KAIST researchers develop electronic tattoo ink to monitor health

2 August | Sensors

Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, South Korea, have reportedly developed an electronic tattoo ink that can automatically alert people to potential health problems.


The ink is made of liquid metal and carbon nanotubes that work as a bioelectrode, Reuters reported.


According to the researchers, a tattoo drawn with this ink can help monitor heart rates as it creates an electric circuit on the skin.


The tattoo can be connected to an electrocardiogram (ECG) device or other biosensors to monitor a patient’s heart rate as well as other vital signs, such as glucose levels.


This would offer a personalised way for individuals and doctors to monitor individuals’s health conditions.


The researchers developed the non-invasive ink using particles that are based on soft, silvery metal gallium, which is also used in thermometers and semiconductors.


Platinum-decorated carbon nanotubes used in the ink help conduct electricity and provide durability.

4 August | Deals

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES TO ACQUIRE CURIOSITY DIAGNOSTICS FOR $170M


Bio-Rad Laboratories has signed an agreement to acquire Curiosity Diagnostics from Poland-based Scope Fluidics for a total consideration of up to $170m.

Under the terms of the deal, the company will acquire all outstanding shares of Curiosity Diagnostics for roughly $100m in cash as well as make future milestone payments of up to $70m.

A late-stage, pre-commercial platform firm, Curiosity Diagnostics is currently developing a sample-to-answer, quick diagnostics polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platform, PCR|ONE, for the molecular diagnostics market.

PCR|ONE is a stand-alone and automated system that has been designed for the quick detection of a broad range of pathogens at the point of care, in hospital emergency rooms or at other locations where accurate diagnosis of patients is crucial.

2 August | Deals

CONMED AGREES TO BUY MEDICAL DEVICE START-UP BIOREZ

Conmed has signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of US-based medical device start-up Biorez for $85m in cash consideration at closing.

To be made on a cash-free, debt-free basis, the deal also includes up to $165m additional growth-based earnout payments for four years.

Biorez is focused on advancing soft tissue healing using its BioBrace Implant technology, an innovative bioinductive scaffold.

BioBrace has been developed to promote healing by strengthening soft tissues where weaknesses exist. It is easy to use with a broad range of arthroscopic techniques.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BioBrace for use in multiple product sizes. Following completion of the transaction, Conmed will gain access to this technology for use in sports medicine soft tissue healing.

3 August | Devices

MIRA REVEALS OVUM WAND FOR FERTILITY STATUS MONITORING IN WOMEN

Mira has introduced the new Ovum Wand for predicting menopause and monitoring fertility status for women aged above 35 years.


The Mira Fertility Ovum Wand aims to track the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in urine. FSH stimulates follicle growth and is involved in triggering ovulation.


The US FDA has listed the product as an over-the-counter tool, and it will be made available in the country from October.


The Mira Ovum Wand can offer lab-accurate detection of FSH levels to predict menopause, assess fertility and support ovulation prediction.


Tracking FSH levels helps indicate if a woman is ready for a healthy pregnancy.


The wands can also be used to monitor fertility and find possible reasons for reproductive issues in women aged above 35 years.

9 August | Deals

AZENTA TO PURCHASE B MEDICAL SYSTEMS FOR $469M

Life sciences solution provider Azenta has signed an agreement to acquire cold chain solutions manufacturer and distributor B Medical Systems in a deal valued at about $468.7m (€460m).

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Azenta will acquire B Medical Systems and its subsidiaries from Navis Capital Partners for a cash price of around $417.7m (€410m) payable at closing.

Additionally, the company will make a payment of up to $50.9m (€50m) in cash after achieving certain future performance milestones.

Headquartered in Luxembourg, B Medical systems’ portfolio includes medical refrigeration, blood management solutions and vaccine transport systems, along with real-time monitoring devices.

Its products also include laboratory refrigerators, transport solutions, contact-shock freezers, and ultra-low freezers.

2 August | Deals

PERKINELMER PLANS TO FOCUS ON LIFE SCIENCE AND DIAGNOSTICS BUSINESSES

PerkinElmer has signed an agreement with private equity firm New Mountain Capital for the sale of its Applied, Food and Enterprise Services businesses for $2.45bn in cash to allow the company to focus on its high-margin Life Science and Diagnostics businesses.

