AIRBudz Funded By BloodBanker

BloodBanker is seeking and supporting creative projects that need funding to get into production and be introduced into a larger market. With the help of Kickstarter.com, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects, BloodBanker gets to help promising and potentially great projects from the world’s brilliant minds through fundings and pledges. Check out other projects we’ve funded here.

One of the projects that BloodBanker has funded is AIRBudz, alternative earbud attachments invented by Tammy Erdel that enable people to listen to music and hear the noise around them especially when they are outdoors and therefore help prevent accidents.

What are AIRbudz?
AIRbudz are alternative earbud attachments that can be used while listening to music and still enable you to be aware of your surroundings. People just love to use earphones and listen to music anywhere and wherever they go- it’s a kind of energy booster to have a tune playing. One advantage of using earphones is you hear the music without interruption and you can’t hear anything that’s going in your surroundings. The disadvantage would be you won’t know if there’s a vehicle approaching, dogs barking, or a friend calling your name. The only thing you can thing you hear is your music in your own isolated world.

"AIRbudz"
AIRbudz

AIRbudz have built-in air channels that allows the user to simultaneously listen to music and hear the ambient noise to help reduce risk of accidents and injuries.

This is especially helpful for people and sports enthusiasts like bikers, joggers and skateboarders or anyone who is used to putting on headphones outdoors. Instead of cancelling out noise from the surroundings, the air channels allows the wearer to hear other sounds like car horns, screeching tires, voices of people who try to get your attention and other sounds that could save your life.

AIRbudz are useful and convenient to use. These earbudz accessories fit to your earphones that have removable earbuds and will suit around 70% of existing earbud models.

Why AIRbudz is important?
AIRbudz does everyone a favor by saving your life, as many instances of earphone-related accidents have been recorded over the past years.

According to a recent study, serious injuries sustained by pedestrians while listening to headphones have more than tripled in six years. The average age of the victims is 21 while most of the incidents happened in urban places.

AIRbudz serve as your connection to the outside world. While some people prefer noise-canceling ear phones to isolate themselves from any sort of sounds, AIRbudz present its importance in the every day lives of people who wish to listen music while staying safe.

Why we should support it?
Though functional and stylish, AIRbudz has been self-funded and it needs financial support to finish what it has started. They need our help to finalize the exact design, complete the tooling, finish the packaging and produce more AIRbudz to bring this to a larger market. The creator of AIRbudz have been working with a leading team of experienced design experts that can take a product from concept to production while ensuring quality and cost.

AIRbudz is truly a promising project that can help many people – athletes, students and professionals alike – in avoiding accidents caused when wearing noise cancelling earphones outdoors.

Sometimes, earphones make people indifferent to their surroundings, but with AIRbudz you can now enjoy your favorite music while being aware of your environment.

EmbdSocial WISP Funded by BloodBanker

BloodBanker is seeking and supporting creative projects to it’s completion and be introduced into a larger market. With the help of Kickstarter.com, the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects, BloodBanker gets to help promising and potentially great projects by the world’s brilliant minds through fundings and pledges.

One of the projects that BloodBanker has funded is EmbdSocial WISP, a cool and innovative creation by a group of college friends who aim to integrate EmbdSocial WISP into your electronic designs. Their project allows you to open up a world of social media, essential web-services and real-time global accessibility.

What is  EmbdSocial WISP?

The EmbdSocial WISP (Wireless Internet service provider) is an incredible device that will change the way you communicate and work with your electronics. EmbdSocial allows hardware developers and manufacturers, hobbyists and hackers  to connect electronics to the web using WISPS in the most affordable way. Their public API enables you to easily communicate with your electronics by sending and receiving messages via web, email, SMS and many more with no service fees at all.

"EmbdSocial WISP"
EmbdSocial WISP

This is a revolutionary tool that brings your embedded projects to life, EmdbSocial WISP keeps an always-on connection to our globally accessible servers through your wifi network. This makes way for real-time bi-directional communication from any web-enabled platform including phones, tablets and PCs.

What can I do with my WISP?
This device comes in handy but mind you, the functions it offer are great and cool. You can install this in your mobile phone and you can use your phone as a garage door opener!

