical Mobile package provides transcription, medical voice search, and voice recording capabilities. There's also a software development kit (SDK) available to allow other firms to integrate Dragon Medical voice recognition ability into their own applications. By utilizing Nuance's advanced, cloud-based Dragon Medical speech recognition technology, clinicians can dictate and capture information via a smartphone in real-time without having to return to the desktop or rely on the keyboard or touch screen. With Dragon Medical Mobile Dictation, all of the speech recognition is performed in the cloud using advanced real-time streaming capabilities. Utilizing the same cloud-based speech recognition technology as the Dragon Medical Mobile Dictation app, the Search app will allow clinicians to simply speak a request to conduct fast and easy searches on various medical websites. A unique display carousel will show search results simultaneously from popular websites, including MedScape, MedLine, Epocrates and Google. Once recorded, the clinicians' voice file is forwarded through Nuance's background speech recognition technology and onto transcription where a high quality draft document is created and then is sent back to the clinician for review and sign-off. The Dragon Medical Recorder app is designed for healthcare organizations that leverage either of Nuance's enterprise-wide speech-enabled dictation and transcription solutions, eScription or the Dictaphone Enterprise Speech System. Press release: Nuance Extends Power and Experience of Mobile, Voice-Enabled Documentation and Search to the Healthcare Industry; Unveils Dragon Medical Mobile Apps for Smartphones ... Product page: Dragon Medical Mobile Technologies for Smartphones ...... Michael

Rcadia Medical Imaging out of Haifa, Israel won European approval for the COR Analyzer software for identifying coronary artery stenosis from coronary CT angiography (cCTA) data. The app runs on standard PCs and will automatically process CT angiogram studies sent to it over the hospital network. The application then replies whether it identified a stenotic legion, pointing out to radiologists or cardiologists the area of concern. Here's the application workflow and features of the COR Analyzer: Isolate the heart region within a study Find major anatomical structures Locate the coronary artery tree and track the arteries Label coronary artery segments Segment the blood vessel internals and draw an accurate center line Detect severe stenotic lesions Findings can be easily verified and validated using simple visualization tools including standard 2-D projections, schematic 3-D and curved MPR views. The system automatically generates a report which includes a summary of findings and curved MPR snapshots. It can be easily edited by the physician to produce the final report. The automatically generated curved MPR images with marked detected lesions can be exported to any PACS/Workstation either manually or automatically upon completion of processing. These images will appear as secondary capture series for the corresponding study. Main features Detects of significant coronary lesions Displays 3D coronary tree & curved MPRs Generates patient findings' reports Exports to PACS and workstation Runs on any 64-slice or higher CTA scanner Product page: COR Analyzer System ... Press release: Rcadia Medical Imaging's COR Analyzer(R) System Receives CE Mark ... (hat tip: MassDevice)... Michael

Researchers at the City of Paris Industrial Physics and Chemistry Higher Educational Institution (ESPCI) have shown that opaque substances can actually be viewed through, and can be made to perform like optical lenses, using laser light and a bit of mathematics. The technology may allow viewing of cells and other biological components through tissue that would otherwise shield them. In order to demonstrate their approach to characterize opaque substances, the researchers first passed light through a layer of zinc oxide, which is a common component of white paints. By studying the way the light beam changed as it encountered the material, they were able to produce a numerical model called a transmission matrix, which included over 65,000 numbers describing the way that the zinc oxide layer affected light. They could then use the matrix to tailor a beam of light specifically to pass through the layer and focus on the other side. Alternatively, they could measure light emerging from the opaque material, and use the matrix to assemble of an image of an object behind it. In effect, the experiment shows that an opaque material could serve as a high quality optical element comparable to a conventional lens, once a sufficiently detailed transmission matrix is constructed. Abstract in Physical Review Letters: Measuring the Transmission Matrix in Optics: An Approach to the Study and Control of Light Propagation in Disordered Media Viewpoint in APS Physics: The information age in optics: Measuring the transmission matrix More: Physicsists find a way to see through paint, paper, and other opaque materials ...... Michael

