Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s an implant that can help restore vision to those who are either losing it, or who have lost it, and though it’s still in the early stages, researchers are pinning high hopes to this game-changer.

The Story: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, whose government committed $42 Australian dollars (almost $39 million US) to the project, said the device could be “one of the most important medical advances we see in our lifetime”.

“The bionic eye project will keep Australia at the forefront of bionic research and commercialization and has the potential to restore sight to thousands of people in Australia and across the world,” he said.

The device, part of which is surgically implanted in the eye, is designed for patients suffering from degenerative vision loss caused by the genetic condition retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration.

It consists of a miniature camera, mounted on glasses, that captures images and sends them to a processor the wearer keeps in their pocket. The processor then transmits a signal wirelessly to a unit implanted in the eye which will directly stimulate surviving neurons in the retina, signaling an image to the brain.

Those using the bionic eye will not have perfect vision restored, but it is hoped they will be able to perceive points of light in their field of vision which the brain can then reconstruct into an image. Research director of Bionic Vision Australia, the university and research institute partnership which has produced the prototype, said the device could change people’s lives.

“We anticipate that this retinal implant will provide users with increased mobility and independence, and that future versions of the implant will eventually allow recipients to recognize faces and read large print,”Professor Anthony Burkitt said.

Kevin Murfitt, chairman of the country’s biggest service for the blind and visually impaired Vision Australia, said the bionic eye “will be the next big remarkable invention”.

“This is truly a revolution and will be the biggest thing in terms of blindness and low vision since Louis Braille invented the Braille alphabet over 200 years ago,” he told ABC radio.

The bionic eye is undergoing tests ahead of the first human implant in 2013.

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a pendant medical alert device made for seniors to alert authorities when they’ve taken a fall, even if those individuals can’t alert the authorities themselves.

The Story: Royal Philips Electronics ( PHG, AEX: PHI) today introduced Lifeline with AutoAlert, an enhanced medical alert service.  This integrated solution offers an added layer of protection by combining the industry-leading Philips Lifeline medical alert service with automatic fall detection capabilities. Lifeline with AutoAlert features the only pendant-style help button that can automatically call for help if a fall is detected and a senior is unable to push his or her help button.  According to an internal laboratory study of simulated falls, Lifeline with AutoAlert detected 95 percent of many types of falls and had a low rate of false alarms.

Seniors are living longer and remaining in their own homes; however, falls have become an epidemic problem that jeopardizes seniors’ chances to live independently. Every year in the U.S., one out of three people age 65 and over will fall.  This statistic translates to 13.3 million people who will fall in 2010, or one person falling every 2.3 seconds on average.

Among seniors, falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma, as well as injury-related deaths.  Close to 50% of seniors can’t get up from a fall without help and lying on the floor for an extended period of time can lead to serious complications, including: pressure ulcers, muscle necrosis, dehydration, hypothermia and pneumonia. The care and treatment of these potentially preventable complications are costly to the healthcare system and negatively impact quality of life for seniors.

Lifeline with AutoAlert is designed to help reduce the risk of long lie times.  If a fall victim receives help more quickly, that may reduce emotional distress and potential costs of extended treatment, rehabilitation and supported living.  With AutoAlert, if a fall is detected, subscribers still have the opportunity to receive quick access to assistance even in situations where they can’t push their button, for example, if they lose consciousness, become immobilized, forget to push their button or won’t push their button because they feel they can manage the situation independently. Just as important, the service can provide added confidence and peace of mind to the 22 million seniors who fear falling.

“One of the greatest threats to seniors is falls and associated injuries,” said Walter van Kuijen, senior vice president and general manager, Home Monitoring, for Philips Healthcare. “For the cost of a cup of coffee a day, Lifeline with AutoAlert can help seniors maintain their independence and provide their caregivers even more peace of mind.”

Bevereley Stoakley, a Lifeline program manager at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, an AutoAlert beta test site said, “Lifeline with AutoAlert provided a fast way for one of my subscribers to get help.  I believe by intervening quickly, my subscriber was revived from a faint pulse and likely avoided medical complications that often result from long lie times. My subscriber was back at home in two days.”

www.lifelinesys.com

Why it’s Breakthrough: It enables the blind to ’see’ with their tongues.

The Story: Lance Corporal Craig Lundberg, 24, can read words, make out shapes and walk without assistance thanks to a device developed in the United States which could revolutionize life for other blind people.

Lundberg, from Liverpool in northwest England, completely lost his sight after being struck by a rocket-propelled grenade while serving in Basra in 2007. Faced with a life of relying on a guide dog, he was chosen by the Ministry of Defence as the first person in Britain to trial the BrainPort device, which could revolutionize treatment for the blind.

