DEKA arm receives FDA approval

deka_armDean Kamen’s DEKA R&D Corporation has been working on an advanced prosthetic arm for many years, and has just received FDA approval.  Next step is to find a manufacturing partner, then they can bring this device to market and provide a level of functionality not before available to amputees.  This arm is controlled by electrodes placed on the remaining portion of a wearer’s arm, and translates those signals into actions in the arm, and is the first of its kind to be able to perform multiple simultaneous robotic actions.  It may sound mundane..but this arm has enough control to allow users to pick up even fragile objects like grapes and eggs without breaking them, giving their users enormous gains in ability.

Check out the video below from 60 minutes to get a better sense of what this arm is all about:

BGF – a possible safe alternative to BPA?

The alternatives to BPA in plastics (like BPS) are quite likely no better than BPA itself…but there’s a new substitute being developed which has the potential to truly offer a safe alternative.  Bisguaiacol-F, or BGF, is made from a byproduct of the paper making industry called lignin.  These lignin fragments are converted into a compound that has a similar shape as BPA (and thus predicted to have similar mechanical/thermal properties), but a different molecular structure to help ensure it doesn’t produce hormone-like responses in the body.  More work remains, so the soonest we’d see BGF on the market is in five years or so.  In the meantime, minimize the use of plastics in food and beverage storage and serving.

Read more about BGF at phys.org.

The risks of BPA-free plastic

After the BPA scare of a few years ago, consumers generally felt safe buying BPA-free plastic products.  Well, I first reported on the risks of this last year, and now a new study warns of the dangers of these alternatives to BPA.  The bottom line is that these new plastics pose similar risks as BPA (follow the link above, this one, and also this one for more information).  My recommendation is the same – minimize your use of plastics in your food chain.  Use stainless steel or glass where possible.  Avoid aluminum water bottles too, as those are usually lined with plastic.  Keep in mind that in the US at least, manufacturers aren’t required to demonstrate the safety of chemicals like these before they go on sale to the public.

BPA directly linked to cancer (in mice)

dead-miceBPA is one of those chemicals that has caused a lot of fear in recent years…but also some uncertainty.  More and more though, it sounds like nasty stuff that’s best avoided (if possible).   A new study found a direct correlation between BPA consumption and the rate of cancer in mice (read more about the study here).  We’re lagging behind the rest of the world on this issue (the FDA still allows it), and unfortunately, its replacement, BPS, is pretty much an unknown, it may or may not have issues of its own.  So what can you do?  The same thing you do if you want to eat healthy overall.  Avoid prepared and processed foods.  Buy fresh ingredients and cook your own meals.  At least try to minimize your exposure to BPA.  You can read more about BPA over at Wikipedia.

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