News Asia Pacific

New device improves surgeon’s sensitivity during operations

HIROSHIMA, Japan: A small vibrating device added to surgical tools could improve surgeons’ sensitivity to different tissue shapes and textures in their patients’ bodies. Japanese researchers have designed the PZT Actuator to attach to any existing hand-held surgical tool for immediate use, without doctors requiring extra training.

Frequent dental scaling might reduce infection risk after knee replacement

TAINAN, Taiwan: Oral bacteria that enter and spread through the bloodstream have been found to cause about 10 per cent of peri-prosthetic joint infections after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Therefore, TKA patients are often advised to pay special attention to their oral health. A team of Asian researchers has now found that frequent dental scaling might reduce the risk of infection after TKA.

Australian surgeons repair man’s face after terrible chainsaw accident

MELBOURNE, Australia: In early May, Bill Singleton, a 68-year-old-man from Ballarat in Australia, lost control of his chainsaw while chopping wood and cut through the lower half of his face, including his jaw. Although seriously injured, he was able to wrap a towel around his face, crawl to his car and drive 25 km to the nearest hospital. From there, Singleton was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where doctors stabilised him and performed reconstructive surgery on his face. The operation went ...

Hong Kong: New website helps people choose best hospital for their needs

HONG KONG: A new rating platform, HospitalAdvisor, aims to help people living in Hong Kong to make informed decisions about which hospital is right for them. The Chinese and English website, which was launched earlier this month by the Zubin Foundation, covers all 41 public and 11 private hospitals in the region and gathers information and evaluations on the quality of care in each facility.

Researchers develop handheld surgical pen that prints human stem cells

MELBOURNE, Australia: 3-D bioprinters that can be used to print cells layer by layer to build up artificial tissue for implantation are currently revolutionising tissue engineering. In a landmark proof of concept experiment, Australian researchers have used a handheld 3-D printing pen to draw human stem cells in freeform patterns with extremely high survival rates. The BioPen is designed to allow surgeons to sculpt customised cartilage implants during surgery.

New device to get people with paralysis back on their feet

MELBOURNE, Australia: Melbourne medical researchers have created a new minimally invasive brain–machine interface, giving people with spinal cord injuries new hope of walking again with the power of thought. The new device is the size of a small paper clip and will be implanted in the first human trial at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2017.