16:02 ET - AP [NewsBlip.com]

Description: Dermal regeneration template for burnaccident victims. Stops fluid loss and speeds recovery process, minimizing scar tissue build up and allowing for extremely thin grafts.

Process: The scar tissue is removed, a two layer memebrane is put in it's place, and remains there for for two or three weeks. As the body heals form the scar tissue it bonds with the bottom layer which is composed of cross linked collagen fibers. The top layer is then removed and a skin graft from the patient is applied to the area. That graft typically heals in about a week which speeds the recovery and rehabilitation process for the patient.  [Integra LifeSciences product page]

Riffing: Burn victims, car accidents, motorcycle crashes with massive "road rash" all would benefit from this technology. Getting people psychologically healed is key in recovery as much as physical health, and minimizing scarring is a big part of that. I've known people who always wear long sleeves from the burns they got from large coffee urns falling on them when they were children. being able to repair those wounds sould be a huge help. Treating firefighters who are heavily burned in the course of their work, as well as people who are otherwise injured will go a long way towards saving lives, as blood loss is often a casue of death in burn victims.

href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/741058.asp">here at MSNBC.

Interesting set of success stories about the uses of tech in various industries. I like the fingerprint scanner that the Mens Wearhouse uses for their cash registers especially.

UPDATE 12:00 AM: Check out what Target is doing with their credit card. Brilliant example of best CRM practices.

Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is another interesting success story, using laptops and plasma displays to track patient status.

When grafted, the sheets boosted heartbeat strength in rats - the researchers hope people will also benefit [New Scientist]

It's a good start, though as researchers point out, there is a world of difference betwen the recovery systems of rats and humans, which may account for why the rats took to this form of treatment so well.