Browse Technologies

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Vanderbilt researchers have developed a novel method for contactless simulation of the central nervous system. This technique involves the use of infrared neural stimulation (INS) to evoke the observable action potentials from neurons of the central nervous system. While infrared neural stimulation of the peripheral nervous system was accomplished almost a decade ago, this is the first technique for infrared stimulation of the central nervous system.

Heart valve disease is the 3rd most prevalent source of cardiovascular disease, leading to approximately 20,000 deaths per year in the U.S. alone. Moreover, there are an estimated 41,000 mitral valve procedures performed in the U.S. each year. The only effective, long-term treatment for mitral valve disease is open-chest valve replacement surgery, which is highly undesirable for elderly patients. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop novel percutaneous strategies for treatment that will reduce the number of open-chest surgeries. David Merryman and colleagues have developed a new, combined catheter that uses cryo temperatures to adhere to moving mitral valve leaflets and radiofrequency ablation to alter the compliance of the leaflet tissue to prevent prolapse and regurgitation.

A Vanderbilt team led by anesthesiologist Dr. Rajnish Gupta has developed a rapidly adjustable flexible positioning arm that can precisely position the ultrasound probe in such a way that it can be adjusted and fine-tuned with the flip of a switch. Upon fixing the probe in position, both of the clinician's hands are free to perform ultrasound guided procedures without the need for a second person to hold the probe.

A flexible endoscope for ophthalmic orbital surgery is presented. The endoscope has illuminating fiber, image fiber and a free conduit to deliver purge gas/fluid in addition to instruments such as ablation instruments, coagulating instrument or a medication delivery instrument.