Five devices we like

MPN’s best medical devices from the last month

Breathe easy: Breathe & Go device

This device is designed to help those with mild to moderate COPD. Users breathe out through the mouthpiece of the Breathe and Go and a small steel ball vibrates against a valve causing the lungs to vibrate. This vibration effect helps loosen mucus build up in the lungs.

True Blue: BlueControl

Philips’ BlueControl 2.0 wearable medical device uses UV-free blue LED light to control symptoms of mild to moderate cases of plaque psoriasis.

The phototherapy device uses blue light to address symptoms by slowing the accelerated production of skin cells associated with the condition and allowing skin to renew itself properly.

Take the tube: Dechoker device

The FDA-approved Dechoker has a mask that seals over the victim’s nose and mouth, a tube inside the mask which depresses the tongue and goes a little way down the throat and a plunger that pulls up like a syringe and removes the obstruction with air pressure.

If the item is not initially dislodged the plunger can be repeatedly pumped as air and fluids are distributed through valves on the device.

What a nerve: PoNS 4.0

The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS) 4.0 device is a non-invasive way of delivering neurostimulation through the tongue.

Researchers believe that use of the tongue as a gateway to the brain may be one of the most natural, non-invasive and direct ways to stimulate the brain as the tongue has thousands of nerve fibres interconnected to the brainstem by two major cranial nerves.

Cool for caps: Cooling cap

This cooling cap cap brings relief to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and reduces the risk of hair-loss during treatment.

Primasil Silicones has worked with the University of Huddersfield to develop the cooling cap for Paxman. The Paxman scalp cooling system consists of a compact refrigeration system connected to a silicone rubber cap.

By lowering the scalp temperature immediately before, after and during treatment blood flow to the follicles is reduced and damage is minimised.