The Toyota Collaboration Center has developed a wheelchair that works with a Brain Machine Interface (BMI) that can react to a user's thought in 125 milliseconds. Toyota hopes that this research will eventually lead to helping rehabilitation patients.

Simplistically described as "mind reading" technology, brain wave analysis is a technology that has been in research for years. The simple way of explaining it is to compare it to voice analysis, which works with a single (sound) wave. Brain wave analysis consist of tracking many more waves (the subject in the photo seems to have dozens of sensors) at once and interpreting the brain activity.

Basically, the system is trying to match a brain pattern with recognizable pattern that it was taught before. Overtime, it can also get better at recognizing the "thoughts" or "intent" of the user. Toyota claims to achieve a 95% accuracy (that's really good) with basic wheel chair commands , but we would love to try one when the time comes - hopefully before we really need one of those.

Created by Swedish company Jolife AB, the LUCAS 2 chest compressor has a simple goal: performing the simple task of pumping the chest to let one paramedic do something that requires more... intelligence. In short, it is like having a third paramedic on the scene.

LUCAS 2 runs on battery and doesn't require an air supply (as LUCAS 1 did, apparently). It can run for 45 minutes, which we guess should be enough for most interventions. Last month, it was approved in Europe and Canada, and it should be shipping in the USA "in the fall". I weighs 17.2lbs and fits in a backpack.

Granted, for the most of us, walking is but second nature once we've picked it up during our formative years. What about those who are about to embark on this "adventure" all over again due to an ailment or accident? A winning entry at the recently concluded Presidents' Change the World Competition comprises of an electronic tiled floor that was specially designed to help handicapped children practice walking skills. This floor is capable of lighting up based on a predefined algorithm as well as the person's movement, helping nudge the user to take the next step on another tile. Since we learn best by playing games, it is but a simple idea to turn walking into a game to make this a viable therapy option for various motor defects.

Tibion Bionic Technologies has come up with their latest effort - a powered knee orthosis which is aims to provide assistance to folks who suffer from a range of neuromuscular or joint disorders, including status post lower extremity surgery, chronic weakness of leg muscles, osteoarthritis, or even strokes, helping to wean them off crutches. Powered by an internal battery, a special algorithm controls the PK100, allowing it to provide automatic power assist without being noticeable to the patient. Other interesting features of the Tibion PK100 include :-

• Non-invasive
• Portable
• Battery-operated
• Transparent activation
• Easily adjustable for multiple patients
• Customizable settings with stored profiles

New diseases are virtually discovered every single day, and it starts to make some people feel paranoid about their surroundings. Xela Innovations plays on this fear by releasing a new set of doorknobs that come with an automatic sleeve dispenser, ensuring that no two people will touch the same handle twice. Before you lambast it for being environmentally unfriendly, it uses recyclable refills to make it sustainable in use. Not only that, Purleve is used to do away with the need for costly paper towels that are often abused due to their easy availability. Don't think there is any need to venture into such paranoia though, what about you?

Those living with an Alzheimer's patient will realize that keeping an extra eye on the said person is a given considering the former has a penchant of wandering off all on his/her own accord. Well, here's a solution from Aetrex Worldwide and GTS Corp. - with a pair of shoes that feature built-in GPS transmitters. These devices are accurate within a 30 feet radius, where you can even set safety zones to prevent said patient from going away too far without any proper supervision. Hmmm, we're thinking it would be useful for kids, too, instead of just Alzheimer's patients.

It is understandable that the older someone gets, the less mobile the person becomes. With shape-shifting Boomer helps the less-than-agile among us move better, capable of turning into a shopping cart, a comfortable seat to rest upon or even a walking frame when the situation calls for it. Heck, it also comes in handy to help one move safely up and down stairs. Designer Daniel Molloy hopes that the Boomer can "create a new modern aesthetic for elderly mobility aids". It might not feature any integrated processor or motion sensor, but the design itself allows you to move around comfortably and easily without dealing with complicated movements. Hopefully this will be sold at an affordable price when released to the market.

Are you paranoid about the level of your health? Why not make the effort to check out what your current health is like with the Oxihealth Finger Oximeter? This device is able to measure your hemoglobin levels and heart rate, providing you with an early warning of any blood circulation problems before they become acute. No idea how accurate this $79.95 device is, but some sort of monitoring is better than none at all, right? The Oxihealth Finger Oximeter works by using two sensors to measure the absorption of a red LED light and infrared, making it possible to provide vital information within seconds.

Know someone or even yourself who wants to quit the smoking habit? Well, perhaps the Blu Electronic Cigarettes could help you out, as they rely on nicotine cartridges that contain an atomizer which vaporizes the nicotine to give you the effect of smoking sans all the nasty tar build-up in your lungs. It also lets you "smoke" in smoke-free zones if you want to entertain that rebellious side of you. Makes us start to question whether these are meant for serious quitters, or are they another form to get people hooked to the real thing in the end.

Ever gone to the hospital to donate your blood only to realize that the nurse handling you is less than adept at finding the right vein to draw blood from? Well, hopefully the AccuVein AV300 will be released soonest possible in order to avoid such painful episodes in the future as this device is able to search out for difficult to find IV sites for needle placement. It is pretty much dummy proof as well, without the need for pre-use calibration or adjustments. In addition, the AV300 is highly portable, sitting in the palm of your hand comfortably while tipping the scales at a mere 10 ounces. Since it is a non-contact device, there is also no need to sterilize it after use, and it can be used with or without lights around. Sounds like one of the better medical gadgets we've come across this year...

The FDA has approved the new Signos device, where it is actually a handheld self-contained portable ultrasound imager with a probe. This device will be useful for those who are looking to perform a quick initial diagnostic modality for intraabdominal processes, including ectopics, AAAs, for carotid scans in ER in patients with ongoing TIA, as well as an assistive device for central line placements. At this point in time, it looks as though the Signos lacks a Doppler for flow studies. Tipping the scales at slightly more than half a pound, you can choose from either a 3.5MHz or a 7.5MHz transducer which can be swapped. There is no word on when this will hit the mass market nor when will it be available.

Current fears of the swine flu spreading unchecked is very real with the world being nothing but a global village today, and the Japanese government are mulling over a new cell phone-based GPS tracking system which will monitor an individual's location constantly, sending text alerts to participants should they happen to be in close proximity with anyone who is later identified as a flu victim. Meant to undergo testing by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications later this autumn, the proposed system sounds unnerving as that would mean the government knows exactly where I am, 24/7.

Texas-based MicroTransponder has come up with a neural stimulator to ease chronic pain. Small electrodes are implanted by injection in a procedure that takes only 30mn. Once in place, stimulators are powered by a low-energy radio signal, like RFID tags.

With this technology, there is no need for wires or battery replacement. It is possible to tweak some settings using a PDA or a laptop. At the moment, this technique is still in its infancy, but is it the first step towards full-blown nano-machines in our bodies?

More at MIT Technology Review

We've heard of WLANs (wireless LANs) and WANs (wide area networks) before, but how about a Body Area Network (BAN)? Well, Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) have broken new ground with an electrocardiograph which can be worn just like an accessory, functioning as a BAN - using short-distance wireless communication technology by performing an electrocardiogram for 24 hours straight while sending the measurements and readings wirelessly as long as it is worn. This will go great lengths in making personal health management easier in everyday life. BAN is currently being standardized at IEEE802.15.6, so it will take some time before it enters the mainstream.