Carbon fibre and fuel economy

Growing applications for carbon fibre have been recognised most notably in the automotive sector where the issue of weight has been related to fuel efficiency. Vehicle manufacturers are now finding ways to improve material properties in tandem with suppliers for best results. By reducing a car's weight by only 10%, improved fuel economy of about 6% to 8% can be achieved. Three technologies that show promise in lightweighting vehicles are high-strength steel, aluminium and carbon fibre.

App acts as a biofeedback system

University of Virginia grad student develops Musical Heart app

Catheter for CTOs cleared for sale in US

FDA clears Avinger’s Ocelot catheter with optical coherence tomography

Dual level cervical disk implant gets FDA approval

Instead of fusion, the artificial disc can be used to restore normal biomechanical function

Social networking implant for weight loss

Implantable ‘abiliti’ system detects when a person consumes food or drinks

Norwegian scientists develop rapid blood testing technology

Optical reading of the results can be obtained within a couple of minutes

Pipes with multifunctional layers

The trend towards ever more complex plastic pipes with various functional layers has continued unbroken around the globe. First, reducing material costs plays a large role in this, such as with foam core or mineral-filled pipes.

Aeris’ AeriSeal System for emphysema on clinical trial in US

Treatment using the system is performed via a standard bronchoscopy instead of standard lung volume reduction surgery

Reduced regurgitation with transcatheter aortic valve system

Direct Flow Medical’s transcatheter aortic valve system does well in clinical trial

510(k) clearance for Accuray’s CyberKnifeM6 series

Radiosurgery machines can be used to treat large and irregular tumors more efficiently with excellent dose gradients

Plastic pipes in modern infrastructure

Plastic pipes are increasingly substituting traditional materials in piping systems across the region. However, much is needed to focus on their quality and performance requirements. Every part of the manufacturing process – from polymer and additive mixing to production of pipes and installation process – is critical to the lifespan of pipes.

‘Lab on a chip’ detects target molecule

Device can detect as little as a single nanogram of the target molecule from a drop of liquid