Medical Design Briefs - February 2021 - 23

Platform Monitors Gut Microbiome
Scientists are developing a platform
that can monitor and model the real-time
processing of gut microbiome serotonin
activity. Their goal is to one day package
the platform into an ingestible capsule
capable of detecting, treating, and monitoring GBA diseases. The platform proA graphical abstract of
vides access to the specific site of serothe gut-brain axis and the
tonin production, important because
3D printed in vitro platserotonin is secreted from the bottoms of
form. (Credit: University
of Maryland)
cells. An innovative porous membrane
with an integrated serotonin sensor on
which a model of the gut lining can be grown allowed researchers
to access both top and bottom sides of the cell culture.
Using metal deposition, the researchers patterned a threeelectrode system directly on a porous cell culture membrane
suspended within a custom 3D printed housing. Cells can be
grown on the top of the membrane with the serotonin sensor
oriented on the bottom for direct detection.
The team then enhanced the sensitivity of serotonin detection by increasing the electrode effective surface area, dropcasting a small volume of carbon nanotubes on the electrode
surface. Prepared solutions of serotonin were detectable well
within the expected physiological concentration range.
For more information, visit www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/
roundup/0221/platform.

Flexible Screen-Printed
Rechargeable Battery
A team of researchers
has developed a flexible,
rechargeable silver oxidezinc battery with a 5-10
times greater areal energy
A flexible, rechargeable silver oxidezinc battery. (Credit: UC San Diego)
density than state of the
art. The battery also is easier to manufacture; while most flexible batteries need to be
manufactured in sterile conditions, under vacuum, this one
can be screen printed in normal lab conditions. The device
can be used in flexible, stretchable electronics for wearables
as well as soft robotics.
The new battery has higher capacity than any of the flexible batteries currently available on the market. That's
because the battery has a much lower impedance - the
resistance of an electric circuit or device to alternative current. The lower the impedance, the better the battery performance against high current discharge.
The printed battery cells were recharged for more than
80 cycles, without showing any major signs of capacity loss.
The cells also remained functional in spite of repeated
bending and twisting. The battery's exceptional energy density is due to its silver oxide-zinc (AgO-Zn) chemistry.
For more information, visit www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/
roundup/0221/battery.

ROBOTIC END - EFFECTORS

Measure all six components of force
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r
r.

Interface Structure
High-Speed Electronics

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Sensing
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Se
enssi Beams and Flexures

Silicon Strain Gages

designed
deesign
signed
ned fo
for high stiffness and overload
loaad protec
pprotection
prote
roteecttion w
without compromising
resolution
re utionn
resolutio
resolu

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Medical Design Briefs, February 2021

Free Info at http://info.hotims.com/79410-753

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Medical Design Briefs - February 2021

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