The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to provide $2.2 million in funding over the next five years for the development of three innovative "co-robot" projects: an affordable hand-worn device to help the visually impaired grasp objects, a smart-walker to increase mobility in the elderly and a social-robot companion for children. The hand-worn device, which can detect a small object and help the blind user maintain alignment with the object while approaching it, has a global market potential of nearly $20 billion.

The latest medical device regulatory and reimbursement news from Elsevier Business Intelligence’s “The Gray Sheet.” This month we cover CDRH’s plans to expand its Medical Device Epidemiology Network and the potential impact of the JOBS Act on life sciences start-up companies.

Start-Up's monthly comprehensive review of emerging life science companies that have received venture funding during the month, including companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and research instrumentation and reagent sectors.

Each month, Start-Up presents a comprehensive review of young, private life science companies that have received venture funding during the month, including companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and research instrumentation & reagent sectors.