Imagine wristbands that remind you to stand up straight, pocket-sized devices that look inside your body, and treatments using cells that morph and change function for healing a wide range of diseases. Thanks to technological innovation, these inventions have now become a reality in the world of medicine.
Technology has been changing healthcare for hundreds of years, however the speed appears to be in a higher gear than ever. While the impact technology has on modern medicine is vast, this short list is just a sample from the hundreds of inventions that are to come in the next decade.
From the simple to the complex, these treatments represent solutions that stem from the real-world experience of the inventors. And like every great innovation, they are likely to inspire many more.
1. Pocket Ultrasound Devices
Ultrasound technology uses high-frequency sound waves to create interior images of the body. Many people prefer this type of medical imaging to X-rays because it gives insight into what's going on under the skin without using radiation.
Ultrasound technology for all
The problem with most high-tech medical imaging is that it's only available to people with access to financial resources in developed economies. That leaves more than 4 billion people in the world without access due to economic factors.
This is where Butterfly iQ comes in. It's a handheld ultrasound device created by Jonathan Rothberg, a Yale genetics researcher and serial entrepreneur.
Rothberg developed a way to put the technology of ultrasound on a chip, transforming it into a portable machine that costs $2,000 - a fraction of the cost of a hospital-grade machine that exceeds 50 times that price.
The idea of a "pocket ultrasound machine" became a reality when it went on sale to medical professionals last year. The initial goal of Butterfly iQ was to distribute it to 150 countries with established health systems, followed by distribution to 53 developing countries courtesy of The Gates Foundation.
Can Butterfly iQ replace hospital machines?
While the technology sounds promising, portable and cost-effective, the reality is that these gadgets cannot replace the large hospital-grade machines found in more technologically-developed parts of the world.
Despite that, this portable technology still has value in making scanning for diseases more accessible to the people that need them in developing countries.
After all, there was a time when the thermometer was a tool only available to the rich. Butterfly iQ could be the next big technology that makes its way into every household in the world in the same way.
2. Cancer-Diagnosing Artificial Intelligence
Symptoms of cancer sometimes don't appear until it's too late for treatment. While diagnostic tools like CT scans are considered to be valuable tools for detection, some people remain concerned about the radiation exposure that comes with every scan.
Along with radiation fears, another risk factor from CT scans comes with receiving a false-positive diagnosis from the radiologist. This has often led to harsh and unnecessary chemotherapy treatment with fatal consequences in some cases.
Could AI be the answer to false diagnosis?
Shravya Shetty, a researcher at Google Health, looked to artificial intelligence (AI) as a solution by building an AI system that was proven to outperform human radiologists in diagnosing lung cancer.
This AI technology was fed data from more than 45,000 patient CT scans. Compared to a control group of six human radiologists, the Google algorithm detected 5% more cancer cases and 11% fewer false-positive cases.
While these appear to be promising results, there is still room for improvement. AI is a technology that "learns" as it receives more raw data by detecting patterns in the results. As the technology reaches maturity, the accuracy of its predictions will increase.
3. A Mind-Reading Wristband
Everyone has habits of posture or movement that can be perceived as negative, like slouching in front of a computer, standing with shoulders slumping forward or staring down constantly at a phone.
Now imagine a wearable device that alerts you when you make such movements and offers reminders to correct yourself.
This device - called the CTRL-kit - makes this possibility a reality by detecting the electrical impulses that travel from the motor neurons in your brain to the relevant parts of your body almost as soon as the thought enters your mind.
The device was created by CTRL-Labs CEO and co-founder Thomas Reardon with the aim of reversing posture patterns he considers to be "a step backward for humanity". His background in neuroscience gave him insight into many other applications for this technology, including the development of effective rehabilitation protocols for stroke and amputation patients, and helping people with other neurodegenerative conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.
4. Virtual Reality Rehab
The rehabilitation of spinal cord injuries requires time, patience and effort.
The traditional therapy process involves harnessing what's called "brain plasticity" - the ability of the brain to learn (or re-learn) things in an effort to develop new patterns and heal neurological problems. This could mean learning to solve math problems, speaking a new language or playing an instrument. In the case of a spinal cord injury, it could mean going back to an infant stage and learning to walk again.