ThermalTherapeuticSystems of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania received FDA regulatory approval to market the VERATHERM Portable Hyperthermic Perfusion System in the US. The portable device provides cardiac perfusionists with the ability to regulate and monitor the temperature, pressure and flow of sterile fluids, such as cardioplegia. Features from the product page: Overall Console Dimensions: 12" x 19" x 14.7" [HxWxD] Weight: 26.4 pounds Computer: Touch screen controls, stores and manages procedure data Propulsion: 250-4000mL/min flow range Temperature Source: Direct thermoelectric Temperature Set-point: Warms fluid to maximum settable 43°C regardless of liquid or base temperature Temperature Monitoring: Built-in direct temperature monitoring In-line Pressure Monitoring: Built-in direct pressure monitoring Disposable: Proprietary design with integrated temperature and pressure sensors efficiently delivers sterile fluids Features: Disposable pressure and temperature sensors are built into the device; telescoping IV pole (37.5" extended height) Use and Location: Portable and fully functional wherever 115 VAC, 50/60Hz, 15 Amp power is available Storage: Shelf, storage closet or table-top Disinfection: Fluid is contained within the disposable set, so that there is no direct console contact with any fluid. This allows for quick and easy disinfection of the console. Press release: ThermalTherapeutic Systems Announces FDA Clearance of the VERATHERM(TM) Portable Hyperthermic Perfusion System ... Product page: VERATHERM Portable Hyperthermic Perfusion System ... (hat tip: MassDevice)... Michael

Biospace Med, maker of X-ray imaging systems out of Paris, France, just received FDA approval to use the firm's sterEOS 2D|3D workstation on pediatric patients to image the spine. The company claims that the system provides imagery competitive to that of CT scanners, but with only .1% of the radiation dose. Patients remain standing while the system simultaneously takes an X-ray from the front and laterally, after which a computer reconstructs the two frames into a three dimensional representation of the spine. This allows for quick imaging of patients in a weight bearing position while significantly reducing their radiation exposure compared with CT. From the press announcement: “FDA clearance for sterEOS pediatric use in spine will have a significant impact on demand for EOS as it will allow for the first time to visualize in 3D the spine deformations in the standing, weigh bearing position and retrieve fundamental clinical parameters for surgical planning. This is all done at a drastically reduced radiation exposure, and enables to repeat exams for a better follow up from childhood to adulthood,” said Peter Newton, M.D., Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, Ca. “Reduction of radiation exposure is especially important for children and adolescents who have scoliosis or other types of musculoskeletal disorders that are being followed on a frequent basis and therefore need to have regular x-rays over a long period of time to watch the progression of their condition and treatment. A technology that can reduce radiation exposure up to 10 times compared to a conventional x-ray and up to 100 or more times compared to a CT scan is a major breakthrough for orthopedic imaging, especially for the pediatric population.” Press release: FDA clears Biospace med's sterEOS 2D|3D workstation for pediatric use in spine... Biospace Med homepage... (hat tip: MassDevice)... Michael

At the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan researchers have been testing the effectiveness of a pulsed electromagnetic field device to help with pain and inflammation management in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. According to Ivivi Health Sciences of San Francisco, California, the maker of SofPulse System, its device produces pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) to induce micro-currents in injured tissues, which in turn are thought to act on the binding kinetics of calcium and calmodulin to increase production of nitric oxide which then reduces inflammation. Paint us skeptical, but hopefully the company is right on the physiology of its device. The findings of the latest study will be presented at this week's Orthopaedic Research Society's annual meeting in New Orleans. From a statement by the Henry Ford Health System: In the double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study, 34 patients used a portable battery-operated device that emits a low-intensity pulsating electromagnetic frequency and experienced more than 40 percent pain relief on their first day. Patients strapped the small, ring-shaped plastic device around their knees for 15 minutes, twice daily for six weeks. The device was lightweight and patients could position the device directly over clothing. All participants were given a device with a coil that appeared to work but some were assigned active coils and others were given non-active coils. Press release: Electromagnetic Pulses Provide Pain Relief ... Product page: Ivivi's SofPulse ...... Michael

Dr. Steven Palter of Docinthemachine was given a chance to check out a new disposable HD endoscopic video camera. The device, made by Olive Medical of Sandy, Utah, has a 1080p resolution and will cost around $300 once regulatory clearance has been obtained. Here's from Dr Palter's post: I had a chance to speak with them about the system and they claim they are using a native HD imaging sensor chip. if so, they would be the first surgical camera system to do so. All other HD systems available today do not natively sense in 1080 but rather employ post imaging processing to upscale and modify the image. Their camera unit also includes integrated still image capture software eliminating the need for yet another $10,000-$30,000 box - although with obviously less features (no video, printer, etc). Here are two videos, one made with a "market-leading endoscopic camera" and the other with the new disposable HD cam. Olive isn't saying which one is which, so judge for yourself: Docinthemachine: First Disposable Single Use HD Endocopic System-DITM Exclusive... Product page: Olive Single-Use HD Camera ...... Michael

