Top TechTop Tech #8: Prevent blood loss death; Don’t sleep at the wheel
Highlighting interesting or important innovations with long-term promise.
Today’s developments:
• Polymer injection stops fatal bleeding
• Band detects driver fatigue
• 3D-print a custom low-cost mechanical sensor
Polymer injection stops fatal bleeding
One-third of deaths related to traumatic injuries are causedby bleeding, reports The Verge — but a new technique could prevent many ofthose losses. It’s a simple injection of a polymer that causes clots.
In the study, the femoral artery of rats was cut, the injectionadministered — and blood loss stopped.
The research was done at the University of Washington, where the scientists says the method is completely novel. “People have tried to make artificial platelets, but in terms of a synthetic polymer like this, we think it’s the first.”
Band detects driver fatigue
Have you nearly dozed off at the wheel? Yeah, me too. Among the many new devices designed to monitor many bodily functions, one simple band only ensures you stay awake.
The Bluetooth device monitors your brainwaves, and detects drowsiness 3-5 minutes before you would fall asleep, with 90 percent accuracy, claims manufacturer Impecca.
The company adds that the National Highway Safety Administration estimates driver fatigue contributes to 100,000 accidents, 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries & $1.25 billion in losses annually in U.S.
The Alert Band works with a smartphone. Data collected by sensors on the forehead are transmitted to the smartphone app.
While this particular gadget might not be a hit, I do think this type of monitoring will soon prove essential.
It will be available in May for $250. More information is here.
3D-print a custom low-cost mechanical sensor
Speaking of small sensors — howabout molecules? A process for printing molecules that can respond to their surroundings was developed by scientists at the University of Washington (those people again!).
The result was a printed piece of white plastic with barely visible stripes that turn purple under force, Kurzweil AI reports. “It acts as an inexpensive, mechanical sensor with no electronic parts. The whole device took about 15 minutes to print from materials that cost less than a dollar.”
