Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1442007
Magnetically Charged Implant Stimulates the Brain and Nervous System BY K ATY MENA-BERKLEY RESE ARCHERS WITH RICE UNIVERSIT Y DE VELOP THE FIRST NEUR AL STIMUL ATOR POWERED BY MAGNE TIC ENERGY. MANY PATIENTS WITH neurological conditions, including epilepsy and Parkinson's disease, rely on battery-powered surgical implants to stimulate the nervous system. While effective, these devices are bulky and require frequent battery replacement or charging that must be accomplished through surgery. Additionally, these devices involve wires that may be associated with infection. To address the issues involved with neural stimulators, neuroengineers at Rice University in Houston, Texas, have created a wireless implant fueled by magnetoelectric technology. The device is tiny — comparable to a grain of rice — and comprised of two layers encased by a sheath of film. Because the device is so small, major surgery is not required for implantation. CREATING ALTERNATIVE POWER + One layer of the stimulator is a magnetostrictive foil made of boron, carbon, iron and silicon. This layer vibrates on a molecular level and creates acoustic waves when the layer is positioned in a magnetic field. The other layer, a piezoelectric crystal, transforms the acoustic waves into electric voltage on par with the power created by a battery-charged implant. + The neural stimulator may be placed just under the skin in various locations of the body using a minimally invasive procedure. n 059990063_InnoTech2.indd 1 9/3/20 8:08 AM When Bullying Obstructs Healing BY THOMAS CROCKER WHEN WORKPL ACE BULLYING OCCURS IN HE ALTH CARE, THE INTENDED TARGETS ARE NOT THE ONLY VICTIMS. A RECENT AMA REPORT OFFERS SOLUTIONS. BULLYING IN MEDICINE is widespread, according to the report, and occurs due to a variety of factors, including: + Conflicting or poorly defined roles + High stress levels + Lack of workplace independence + Overwork + Power imbalances + Subpar management + Understaffing + Workplace cultures that enable bullying When a healthcare professional perpetrates or experiences bullying, patient care — and the entire care team — may suffer, which makes cultural rehabilitation paramount, according to the AMA. The organization offers several recommendations for stamping out workplace bullying, including: + Implementing or strengthening anti-bullying policies. Physician practices and other healthcare organizations should clearly define what constitutes bullying, specify who is covered under the anti-bullying policy, set standards of behavior for all covered individuals and detail steps for confidentially reporting workplace bullying. + Nurturing a culture of respect. Ways to build an anti- bullying organizational culture include addressing instances of bullying quickly, conducting confidential surveys to better understand employees' perceptions of workplace culture and acting on their feedback to develop anti-bullying resources. + Recognizing the key role of managers in addressing workplace bullying. Managers should encourage adminis- trators to treat workplace bullying seriously and educate all members of staff about how bullying harms both individuals and the organization's mission. Managerial involvement demonstrates to staff that their leaders are serious about eradicating bullying and encourages individuals to report bad behavior. n 2 6❱❱❱❱❱ I N N O V A T I O N A N D T E C H N O L O G Y