Detecting patients’ pain levels via their brain signals
System could help with diagnosing and treating noncommunicative patients. Researchers from MIT and elsewhere have developed a system that measures a patient’s pain level by analyzing brain activity from a portable neuroimaging device. The system could help doctors diagnose and treat pain in unconscious and noncommunicative patients, which could reduce…
Read MoreNew research: A comprehensive catalogue of human digestive tract bacteria
Researchers identify nearly 8,000 strains of bacteria, while also clarifying their genetic and metabolic context. The human digestive tract is home to thousands of different strains of bacteria. Many of these are beneficial, while others contribute to health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers from IMES/MIT and the Broad…
Read MorePress release: scientists make breakthrough to manage immune response for implanted devices in soft tissue
Discovery could enable longer lasting and better functioning of devices—including pacemakers, breast implants, biosensors, and drug delivery devices Researchers from the Institute for Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) at MIT, the National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway) and AMBER, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research…
Read MoreA much less invasive way to monitor pressure in the brain
New technique could help doctors determine whether patients are at risk from elevated pressure. Traumatic brain injuries, as well as infectious diseases such as meningitis, can lead to brain swelling and dangerously high pressure in the brain. If untreated, patients are at risk for brain damage, and in some cases…
Read MoreUsing CRISPR to program gels with new functions
Smart materials change properties in response to specific DNA sequences; could be used in a variety of devices. The CRISPR genome-editing system is best-known for its potential to correct disease-causing mutations and add new genes into living cells. Now, a team from MIT and Harvard University has deployed CRISPR for…
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