The speed at which scientists and other research specialists have come up with new technologies in medical field is amazing. Over the past decade, we’ve made huge steps in medical research, especially equipment that simplify treatment and improve quality of life in patients. The new medical technologies are making a positive impact in a big way, and we are going to highlight six of them.
The neural bypass technology is one of the most brilliant technologies featuring high-end synchronizations developed by brilliant medical researchers in Ohio. The technology involves the use of a computer chip to facilitate communication between the brain and muscles of paralyzed patients. The technology is known as Neurolife. According to recent results, the device helped a 24-year-old paralyzed man use his hand to swipe credit cards and even play guitars. The computer chip used in Neurolife transmits brain signals to a program that interprets the intended movements. The program records the signals and sends them through a wire that triggers the actions.
For the past few years, we've witnessed use of robots in minimally invasive surgery that involve making small incision of five to ten millimeters. However, a medical research team at the University of Vanderbilt is looking forward to position laparoscopic surgery up to a whole new level with a new technology that employs a tiny mechanical instrument. The instrument makes ultraminiature incisions so small that they require a Band-Aid only. The robot has an arm made of tubes alternating in a circular manner and sharing the same center. The tubes have a mechanical wrist that is less than a quarter inch thick at the end. The instrument only makes three millimeters incisions, which is an improvement from the current robotic surgery technologies.
Cancer is a deadly disease that is treatable when detected earlier enough. Unfortunately, many of the cancer cases go undetected until it's late because of ineffective diagnostic tools. Luckily, Dr Vadim Backman, a medical engineer at Northwestern University came up with a piece of equipment that could be used to detect lung cancer in its early stages. According to Vadim, lung cancer can be detected early enough by a special microscope that uses light to highlight changes in cell structure on a sample taken from a person’s cheeks. If the test results are positive, the patient has to do further tests for lung cancer. The test is entirely non-invasive and will cost $100.
3D printing is always in the headlines by producing incredible innovations in several fields including medicine. Doctors at the Salamanca University in Spain came up with a chest prosthetic printed in 3D. They went ahead to perform the first world’s rib cage transplant that uses 3D printed prosthetic to a patient who was suffering from chest cancer. Other researchers have developed many 3D printed objects including knee replacement that is capable of producing antibiotics to fight off infections in a person's legs.
Researchers at Salk Institute in California studied the human brain and came up with a way to turn skin cells into brain cells. According to the scientists behind this amazing work, it is now possible for doctors researching on Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease to study the brain cells that suffer the effects of aging. The cells sample from the skin are worked and developed to cells that effectively mimic the brain of an aged patient. Apart from Alzheimer and Parkinson’s research, this new technology will be a huge boost to those studying other mental disorders such as autism and depression.
Smoking is directly and indirectly responsible for many deaths in the country. Most people have tried quitting, but the methods used are barely effective. That is why a group of brilliant minds in Harvard University came up with a device to increase the rate at which people can quit smoking. The technology consists of an electronic device used by smokers. The device is timed to release high doses of nicotine that suppress strong cigarette cravings. The device works hand in hand with a smartphone app to help people track the quitting progress and give them some useful tips. The inventors plan to release it to the market by the end of 2018.
Among many other inventions, the medical field is currently thriving, and the treatments options have become so many and cheap. Who knows, we might even find the cure for cancer in the next one year.
