With the help of electrodes implanted in the brain, a paralysed ALS patient has regained a simple form of communication ability. A computer decodes letters from his brain signals.

A joystick-controlled robot could help surgeons operate on stroke patients remotely. This would allow patients to be treated during the critical time window after a stroke - even if they are far away from a specialist.

Anesthetic drugs affect the brain. But to tell if a patient will remain unconscious during surgery, most anesthesiologists rely on heart rate, breathing rate and movement. Algorithms could improve this process.

A patch developed by Swiss researchers provides early warning of leaks at sutures in the gastrointestinal tract. The novel patch should significantly reduce the risk of life-threatening complications after abdominal surgery.