Post-traumatic hand rehabilitation using a powered metacarpal-phalangeal exoskeleton: a pilot study.

Background: In the context of post-traumatic hand rehabilitation, stiffness of the hand joints limits the range of motion (ROM), grip strength, and the possibility of performing simple grasps. Robotic rehabilitation has been widely adopted for hand treatment with neurological patients, but its application in the orthopaedic scenario remains limited. In this paper, a pilot study targeting this population is presented, where the rehabilitation is performed using a powered finger exoskeleton, namely I-Phlex.

Complex Hemodynamic Responses to Trans-Vascular Electrical Stimulation of the Renal Nerve in Anesthetized Pigs.

The objective of this study was to characterize hemodynamic changes during trans-vascular stimulation of the renal nerve and their dependence on stimulation parameters. We employed a stimulation catheter inserted in the right renal artery under fluoroscopic guidance, in pigs. Systolic, diastolic and pulse blood pressure and heart rate were recorded during stimulations delivered at different intravascular sites along the renal artery or while varying stimulation parameters (amplitude, frequency, and pulse width).

A computational model to design wide field-of-view optic nerve neuroprostheses.

Retinal stimulation (RS) allows restoring vision in blind patients, but it covers only a narrow region of the visual field. Optic nerve stimulation (ONS) has the potential to produce visual perceptions spanning the whole visual field, but it produces very irregular phosphenes. We introduced a geometrical model converting retinal and optic nerve firing rates into visual perceptions and vice versa and a method to estimate the best perceptions elicitable through an electrode configuration.

Powering a molecular delivery system by harvesting energy from the leaf motion in wind.

Smart agriculture tools as well as advanced studies on agrochemicals and plant biostimulants aim to improve crop productivity and more efficient use of resources without sacrificing sustainability. Recently, multiple advanced sensors for agricultural applications have been developed, however much less advancement is reported in the field of precise delivery of agriculture chemicals. The organic electronic ion pump (OEIP) enables electrophoretically-controlled delivery of ionic molecules in the plant tissue, however it needs external power-supplies complicating its application in the field.

Applied forces with high vs. low resuscitation table during neonatal ventilation: a randomized crossover manikin study.

Unlabelled: We compared applied forces on a newborn manikin face, cuff pressure, and air leak during positive pressure ventilation with a high vs. low resuscitation table. A randomized controlled crossover (AB/BA) trial of face mask ventilation where a neonatal manikin was placed on the resuscitation table adjusted to level operator's xiphoid (high table positioning) or operator's navel (low table positioning).

A muscle synergies-based controller to drive a powered upper-limb exoskeleton in reaching tasks.

This work introduces a real-time intention decoding algorithm grounded in muscle synergies (Syn-ID). The algorithm detects the electromyographic (EMG) onset and infers the direction of the movement during reaching tasks to control a powered shoulder-elbow exoskeleton. Features related to muscle synergies are used in a Gaussian Mixture Model and probability accumulation-based logic to infer the user's movement direction.

ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY OF AN EXPERIMENTAL UV-C ROBOT IN CONTROLLED CONDITIONS AND IN REAL HOSPITAL SCENARIO.

Background: Among no-touch automatized disinfection devices, UV-C radiation proved to be one of the most effective against a broad-spectrum of microorganisms causing healthcare-associated infections.

Aim: To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of an experimental UV-C robotic platform, under controlled conditions and in a real hospital scenario, when used to implement the Standard cleaning Operating Protocol (SOP).

Methods: In vitro, after dose calibration tests, bactericidal and virucidal efficacy was tested according to the ASTM E3135-18.

Combining external physical stimuli and nanostructured materials for upregulating pro-regenerative cellular pathways in peripheral nerve repair.

Peripheral nerve repair remains a major clinical challenge, particularly in the pursuit of therapeutic approaches that ensure adequate recovery of patient's activity of daily living. Autografts are the gold standard in clinical practice for restoring lost sensorimotor functions nowadays. However, autografts have notable drawbacks, including dimensional mismatches and the need to sacrifice one function to restore another.

Dopaminergic therapy disrupts decision-making in impulsive-compulsive Parkinsonian patients.

Impulsive-compulsive behaviors (ICB) are common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) often associated with dopaminergic drugs (DD) therapy. We investigated the acute effects of DD on decision-making in PD patients with ICB (ICB+) and without it (ICB-), and in healthy controls (HC). Participants performed a risk-based decision-making task twice, with PD patients tested before (DD OFF) and after (DD ON) DD intake.

Passive shoulder occupational exoskeleton reduces shoulder muscle coactivation in repetitive arm movements.

Humans naturally employ muscle coactivation to facilitate a broad range of movements, enhancing joint stability and movement accuracy. However, excessive muscle coactivation can become unfavorable or even detrimental. This phenomenon is often observed in industrial workers who endure repetitive or prolonged joint stress, particularly in areas such as the shoulders.

The expanding horizon of neurotechnology: Is multimodal neuromodulation the future?

