Non-invasive

Scientists have boosted the motility of slow sperm by blasting the cells with 40-MHz ultrasound waves to induce movement. Capturing the technique's impact on individual sperm cells, the study opens the door to new non-invasive fertility treatments.

Six people suffering varying degrees of paralysis have now regained the use of their hands and fingers after participating in a UCLA-led study of a nonsurgical, noninvasive spinal stimulation technique.

Minimally invasive surgery often sees large, expensive robots acting as a surgeon's hands inside the patient's body.​ A new cheaper “needle driver” is designed to precisely mimic the motions of a surgeon’s wrist and translate it to a tiny flexible claw, with no electronic or computerized parts.

​Researchers in the UK have announced a new laser therapy treatment that can kill low-risk prostate cancer cells without inflicting collateral damage on healthy tissue or the patient’s lifestyle. ​

​A man who suffering complete paralysis has regained the ability to walk again using electrical signals generated by his own brain, pointing to the possibility of using noninvasive therapies to restore control over paralyzed limbs. ​

Working with a team of UCLA scientists, a man with protracted and complete paralysis has recovered sufficient voluntary control to take charge of a bionic exoskeleton and take many thousands of steps.

Five men with complete motor paralysis regained the ability to move their legs voluntarily after being treated with a non-invasive form of spinal cord stimulation called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, which involves strategically placing electrodes on the skin of the lower back.

Researchers have developed an algorithm that enabled a man whose right hand had been amputated to grasp objects using a bionic hand controlled by his thoughts. While we've seen similar accomplishments in recent years, the new technique is non-invasive, capturing brain activity via a scalp EEG.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a technique that uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to noninvasively detect cancerous cells, offering the potential of supplementing biopsies or maybe one day replacing them altogether.

Typically, tests for diseases must be done one disease at a time, and can take days to be processed through a lab. A new device developed in an EU project, however, can test for several diseases at the same time and provide results within an hour. The LabDisk is designed for use in Africa.

Alzheimer’s disease currently affects more than 35 million people worldwide, but pharmaceutical treatment efforts to counter it have not yet proven fully effective. A non-invasive method from the University of Queensland using ultrasound promises to be an effective treatment alternative.

The developers of a promising new lung cancer detection tool have announced they are now moving into clinical trials. By relying on breath tests to diagnose the illness, it is hoped that the device could lead to non-invasive and earlier detection, ultimately boosting lung cancer survival rates