Wearable Devices DFree®
April 1, 2022
Big Data and Big Data Analytics
April 1, 2022Most powerful MRI, Apple Watch stops PTSD nightmares, Medtronic nerve ablation device
FDA Clears Most Powerful Clinical MRI
SIGNA 7.0T MRI scanner is the most potent MRI device currently available. The strength of MRI devices is measured in tesla (T), which quantifies the strength of the magnetic field. The higher the strength of the scanner’s magnetic field, the greater its signal-to-noise ratio, resulting in a more precise image.
A high-end scanner’s magnetic field typically tops out at 3 teslas. The new device goes all the way up to 7 teslas to provide unprecedented images in clarity and detail..(1,2,3)
SIGNA 7.0T is intended for neurological and musculoskeletal imaging and can image anatomy, function, metabolism, and microvasculature with incredible resolution and detail. Its capabilities allow it to assess neurological functions at a very detailed level. It also has specific tools for imaging the knee and cartilage that can help with close monitoring of joints throughout disease progression. The scanner can also be used in association with new state-of-the-art software platforms and deep learning tools for slice positioning, improving image quality, and ensuring protocol transmission between systems.
Not only do the features of this scanner allow it to aid diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of disease, they also allow the more advanced pursuit of research endeavors. The complex anatomical and functional data that the scanner allows researchers to collect has proven imperative to scientific advancement. It has already proved valuable in the research of traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease.
FDA clears Apple Watch sleep app that intervenes to stop nightmares caused by PTSD
Nearly 5 million people in the U.S. suffer from nightmare disorders related to PTSD. The FDA has recently cleared an app for the Apple Watch to help those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related nightmares get a better night’s sleep.
The authorization offers a low-risk treatment alternative that uses digital technology to grant relief from sleep disturbance linked to nightmares. The prescription app watches the wearer’s heart rate and movement while he/she is sleeping. Any changes that indicate nightmares cause the watch to vibrate gently, prodding the wearer out of the dream without waking them up completely.
The program also utilizes a proprietary algorithm to design a personalized sleep profile for each user to recognize when they are having a nightmare by recognizing when the biometric data deviates from the norm.
According to the FDA, a randomized clinical trial concluded that the ability to intercede a nightmare led to improvements in sleep scores after thirty days, compared to a sham device that provided no vibrations. However, the app is not meant to act as a standalone treatment for PTSD and should be used in conjunction with any prescribed medications and other treatments.
FDA clears Medtronic nerve ablation device for chronic pain
Chronic pain severely affects the quality of life by interfering with work, sleep, activities of everyday living, and any physical effort. Medtronic PLC has been working on a nonsurgical solution that has recently gained FDA approval. The solution is the Accurian radiofrequency ablation platform which is a minimally invasive procedure that heats a small area of nerve tissue using radio waves to prevent it from sending pain signals.
The Accurian system links proprietary hardware and quad-core processing with advanced power and temperature control software, resulting in consistent and predictable pain control. Additionally, it offers independent channel management and advanced intelligent features that may help improve procedural efficiency. Preceding studies have shown that a single radiofrequency ablation therapy can provide pain remission for six months to a year.
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