Most Innovative Medical Technologies Of The Future

Today’s newest technologies are being used to change the medical industry as we know it, improving overall patient care and reducing costs for providers. Patient-centric solutions such as mobile applications capable of to diagnosing symptoms and illnesses have been a step in the right direction, but the technologies of tomorrow will be much farther reaching.

Here is a glance at the technological innovations that are making huge strides for the healthcare industry in 2016:

Fibretronics

“Wearable Technology” has been a frequently discussed topic over the past few years, but fibretronics could be considered to be in a completely separate category from other wearables such as Google Glass. Project Jacquard is the name of a new partnership between Google and Levi’s with the goal of creating a fabric that is truly interactive with technology, rather than just a shirt that has heavy devices built into its pockets. Paul Dillinger, head of global product innovation at Levi’s, stated, “Project Jacquard delivers an entirely new value to consumers with apparel that is emotional, aspirational and functional.”

For the healthcare industry, this could mean being able to monitor a patient’s temperature and vital signs during a surgery without the use of secondary equipment.

Exoskeletons

Several medical engineering companies have been working towards creating affordable exoskeletons with the goal of helping those with mobility disorders. Some models in development not only help individuals suffering from permanent motion loss, but can also serve as a rehabilitation vehicle. Innovative company suitX recently announced the release of Phoenix, a low-cost exoskeleton that is also rated as one of the lightest devices in its class- a total weight of only 27lbs.

Amputees, paraplegics, and those suffering from diseases such as cerebral palsy can benefit from the increased quality of life that these kinds of devices hope to provide.

VeinViewer

Most patients do not enjoy getting their blood drawn for several different reasons, but aversions typically stem from a painful blood sampling experience. Imagine how different these interactions would be if both the provider and the patient were able to view the veins together before the process begins. VeinViewer is an HD imaging device that allows providers to see veins in real-time, and has already shown a 100% increase in the first-stick success rate.

The technology could have a great impact on blood donation efforts and vaccinations by alleviating the discomfort level of individuals that typically would avoid syringes.

Virtual Devices

The new virtual reality devices on the market will make you wish you were in medical school again. Well, that may be a leap, but the use of virtual reality devices to allow medical students to get realistic exposure examining patients is groundbreaking to the medical education field. This can be illustrated with the novel application of the Hololens in certain medical schools, which is a holographic computer that produces interactive holograms. Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic conducted research that showed just how valuable holograms could be to learning more about medicine. Students were able to utilize three-dimensional images to learn about anatomy, and being able to clearly view organs allows them to practice dissections.

Handheld Food Scanners

Being able to know what ingredients are actually in your food is a luxury that experts hope will be widely available to consumers in the coming year.Food analysis devices such as Tellspec were created with the mission of generating more awareness regarding clean eating, and eventually change the way that foods are produced in order to improve human health. The devices scan food at a molecular level, and then relay data such as calorie count, sugars, allergens, and the glycemic index.