The medical field is constantly evolving and improving. Younger generations can receive treatments for injuries and illnesses that their grandparents would have never imagined would be possible. Prevention is more common as well as more effective treatment. As a result, people now live longer and can get treatment for issues that in the past would be deadly.
1. New stroke treatment and recovery
The majority of stroke patients will develop some degree of paralysis as a result of the stroke. Deep brain stimulation, or DBS, can help improve the effects of a stroke. Cleveland Clinic performed its first human clinical trial on a stroke patient with positive results. DBS involves working with the surviving cortical regions of the brain surrounding the area of the stroke to promote recovery. This may be able to enable recovery more so than what rehabilitative therapy could do alone. With DBS, stroke patients have the chance to regain function and independence again.
2. Non-invasive testing for endometriosis
Around 200 million women across the world suffer from endometriosis, a disease that causes the tissue that normally grows inside the uterus to grow outside of it. This can lead to issues like abnormally painful cramping and infertility. Many with endometriosis live without a diagnosis, and those who are diagnosed can take around 10 years to get the diagnosis. Traditional testing for endometriosis is expensive and invasive, the symptoms of endometriosis are also often ignored by doctors. Noninvasive testing for endometriosis involving testing the patient’s blood and saliva can help make diagnoses easier and more common for women.
3. Robotic surgery
Robotic surgeries are becoming more and more commonplace. A surgery that is assisted by a robot tends to be less invasive than ones involving only a surgeon. Surgeries that are aided by robots can have a lower chance of error. Robotic surgeries can complete even complex surgeries with more control and precision. This also has some benefit for surgeons as well, allowing them to not overexert themselves, which can cause issues during surgery. Medical malpractice caused by overworked surgeons can leave you needing to call a brain injury lawyer. Patients can possibly see less pain and faster recovery time following robotic surgery.
4. ECG and fall monitors
You can now get an ECG comparable to a single-lead electrocardiogram just from wearing a watch. An app for the Apple Watch Series 4 can help monitor your heart’s electrical signals. Since this a regular watch you would wear every day, your day to day life won’t be interrupted at all by it. This will let you know if your heart rate is low or if you have irregular heart rhythms, both are difficult to notice on your own if you aren’t being monitored. As the watches keeps track of your heart’s behavior, you’ll also be able to show the results to your doctor so they can get a better understanding of your daily health.
5. 3D printing
3D printing could make a big impact on the way we look at prosthetics and other bodily implants. Since no two patients are exactly the same, 3D printing gives medical practitioners the chance to create implants that are more unique to each patient. This allows for a more detailed implant than was possible in the past. Customized pieces can cause fewerless issues and be more comfortable for patients because they’ll be a better fit for each body.
6. Insulin control for children
Children with type 1 diabetes can run into a lot of issues involving monitoring their sugar levels. Continuously monitoring this can be difficult for children, as well as having to do routine injections. New monitoring devices that monitor blood sugar levels in children and automatically dispense insulin can make living with diabetes as a young person much easier. Not only will they feel safer knowing they’re being carefully monitored at all times, but they also get insulin as soon as it’s needed without having to worry about it.
7. Virtual reality medical training
The first surgeries performed by a surgeon are naturally going to very tense and difficult moments for them. A number of issues can happen during a surgery that are the direct result of a mistake made by the surgeon. New technologies can also help improve training for medical professionals early on in their careers, which can lead to better care and fewer errors going into the future. With virtual reality training, a surgeon can gain all the experience of operating on a person without ever having to actually touch someone. This can allow them to gain the skills they need without the risk of causing errors during surgery.