It converts images into electrical pulses which are sent to the tongue, where they cause a tingling sensation. The different strength of the tingles can be interpreted so the user can mentally visualize their surroundings and navigate around objects.

The device consists of a tiny video camera attached to a pair of sunglasses which are linked to a plastic “lollipop” which the user places on their tongue to read the pulses. The image is created by presenting white pixels from the camera as strong stimulation, black pixels as no stimulation, and grey levels as medium levels of stimulation, although interpreting the images takes intensive training.

“It feels like licking a nine volt battery or like popping candy,” Lundberg explained Monday. ”The camera sends signals down onto the lollipop and onto your tongue. You can then determine what they mean and transfer it to shapes. You get lines and shapes of things. It sees in black and white so you get a two-dimensional image on your tongue — it’s a bit like a pins and needles sensation.

“It’s only a prototype, but the potential to change my life is massive. It’s got a lot of potential to advance things for blind people,” he added.

Thanks to the device, he can now “pick up objects straight away. I can reach out and pick them up when before I would be fumbling around to feel for them.” Lundberg and British military surgeons have visited the US for training in how to use the device, which is being developed by a team led by Gale Pollock, a former major general in the US army.

It is hoped that with further refinement, the BrainPort could be used for other blind British military personnel. However, the future of Lundberg’s trusty guide dog seems secure for now. ”There is no way I’m getting rid of my guide dog Hugo, though — I love him.

“This (the BrainPort) is another mobility device, it’s not the be-all and end-all of my disability.”

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a laptop desk/pad that keeps both your computer and your legs cool. But it’s also got a built-in speaker system that gives your laptop a lot more sound and fury.

The Story: You’re already using your laptop to listen to music, play games, and watch movies, TV and videos. You’re already using it on the couch and on the bed. But you’re looking for a way to be comfortable, and you know what a difference high-quality audio can make when you’re enjoying good entertainment. For a theater-like experience on your laptop, Logitech (NASDAQ: LOGI) today introduced the Logitech® Speaker Lapdesk N700 — the company’s first all-in-one laptop accessory with integrated stereo speakers, a built-in fan and a wide padded base.

“More and more people around the world are enjoying fantastic entertainment on their laptops — but with mediocre sound and comfort,” said Denis Pavillard, Logitech vice president of product marketing for laptop accessories. “In fact, according to our research nearly 50 percent of laptop users report being dissatisfied with the sound quality of the built-in speakers. The Logitech Speaker Lapdesk N700 helps transform your laptop into a private theater in the cozy confines of your lap.”

Unlike most laptop speakers, the Speaker Lapdesk N700 offers two built-in high-definition speakers with 2-inch high-performance speakers. Specially designed for notebook computers, the stereo speakers are precisely positioned on either side of your laptop to give you rich sound and powerful bass. And, because they connect through a single USB cable, there’s no cable clutter or the hassle of moving and setting up external speakers.

While enjoying entertainment on your laptop, the device helps keep you comfortable. Whether you’re on the couch or in bed, the viewing angle of your screen and the padded base help you sit in a more comfortable position. Meanwhile, a quiet, efficient fan circulates air under your notebook, and the heat-shielding design helps keep laptop heat off your legs and lap. Plus, a grill protects the fan from dust and damage, and rear and bottom air intakes ensure steady, unobstructed airflow.

The Speaker Lapdesk N700 is easy to set up and use, just plug in the single USB cable and play movies, music, online videos, and more in rich, full stereo sound – there’s no software to install and no need for batteries. And to put convenient, independent control at your fingertips, the Speaker Lapdesk N700 offers volume controls for the speakers and an On/Off switch for the fan.

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a single, incredibly powerful and effective dosage of radiation, making cancer treatment much more efficient and easier on the patient.

The Story: Technology never before offered in the U.S. that allows patients to receive one dose of radiation during surgery, as opposed to the current average of six weeks of repeated treatments, was successfully delivered to several breast cancer patients last week – including the sister of the man responsible for bringing the technology from Italy.

The intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) Novac7 allows patients to receive radiation treatment, delivered with the same power and precision as other advanced radiation techniques, while still in the operating room undergoing surgery, often without any additional outpatient radiation treatment visits and with fewer side effects. IORT also offers patients better cosmetic results and improved quality of life as the need for additional radiation treatment is minimized or eliminated altogether.

After his mother passed away from breast cancer, Dr. Pablo Lavagnini, director of radiation oncology at CTCA, began fighting to bring the world’s best cancer-fighting options to patients. He became a crusader for IORT, a cost-effective treatment option widely used in Europe that helps patients get back to their daily activities sooner, with the same or better outcomes, fewer side effects and improved cosmetic results. Dr. Lavagnini celebrated the Novac7’s arrival at CTCA in October 2009. Since then he and his colleagues have overcome numerous logistical and licensing obstacles, remaining driven by the tremendous therapeutic and quality of life benefits that this treatment brings to breast cancer patients.