But there’s a lot more:

It also supports a number of plug-ins that simplify your common tasks such as sending and receiving email, sending and receiving SMS, tweeting, updating facebook statuses, and manipulating files in your Dropbox. Embd Social WISP is currently actively working on Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Docs and Microsoft SkyDrive.

What’s so special with EmbdSocial WISP?
EmbdSocial WISP is so special it lets our devices go live and it can constantly receive messages through tweets, emails, and communicate with one another according to different environmental changes and perform actions without you having to do something.

Why support EmbdSocial WISP?
EmbdSocial is a unique project conceived by creative minds. Though they are technically called a company who run a website, their vision of connectivity via Wisp has motivated them to get started with this project. They already have everything they need to go to production and start making your WISP:  the technical design package, quotes from several fabrication and packaging plus shipping materials. They need backing to get into mass production and make WISP affordable to the public. Parts are ordered in bulk and costs for electronics assembly are paid upfront- this is where they need our help. They don’t have sufficient financial funds to support the project all by themselves- with funding and pledges from their Kickstarter page EmdbSocial WISP is bound to reach a larger market.

 

Scarcity in Public Cord Blood Banks

Donating cord blood for public use is similar to giving blood. It’s free, it’s easy, it’s about making a difference and it’s also recommended by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). However, most public cord blood banks are facing scarcity due to lack of supply.

Lack of awareness is the number one reason why couples don’t donate cord blood. They are not properly informed that the umbilical cord contains stem cells and it can save a life of an ailing child. If these couples are given the right information they need to understand, they will not be hesitant to make a donation.

Second reason for scarcity is that donating cord blood is not also offered at every hospital in the country. Only 200 hospitals are affiliated with a public cord blood bank. This number is currently not enough to constantly supply the need for stem cells. Cancer and other malignant diseases occur randonly and it spares no socioeconomic class or geographic region. In fact, on an average count, 1 in every 4 elementary school has a child with cancer (Childhood Cancer Facts, 1999-2002).

Public cord blood banks receive inadequate funding is the third reason. The procedures for storing a single unit is expensive. It costs around $1500 and most of the public banks have no enough budget to consistently collect, test, freeze and store hundreds of units.

That’s why; the Congress passed the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005 to give value to cord blood donation. The act was reauthorized in 2010 and it created the National Cord Blood Inventory. Its goal is to increase the number of donated cord blood units from people of different race and ethnic background.

Additional funding is also approved in an attempt to increase the availability of cord blood units in registry. With this increase in support, it’s expected that those thousands of children and adults can easily undergo a transplant right after they find a match.

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It’s confirmed cord blood stem cells can cure malignant diseases such as cancers (Acute Leukemia, Chronic Leukemia, Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Myelodysplastic Syndrome), blood disorders, immune disorders, metabolic disorders, brain injury. cerebral palsy, type-1 diabetes and hearing loss. To donate cord blood in public banks, use BloodBanker – The largest online directory of blood, plasma and cord banks!

Misconceptions about Cord Blood

There are three common misconceptions about cord blood. The collection of cord takes important blood components away from the baby and mother is the first. This belief remains untrue for the reason that the harvesting procedure of cord blood is easy, painless and guaranteed safe for the mother and her newborn. The umbilical cord is only clamp moments after the baby is delivered. A syringe will be used to get the stem cells inside the umbilical cord. The cord blood stem cells are then stored in a special-made collection bag. This entire collection procedure can either be performed after a vaginal or C-section birth.

A family with no cancer history doesn’t need to store a cord blood is the second misconception. A family history is not a reliable indicator of hereditary disease. The causes of various cancers such as leukemia remain unknown, therefore, the disease can occur without waning. That’s why; storing cord cord is an option every couple can consider. The stem cells in cord has been used to treat life-threatening diseases by way of transplant. The stem cells have the ability to repair damaged tissues and organs.

The cord blood might be useless for a long-term storage is the third misconception. Should a couple gives a go signal to bank a cord blood, the registry assures it is stored in safe facility and will remain useful indefinitely. The couple can anytime reclaim the unit whenever a family member is terribly sick.