N.M.B. Medical Applications of Herzeliya, Israel won FDA approval to market its QUANTUM Composite Nailing System, an intramedullary system designed for treatment of long bone fractures. The nail is made of a composite material called Endolign, developed by Invibio of Lancashire, UK, reinforced by carbon fiber, so the whole system is compatible for MRI during follow-ups. The nailing system already received European CE Mark of approval and will now be also marketed in the US. ENDOLIGN is an inherently pure and inert composite of continuous carbon fibers in a PEEK-OPTIMA® polymer matrix, to enable patient/surgeon benefits and advance the treatment of long bone fractures. The nail’s radiolucent properties enable fluoroscopic and CT visualization of the bone fracture site during implantation as well as during follow-up. PEEKOPTIMA’s proven, 10-year+ clinical history of safety as a raw material for implantable devices is another major advantage. The radiolucent QUANTUM Composite Nail incorporates longitudinal marking for easy insertion, positioning and follow-up. Radiopaque markers over the distal interlocking holes enable easier drill trajectory adjustment. A propriety disposable radiolucent drill drive is also available. Excellent tensile strength, stiffness and fatigue behavior allows metal replacement in structural implants. MRI, CT and X-ray compatibility allows artifact-free postoperative images and clear visualization of the healing site. Biocompatibility ensures safe, long-term implantation. Mechanical properties can be tailored to meet a wide range of needs. Press release: N.M.B. Medical Applications Ltd. Obtains FDA Clearance for Marketing its ENDOLIGN-Made QUANTUM Composite Nailing System for Treatment of Humeral Fractures.... Product pages: Quantum Composite Nailing System...; ENDOLIGN Composite...... Michael

According to Dubai authorities, and as reported by ABC News, Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was given a shot of succinylcholine prior to other grossly things done to his body on the fateful (for him) day of January 19, 2010. And since your humble correspondent is an anesthesiologist by day, and by call at night, let me tell you why succinylcholine is such a perfect murder weapon. The best poisons usually have three things in common: small effective dose, also called Median Lethal Dose (or LD50), ease of administration, and rapid and definitive action. The fourth characteristic, the difficulty in detection by a forensics team is a big premium that most poisons don't posses. Most poisons, that is, except succinylcholine and maybe a few others. So let's review some science, shall we? Succinylcholine is a muscle relaxant. Anesthesiologists call it "sux". Sux is commonly used before intubations, as it completely relaxes patients. Sux is a rapidly acting depolarizer that can be given intravenously (IV) or intramuscularly (IM). Once administered, succinylcholine circulates in the blood, reaches nicotinic receptors on the surface of muscle cells, and there it imitates the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that our nerves naturally release to make our muscles move. When succinylcholine is given, seconds later the patient fasciculates, and all muscles in his body become depolarized. In essence, sux makes every muscle twitch to the point that it becomes unresponsive to any subsequent stimulation: you can't breathe, you can't even blink. Sux is highly effective. In IV form, 100 mg of sux will depolarize every muscle in the body of a 70kg man in about 20 seconds. And the patient will not be able to take another breath for at least 5 minutes. So without assisted ventilation, he is toast. The IM dose of sux is not much different, but takes a little longer to set in. So there you have it: succinylcholine is an easy to inject poison, it is highly effective, and is guaranteed-to-work quick. The fourth characteristic of succinylcholine is good news for assassins: sux is almost impossible to detect because its metabolites are all naturally occurring molecules. here's how it works. Most molecules of succinylcholine break down in blood into succinylmonocholine and choline, thanks to a circulating enzyme called pseudocholinesterase. The process is so efficient that only a small fraction of sux molecules that were given actually reach neuromuscular junctions in the... Michael

Baseball pitchers are some of the most scrutinized players of any sport because their performance can make or break a game for the rest of the team. Engineering students at Northeastern University have developed a shirt that can be used to closely monitor the characteristics of every pitch served, and whether the player is getting tired or perhaps even causing injury to himself. Here's a video reel from Northeastern about the project: Press release: Pitching an idea ...... Michael

