Israel Active

Israel’s Sesame Enable is developing “the Sesame Phone,” which is specifically tailored to assist people who have limited or no use of their hands. The system enables control of the smartphone with a combination of small head movements and voice recognition.

Type-1 diabetes patients can one day avoid taking insulin injections if the bio-artificial pancreas, developed by Israel’s Beta-O2 passes its human trials in Sweden.  The BAir delivers oxygen to replacements for the faulty islet cells that are essential for producing insulin in the patient’s body.

(Thanks to Israel21c) The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) has made 94 new research grants for the 2014/15 year, totaling a record $3,453,332.  Since 1977, ICRF has made 2,115 grants, totaling over $52 million.  Successes include 3 top cancer treatments and two major genetic discoveries.

(Thanks to Israel21c)  Israeli startup Pneumedicare has developed the Pneumonitor to monitor premature babies on ventilation machines.  A ventilator can cause pneumothorax, in which the infant’s tiny air sacs over-inflate and burst.  Pneumonitor’s alarm sounds an hour before any problem arises. 

Tel Aviv University scientists have discovered that the genetic deletion of the protein Interleukin-1 (IL-1) improves fertility.  It could help increase the effectiveness of IVF treatment. The discovery was made accidentally during research at TAU into IL-1’s role in the hardening of the arteries.

Naomi Elishuv made headlines in September when she played the violin while Israeli surgeons implanted two electrodes in her brain to stop her tremors.  Doctors say Naomi is recovering impressively and they hope the type of implant will soon be used in other cases.

BPH won’t kill you – it stands for benign prostatic hyperplasia – but it can make life uncomfortable for 50% of men over 50 years old and 80% of men over 80.  ClearRing from Israel’s ProArc Medical can address BPH in 10 minutes by a urologist, with no sedation required, and no complications

Israel’s MediWound has commenced a Phase 3 study to valuate the efficacy and safety of its innovative NexoBrid treatment for severe burns in children.  The study plans to be conducted in around 25 sites in Europe and Israel.  NexoBrid removes dead or damaged skin without harming viable tissue.

The European Union and Japan have granted patents to the universal flu vaccine Multimeric-001 (M-001) developed by Israel’s BiondVax.  The ex-Weizmann Institute technology already has patents in the United States, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Russia and Mexico.

The US FDA has approved the innovative ECG system HyperQ Analyzer Rest developed by Israeli biotech BSP.  HyperQ can test patients at rest, diagnosing early-stage heart disease without putting the patient under stress. It is less risky than alternative invasive and radioactivity tests.