Top Five Technological Innovations in Medicine
Over the last few years, the health industry has experienced a major shift in technological innovations. What seemed impossible years ago can be solved now only with the touch of buttons. Modern technological innovations in drugs and equipment have completely revolutionized the health sector. The medical machines and the computers that power them are now becoming more smaller, faster and even more intelligent which has made medical practice easier for the doctors and cheaper in the long run. There are lots of technological devices that have made the lives of thousands of people easier and better
According to an observer, information technology now is “shifting†right behind our eyes. As Karin Ratchinsky the Director of Healthcare Market Strategy at Level 3 Communications says “the digitization of patient records has helped physicians to detect major ailments and treat them before they advance to untreatable stagesâ€.
The following technological innovations have brought a greater impact on our health sector;
1. Cancer Nanotherapy
This technology is one of the most important innovations of our time. Nano therapy devices are popular because of their higher precision and less overall cost when using them in treating cancer. Nanoparticles have a large surface area to volume ratio which enables many functional groups to be attached to a Nanoparticle that seeks out and binds to new tumor cells. Common nanoparticles are made from metals such as silver and gold that range from 1-100 nm. Using nanoparticles contrast agents has improved ultrasound images distribution and contrast.
Common nanoparticles in use include:
- Abraxane – this was approved and authorized for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the treatment of pancreatic, breast and non-small-cell lung cancer. It is an albumin-bound agent.
- Onivyde – liposome-encapsulated irinotecan approved by FDA in 2015 is used to treat metastatic pancreatic cancer.
2. Brain-Machine Interfaces
The brain-machine interface (BMI) is an external device capable of converting neuronal information into commands that can be interpreted by external hardware such as a robotic arm.
According to information from the national center for statistics, there are more than 50,000 new amputations in the U.S and more than 100,000 Americans live with the upper-arm amputation. The common causes of these amputations are cardiovascular diseases. The BIM technology, therefore, has greatly helped these citizens by providing them with alternative robotic limbs. The defense advanced research projects agency (DARP) has been doubling its efforts to improve their performance and reduce the cost of these expensive devices. Also, after FDA approval many other similar robotic devices are being introduced to the market.
3. Electronic Aspirins
People who regularly have migraines and headaches have for a long time been resorting to carrying aspirins to alleviate the condition but with the introduction of Electrical Aspirin technology all that is set to end soon. An implant is placed on the upper gum side found on the side of the head where the patient feels the most pain. The implant is planted on the Sphenopalatine Ganglion (SPG} which is a collection of nerves deep in the mid-bone cavity area. The implant has a pointed tip which connects with SPG nerves. When the patient detects pain they put a hand-held remote device near the cheek where the implant was placed. When they press the remote, a low-potential electrical charge is produced to stimulate nerve cells which function to block the signals being dispatched out to the brain, therefore, preventing the migraine and headache attacks.
4. Needle-Free Diabetes Care
Patients with diabetes all dislike one thing and that is the “countless needle prick shotsâ€. Echo Therapeutics based in Philadelphia is coming up with a technology that will replace the pokes with patches. It is working on a transdermal biosensor that will read blood analytes without necessarily pricking the skin. This involves a hand-held electric toothbrush that removes only top layer skin cells to put the patient’s blood’s chemistry within range signal of a patch-borne biosensor. The sensors then read data and send them remotely to a monitor which helps trigger alarms in case the blood sugar goes high.
5. Robotic Check-Ups
Robotic check-ups technology is a cost-effective plan that was developed especially to help remote clinics of the US that are medically underserved. These robots perform routine patrol in the hospitals, check on the patients and even manage their individual charts without direct human interventions. Moreover, the robots with Remote Presence Virtual Independent Telemedicine Assistant (RP-VITA) are equipped with video teleconferencing abilities which enable doctors to alert the robots anytime in case of emergencies
Introduction of these top technology innovations has contributed to improved health care and lower costs for patients. As time goes by other important innovations are expected to be launched that will help propel the health sector to even greater heights.
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Rilind Elezaj is an experienced Digital Marketing Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Rilind possesses a strong entrepreneurial mindset and has devoted his career to enhancing the sphere of digital marketing. In his methodological approach, Rilind integrates web development and other digital marketing solutions to create hybrid strategies that bring the best results.
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