Menssana Research, Inc is touting results from a trial testing its Breathscanner for diagnosing patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Menssana has developed technology that may bring breath testing for a variety of conditions, including the already FDA approved breath test for heart transplant rejection. Some details about the technology from Menssana: The Mycobacteria that cause pulmonary TB generate a very distinctive pattern of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when grown in the laboratory. If these VOCs could also be detected in the breath of infected patients, it might provide a new method for detecting active infection with pulmonary TB. The National Institutes of Health (NIAID) awarded Menssana Research a Phase I SBIR grant to test the feasibility of this idea. We analyzed breath VOCs in hospitalized patients who were being screened for pulmonary TB at New York University Medical Center, New York. We also analyzed the VOCs manufactured by Mycobacteria grown in the laboratory at Saint Vincents Medical Center, New York. We found that breath biomarkers of oxidative stress clearly distinguished between the "sick" hospitalized patients and normal controls. Also, breath VOCs accurately identified the patients whose sputum samples grew Mycobacteria - the VOC biomarkers in breath and in sputum cultures were very similar (see pdf). Based on these encouraging findings, NIH/NIAID awarded Menssana Research a Phase II SBIR grant to validate the breath test for pulmonary TB in a larger multicenter international study performed in San Diego, London, and two sites in the Philippines and Mexico. The results, soon to be published in the journal Tuberculosis showed that the breath test identified active pulmonary TB with 85% accuracy. The US Air Force is currently funding a new study of a point-of-care breath test for active pulmonary TB that delivers results in minutes. Abstract in journal Tuberculosis: Breath biomarkers of active pulmonary tuberculosis Link: Menssaba breath test for pulmonary tuberculosis... Press release: Breath Test for Pulmonary Tuberculosis ... Flashback: The Breathscanner 1.0...... Michael

SynCardia of Tucson, AZ, maker of the CardioWest Total Artificial Heart, has received European approval for the Freedom wearable driver. The device allows patients to get off the "Big Blue" driver that powers their heart in the hospital after implantation, and regain a sense of mobility while on wait for a permanent donated organ. It's not clear how long the batteries last before requiring a recharge. From the announcement: SynCardia hospital drivers support patients from Total Artificial Heart implant until their condition stabilizes. Once stable, European patients will be switched to the Freedom driver and discharged from the hospital to wait for their matching donor heart at home. The Freedom driver weighs 13.5 lbs including two onboard lithium ion batteries and a power adaptor. It can be conveniently carried by the patient in the Freedom Backpack or Shoulder Bag. The Freedom driver is 60% lighter than SynCardia’s older CE approved “proof of concept” portable driver, which weighs approximately 35 lbs and is transported in a wheeled caddy. The Freedom driver uses a “dark cockpit” design philosophy for simple and easy operation. Similar to an airplane cockpit, the system only flashes a light or sounds an alarm when something requires the user’s attention. To make maintenance easier for hospitals, the Freedom driver is serviced by replacement via express delivery. No onsite repair or inventory of parts is required by the hospital. Press release: Freedom Driver System Receives CE Mark to Power SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart in Europe ... Flashbacks: Medgadget's SynCardia archives... Images courtesy of syncardia.com.... Michael

By perusing through the latest stuff coming out of Germany, we found a little press release from Gebrüder Martin GmbH & Co.KG, also known as KLS Martin Group, that profiled the company's new generation of operating lights, named marLED. This operating room fixture runs on what the company calls "Second-Generation LEDs" and is designed to minimize formation of shadows and to deliver a cold, bright light. Furthermore, the marLED can be equipped with KLS Martin's surgiCam SD and HD camera systems, for an intraop procedure recording. The camera can be seen in the picture below. From marLED product page: In this brand-new product line, high-performance LEDs are used as a basis for effective problem solution even where surgical field illumination is difficult. By using a new overall approach in terms of design as well as lighting technology, it was possible to overcome the limits of existing solutions and set new standards regarding shadow prevention and color fidelity. The radically new optical and housing concept also makes a lasting contribution towards facilitating the surgeon's work. The innovative, modern design with its symbiosis of ergonomics and technology gives the operating room a pleasing, state-of-the-art atmosphere. Maximum adaptation of the light field Space-saving design creates room for movement Compatibility with laminar flow systems Ergonomic and perfectly easy operation with sensoTouch and sensoGrip Cool light and excellent shadow compensation Variable color temperature Product pages: marLED; surgiCam Press release: The marLED Lights from KLS Martin ...... Michael

