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A wireless, dissolving pacemaker

<p>US researchers have developed a wireless, temporary pacemaker that dissolves harmlessly within the body when it’s no longer required.</p> <p>Having previously developed a <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/self-powered-pacemaker-works-heartbeat/" target="_blank">self-powered pacemaker</a>that uses heartbeats as energy, the team has become interested in transient electronics, allowing cardiac patients to dodge riskier surgical procedures.</p> <p>“Sometimes patients only need pacemakers temporarily, perhaps after an open-heart surgery, heart attack or drug overdose,” says Rishi Arora, a cardiologist at Northwestern University, US, and co-author on a paper describing the research, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41587-021-00948-x" target="_blank">published</a> in <em>Nature Biotechnology.</em></p> <p>“After the patient’s heart is stabilised, we can remove the pacemaker. The current standard of care involves inserting a wire, which stays in place for three to seven days. These have potential to become infected or dislodged.”</p> <p>Arora and colleagues addressed this by creating a biodegradable device, around 15 millimetres in length and width, and 0.25 millimetres thick, from a range of materials, including tungsten-coated magnesium, silicon nanomembranes and Candelilla wax. All the components are ‘bioresorbable’ – they can dissolve and be processed harmlessly by the body.</p> <p>The device is powered by an antenna that sits outside the body, using near-field communication protocols (the same technology used for contactless payments), eliminating the need for batteries or wires and making it easier to implant.</p> <p>“The circuitry is implanted directly on the surface of the heart, and we can activate it remotely,” says Arora.</p> <p>“Over a period of weeks, this new type of pacemaker ‘dissolves’ or degrades on its own, thereby avoiding the need for physical removal of the pacemaker electrodes. This is potentially a major victory for post-operative patients.”</p> <p>The thickness and length of the device can be modified to make it last for different periods of time, depending on the patients’ requirements.</p> <p>The researchers have successfully tested the device in mice, rabbits, rats and dogs, as well as human heart tissue.</p> <p>“The transient electronics platform opens an entirely new chapter in medicine and biomedical research,” says Igor Efimov, a researcher at George Washington University, US, and co-author on the paper.</p> <p>“The bioresorbable materials at the foundation of this technology make it possible to create a whole host of diagnostic and therapeutic transient devices for monitoring progression of diseases and therapies, delivering electrical, pharmacological, cell therapies, gene reprogramming and more.”</p> <div> <div id="vjs_video_3" class="video-js vjs-paused vjs-controls-enabled vjs-workinghover vjs-v7 vjs-user-active vjs-layout-medium bc-player-HJH3i8Guf_default bc-player-HJH3i8Guf_default-index-0 vjs-mouse vjs-plugins-ready vjs-player-info vjs-contextmenu vjs-contextmenu-ui vjs-errors not-hover" data-embed="default" data-usage="cms:WordPress:5.8.1:2.2.0:javascript" data-player="HJH3i8Guf" data-account="5483960636001" data-video-id="6261328609001" aria-label="Video Player"><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></div> <div class="video-js vjs-paused vjs-controls-enabled vjs-workinghover vjs-v7 vjs-user-active vjs-layout-medium bc-player-HJH3i8Guf_default bc-player-HJH3i8Guf_default-index-0 vjs-mouse vjs-plugins-ready vjs-player-info vjs-contextmenu vjs-contextmenu-ui vjs-errors not-hover" data-embed="default" data-usage="cms:WordPress:5.8.1:2.2.0:javascript" data-player="HJH3i8Guf" data-account="5483960636001" data-video-id="6261328609001" aria-label="Video Player"></div> <em>This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/a-wireless-dissolving-pacemaker/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian.</em></div>

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There is now proof that your smart speaker is eavesdropping on your conversations

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amazon has confirmed that its smart speaker, the Amazon Echo – also known as “Alexa” – listens to your personal and private conversations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The company employs thousands of workers to listen to voice recordings that are captured by the company’s Echo “smart” speakers, according to a </span><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-10/is-anyone-listening-to-you-on-alexa-a-global-team-reviews-audio"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bloomberg</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> report.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Millions across the world have been reluctant to use the device for this very reason, and it turns out that someone IS listening to their conversations.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Amazon doesn’t refer to the process as eavesdropping. The company refers to it as the “Alexa voice review process” and uses it to highlight the role that humans play in training software algorithms.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This information helps us train our speech recognition and natural language understanding systems, so Alexa can better understand your requests, and ensure the service works well for everyone,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The audio transcribers, who are comprised of full-time employees at Amazon as well as contractors, told </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bloomberg</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that they reviewed “as many as 1,000 audio clips per shift”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although some of the employees might find the work mundane, the listeners occasionally pick up on things that the person on the other end would like to remain private, such as a woman singing in her shower off-key and loudly.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The report from </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bloomberg</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> also revealed that the more amusing (or harder to understand) voice clips get shared amongst the employees via internal chat rooms.</span></p> <p><strong>How to disable this feature</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, disabling this feature is easy. As it’s switched on by default in the Alexa app, this is also the way you turn it off.</span></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Open the Alexa app on your phone.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Tap the “Menu” button on the top left of the screen.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Select “Alexa Account”.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Choose “Alexa Privacy”.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Select “Manage how your data improves Alexa”.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Turn off the button next to “Help Develop New Features”.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Turn off the button next to your name under “Use Messages to Improve Transcriptions”.</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite turning off the recording function for Alexa, the company told Bloomberg that its voice recordings may still be analysed as a part of Amazon’s review process.</span></p>

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Speakers to change the way those with hearing loss watch TV

<p>Audio technologists Turtle Beach have revealed a new speaker that allows people with hearing loss to better hear their televisions in a revolutionary way.</p> <p>These HyperSound speakers are suitable for people who can hear every day real-life sounds, but have trouble hearing the frequencies emitted from their TVs.</p> <p>According to the company, the technology works as follows: </p> <p>“HyperSound technology is a fundamentally new approach to sound delivery that utilizes thin panels to generate an ultrasound beam that carries audio through the air. The panels direct sound in a narrow, controlled beam; much the way a flashlight directs a beam of light. When an individual enters the beam, they hear immersive 3D audio, similar to wearing a surround sound headset.”</p> <p>Currently, these innovative speakers retail for around $1500(US) and are available exclusively through hearing specialists.</p> <p>As hearing aids can run for well over the price of these speakers, HyperSound technology may be a viable option for those who need TV-specific hearing enhancement.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/07/healthy-diet-linked-to-good-hearing/">When it comes to hearing, a healthy diet is more important than noise exposure</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/06/heighten-sense-of-hearing/">3 simple ways to heighten your sense of hearing</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/hearing/2015/06/hearing-aid-styles/">A look at different styles of hearing aids</a></strong></span></em></p>

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