Since the Novac7 arrived in the United States, Dr. Lavagnini’s only sister, Asisé, discovered her own breast cancer diagnosis. She traveled from her home in Uruguay to seek a second opinion from her brother and, in a twist of fate, last week became the very first patient in the U.S. to receive IORT with the Novac7.

“It is as if my life’s work was leading up to this day,” said Dr. Lavagnini. “I never expected my sister to be my patient, but I am thankful that she was among the many women who will benefit from this technology, which is very different from the treatment that our mother received many years ago. I expect that IORT will change the standard of care for breast cancer over time.”

Other patients like Jackie Stevens, who traveled to CTCA from her home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, to receive treatment on Wednesday, decided that IORT was the best option based largely on the time savings that it offered. “As soon as my doctors told me that I could get my radiation at the same time as my lumpectomy, I thought ‘Wow! What a blessing,’” said Jackie.

Any patient who is having surgery to remove a tumor has a high likelihood of benefiting from IORT. While IORT will offer significant benefits for breast cancer patients, it will also be a valuable tool for many patients battling other cancer types including: stomach, pancreatic, rectal, prostate, gynecological, head and neck, and soft tissue sarcomas (especially retroperitoneal). For patients who must receive additional radiation therapy following surgery, they can receive a “boost” of radiation during IORT, shielding the surrounding tissues from radiation damage while delievering a higher dose to the area requiring treatment.

Additional content and animation illustrating what occurs during the procedure is also available on cancercenter.com.

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a concept vehicle that runs on power conveyed by magnets from underground lines. And this one charges the electric motor on the fly, of course without relying on a drop of gas.

The Story: Magnets. It runs using magnets. Magnets buried under the ground that have a blue line painted on the pavement above, so that when the tram follows that line, the magnets recharge the electric motor located inside the vehicle. A vehicle which just so happens to be a trolley train of three or four open cars (depending on the day) at the Seoul Grand Park, a zoo and amusement park located on the southern outskirts of the capital city.

What’s particularly cool is that this tram doesn’t have to run on a fixed route like a trolley car. This tram simply straddles the blue line briefly, gets a quick recharge and veers off, covering a new set of excursions around the park. Passengers can monitor the amount of stockpiled power remaining, then watch it refuel right before their eyes on screens mounted on the seats in front of them as the tram passes over an underground cable, itself plugged into an ordinary electric grid, that then recharges the battery via powerful magnets.

“Many people said it couldn’t be done,” says Mr. Suh Nam-pyo, president of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and champion of the technology. Prior to running KAIST, Suh was a professor at MIT for 35 years. “In spite of many negative comments, we have shown it is a viable concept.”

The immensely powerful magnetic field is able to pass through concrete and about seven inches of air before it comes into contact with the magnets inside the tram’s battery. Currently, the OLEV, or Online Electric Vehicle, traverses the perimeter of the park at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. And when the OLEV goes off the grid, Suh says “the battery will power the cable when the electrical cable is absent,” says Suh. “We feel this is the way to transform the transportation industry, not only automobiles but other forms of transportation.”

And that’s where it starts to get interesting.

Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of merchant vessels, with long experience turning out electrical engines for ships, made the equipment needed to convert the train from diesel to electric at Seoul Grand Park. They are a potential partner in producing the magnet technology on a larger and more affordable scale. And, not only are these batteries lighter than today’s hybrid batteries, but when produced, engineers believe these batteries will cost anywhere from three-quarters to about half the amount hybrid batteries cost.

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s an athletic shirt that logs data based on the body’s movement. Specifically, it monitors a baseball pitcher’s motion and mechanics and indicates to others if the pitcher is tiring, or even provoking injury.

The Story: Elbow injuries suffered by pitchers in Major League Baseball occur frequently and result in tens of millions of dollars in losses each season, representing the money that must be paid in salaries to pitchers who cannot perform due to injury.

To address this issue, three Northeastern University engineering students have developed a data-logging uniform shirt for pitchers that can help prevent elbow injuries while providing an electronic analysis of pitching mechanics.

The shirt was developed by Marcus Moche, Alexandra Morgan and David Schmidt as a Capstone Design Project—a senior-level team project that requires students to solve a “real-world” engineering problem or develop a viable product.

“No single device for measuring the quality of pitching mechanics currently exists, so we have proposed a shirt that is lightweight and can be worn during bullpen sessions or exhibition games,” said Moche. “The shirt can be used to show when a player becomes fatigued and his mechanics worsen, through a display of real-time information on a monitor in the dugout.”