Nanotechnologies are already in use in the cosmetics industry. Nonetheless, nanotechnology will become the next new thing in beauty products and skincare. So says Adnan Nasir, MD, PhD, clinical assistant professor in the department of dermatology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, who recently gave a talk at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology about the capacity of nanotech to improve cosmetic products in the future. From an American Academy of Dermatology: Dr. Nasir explained that when certain ingredients are included in micrometer-sized particles, which are considerably larger than nanosized particles, the result is a product than can be cosmetically unappealing. For example, one common ingredient in broad-spectrum sunscreens, which protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays, is avobenzone, which can make a sunscreen greasy and very noticeable when applied to the skin. Since titanium, another common sunscreen ingredient, requires an oily mixture to dissolve, a white residue can be apparent on the skin upon application. However, when these active ingredients in sunscreens are converted into nanoparticles, they can be suspended in less greasy formulations – which seem to vanish on the skin and do not leave a residue – while retaining their ability to block UVA and UVB light. “While widespread use of this technology is currently under evaluation, I think one of the main benefits of nanoparticles used in sunscreens will be that the particles can fit into all the nooks and crannies of the skin, packing more protection and more even coverage on the skin’s surface than microsized particles,” said Dr. Nasir. “Since sunscreen formulations using nanoparticles may be more cosmetically appealing and seem to vanish when applied, consumers may be more inclined to use them on a regular basis.” Nanotechnology also is generating excitement for its potential use in anti-aging products. When properly engineered, nanomaterials may be able to topically deliver retinoids, antioxidants and drugs such as botulinum toxin or growth factors for rejuvenation of the skin in the future. In anti-aging products, Dr. Nasir added that nanotechnology may allow active ingredients that would not normally penetrate the skin to be delivered to it. For example, vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps fight age-related skin damage which works best below the top layer of skin. In bulk form, vitamin C is not very stable and is difficult to penetrate the skin. However, in future formulations, nanotechnology... Michael

Harcos Laboratories, a small company that normally makes silly energy drinks like Bloodlust, coincidentally a fun gift for the anesthesiologist in your clinic, has created an even more ridiculous product. Although not for sale, the plans to make your own Most Painful Toy Hack Ever are readily available, no doubt accompanied by a list of disclaimers. Essentially it's an EEG that electroshocks you if you concentrate too much on something. It's painful enough to watch and it'll probably turn someone insane within a very short amount of time. So why are we writing about it? Because you just love to read about it. Now for the video, which features all the hallmarks of a purely scientific clinical trial: Link: Most Painful Toy Hack Ever... (hat tip: Engadget)... Michael

Esaote out of Genoa, Italy has released its own RIS/PACS software package, dubbed ESTENSA, for clinical image management. Here are some details about ESTENSA from the press release: ESTENSA shape the future of radiology reporting, being the first to introduce, in the international RIS PACS community, a Structured Report system, that allows radiologists to innovate the way they produce and distribute reports: ESTENSA allows for standardized radiological outcomes and the sharing of all findings, key images, observations and associated measurements with specialists and general practitioners. ESTENSA’s wide range of dedicated analysis packages gets inside CT, MR & PET scans, thanks to the newest 3D image visualization, “virtual navigation” and processing technology, which turns images into clinical decisions and helps for an enterprise-wide distribution of studies and an improvement in exams’s quality and Patient’s safety. Specific functionalities for managing all the activities and high-end tools for streamlined workflow are provided for all those clinical departments external to radiology, which make extensive use of radiological images (Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy, Orthopaedics, Operating Room, etc.). Press release: At European Congress of Radiology ECR 2010 of Wien Esaote presents ESTENSA the newly-conceived RIS/PACS software Here's the Esaote Estensa brochure we obtained from the company.... Michael

Dutch designer Joris Laarman created a desktop lamp that, though will not be good enough to illuminate your workspace, will be sufficient enough to compound and excite your guests. Powered by a mix of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells infused with luciferase, a bioluminescing enzyme, this is essentially light out of life. Friedman Benda, whose gallery will be hosting an exhibit of Mr Laarman's works, spoke with Fast Company about the logistics of displaying the Half Life Lamp project: Sadly, Laarman's attempt to bring a "Half Life Lamp" to New York failed when the stress of the trans-Atlantic trip proved too much for the little critters "They're dead," says Benda. Here's what the lamp looks like in the dark: Fast Company: Joris Laarman Lets His Skeletal Chairs and Hamster Cell Lamps Do Their Own Thing (hat tip: Gizmodo)... Michael