We’re on the ground floor here at CEATEC 2013, where Sharp — which also showed off its Mebius Pad Windows 8.1 — has demonstrated its Health Care Support Chair. With this contraption, which looks at first glance like a high-tech workstation for gaming or computing, clinics can remotely obtain a variety of health information on […]
In typical cases, monitoring a patient’s vital signs involves hooking them up to a variety of sensors, all of which end up inhibiting the patient’s mobility and causing a tangle of wires. Such isn’t the case with wearable sensors developed by researchers at the Liverpool John Moores University, however, who have received a patent for […]
My favorite uncle is in a wheelchair full-time. It is the unfortunate result of being struck by a drunk driver while loading groceries into the trunk of his car. It is so easy to look beyond the chair when dealing with him, he is so happy, energetic and willing to try just about anything. The only time he admits to feeling a little less than independent is when it comes time to get in a car. Trips to the grocery store are never just a quick in and out for him. I wish there was something to make him be able to get out more, on his own.
Check out Kenguru, the first ever electric automobile made specifically for folks in wheelchairs. The Kenguru is designed just for people like my Uncle Carl, people who want to get around town without assistance from anyone. The Kenguru is driven directly from the wheelchair, simply drive on in via the rear-opening tailgate and lock yourself in. (a ramp lowers for you when you open the door at the press of a button) Steering is accomplished by motorcycle-style handlebar, with a joystick option coming soon.
The vehicle is small enough and designed so that you can park the Kenguru with its rear end to the pavement for easy access, and the back door will shut when the key is placed in the ignition. The Kenguru won’t start however until the chair is locked into place and the door is fully closed.
Right now the Kenguru is available in the UK and there, it is classified as a scooter (so only a scooter license is required) The Kenguru travels about 60 miles on a single charge, but it only hits speeds around 30 miles an hour. (so highway driving is not allowed) The Kenguru will be available here in the U.S, and worldwide for around 25 thousand bucks! Check kenguru.com for more information.
[ Kenguru – Wheels, for those Who Need Wheels copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
When we’re young, we think we’re invincible. Other people get sick, other people break bones, but not us. We’re going to live forever. Naturally, this feeling fades as the years move on, and we start thinking about what would happen if we were to get into an accident, and we were rushed to the hospital, without anyone knowing who we are. Without a complete medical history, the doctors won’t know about allergies, or potential health conditions you might have. It’s a scary thought. So what do you do?
The MyID Band from LifeStrength is one way to ensure that should something terrible happen, the doctors will be able to quickly and easily look up your information, and make sure that you get the best possible treatment for your condition. All anyone needs to do is scan the QR code on the bracelet, and they’ll instantly have access to your medical history, and a list of emergency contacts.
If for whatever reason someone isn’t able to scan the QR code, there is a number to call, and an ID and PIN to get the records over the phone. The band is available in three different colors, and is adjustable to almost any size. You’ll also get a wallet card, and stickers for your car and home, just in case you don’t happen to be wearing your band when something bad happens. If you’re concerned about allergies or complications that might not be readily apparent to the ER staff, then you can pick up one of these bands for $40.
Source: RedFerret
[ MyID Band files your medical records away on your wrist copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
I have family members with diabetes. It seems like most of us do. Thankfully, they are all managing quite well, one of them uses an insulin pump and the other relies on daily injections. I know you get used to things, but it sure seems like a lot to deal with, especially for a child, between the testing and the insulin, she seems to be getting “stuck” a whole lot, and for someone that doesn’t like shots… I always wonder when someone will come up with a better way.
It seems like there are some promises on the horizon, but none that have yet come to fruition, like the glucose monitoring tattoo and contact lenses, but this time we might have a winner, researchers at North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Children’s Hospital in Boston, have developed a network of nanoscale particles ( size measurable in nanometers or microns) that can be injected into the body and release insulin when blood-sugar levels rise that will actually let you maintain normal blood sugar levels for more than a week.
These new, injectable nanoparticles contain insulin, with a coating of modified dextran and glucose oxidase enzymes. It begins to work when these enzymes encounter high blood sugar which changes the glucose to an acid which etches the modified dextran and releases the insulin. The insulin then brings the glucose levels under control.
Unfortunately the particles are not quite ready for widespread human studies, but if we actually get there, it could dramatically improve quality of life issues for the millions of folks around the world living with diabetes. For more information, or to follow research as it continues, check out the newsroom at ncsu.edu.
[ World’s First ‘Smart’ Diabetes Treatment in the Works copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
I would like to take a quick poll here – how many of you out there actually have the fear of needles, and hate going to the doctor to get your shot? If you have answered in the affirmative, then you would be in good company with a number of children too, who happen to share the same fear as you. There is something quite unnerving about having a really large needle inserted into your body, although thinking about it as some form of acupuncture might help a wee bit. Here is one device that has definitely proven itself in trials and tests – the Buzzy.
Just what the heck is the Buzzy, you ask? Well, the Buzzy happens to be a unique and new device which is capable of relieving the stinging pain of shots, and it is currently assisting children and adults around the world by offering them an instant pain management solution. It was invented by a mom/pediatric ER physician, where it is reusable to boot, blocking pain using the natural method by merging a therapeutic massager and an ice pack. Kids as well as parents are indebted to this vibrating bee, where it would go a long way in helping out with needle phobia, injection pain, and burning. Not only that, a fair number of parents also use Buzzy when it comes to scrapes, itching, bee stings, and splinters.
Buzzy is effective in its nature because of the physiology called Gate Control. Larger cold and vibration nerves will crowd out smaller pain nerve sensations whenever both are felt simultaneously, and if you want a more natural example, imagine running a burn under cold water, and you’ve got the picture. Buzzy will make use of low tech components in order to address the issue of needle pain and needle phobia in an efficient manner. If you are interested, the palm-sized Buzzy will retail for $39.95 a pop.