The transaction is anticipated to be concluded in the first quarter of next year.

Upon completion of the deal, PerkinElmer’s business will consist of its Life Sciences and Diagnostics businesses, which will be operated under a new name.


The Analytical, Food and Enterprise Services businesses will retain the PerkinElmer name and brand.


The new Life Sciences and Diagnostics business will focus on expediting innovations and driving advanced research, discovery, and improvement for global health.

9 August | Devices

PRENETICS GLOBAL INTRODUCES AT-HOME HEALTH TEST SERIES

Diagnostics and genetic testing firm Prenetics Global has introduced an at-home blood test series, Circle Snapshot, featuring a CE-certified blood collection device.

The painless, push-button, micro-needle device has been designed to draw capillary blood via a microfluidic extraction process.

Circle Snapshot is intended to analyse blood samples across more than 50 areas of health concern, including heart health, vitamin deficiency, and food intolerance.

5 August | Assays

THERMO FISHER LAUNCHES NEW ASSAY TO DETECT MRD IN MYELOID MALIGNANCIES

Thermo Fisher Scientific has introduced a next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based test, Ion Torrent Oncomine Myeloid MRD Assay, for the detection of measurable residual disease (MRD) in myeloid malignancies.

The research-use-only (RUO) assay is claimed to be the first NGS-based test developed to provide simultaneous analysis of DNA and RNA for myeloid MRD assessment.

It uses blood and bone marrow samples and provides a complete and highly sensitive MRD assessment.

20 January | Covid-19

WALGREENS LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE TOOL TO TRACK COVID-19 VARIANTS

Walgreens has launched a new interactive tracking tool, the Walgreens Covid-19 Index, to advance the rapid detection of Omicron and track variant activity. It says the index can track the spread of the omicron variant within 24 to 48 hours.

The tool uses testing data from Aegis Sciences Corporation and uniquely identifies the spread of current and emerging virus variants in real-time.

The tool offers a snapshot of data for the past seven days based on positive tests analysed at more than 5,000 Walgreens locations across the nation.

According to the data collected and tracked by the tool, more than 95% of all positive cases of Covid-19 nationally are presumed to be the Omicron variant.

In brief

US FDA GRANTS 510(K) CLEARANCE FOR MICROPORT NAVIBOT’S SKYWALKER SYSTEM

The US FDA has granted 510(k) clearance for MicroPort Navibot’s robot-assisted SkyWalker System for orthopaedic applications. The new platform is said to be compatible with the Evolution Medial-Pivot Total Knee System and will initially be used in total knee replacements.

BRAIN NAVI PLANS TO SEEK US FDA APPROVAL FOR NEUROSURGICAL NAVIGATION ROBOT

Taiwanese surgical robotic firm Brain Navi Biotechnology plans to submit its autonomous neurosurgical navigation robot, NaoTrac, for US FDA approval by the end of the year. Its Surface Mapping Auto-Registration Technology (SMART) combines robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine vision to streamline surgical procedures with real-time images and less invasive outcomes.

THERMO FISHER’S ONCOMINE OBTAINS FDA APPROVAL AS CDX FOR LUNG CANCER DRUG

Thermo Fisher Scientific has secured approval from the US FDA for its Oncomine Dx Target Test as a companion diagnostic (CDx) to identify non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients for treatment with Enhertu.

The approval enables the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based CDx in detecting NSCLC patients whose tumours have certain HER2 (ERBB2) activating mutations.

BODYPORT’S NONINVASIVE BIOMARKER PLATFORM SECURES FDA 510(K) CLEARANCE

Digital therapeutics firm Bodyport has received 510(k) clearance from the US FDA for its Bodyport Cardiac Scale, a non-invasive biomarker platform. The cardiac scale allows individuals with fluid management conditions such as kidney disease and heart failure to noninvasively monitor heart function and fluid status in a single step at home.

US FDA GRANTS 510(K) CLEARANCE FOR MICROPORT NAVIBOT’S SKYWALKER SYSTEM

The US FDA has granted 510(k) clearance for MicroPort Navibot’s robot-assisted SkyWalker System for orthopaedic applications. The new platform is said to be compatible with the Evolution Medial-Pivot Total Knee System and will initially be used in total knee replacements.