Delayed Cord Blood Clamping: Is it beneficial?

It’s confirmed that the umbilical cord of a newborn is filled with stem cells that cures malignant diseases such as cancers, blood disorders, immune disorders, metabolic disorders, brain injury. cerebral palsy, type-1 diabetes and hearing loss. The question that left to the mind of various medical experts is: When is the right time to clamp the cord?

Paul Sanberg, MD is the director of University of South Florida Center of Excellence for Aging & Brain Repair and this is what he wrote in his research.

“Several clinical studies have shown that delaying clamping the umbilical cord not only allows more blood to be transferred but helps prevent anemia as well. Cord blood also contains many valuable stem cells, making this transfer of stem cells a process that might be considered ‘the original stem cell transplant’.”

Dr. Dong-Hyuk Park, co-author of Sanders, pointed out the significant relationship between the time of cord clamping and the transfer of stem cells. Park stated the blood cells are starting to form as early as the mother is declared two-week-pregnant.

“Several randomized, controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses have compared the effects of late versus early cord clamping. In pre-term infants, delaying clamping the cord for at least 30 seconds reduced incidences of intraventricular hemorrhage, late on-set sepsis, anemia, and decreased the need for blood transfusions.”

As one of the researchers of the study lead by Sanders, Stephen Klasko, MD said.“There remains no consensus among scientists and clinicians on cord clamping and proper cord blood collection. The most important thing is to avoid losing valuable stems cells during and just after delivery.”

Klasko is an obstetrician, senior vice president of USF Health and dean of USF College of Medicine.

Conclusions were made by these researchers and they all agreed the clamping procedure should be delayed to benefit the newborn’s health needs and there will be no visible problem once the cord is stored.

Source: Science Daily

One Coin, One Cord Blood, Saves A Life

United Kingdom – The Inner Wheel Club is one of the largest clubs in the world with a membership base of 100,000 women and grandmothers. The club began in January 1924 with an aim to create friends and to raise funds for international, national and local charities.

Carol Kelley stands as the club president this year and her group wishes to educate the public about the benefits of cord blood donation and raise money for the event “Coin for a Cord Day,” which will be held on May 9.

In order to raise money, various personal items (pens, pins, etc.) are to be sold on the fifth of May at Cherrybrook Shopping Village and at Penant Hills Railway Station on the sixth.

All money will go to research institutions to conduct more scientific researches about cord blood donation.

Cord blood contains stem cells that when used in transplant, it can cure malignant diseases such as cancers (Acute Leukemia, Chronic Leukemia, Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Myelodysplastic Syndrome), blood disorders, immune disorders, metabolic disorders, brain injury. cerebral palsy, type-1 diabetes and hearing loss. To search for cord blood banks, simply scan this directory – BloodBanker

Development of Harvesting Cord Blood Stem Cells

Phil Coelho is not a new person in the business world anymore. As the president and founder of SynGen Inc. five years ago (a company that regenerates cures by the use of innovative engineering), he proudly announced that the company received $5 million from a venture capital firm (Bay City Capital, LLC) in San Francisco to support the harvesting phase of cord blood stem cells.

The immediate goal of SynGen is to spread the availability of SynGen-1000  to cord blood banks. SynGen-1000 is a type of device used for the separation and storage of cord blood stem cells after it’s harvest from a newborn.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Bay City Capital to maximize SynGen’s potential. Their expansive knowledge of the global life science field and vast networking capability combined with a strong reputation as a top tier venture capital firm made our decision easy. During the due diligence process, BCC had already begun facilitating business relationships important for our accelerated growth and market expansion.”

The proceedings for the approval process through Food & Drug Administration is still on-going.

“We expect to file for 510(k) clearance with the FDA and to achieve CE marking for the SynGen-1000 in the near future.  Subsequently, our advanced designs target emerging markets including stem cell research centers, hospitals practicing cell therapy in surgical suites and stem cell clinical trials.”

Dr. William Garber is an investment partner at Bay City Capital (BCC) said, “”We expect SynGen’s products will play a significant role in enabling clinical research and expanding the medical applications of regenerative medicine. Phil Coelho is an established innovator in the field of cord blood stem cell isolation and purification, and we are excited about expanding SynGen’s product line to address novel applications for adult stem cell therapies.”