Company Page
[ Buzzy device makes injections less painful, especially for kids copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
As we get older, our bodies start to break down – that is an undeniable fact of life, one which no one is able to escape from. The thing is, many have searched for the mythical fountain of youth over the years to no avail, simply because there is no such thing that exists. Eventually, death would catch up with us all, but before that day arrives, and your body is aching all over due to numerous reasons – a sports injury, chronic pain, here is a tool that might just help you out of a particularly painful situation – the $199.95 Infrared Pain Relieving Wrap.
The Infrared Pain Relieving Wrap happens to be a flexible wrap that boasts of 63 integrated LEDs which will work together to deliver far infrared therapy so that it can help you relieve your back pain. The kind of technology used was developed by NASA in order to heal astronauts’ injuries, making it ideal for stimulating blood circulation, relieving swelling in joints, and loosening tight muscles in all parts of the body. In fact, LED far infrared therapy has been depicted in a study at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee to reduce painful inflammation by up to 37%. Your arms will remain nice and free when using the Infrared Pain Relieving Wrap, since it will secure itself to your back, knee, shoulder, arm, or leg thanks to a 40″-long flexible strap.
[ Infrared Pain Relieving Wrap copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
You might think that you are smart and know how to take care of your health, but in a surprising statistic that was shown off by folks over at the World Health Organisation (WHO), it seems that approximately 50% of us fail to take medicines correctly, and slightly more than 50% of drugs have been prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropriately. That certainly does not sound too good, don’t you think so? After all, inappropriate sales or prescription of drugs could result in horrifying consequences for patients, and it will also cost healthcare providers millions every single year. Perhaps this is where technology is able to step in and help, and a tablet which is smart enough to text or tweet you when it enters your stomach might be the solution.
This definitely sounds as though it remains within the realm of science fiction, but far from it – Proteus could prove to be the next medical breakthrough that humanity is going to fall in love with and celebrate. Named after the microscopic vessel which ventured within the human body in the cult 1960s movie Fantastic Voyage, the Proteus happens to be an ingestible sensor, and the key to it working is the fact that it can be embedded in a tablet, functioning in pretty much the same way as that of a potato battery.
Your stomach acid happens to be the ionic fluid required to create enough voltage so that the sensor will come into life, which in turn, communicates with a small plaster-shaped patch that is worn by the patient, and this particular patch is capable of tracking vital signs, movement and sleep. As for the patch itself, it will be able to send whatever data it received to an app that resides on the cloud, and this information can be accessed from a smartphone, tablet or PC, being set to send an alert to family, caregivers or healthcare professionals so that folks around the patient can rest easy, knowing that the pills have been swallowed. The more paranoid folks might think of it as a way for the government to keep track of you…
Source
[ Have a pill text your doctor from within copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
If you were to ask people, it is safe to assume that most of them would want to remain as young as possible – forever even, which is why there has been many legends whispered about the elusive Fountain of Youth, or how about emperors in the Far East who have always searched for the elixir of youth but came up empty handed? The answer is simple – everyone dies eventually, but this does not mean that you should not make an attempt to look your youngest possible throughout your life! Other than having a happy and healthy one, you could always enlist a little bit of help from gadgets such as the $149.95 Neck Firming Stimulator.
The Neck Firming Stimulator is one device which will firm up the muscles of the neck in order to help diminish wrinkles and sagging skin. This is touted to be the same kind of technology that was implemented by professional estheticians, boasting dual electrode nodules that have been built into each of the two included handheld units in order to emit harmless, mild electrical micro currents which will be able to gently contract muscles in the neck so that the skin will be tightened, leaving you with a firm, lifted appearance. Different from creams sold by snake oil salesmen, the electrical stimulation is said to penetrate deep into muscles to increase subcutaneous blood circulation and oxygenation, which would help reduce the amount of sagging of the skin around your neck.
[ The Neck Firming Stimulator copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
In this day and age, those of us who are seemingly stuck in the proverbial rat race would need to find our own ways of winding down, or at the very least, lowering the amount of stress in our lives through various means, be they exercising, indulging in a hobby, or even going for a nice, long holiday at a tropical island somewhere. Well, perhaps there is something else that you might want to look into – the ReLax Kit which is said to be able to monitor the wearer’s brain waves and body posture among others. The ReLax Kit delivers advanced bio-signal tracking, where this would pave the way for users to monitor and manage their stress levels. Not only that, the ultra-compact bio-sensor is diminutive enough to stash away without looking too conspicuous. Armed with an easy-to-use app, the kit itself can assist users to gain control over their stress levels.
If one were to be more exact, the ReLax Kit has been specially geared towards those who are attempting to gauge their stress levels in a simplified and visual manner, and these can include even students (yes, you don’t know just how much stress students go through these days), office workers, and yoga and meditation enthusiasts. The ReLax Kit’s bio-sensor is versatile enough, it is capable of monitoring facial muscle tension, body posture, and brain waves regardless of what time of the day it is, and whether you are sleeping or getting a spot of meditation in.
Not only that, the kit’s app will also be able to display compiled brain wave and facial muscle wave data, all presented in an easy-to-read color-coded graph. With but a glance at the graph, one is able to quickly determine one’s stress levels. It might take time, but with enough experience and practice, one will be able to figure out how to control or influence the output toward a desired direction. Apart from that, the ReLax Kit’s app will also show off a visual history of a user’s body posture, which would come in handy to raise one’s poor posture awareness. The ReLax Kit can be pre-ordered for $47 a pop.
Press Release
[ ReLax Kit announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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