“These students identified a real problem with the way pitching mechanics are currently analyzed and invented a viable product that has great potential to make it to the market.”

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s technology that enables you to speak silently on your mobile phone and having the other person on the other end of your call understand what you’re saying.

The Story: How many times have you wanted to jump on your cell phone to make a call, but thought it might not be advisable in a particular venue — like a movie theater, or a public bathroom stall? Well, some researchers at the Institute for Anthropomatics at The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed a technology that enables people to speak soundlessly and still to be understood by the conversation partner. This technology is based on the principle of electromyography, or the acquisition and recording of electrical potentials generated by muscle activity in the face.

Soundless calling not only works to avoid disturbing others, this breakthrough also has applications when it comes to the transmission of confidential information. For the transmission of passwords and PINs, for example, users can change seamlessly to soundless language and, hence, transmit confidential information in a tap-proof manner. However, if someone can read lips, you might be in trouble. Perhaps the solution is to voice your confidential information silently, and spin in circles – it’s just a thought.

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a portable hydroelectric generator that can be carried like a backpack.

The Story: Bourne Energy, a company based in Malibu, California, creates hydropower systems. Though the majority of its technology has been geared for large-scale operations, with multiple units generating energy on the megawatt scale, the company recently unveiled a hydroelectric generator that can generate 500 watts of power from a running stream, and can be thrown over the user’s shoulder like a 30 pound backpack. It’s actually not like a 30 pound backpack, the Backpack Power Plant (BPP) is 30 pounds and will generate a substantial amount of power, so long as the stream it’s working in as it least four feet deep.

To make the BPP work, users dig two trenches on opposite sides of a stream and then drop in a lightweight anchor into each trench. A rope is then used to connect the anchors, and the hydropower plant is hung from the rope over (and into) the stream. The device works best in streams where the water is running at 2.3 meters per second.

The system’s design is based on the high-tension mooring systems one would find sustainging floating oil rigs.

By the time the device actually goes into production, it will cost approximately $3,000. The company said it believes this system is best suited for both third-world and developing nations. It also indicated the military would be an attractive suitor for the product. What particularly differentiates the BPP from the competition is its ability to generate relatively large amounts of power, while still functioning as a totally portable device. The only other renewable technology that might come close to the BPP would be a solar cell.

The BPP is really at its best with its ability to bring cheap, highly portable energy technology to remote areas and remote villages, making it an excellent choice for communities and far-off places that are near moderately active streams.

Why it’s Breakthrough: It’s a touchscreen that gets projected onto your skin so that you can interact with your phone or other small electronic device without struggling to make out the words on the small screen.

The Story: Who knew tapping on the skin of your hands and arm could send readable signals to electronic devices? Some researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft Research Labs, that’s who. The breakthrough is called Skinput, and it could change the way we interact with those small touchscreen devices.

Skinput’s researchers have shown that it can allow users to simply tap their skin to control audio devices, play games, make phone calls, and navigate hierarchical browsing systems.

In Skinput, a keyboard, menu, or other graphics are beamed onto a user’s palm and forearm from a pico projector embedded in an armband. An acoustic detector in the armband then determines which part of the display is activated by the user’s touch. As the researchers explain, variations in bone density, size, and mass, as well as filtering effects from soft tissues and joints, mean different skin locations are acoustically distinct. Their software matches sound frequencies to specific skin locations, allowing the system to determine which “skin button” the user pressed.

Currently, the acoustic detector can detect five skin locations with an accuracy of 95.5%, which corresponds to a sufficient versatility for many mobile applications. The prototype system then uses wireless technology like Bluetooth to transmit the commands to the device being controlled, such as a phone, iPod, or computer. Twenty volunteers who have tested the system have provided positive feedback on the ease of navigation. The researchers say the system also works well when the user is walking or running.

As the researchers explain, the motivation for Skinput comes from the increasingly small interactive spaces on today’s pocket-sized mobile devices. They note that the human body is an appealing input device “not only because we have roughly two square meters of external surface area, but also because much of it is easily accessible by our hands (e.g., arms, upper legs, torso).”

“Furthermore, proprioception – our sense of how our body is configured in three-dimensional space – allows us to accurately interact with our bodies in an eyes-free manner,” the researchers, Chris Harrison at Carnegie Mellon University and Dan Morris and Desney Tan at Microsoft’s research lab in Redmond, Washington, write in a recent paper. “For example, we can readily flick each of our fingers, touch the tip of our nose, and clap our hands together without visual assistance. Few external input devices can claim this accurate, eyes-free input characteristic and provide such a large interaction area.”

In April, the researchers plan to present their work at the Computer-Human Interaction meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.