Every year the field of medical technologies and devices demonstrates impressive growth and innovation. Many devices are making life easier for patients with difficult diseases, while other help find diseases at earlier stages, offering better chances for treatments and cures. Some of the newest medical devices and technologies out there are really ground-breaking, and have heads turning within the medical and technology fields. There are 5 medical devices you should be curious about, as they may one day save or improve your life or the lives of your loved ones.
Genomic Directed Medicines
Traditional medicine targets specific areas of the body either by organ absorption or protein reaction, and this method has proven to work very well. Newer medical technology, however, is allowing medicines to target specific genes, which is thousands of times more effective than the traditional approach, while leaving less unwanted effects for the patient to deal with. Expect this type of new, more specifically targeted medicine to provide better cures for various blood and solid tumor cancers in the coming decade. As scientists discover the uses behind more and more genes, this technology will grow into a super customize pharmacy of medicines for patients based on exact genes and disease types.
Endovenous Thermal Ablation
Endovenous Thermal Ablation, or ETA, is an exciting new medical technology that uses high-frequency radio waves to create high levels of heat in a specific area. Some treatment centers, like Ivein Treatment Center Provo, Utah, use this technique to help their patients get relief from pain associated with varicose veins. The heat is usually applied close to a varicose vein, which is a vein that serves no significant medical purpose, but can often be seen as unsightly. This new method of getting rid of varicose veins can leave a vein intact, but will shrink it so that you may no longer see it from outside of the skin, this allows the body to reroute it’s blood flow and dispose of that route. From a patient standpoint, this is great news, because it allows specialists to get rid of varicose veins without performing invasive surgery.
Cell-Free DNA Testing for Fetuses
New cutting edge technology is allowing doctors to test for diseases in fetuses without having to gather complete cells. This has extended the capabilities in searching for Down Syndrome signs, which allows parents to know if their child is going to have down syndrome. This is a game-changer in DNA testing and is expected to be the first of many developments in its field.
With so many new medical devices and technologies coming to the forefront of patient care the past couple of years, it’s untelling where medicine is heading. Keep your eye on these technologies as they are expected to develop into even broader breakthroughs in medicine.