Can Virtual Reality Re-Train the Brain?
Isabel Van de Keere, creator of Immersive Rehab, is a Belgian-born entrepreneur with a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. She created this virtual reality (VR) technology for neurological rehabilitation as a result of her own painful experience.
While at work over a decade ago, she suffered a cervical spine injury when a lighting fixture fell on top of her. Left with severe complications and vertigo, she spent three years in rehabilitation. The extremely slow progress she experienced left her feeling frustrated and looking for new solutions.
Her hope and optimism returned the inspiration needed to create a virtual reality (VR) system that expands the range and types of exercises one can use. The increased variety of movements alter the rate of neurological changes in the brain and speed up healing by repairing neural pathways faster and breaking the boring, monotonous movements characterized by traditional rehab programs of the past.
Results and feedback so far have been promising, and the company is now looking to expand to the United States and Europe by running clinical trials.
Virtual reality is also used in conjunction with stem cell treatments at Swiss Medica, a specialized stem cell treatment center in Europe. Used in conjunction with VR, stem cell injections have been reported to be effective in treating a wide variety of neurological diseases like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.
5. Stem Cell Therapy
Undifferentiated (immature) stem cells.
Cell-based therapy treats diseases through the use of stem cells. These are cells that can evolve into other types of cells and/or self-renew to produce more stem cells.
Think of stem cells like the stem of a flower. During the initial growth stage, they produce leaves, bark, flowers and seeds. This analogy can be used with respect to how stem cells can regenerate parts of the body and heal disease. According to reports and testimonials, the benefits of stem cell therapy can revitalize tissues, treat many conditions, and prevent new diseases from developing.
Diseases Treated With Stem Cell Therapy
One of the most common procedures that uses stem cell-based therapy is bone marrow transplantation, most likely because stem cells in the bone marrow were the first to be identified. Research and treatments in this area have helped to treat thousands of people throughout the world suffering from diseases like leukemia, along with other blood cancers.
In addition to bone marrow stem cells, many others have been identified and are currently being used by research/treatment centers such as Swiss Medica in Europe with treatment success for the following conditions:
Liver DIsease (Cirrhosis)
Arthritic and Osteoarthritic Conditions
Pancreatic Disease
Sexual/Erectile Dysfunction
Trophic Ulcers
Complications from Stroke
Weight Loss/Obesity
Rectovaginal Fistulas (Post-Irradiation)
Diabetes (Type 2)
Foot Complications from Diabetes
Multiple Sclerosis
Rheumatoid Conditions
Parkinson's Disease
Cognitive Decline/Dementia
How Stem Cell Therapy Works
Stem cell processing.
The main goal of stem cell therapy is to regenerate sick parts of the body in order to eradicate diseases. Researchers and treatment providers have so far developed protocols that first employ stem cell harvesting followed by treatment administration tailored to the patient.
There are many types of stem cell products depending on the treatment provider. Researchers at the Swiss Medica center use several types, including:
Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MMSCs)
Stromal vascular fraction (SVF)
Fibroblasts
Hematopoietic stromal cells
Regulatory T-cells
Dendritic cell vaccines
Mononuclear cells (MNC)
Cells are typically sourced from both donors and patients, and then cultivated and cryopreserved in laboratories before administration in several ways, including:
Intravenous: Administration via an IV drip
Intramuscular: Injection directly into muscle tissue
Intra-articular: Direct injection into a joint
Intrathecal (lumbar puncture): Administration into the spinal fluid
Stem cell therapy is relatively new and research is ongoing. The most reputable treatment centers operate according to the highest international bioethics standards for transparency and treatment quality.
The Future is Here
The evolution of medicine from technological innovation is an ongoing story, with many inventions sparking inspiration that lead continuously to new treatment possibilities. From diagnostic tools to rehabilitation protocols, the rapid progress of research and innovation affects all industries at all levels.
Technological frontiers continuously expand in all directions, marking the progress of scientific research within the greater scope of human evolution.
Natalia Semeshina, medical content writer & editor.
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