For Treatment
At any point in time, medicine has depended on prevalent technology for effective treatment. Whether it comes to probes, scalpels, thermometer, stethoscope, or kymograph, tools and technology has always been integral to the success of medical technology. The use of electrotherapy machines in the 1800s and the invention of X-ray machines, pacemakers, ventilators, and hearing aids have continued to assist physicians and medical care professionals in successful treatment. Read and know about some of the most essential technological devices poised to become indispensable in modern medical scenarios.
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)
These were designed to assist quadriplegics and paraplegics in using their brains to control the motion of computer cursors. Advances are being made to help BCIs get paralyzed limbs and have function restored to them or manipulate robotic limbs. These days, companies like NeuroSky and Muse are producing wireless BCI headsets, which can monitor alterations in the activity of brainwaves and assist wearers in improving their concentration. It is hoped that this device will help in pain management, Alzheimer’s, etc.
Robotics
The use of robots in surgical operations is a thing to cheer about in modern medical technology. Since its debut in 2000, the Da Vinci Surgical System has carried out over 20,000 procedures. It is expected that service robots will be essential to assist in tasks like distributing medicines to patients, picking up soiled clothes, and more. Each of these robots is designed to do as much work as three people with the expense of less than a single staff. In Feb 2012, the first ever commercialized robotic exoskeleton was released by Ekso Bionics to help people with paraplegia walk and stand without assistance.
3-D Printing
3-D printers can create accurate, multidimensional models of affected areas within the body of patients. Surgeons can handle and inspect the models, followed by a simulation of different potential processes before going for an operation. The launch of 3-D printers in the market has been met with broad appreciation, and these are being experimented with constantly by medical to improve patient care significantly.
Google Glass
This wearable device comes with a head-mounted, optical display that can display information in a hands-free format like a smartphone. The technology is already assisting surgeons to stay hands-free and get instant access to reminders, vital information, and injuries-related checklists. This will catch on even more in the coming years and will be more assistive in saving lives and making work easier for surgeons. Surgeons can use voice commands to get checklists with essential questions for paramedics even before an ambulance comes to the hospital. As of 2023, the production of Google Glass has been discontinued.
Health Check Chair
Sharp has created it, and it comes fitted with several sensors to evaluate the vital signs of a patient and upload the information on the cloud for future reference by doctors. This type of chair is a marvel in modern medical technology and has been designed to be used by patients at home.
For Human Brain
Although advances in medical technology are generally slow, much improvement has been made in the last two decades, and newer devices and techniques have emerged. These were previously unimaginable but have helped change healthcare and medical care in many ways. The enhanced speed, more recent approaches, and efficiency of treatment are enabling modern medical tech to treat even rare ailments. It has been highly successful in curing various brain problems and is throwing light on issues rarely focused on and known about. Know about its impact on the human brain.
Monitoring Brain Cell Activities
Scientific development has been assisting in monitoring the activities of the human brain cells and tracking brain elements. It can help understand the different electrical impulses in the brain for any action. Several studies and scanning methods are being conducted with volunteers to recognize the activity of neurons in the human brain. With newer experiments, medical researchers are inventing more unique brain-machine interfaces. These are proving to be assistive in understanding the thought processes of humans.
Deep Brain Stimulation
Medical technology for the brain is helping in translating brain function by analyzing its structure and creating systems to prevent any damage to the existing brain structure and preserve the everyday activities of the brain even with advancing age. This can assist the brain in gaining back its normal functioning even after stroke, memory loss, or any brain disorder or injury.
MRI 3D Mapping
With the rise of 3D technology, researchers are simulating the human brain in a life-like, exactly similar 3D model. This brain stem model in very high-resolution 3D is guiding brain surgeons much better in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, brain tremors, and other problems with DBS (deep brain stimulation). This new 3D model is helping remove the risks of trials and errors associated with standard brain surgeries. Even complex operations can be made more accessible with this 3D model.
Artificial Brain Stimulation
At present, research is ongoing to devise better techniques for stimulating the brain, which can be assistive to help the body become active again after being overcome with paralysis. It can also assist the body in recovering more easily from strokes. Disabilities arising from limited communicative powers of the brain can also be reversed and cured completely. It is also hoped that vision can be restored by allowing the brain to get signals from the eye more easily with primary technological devices.
Minimally Invasive Surgeries
Advances in medical technology are also allowing better approaches to complex operative processes. There are minimally-invasive surgical processes, such as “Keyhole” craniotomy or Retro-sigmoid craniotomy, which are carried out for the removal of brain tumors. With this process, base tumors from the skull can be removed with the help of a tiny incision behind the ear. This offers more accessible access to the brainstem and the cerebellum. Neurosurgeons might use this kind of approach to get access to some types of tumors, such as acoustic neuromas and meningiomas.
How Medical Technology Has Saved Lives?
The use of technology in medicine and the advances in this field are breathtaking. A few decades back, the absence of technological breakthroughs meant that medical treatment for even simple health problems was costly and unaffordable for many people. However, innovations and advances in technology have been highly assistive for patients. These have also made work easier for healthcare providers. Read and find out how medical technology has saved lives.
Telemedicine
Patients can get specialist care with Telemedicine, which uses technology to treat patients in other areas and even remote regions with scarce healthcare. With videoconferencing, guidance can be imparted to patients, and there is no need for expensive travel. Even those without access to superior medical care can avail the same. With medical videoconferencing, peer-to-peer consultations for healthcare and treatment can be done very quickly.
Digital Imaging
It is also called Medical Imaging and can ensure better healing. This medical technology has made diagnosis of health problems a lot easier, and doctors can detect physical issues at very early stages. There are multimedia programs with HD videos offering complete details about ailments and the type of treatment needed by a patient. There are interactive videos to assist patients in knowing about the illnesses they are having, which helps them play a more active part in the processes of cure and recovery. This has reduced the time for treatment and the need for in-patient, invasive methods. The time for treatment and recovery, as well as healthcare costs, is reduced.
Wearable Health Devices
There are wearable techno patches that can record the vital signs of patients, such as body temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. This is a significant improvement over monitors, and the information is better and more worthwhile given that the patches monitor more constantly rather than taking a snapshot at some time or other. Many modern health wristbands are equipped with high-end sensors that can monitor the heart rate of a patient every minute. This can improve the overall quality of life of patients and ensure that they get constant care.
3-D Printing
When 3-D printers were launched first, they seemed too good to be true. These have more or less revolutionized the health and medical industry. 3D models of internal organs, arteries coming out of the heart, and muscles and tissues can be printed and replicated, which can help physicians understand how to handle problems quickly. Surgeons can more conveniently operate on troubled spots due to this medical technology.
