28Oct
Prosthetic legs have evolved to lightweight and more “user friendlyâ€. The old prosthetics were designed just to allow patients to stand with “both legsâ€, but walking and climbing the stairs were difficult, and running was impossible. Then “bendable†prosthetics were developed. Now a prosthetic that looks like the real thing gives people who lost their legs a better chance to live normal lives, and wear clothes that they otherwise would not wear with the old cyborg-like prosthetics.
One particular design was called LISA, which stood for lightweight, inconspicuous, shapely and active. Running is now possible, and women can even wear shoes with heels, as the ankles can be adjusted with a button.
(source)
06Sep
Take anyone who has undergone Endroscopy and he would tell you the difficulties he experienced as he swallowed the flexible or rigid cable — which, of course, can be a source of infection, over-sedation, and, worst, the harming of various body organs. The answer? The wireless capsule camera (which also has other names such as “PillCam,†“video pill,†“Sayaka,†or “Endocapsule†that enables one to view and see areas that the old-fashioned endoscopes have failed to display. This capsule traverses the path of the intestines after a patient takes it in through the mouth. Although it indeed takes a longer time to provide images, the ones it produces are clearer and of better quality.
18Jul
Called the HemoPurifier. it is a machine similar to a dialisis machine that uses filters to take out viruses and bacteria from the blood, which can be used for extreme cases of infection. The filter consists of tiny fibers that have active filtering abilities, attracting specific bugs (viruses and bacteria) to lessen their numbers to a manageable level that is controllable through regular drug treatment. The device works by drawing blood from an artery, then filtering it through the mesh of fibers that attracts the bugs that are to be removed thus extending the life of people who have severe infections.
The key is the filters that are treated with specific agents that are able to attract specific bugs, one filter for the AIDS virus, another for Flu and so on and so forth. The whole blood volume circulates through the filter once every eight minutes and full treatment can take as little as a month with each round taking an hour or so to complete. This breakthrough can allow better treatment of such deadly diseases such as ebola and other highly contagious bugs that are currently killing more people each and every year.
18Jun
Salmonella has been responsible for many cases of food poisoning the world over and is the bacteria responsible for the recent peanut butter, tomato and other food stuffs that were making headlines. Contamination of foodstuff with this nasty bacterium results in extreme diarrhea, vomiting and more serious effects, with death possible for those with weak immune systems. Researchers in the UK have identified a possible weak point by which to attack the deadly bacteria, it’s sweet tooth. As it turns out, the bacteria feeds on the sugar glucose as it infects its host using it to fuel it’s nasty abilities. Using this weakness, it would be possible to spike the glucose with something that can kill the bacterium and eventually a treatment system that would eliminate the threat from this nasty bugs that though considered to be not that lethal, kills millions the world over each and every year.
18May
The many discoveries and breakthrough technologies in the field of medical imaging has made the world a healthier place, or is it. Seems with all the available imaging technologies that abound, people are getting more than their fair share of radiation which unfortunately is part of all imaging technology, yes even MRI’s and other imaging technologies that use radio frequencies. People have a maximum allowable limit when it comes to radiation which is actually all over the place and is part of daily life. But the advent of these imaging technologies have made them more accessible to most people who don;t seem to be paying attention to many warnings or set dosage limits which can influence health and diseases profoundly. Read more »
18Apr
When it comes to lung cancer, it is sometimes possible to treat and even remove diseased tissue to prevent further advancement of the disease if screening happens to find it in the early stages of development. Like most cancers, early detection is key to higher survivability rates for the disease has not yet progressed to an advanced state. In lung cancer, there are small and there are large nodules, the later being more easily detected due to the size difference. Doctors have been experimenting with micro-coils, surgical materials that are almost on the nano-scale that mimics a small magnet when bombarded with radio waves making small nodules that used to elude current scanning technologies making detection and targeting easier. Removal of such infected tissue in the early stages is the best way to rid the lungs of already diseased nodules, and getting most of them out, small and large the best possible way to properly cure the disease. Read more »
24Feb
Technology brings us to a new frontier in medicine – the 4D ultrasound which is now making prenatal screening much easier.
The 4D ultrasound produces sound waves from many angles which shows moving images of the unborn. The images are more detailed and are captured at a much faster rate compared to 2D or 3D scanning.
Expectant mothers (and fathers) have a better view of fetal movements inside the womb. They can even ask their doctors for a DVD copy or still images of the baby.
Doctors also benefit from the use of 4D ultrasound. They have a better view of the fetal development inside the mother’s womb and note if there are any abnormalities or malformations, thus being able to be more prepared for any complications when the baby is born, or if possible, even mitigate any problems even while the baby is still in the womb.
30Jan
The mention of MRI machines bring to mind the gargantuan machines in hospitals that weigh a couple of tons and guzzle up huge amounts of electricity. But that’s a thing of the past for research in the arctic used for studying ice cores from deep the frozen wasteland has produced a small and portable version of the imaging tool enough to be brought by doctors for field operations should they be necessary. MRI’s have been used to save millions of lives with the detailed cross sections of the human body they can produce but only if they can be done in time to see what’s wrong with a patient and that takes time. many patients die because of no access to the imaging technology that is not only rare in some parts of the world but prohibitively very expensive.
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30Dec
Whoever you may be, a trip to the hospital has someone asking y=for your medical records with the said facility which is for one very good reason. Fast diagnosis of ailments due to your recorded medical history. Many fail to keep a personal medical records of their adventures to the hospital leaving it to them to keep track of all your records. Though mostly true, having a personal record of your medical history and presenting it to your attending physician when asked for it would allow faster treatment of an illness according to many doctors. Much of the time spent in the Emergency room is wasted with diagnostic tests such as ones that check for allergies and other previous drugs taken etc. Timely availability of such records would allow the attending physician to get an overview of your history thus determining such facts getting on track with treatment faster.
30Nov
Image Source: cmsimg.chillicothegazette.com
A new technology provides visitors of surgery patients, real time information regarding their loved one’s condition. The latest equipment installed in the Adena Regional Medical Center are tracker boards that update information to a patient’s status inside the surgery room. The trackers display each care stage which basically includes the first assessment, the patient’s transfer to the operating room, when the surgery starts and when the surgery has ended and completed and the post surgery care. The system provides confidentiality. It operates through a card given to the family with specific instructions on how to access their patient’s status. The new system also was installed in their ER Department.
