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Coral tentacles inspire bio-sock shown to treat Deep Vein Thrombosis
The robotic sock developed at the National University of Singapore to treat Deep Vein Thrombosis (Photo: National University of Singapore)
The onset of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), whereby a clot forms in the veins and obstructs blood flow, is a legitimate concern for people unable to move their legs. The condition can become truly life-threatening if the clot finds its way into the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs. Looking to mitigate the dangers of this condition, researchers have developed a specialty sock inspired by the tentacle movements of coral that is designed to stimulate blood circulation through the body.
There are already a number of existing approaches to treating DVT. These include mechanical techniques, such as compression stocking, that stimulate blood flow, and pharmacological solutions that use anticoagulant medicines to minimize the chances of the blood clotting.
A team of researchers from National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and Faculty of Engineering is of the view that these treatment methods could be improved upon. It says that the use of compression stockings are yet to show significant reduction in preventing DVT, and that a dangerous side effect of drug treatment is an increased risk of excessive bleeding, particularly for those who have experienced a stroke.
In developing the new device, the team focused on the ability of muscles in the human ankle that, when mobile, aid in the flow of blood back to the heart. If this function could be replicated in patients confined to a bed or unable to move their legs as normal, it was hoped it could form the basis for more effective form of treatment.
The team saw similarities in the movement of these ankle muscles and the structure and function of coral tentacles. Just as these tentacles stretch out to latch onto food, the researchers developed soft actuators that perform the same action, that pull and push motion. Building these actuators into a sock and combining it with a pneumatic pump-valve control system, the device was found to be effective in recreating the ankle muscle movements integral to blood flow in the legs.
At present, the sock could be used to complement existing ankle therapy conducted on bed-ridden patients to improve effectiveness and lessen the length of treatments, or worn over longer periods in addition to manual therapy sessions. It also includes sensors to track the motion of the joint for better monitoring.
The team plans on conducting clinical trials over the next six months with a view to improving and ultimately commercializing the device.
Source: National University of Singapore
Source: http://www.gizmag.com/coral-tentacles-sock-deep-vein-thrombosis/36027/
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Founded by Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Itskov in February 2011 with the participation of leading Russian specialists in the field of neural interfaces, robotics, artificial organs and systems.
The main goals of the 2045 Initiative: the creation and realization of a new strategy for the development of humanity which meets global civilization challenges; the creation of optimale conditions promoting the spiritual enlightenment of humanity; and the realization of a new futuristic reality based on 5 principles: high spirituality, high culture, high ethics, high science and high technologies.
The main science mega-project of the 2045 Initiative aims to create technologies enabling the transfer of a individual’s personality to a more advanced non-biological carrier, and extending life, including to the point of immortality. We devote particular attention to enabling the fullest possible dialogue between the world’s major spiritual traditions, science and society.
A large-scale transformation of humanity, comparable to some of the major spiritual and sci-tech revolutions in history, will require a new strategy. We believe this to be necessary to overcome existing crises, which threaten our planetary habitat and the continued existence of humanity as a species. With the 2045 Initiative, we hope to realize a new strategy for humanity's development, and in so doing, create a more productive, fulfilling, and satisfying future.
The "2045" team is working towards creating an international research center where leading scientists will be engaged in research and development in the fields of anthropomorphic robotics, living systems modeling and brain and consciousness modeling with the goal of transferring one’s individual consciousness to an artificial carrier and achieving cybernetic immortality.
An annual congress "The Global Future 2045" is organized by the Initiative to give platform for discussing mankind's evolutionary strategy based on technologies of cybernetic immortality as well as the possible impact of such technologies on global society, politics and economies of the future.
Future prospects of "2045" Initiative for society
2015-2020
The emergence and widespread use of affordable android "avatars" controlled by a "brain-computer" interface. Coupled with related technologies “avatars’ will give people a number of new features: ability to work in dangerous environments, perform rescue operations, travel in extreme situations etc.
Avatar components will be used in medicine for the rehabilitation of fully or partially disabled patients giving them prosthetic limbs or recover lost senses.
2020-2025
Creation of an autonomous life-support system for the human brain linked to a robot, ‘avatar’, will save people whose body is completely worn out or irreversibly damaged. Any patient with an intact brain will be able to return to a fully functioning bodily life. Such technologies will greatly enlarge the possibility of hybrid bio-electronic devices, thus creating a new IT revolution and will make all kinds of superimpositions of electronic and biological systems possible.
2030-2035
Creation of a computer model of the brain and human consciousness with the subsequent development of means to transfer individual consciousness onto an artificial carrier. This development will profoundly change the world, it will not only give everyone the possibility of cybernetic immortality but will also create a friendly artificial intelligence, expand human capabilities and provide opportunities for ordinary people to restore or modify their own brain multiple times. The final result at this stage can be a real revolution in the understanding of human nature that will completely change the human and technical prospects for humanity.
2045
This is the time when substance-independent minds will receive new bodies with capacities far exceeding those of ordinary humans. A new era for humanity will arrive! Changes will occur in all spheres of human activity – energy generation, transportation, politics, medicine, psychology, sciences, and so on.
Today it is hard to imagine a future when bodies consisting of nanorobots will become affordable and capable of taking any form. It is also hard to imagine body holograms featuring controlled matter. One thing is clear however: humanity, for the first time in its history, will make a fully managed evolutionary transition and eventually become a new species. Moreover, prerequisites for a large-scale expansion into outer space will be created as well.
Key elements of the project in the future
• International social movement
• social network immortal.me
• charitable foundation "Global Future 2045" (Foundation 2045)
• scientific research centre "Immortality"
• business incubator
• University of "Immortality"
• annual award for contribution to the realization of the project of "Immortality”.
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