University of Minnesota Archives - Medical Design Sourcing

Engineers develop AI-based technology to allow amputees to move robotic arms using their mind

[Image courtesy of the Neuroelectronics Lab at the University of Minnesota]Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed a robotic arm system that allows amputees to move their arm using brain signals.

The small, implantable device attaches to the peripheral nerve in a person’s arm, according to the research team in the university’s department of biomedical engineering. When combined with an artificial intelligence computer and a robotic arm, the device is able to read and interpret brain signals to allow upper limb amputees to control their arms using thoughts.

“It’s a lot more intuitive than any commercial system out there,” said Jules Anh Tuan Nguyen, a postdoctoral researcher and University of Minnesota college of science and engineering alumnus. “With other commercial prosthetic systems, when amputees want to move a finger, they don’t actually think about moving a finger. They’re trying to activate the muscles in their arm since that’s…

gBETA Medtech accelerator picks its next startups

The gBETA Medtech virtual accelerator today named the five startups that will participate in the spring program leading up to the June 21 showcase day.

“We’re so fortunate to have such a diverse set of founders with expertise across the healthcare continuum,” gBETA Medtech Director KC Caine said in a news release. “Our founders are bringing high-impact innovations to the sector, and we’re excited to see how their companies grow.”

gBETA is a program of startup accelerator Gener8tor and the University Enterprise Labs business incubator in St. Paul, Minnesota, with mentorship support from Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota and Medical Alley Association. The program’s founding sponsor is Boston Scientific; UEL and Gener8tor also get support through a cooperative agreement with BARDA DRIVe.

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Medtronic’s CEO would like to put the tech in medtech

Geoff Martha, CEO of Medtronic

Medtronic CEO Geoff Martha spoke of the company’s goal of “putting the tech in medtech” during a keynote today at the Design of Medical Devices Conference at the University of Minnesota.

The head of the world’s largest medical device company thinks that medtech could enable healthcare that is much more individualized than it is today.

“We are heading down a path of large-scale personalized healthcare and delivering it in an efficient way. And the key to that is data,” Martha said.

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Deadline nears for gBETA Medtech startup accelerator

The gBETA program for medtech startups is seeking applicants from across the globe on or before March 14 for its spring session.

The seven-week gBETA Medtech virtual accelerator runs April 18 through June 14. gBETA is a program of startup accelerator Gener8tor and the University Enterprise Labs business incubator in St. Paul, Minnesota, with support from Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota, Medical Alley Association and founding sponsor Boston Scientific.

Up to five startups will be selected for the medtech program, which covers medical devices, diagnostics, healthcare software, biotechnology, drug discovery and delivery and more.

Get the full story at our sister site, Medical Design & Outsourcing.

U of M releases Coventor ventilator design as open-source

The University of Minnesota recently announced that it released the design for its Coventor alternative ventilator as open-source.

Minnesota’s Coventor low-cost device gained notoriety in March after researchers touted the design made from various parts totaling just $150. In April, it became the first ventilator of its kind authorized for use under the FDA’s EUA for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also in April, Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) announced that it was sole manufacturer of the device, which the company said it expects to sell at-cost at approximately $1,000 per unit.

The Coventor is now available to companies who are interested in manufacturing it. They can sign a free electronic license and download the manufacturing specifications.

“From the outset, the mission of this project was to make this emergency device available to people in need, wherever they might be in the world, as quickly and safely as possible,” Dr. Stephen Richardson, a…