Medical Design Briefs - January 2024 - 24

n Acoustic Touch Helps
Blind to See
A cutting-edge technology
known as acoustic touch
helps people see using
sound. The technology has
the potential to transform
the lives of those who are
blind or have low vision.
The next-generation smart
glasses translate visual information into distinct sound icons.
The researchers tested the device with 14 participants; seven
individuals with blindness or low vision and seven blindfolded
sighted individuals who served as a control group. They found
that the wearable device, equipped with acoustic touch technology,
significantly enhanced the ability of blind or low-vision
individuals to recognize and reach for objects, without causing
too much mental effort.
By addressing these day-to-day challenges, the acoustic
touch technology opens new doors for individuals who are
blind or have low vision, enhancing their independence and
quality of life. With ongoing advancements, the acoustic
touch technology could become an integral part of assistive
technologies, supporting individuals to access their environment
more efficiently and effectively than ever before. (Image
credit: Lil Deverell)
For more information, visit www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/
roundup/0124/acoustic-touch.
n Piezoelectric
Material Printing
A microprinter can print
piezoelectric films 100 times
faster for the production of
microelectromechanical
systems (MEMS) for sensors,
wearable, or implantable
medical devices, offering
the possibility to lower
the mass production costs.
The microprinter, built at a comparatively lower cost as compared
with other printers on the market, utilizes an electrostatic
field to propel streams of ink onto a platform, allowing
for efficient manipulation of thin film patterns and enhanced
printing speed to address the challenge of mass production
and control of structures and feature sizes.
Nanoparticles, films, and patterns are three critical piezoelectric
elements with widespread applications in sensing, actuation,
catalysis, and energy harvesting. Mass production of
these elements remains a challenge to date as exerting control
of these structures and feature sizes on various substrates is a
complicated process.
The manufacturing speed has been enhanced by a factor of
100, allowing for efficient manipulation of thin film patterns
similar to semiconductor lithography. For instance, a 10 μmthick
PZT film on a 4-in. Si wafer can be fabricated in just 10
minutes using the printer, with minimal material wastage. (Image
credit: HKUST)
For more information, visit www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/
roundup/0124/microprinter.
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Medical Design Briefs, January 2024

http://info.hotims.com/86251-744 http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/roundup/0124/acoustic-touch http://info.hotims.com/86251-744 http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/roundup/0124/microprinter http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com

Medical Design Briefs - January 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Medical Design Briefs - January 2024