Dutch group Philips has developed an “intelligent pill” that contains a microprocessor, battery, wireless radio, pump and a drug reservoir to release medication in a specific area in the body.
Philips, one of the world’s biggest hospital equipment makers, said Tuesday that the “iPill” capsule, measures acidity with a sensor to determine its location in the gut, and can then release drugs where they are needed.
Delivering drugs to treat digestive tract disorders such as Crohn’s disease directly to the location of the disease means doses can be lower, reducing side effects, Philips said.
While capsules containing miniature cameras are already used as diagnostic tools, those lack the ability to deliver drugs, Philips said.
The “iPill” can also measure the local temperature and report it wirelessly to an external receiver.
The company plans to present the “iPill” at the annual meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) in Atlanta this month.
The iPill is a prototype but suitable for serial manufacturing, Philips said.
Source: Reuters
Researchers in Japan say they have created functioning human brain tissue from stem cells for the first time.
They say it should be possible to use the tissue to test brain therapies and drugs.
One of the researchers Yoshiki Sasai from the Riken Research Centre of Kobe says scientists also hope to be able to replace damaged parts of human brains in the future.
“This is made from human stem cells called ES cells and we culture them in special conditions for about 50 days and then they grow into a two-millimetre small mushroom type of structure,” he said.
“And that one resembles the structure of the foetal brain very much – a miniature brain.”
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/07/2413243.htm?section=world
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A company called Computer Choppers, who specialise in custom PC cases, produced this gold and diamond Macbook Pro.
