With the need for accessible and improving medical services, technologists have introduced innovative devices for the healthcare department. Over the last few years, the medical device industry has made practice easier for doctors and more effective for patients.
Now with the ever-growing medical technology field, there is a close relationship between engineering and biomedical science. As we live on, wireless technologies capable of detecting early signs of disease will become common front-line defenses.
Here are some selective technological advancements in medicine that have made waves and improved the quality of service.
Evaluate Patient-Related Data
Just as AI (Artificial Intelligence) is making its way in many other fields, biomedical science is no exception. One of its applications lies in machine learning, which can help evaluate tremendous amounts of patient data and information.
AI programmers can develop programs that imitate human-like thoughts and the ability to make decisions and take actions. It does not mean AI robots can replace doctors. Still, when this tech is given information on patient history and data, the program could interpret a possible diagnosis and treatment plans.
Smart Pacemakers
Even though artificial pacemakers date back many decades, they still hold the same value for heart patients. This device is used to treat heart arrhythmia, and it does so by delivering electrical impulses to heart muscle chambers.
With more technological advancements, pacemakers are connected with BlueTooth to link directly with smartphone apps. With the help of the application, doctors can check the patient’s heart condition remotely.
Automation in Medical Laboratory
Automation in lab instruments is not new, but it is advancing more than ever. With advancements, automated equipment eliminates time-consuming procedures that were otherwise manually performed. Moreover, medical test results are available quickly, enabling lab technicians to focus more on analyzing the data obtained.
One such great example is the latest Automated cell line development that holds its application in gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and much more. It can speed up the process and offers consistent operations for technicians. In addition, this technology also enables researchers to know the date and time of when the cells will be available for screening.
Wearable Fitness Trackers
Health software is designed not only for professionals to get help from, but there are devices that everyone can use in their daily routine, just like fitness tracker devices that have become more specific in the past few years.
For diabetes patients, wearing glucose monitors can help them track glucose levels without needing daily testing. It allows patients to see direct results of their diet and lifestyle on blood glucose levels. Other features of a medical fitness tracker usually include the following:
- Monitoring heart rate
- Get a measure of calories burnt
- Monitor your sleep duration and quality of sleep
3D Printing Technology
One of the latest trends in medical technology is 3D printing. It allows health professionals to create implants and even joints for surgery. With features allowing users to create an implant according to the individual’s measurement, it is known to be one of the hottest products.
However, doctors can use it during the pre-surgery stage, when they can make a replica of the patient’s anatomy and attempt the procedure to check its accuracy rate. It can help reduce surgery times and removes the chances of medical errors. New surgeons can practice and perfect their skills before the actual surgery.
Remote Health Care
Since the Covid-19 pandemic has made its way into our lives, a simple task like visiting a doctor has become difficult. Besides, people living in rural areas can find it hard to transport them to a medical facility for a consultation.
For this purpose, telehealth allows patients to utilize two-way video conferencing technology. The patients can receive online consultation from health care providers.
Applications of Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) technology is now used to treat and manage various medical illnesses and conditions. Besides being used for mental health problems, it has applications in effective pain management.
It has proven extremely helpful for doctors as it allows them to virtually transport into the human body. This allows them a better understanding of the disease and condition.
One such great application of VR is in physical therapy, which helps patients recover from complicated limb injuries. This field has yet to see more advancements in the medical field and be used with its full potential.
Innovation in Drug Development
A drug development process takes years to create a new drug or vaccine. But the latest accomplishment of developing Covid-19 vaccines in less than a year has proven that this process can be achieved quicker.
There have been innovations in the way medical trials are conducted. With the help of online virtual clinical trials, many expert drug developers can pave the way for a bright future in drug development.