The clinical applications of neurotechnology are rapidly expanding, and the combination of different approaches could be more effective and precise to treat brain disorders. This Perspective discusses the potential and challenges of "multimodal neuromodulation," which combines modalities such as electrical, magnetic, and ultrasound stimulation.

A Framework for the Human-Centered Design of Service Processes Enabled by Medical Devices: A Case Study of Wearable Devices for Parkinson's Disease.

The successful introduction of medical devices (MDs) in real-world settings hinges on designing service processes that cater to stakeholders' needs. While human-centered design (HCD) approaches have been widely applied to service process innovation, the literature lacks a methodology that leverages MDs' key features to design service processes that meet stakeholders' needs. This study aims to fill this gap by developing a framework for the HCD of service processes enabled by MDs.

Adaptive vs. Conventional Deep Brain Stimulation: One-Year Subthalamic Recordings and Clinical Monitoring in a Patient with Parkinson's Disease.

Conventional DBS (cDBS) for Parkinson's disease uses constant, predefined stimulation parameters, while the currently available adaptive DBS (aDBS) provides the possibility of adjusting current amplitude with respect to subthalamic activity in the beta band (13-30 Hz). This preliminary study on one patient aims to describe how these two stimulation modes affect basal ganglia dynamics and, thus, behavior in the long term. We collected clinical data (UPDRS-III and -IV) and subthalamic recordings of one patient with Parkinson's disease treated for one year with aDBS, alternated with short intervals of cDBS.

Breaking the ice through an effective translationality in neurorehabilitation: are we heading to the right direction?

Introduction: Translational medicine has been facing a persistent crisis for decades, and the field of neurorehabilitation is no exception. The challenges and delays that prevent patients, caregivers, and clinicians from promptly benefiting from advancements in bioengineering and new technological discoveries are well-documented.

Areas-covered: This perspective presents some ideas to underline the consolidated problems and highlight new obstacles to overcome in the context of translational neurorehabilitation, also considering the increasingly stringent laws for medical devices that are emerging throughout the world.

Nursing and midwifery simulation training with a newly developed low-cost high-fidelity placenta simulator: a collaboration between Italy and Ethiopia.

Background: Simulation training provides safe environment for skill acquisition and retention. This study addresses a critical challenge in Africa - umbilical cord and placenta management after childbirth - aiming to bridge theoretical learning with practical experiences through simulation. We realized a new low-cost high-fidelity simulator of placenta and umbilical cord.

Integration of rate and phase codes by hippocampal cell-assemblies supports flexible encoding of spatiotemporal context.

Spatial information is encoded by location-dependent hippocampal place cell firing rates and sub-second, rhythmic entrainment of spike times. These rate and temporal codes have primarily been characterized in low-dimensional environments under limited cognitive demands; but how is coding configured in complex environments when individual place cells signal several locations, individual locations contribute to multiple routes and functional demands vary? Quantifying CA1 population dynamics of male rats during a decision-making task, here we show that the phase of individual place cells' spikes relative to the local theta rhythm shifts to differentiate activity in different place fields. Theta phase coding also disambiguates repeated visits to the same location during different routes, particularly preceding spatial decisions.

From Corn Starch to Nanostructured Magnetic Laser-Induced Graphene Nanocomposite.

Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) is a 3D, conductive, porous material with a high surface area, produced by laser irradiation of synthetic polymers with high thermal stability. Recently, the focus has shifted toward sustainable bioderived and biodegradable precursors, such as lignocellulosic materials. Despite starch being an abundant and cost-effective biopolymer, direct laser scribing on starch-derived precursors has not yet been explored.

Real-time monitoring of a 3D blood-brain barrier model maturation and integrity with a sensorized microfluidic device.

A significant challenge in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders is represented by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a highly selective membrane that regulates molecular transport and restricts the passage of pathogens and therapeutic compounds. Traditional models are constrained by high costs, lengthy experimental timelines, ethical concerns, and interspecies variations. models, particularly microfluidic BBB-on-a-chip devices, have been developed to address these limitations.

Laser-induced graphene-based aptasensor for the selective detection of Escherichia coli in urine samples.

A Laser-Induced Graphene-based (LIG) electrode covalently functionalized with an aptamer (P12-55) was used to develop an aptasensor detecting Escherichia coli in urine samples. Recent strides in material science have spotlighted LIG for exceptional attributes like robust mechanical resistance, superior conductivity, extensive surface area, and facile synthesis/patterning on various polymeric substrates. Variations in the aptasensor charge transfer resistance upon interaction with bacterial cells were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.

Assessment of wearable robotics performance in patients with neurological conditions.

Purpose Of Review: While wearable robotics is expanding within clinical settings, particularly for neurological rehabilitation, there is still a lack of consensus on how to effectively assess the performance of these devices. This review focuses on the most common metrics, whose selection and design are crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes and potentially improve the standard care.

Recent Findings: The literature reveals that while wearable robots are equipped with various embedded sensors, most studies still rely on traditional, nontechnological methods for assessment.