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Device fitted in UK boy’s skull slashes seizures
A British boy with severe epilepsy has become the world’s first patient to trial a new device that has reduced his daytime seizures by...
NDoH looks to artificial intelligence in quest to combat TB
The National Department of Health is considering the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite the screening and diagnosis of TB and silicosis, after...
‘Internet addiction’ and neurological changes in teens – systematic review
A study in in PLOS Mental Health suggesting that in teens with “internet addiction”, there is a disruption of the signalling between brain regions important...
Olympic athletes embrace diabetes tech in quest for medals
The tiny continuous glucose monitors used by diabetics to track their blood glucose levels have become popular among athletes who hope to boost their...
Cyber-attack disrupts London hospitals
A cyber-attack on major London hospitals has led to surgery cancellations and emergency patients being diverted elsewhere, and services like blood transfusions and test...
Scientists develop cheaper, low-field whole-body MRI
Perseverance and ingenuity have paid off for Hong Kong researchers, who, like numerous others, have been exploring options for a low-field MRI system with...
Will AI replace radiologists, or make them even better?
Opinions differ on how much physicians should be embracing artificial technology (AI), with increasing numbers of people questioning just how good an algorithm would...
FDA recall as faulty insulin app crashes
More than 200 people with diabetes were injured when their insulin pumps shut down unexpectedly after a problem with a connected mobile app, the...
Master plan to boost SA’s medtech sector
To grow SA’s prospects in the medical technology (medtech) sector, the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC) has unveiled a master plan aimed...
Health Department weather alert app warns pregnant women
Negative effects of climate change are predicted to intensify as the world continues to warm up, and in efforts to alert pregnant women –...
California nurses protest ‘untested’ AI tools
Union nurses in the US are rallying against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools which they described as “untested” and “unregulated” during a...
FDA heart pump recall after link to deaths and injuries
A pair of heart devices linked to hundreds of injuries and at least 14 deaths has received the FDA’s most serious recall, the agency announced...
Phone app life-changer for millions of hearing-impaired Africans
In rural Kenya, 64-year-old John Kamau’s world of silence is about to change. After decades of being isolated by hearing loss from the community’s...
FDA clears digital app for depression treatment
The US Food and Drug Administration is allowing the use of Rejoyn, the first prescription digital treatment for major depressive disorder that involves an innovative approach...
Less invasive, new approach to diagnose heart disease – Irish study
A clinical trial that saw high resolution scanning technology used to identify heart disease has been welcomed as a potential game-changer for cardiac treatment,...
US lawmaker probes FDA inspection of Musk’s Neuralink
The US Food & Drug Administration has been questioned on why it did not inspect Elon Musk’s Neuralink before allowing the brain implant company...
AI tool to help straighten teeth
A new tool being developed by the University of Copenhagen and 3Shape will help orthodontists correctly fit braces using artificial intelligence and virtual patients,...
AI predicts Alzheimer’s seven years before symptoms seen
Detecting Alzheimer’s disease sooner means preparations, and perhaps even preventative measures, can be put in place, say scientists, who predict that shortly, artificial intelligence...
SA surgeons welcome robot’s extraordinary precision
The Da Vinci Xi robotics system, described as “the next frontier” for minimally invasive surgery, and already in use at two state hospitals in...
‘Deepfake’ scammers use doctors' details to con people
A leading South African medical professional’s face and voice were faked to sell male potency products, and to steal money from those deceived by...
Swiss research uses VR to reduce pre-surgery anxiety
The use of virtual reality in medicine is becoming increasingly popular, including to reduce pre-operation anxiety, and researchers in Switzerland are now working to...
Spit test could detect breast cancer – US-Taiwan study
Scientists have developed a saliva test that screens for breast cancer, which they say is showing promising results in experimental testing, and could revolutionise...
Neuralink’s first human patient controls computer mouse via thought
The first human patient implanted with a brain-chip from Neuralink is able to control a computer mouse using its thoughts, according to the start-up’s...
First wireless brain chip implant ‘a success’ – Elon Musk
Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Neuralink company has successfully implanted one of its wireless brain chips in a human for the first time, and the...
Swiss team patents solder method for wound closures
Not every wound can be closed with sutures, and a team of Swiss researchers, which developed a soldering process with nanoparticles that gently fuses...
'Cranky uncle' game tackles vaccine hesitancy
Vaccine hesitancy in the developing world will meet its match with the launch of a game featuring the same central character, a grumpy uncle,...
Parkinson’s patient walks without falling with Swiss spine stimulator
A man with Parkinson’s disease has experienced a substantial improvement in his ability to walk after being fitted with a device that electrically stimulates...
AGs urge action from FDA on biased pulse oximeter technology
Attorneys-General representing half of the US and Washington are calling on the FDA to step up its ongoing efforts to eliminate racial biases from...
AI tool could predict heart attack 10 years ahead: Oxford study
Artificial intelligence could help predict if a person is likely to have a heart attack up to 10 years before it happens, suggest British...
New Discovery Health apps frustrating, say users
Several innovative new services were recently launched by Discovery app, enabling 24/7 virtual consultations with doctors, and medication delivery, as well as immediate help...
FDA still not satisfied with Philips recall
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still not satisfied with how technology company Philips has handled a major product recall and instructed the...
Growing role for AI in everyday medical interactions
As technology advances, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasing role in the medical industry, with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) having...
AI helps drugmakers slash clinical trial costs and time
Leading pharmaceutical companies are harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to find patients for clinical trials quickly, or to reduce the number of people needed to...
ChatGPT diagnoses child’s illness after 17 doctors fail
A mother at the end of her tether after 17 medical experts were unable to diagnose her little boy’s debilitating pain – for three...
Euthanasia ‘pod’ ready for use, says inventor
The controversial inventor dubbed ‘Dr Death’ says his 3D-printed coffin-like “suicide capsules” will be used for the first time in Switzerland this year, giving...
Will AI make radiologists redundant?
The diagnostic power of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly rising and changing healthcare along the way, with experts cautioning that if medical professionals try...
Hope for paralysed, as device translates brain signals to words
Scientists have developed a device that translates paralysed people’s brain signals
into words at faster speeds than before, with plans to improve this even further,...
Swift detection of cancer in mammograms by AI – Swedish study
A preliminary study by Swedish scientists, involving 80 000 women, suggests artificial intelligence (AI) tools can “safely” read breast cancer screening images and detect cancer...
Rapid Covid detection with 3D-created breath test – US study
A device created by researchers can detect SARS-CoV-2 in just one or two breaths and provide results in less than one minute, and would...
US team designs wearable tumour-detecting device to fit in bra
A wearable mini ultrasound device that will detect tumours when they are still in early stages – and which fits into a bra –...