* * *

It’s confirmed cord blood stem cells can cure malignant diseases such as cancers (Acute Leukemia, Chronic Leukemia, Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Myelodysplastic Syndrome), blood disorders, immune disorders, metabolic disorders, brain injury. cerebral palsy, type-1 diabetes and hearing loss. To search for cord blood banks, use BloodBanker – The largest online directory of blood, plasma and cord banks!

Source: The Sacramento Bee

Cord Blood Symposium in New York

April 12, 2012 – A long day symposium entitled “Second Milstein Symposium: Perspective in Cord Blood Biology and Clinical Applications” was organized by New York Blood Center (NYBC) at NYBC Murray Sargent Auditorium. The event was attended by more than two-hundred doctors, scientists and other experts in the medical community.

The symposium’s opening reception took place on the ninth of April 2012 and it was hosted by NYBC Chairman Howard P. Miltein along with Christopher D. Hillyer, MD – who plays the role of a president and CEO of NYBC.

“In addition to housing the world’s longest standing and largest cord blood bank, NYBC is now home to the only cord blood bank worldwide with products that are FDA-approved for human transplantation. That is an extraordinary achievement. This symposium is a testament to the remarkable progress that has culminated with FDA approval of HEMACORD(TM).” Dr. Miltein said.

HEMACORD(TM) is a type of hematopoietic and cellular therapy product approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which cures blood forming disorders. The product is manufactured by Milstein’s team in National Cord Blood Center.

Dr. Hillyer acknowledged the 1989 NYBC Program Director – Dr. Pablo Rubinstein. Rubinstein did not only come up with the original concept of banking cord blood but he was also the world’s first founder of public cord blood program.

“Working with Dr. Rubinstein has been an unprecedented honor. He, like Howard Milstein, is an unparalleled intellect and visionary with extraordinary perseverance, and combines scientific genius with common sense. These have allowed a research project to become a licensed product – truly a ‘bench to bedside success’ – which is quite rare.”

House Bill 2421: Oklahama Needs Cord Blood Bank

It’s time for the state of Oklahoma to have its own cord blood bank. Representative John Enns proposes a bill (House Bill 2421) that calls for a $5 additional charge on birth certificate. The current cost of obtaining a birth certificate in the state is $15. The added charge is used to build their own cord blood bank for the purpose that every person who is in need of treatment will no longer wait for the arrival of his cord blood match.

“You have got to understand that $5 extra charge will be sunsetted in five years — it will go away. Within those years, the (money collected) will allow us to set up a cord blood bank, and afterward, it will be self-sustaining.” Enns said, who also help in creating Oklahoma Adult Stem Cell Research Center.

The use of stem cells in umbilical cord, as confirmed by US Department of Health and Human Services, is the best possible treatment for life threatening diseases like leukemia, lymphoma and genetic disorders. The cord blood transplantation is known for its ability to restore damaged blood cells.

Searching for cord blood banks? Use BloodBanker – The largest online directory of blood, plasma and cord banks!

Newborn Possibilities Program: How to Qualify?

Cord Blood Registry, the world’s largest stem cell bank located at San Bruno California, introduces its newest program that encourages more couples to bank with them. The program is called Newborn Possibilities Program. This type of program does not only provide treatment option for family members with malignant diseases. It also aims to enroll children in clinical trials in which their own stem cells are used to give cure to their condition.

That means if your son or daughter is diagnosed with any life-threatening diseases such as brain injury or cerebral palsy, there is a chance for them to recover without paying a dime for their surgery. However, this program is only open for limited families. Only those families with sick member can join. Parents are also allowed to join the program once their baby is prenatally diagnosed with illness that requires stem cell transplant.

Since the inception of the program, Cord Blood Registry stored more than four hundred thousand units while its 3,000 associated physicians are expected to collect a specific number of units too.

Searching for a cord blood bank? Use BloodBanker – The largest blood, plasma and cord blood directory online!

Look into this exciting new technology that can save lives and heal the sick!