University of California at Berkeley researchers have developed a smartphone-based device that examines the retina and acts as a user-friendly version of the optometrist’s ophthalmoscope. Daniel Fletcher and his students developed the handheld ophthalmoscope by pairing the imaging capabilities of a smartphone with software that is designed to examine the retina. “The advanced technology built
FDA clears device that treats diabetic foot ulcers for market
December 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The FDA announced today that it has cleared the Dermapace System diabetic foot ulcer treatment device for market. Dermapace System is the first shockwave device to treat foot ulcers caused by diabetes, according to the device’s creator Sanuwave. “Diabetes is the leading cause of lower limb amputations,” Binita Ashar, director of the division of surgical
Why Bigfoot Biomedical’s CEO thinks the diabetes industry has a data problem
September 29, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Bigfoot Biomedical‘s chief executive is excited about Abbott‘s (NYSE:ABT) latest regulatory win – and it’s not just because the two companies have an established partnership. Yesterday, the FDA approved Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre Flash continuous glucose monitoring system. It’s the first device of its kind, allowing patients to track their blood glucose levels without the use […]
This smart mat can predict the onset of foot ulcers
September 12, 2017 By Leave a Comment
A Massachusetts Institute of Technology hackathon participant developed a smart mat that helps detect early warning signs of foot ulcers. Jon Bloom, co-founder of startup company Podimetrics, developed a mat that can detect foot ulcers before they happen and reduce the number of amputations occurring. Bloom completed his residency in anesthesiology at Massachusetts General Hospital in
Dexcom partners with Fitbit for glucose-monitoring tech
September 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Dexcom (NSDQ:DXCM) and Fitbit (NYSE:FIT) have partnered to develop and market continuous glucose monitoring technology for people with diabetes, the companies announced today. The companies plan to integrate Dexcom’s CGM data with Fitbit’s new smartwatch, the Fitbit Ionic, so CGM users on Android or iOS devices can see their activity and glucose levels on their […]
How Bigfoot Biomedical wants to disrupt diabetes care
July 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Bigfoot Biomedical is a highly competitive player in medtech’s race to develop an artificial pancreas. The 50-person company has made rapid progress towards developing a smart, automated insulin delivery system since its beginnings in 2014. Just yesterday Bigfoot announced that it is partnering with Abbott, bringing together Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring tech and Bigfoot’s insulin
Hydrogel tech boosts success of transplanted insulin-producing cells
June 5, 2017 By Leave a Comment
A hydrogel material embedded with a protein to improve blood vessel growth may boost the success rate of transplanting insulin-producing islet cells into patients with Type I diabetes, according to a preclinical study published in the journal Science Advances. In the newly-published work, supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,
9 diabetes breakthroughs you need to know
May 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce and respond to insulin. Tens of millions of people have diabetes in the U.S, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of that number, 8.1 million go undiagnosed. One of the most popular breakthroughs in diabetes research has been the artificial pancreas,
Artificial pancreas: These companies are racing to make one
May 24, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Medical device companies are close to achieving the holy grail of diabetes treatment: a combined glucose sensor, control algorithm and insulin infusion device that effectively acts as an “artificial pancreas.” We explain more in our newest Medical Design & Outsourcing video. (And for a deeper dive, check out our recent roundup of companies in the
This contact lenses breakthrough could enable glucose monitoring
April 4, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Biosensing contact lenses may not be able to self-heal like “The Terminator,” but they could measure blood glucose and detect other signs of disease in the future. Oregon State University researchers are set to present a study that suggests transparent biosensors that are embedded into contact lenses could provide insight for doctors and patients without
7 companies in the race to make an artificial pancreas
March 31, 2017 By 11 Comments
Over 50 years ago, scientists discovered the ability to externally control blood glucose regulation for individuals with type 1 diabetes. Since then, researchers in the field of diabetes management have dreamt of creating a closed-loop system – a combined glucose sensor, control algorithm and insulin infusion device – to effectively act as an “artificial pancreas”
The top medtech stories of early 2017
March 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The new Trump administration and Republican Congress – and all the accompanying change and uncertainty –is the major story for the medical device industry. But there are many other medtech stories worth noting from the first quarter of 2017. There was an FDA warning over Abbott’s Absorb bioresorbable stent, a continued spate of M&A deals, a
MedCrypt and QuiO partner to protect devices from cyberattacks
February 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment
MedCrypt and QuiO have announced an integration partnership for a set of cloud-connected injection devices known as the Smartinjector devices to provide safe data transfers of patient prescriptions and injections. OuiO will receive software security with this partnership for its Si One, for specialty drugs, and Si Pen, for diabetes patients. MedCrypt’s software will be
Continuous glucose monitoring lowers blood sugar, Swedish study says
February 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment
A new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden has shown that there was a significant decrease in blood sugar levels and an increased well-being for people with type 1 diabetes over time with the use of a continuous glucose monitor. The study included 161 people with an average age
UVA developing smartphone-controlled artificial pancreas
January 3, 2017 By 2 Comments
University of Virginia (UVA) researchers are working on changing the lives of diabetic patients with an artificial pancreas that can be controlled using a smartphone. An artificial pancreas is a system that mimics the function of a healthy pancreas and regulates glucose. The system that UVA researchers developed is a two-part system. A smartphone uses
