Future of Engineering

According to the American Headache Society:

* Every 10 seconds, someone in the United States goes to the emergency room with a headache or migraine.
* More than $1 billion is spent on over-the-counter medications to treat headaches and Migraines.
* The lost work due to migraine disease costs more than $13 billion every year in the U.S.

These mind boggling statistics are enough to trigger a headache. But don't lose hope. Technology has stepped in to meet the needs of the headache prone society. Scientists at The Ohio State University Medical Center have invented a novel electronic portable device that stops it right in its tracks.

"The noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulator (TMS) device sends a strong electric current through a metal coil, which creates an intense magnetic field for about one millisecond. This magnetic pulse, when held against a person's head, creates an electric current in the neurons of the brain, interrupting the aura before it results in a throbbing headache."

Side effects and other complications are common in most drugs used for headaches. Whereas the TMS device offers a safe and painless solution. Since clinical trials do not indicate any adverse complications arising from the use of the device, one can look forward to the portable headache arrester to make its way into our homes soon.

Source - OSU Medical Center

Related Links
Crying as a precipitating factor for migraine and tension-type headache.
Aspartame consumption strongly associated with migraines and seizures.

Labels: Bio-engineering, innovation

'The pores are 15nm and the smallest virus is 25nm. There's nothing smaller than a virus — it pretty much stops everything,'

"Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink", lamented the ancient mariner who was stuck in the middle of the sea. People stuck in disaster prone areas or warzones echo the words of the mariner even today. The arrival of the lifesaver is sure to break this universal chant.

The 2004 Tsunami inspired UK entrepreneur Michael Pritchard to create the Lifesaver bottle that uses the innovative nanoscale filtration membrane to remove bacteria, viruses, and all other water-borne pathogens from water instantly.

The operation is quite simple. One just has to fill the bottle with water, unlock the pump handle at the base and build up pressure inside the filter with a few quick pumps. Contaminated water flows through a membrane to become sterile.

The ultrafiltration technology isn't entirely new. It has been used by the water processing industry already. The genius of Pritchard's invention lies in incorporating this technology in a 12in plastic bottle.

Pritchard has also invented a FAILSAFE technology that shuts off the bottle’s cartridge upon expiry, preventing contaminated water from being drunk. Proper handling and maintenance makes it last for five years.

Though it would be extremely useful in warzones and disaster prone areas, it would also be a innovative accessory for hikers and campers.

Source - Lifesaver systems

Labels: innovation, Instrumentation-Engineering, Safety

“It’s the circulation problems that are the most difficult for them, and it’s circulation problems that kill them”, says Jan Hoff, a professor of medicine at NTNU.

Paraplegics who are confined to the chairs are susceptible to both mental and physical illnesses such as weight gain, diabetes and heart problems. In order to rouse them out of their sedantary condition a new type of excercise equipment has been developed at NTNU.

The equipment, which was partly developed at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, was first designed for the American actor Christopher Reeve - who himself played Superman in fims.

The Ergys 2 is a stationary training bicycle, where the patient’s legs and feet are strapped to a leg holder and pedals. Electrodes are then fastened to the patient’s thigh and seat muscles, and electrical impulses trigger the muscles to contract and relax. The impulses are computer controlled to guarantee the best possible effect.

Not content with leg excercises, NTNU researchers came up with the arm cycle which is intended for patients who can use their arms without help.

Excercise studies show that paralysed patients experienced an average increase in their oxygen uptake by 25 per cent and in their heart pumping volume by fully 37 per cent – after just eight weeks of training.

Currently researchers are trying to create an unplugged version of Ergys 2 in a wheelchair. Their success would surely have a huge impact on the lifestyle of many patients.

Source - Alphagalileo

Labels: Engineering-Education, innovation

If you love play golf but hate to spend time searching for the elusive ball that lies hidden in the turf, all need to do is invest in a pair of glasses. Visiball Golf Ball Finders helps you to find your lost golf balls quickly.

The Visiball lens technology combines basic principles of physics, visual physiology, and perception to significantly enhance the visibility of your golf ball.





The underbrush of a golf course is predominantly made up of browns, greens, and blacks (mostly reflecting from dirt, grass, bushes, twigs, etc). Visiball Golf Ball Finders use special blue filters that eliminate all visible wavelengths except those at the blue end of the spectrum. These special filters virtually eliminate light reflecting off grass and the dark objects of the underbrush, thus high lighting white golf balls. Most dark objects show up only as outlines while the white golf ball appears to glow with a slight blue tint.

This patented technology is marketed by a Canadian company. Get hold of this golfing accessory to play golf and not hunting on the turf.

Source - Golf Ball Finders

Labels: innovation

You are at a party. And you are hoping to make an impression on the person who has just caught your eye. Unfortunately the butterflies in your stomach prevents you from speaking up. And people pass on wondering if you are a snob who doesn't believe in socializing. All you needed at that moment was an ice-breaker to open up a conversation.

The next time you attend a party, wear a Butterfly dress that's designed by Alex Reeder, a grad student at NYU. This dress can convey your feelings to the people around you. The Butterfly dress is aware of what's happening around the wearer and also knows the heartbeat of the wearer. Using the data the butterfly starts to flap its wings. It also rises to greet the person who approaches. A fashionable ice-breaker isn't it?

The dress that's made of white fabric houses the electronics and motor system.A switch is present for the wearer to easily turn the dress on and off. Once it is turned on the heartbeat of the wearer is monitored and eight IR sensors are used to track people moving around the wearer. As people approach the wearer, butterflies extend from the dress to surround her, and offer a friendly greeting.

Technology meets fashion in a beautiful way.Neither form nor function dominate in this creation. Each complement each other to create a beauty. The dress itself is light and does not sacrifice form for function. The battery and butterflies are removable, making the dress washable - essential for wearability.

This fantastic dress that combines fashion and technology also makes a cool philosophical statement about the way we interact with the world around us.

Related Links:
Source - Alex's site
Catch Alex Reeder's interview here.

Labels: innovation, Textile-Engineering

The safety pin, post-it notes are all inventions that are so simple that makes you wonder why it wasn't invented previously.





Here is a cool invention that makes you wonder why it wasn't thought about earlier. How many times have you struggled to hold on to your prized possessions while trying to carry the coffee or juice cups to the table? You don't have to perform the hold-the-tray-trick anymore.





Coffe Bag is an innovative solution that aims to reduce the spillage while carrying drinks in a tray. Just fasten the bag and forget the world as you walk to your destination. You can handle your mobile phone, juggle with your keys, hold the toddlers arm without having to worry about coffee spills.

Whew!That's a relief!

Labels: innovation