1. Which technologies are currently used in health?
Medical technology encompasses a wide range of
medical devices. Practicing clinical engineers often focus
on a few areas of medical device technology, such as
defibrillators, electrosurgical units, and physiological
monitors. It encloses an entire spectrum of medical
devices with which the clinical engineer should be
concerned, the medical devices that are required for
almost all diagnostic and therapeutic medical
interventions. These devices have different lifetimes
because they may be disposable, reusable, or
implantable. They are made of a range of materials, such
as plastics, ceramics, metals, wood,
and biologic products, and they rely upon all types of
physical principles for their functioning (e.g., electronic,
hydraulic, mechanical, chemical, optical, and radiation).
People use them to improve patient health. Medical
devices, as distinguished from drugs, achieve their action
without directly entering metabolic pathways.
2. What are the limitations of the current technologies?
Generally, within the current scope of our success in new
medical technologies, at the core they are established in a cycle
of conception, planning, execution and evaluation before being
brought forward into the mainstream.
Pragmatism works in tandem with the theorem behind scientific
and medical communities with the aim to enhance the field and
patient care. Hence, opportunities to further advance
technological development ought to be balanced with servicing
the greater population over self-interests. The article
enthusiastically discusses potential of medical technologies,
including challenges in implementation some technologies
briefly due to limitations in scientific breakthrough such as
“failure of getting cells to differentiate and proliferate into what
is required, moving cells where we want which brings a
challenge to printing a complex organ such as a kidney”. We feel
the article would benefit offering different perspectives on the
challenges of implementing these future utilities on a large scale
to benefit the population from other standpoints besides
scientific limitations.
The author discusses use of robotic technology in healthcare,
however the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) has
only deemed robotic technologies use in prostatectomies as
clinically effective and cost-effective based on Health Technology
assessments (HTA) [2]. While it may be of used and be of benefit
in other types of surgeries, the implementation of robotic
technology has been limited as its use for non cost-effective
interventions generates loss to out National Health Service
(NHS). Furthermore, the uptake of robotic technology per region
and use in robotic prostatectomies has been shown to be erratic
in regions and it has been shown not to be meeting cost-effective
thresholds nationally [3] which makes this technology
challenging to use to benefit the population without
disadvantaging the NHS.
Furthermore, the prospect of successful widespread applications
of virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) is dependent on its
accessibility in developed versus developing countries, available
resources and costs to develop virtual applications for surgeons,
and investing in their specialist training requirements. One
example, the Microsoft HoloLens [www.microsoft.com/hololens]
which first launched in 2016, has pioneered the way augmented
reality can be pushed to its potential by incorporating
holographic objects within its medium, as opposed to the
traditional observational role we are accustomed with in VR [4].
It has already shown success in medical education with digital
anatomy teaching becoming a curriculum staple for students at
Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic, USA [4,5].
The elephant in the room, however, lies in the cost of a single
device, which is listed at 3500 USD according to the HoloLens
web page (as of June. 2020). Time will tell as to the extent the
progress in this field reaches via the continuous collaboration
between healthcare providers and technology giants, to
eventually develop affordable devices for larger scale consumer
use (i.e. Surgeons, medical students practicing anatomy, and
access by doctors in less developed regions). This will set a
precedent for how successful globalised future technologies can
become over their lifespan to reach the highest number of users
realistically possible.
In 2017, the Royal College of Surgeons of England established a
commission operating independently to address the various
surgical innovations anticipated over the coming years and
decades with a report published in 2018, titled “Future of
Surgery” [6]. The report goes into great detail on what we can
expect to see in 20 years, ranging from robotics in surgical
theatre, AI machine learning and nanotechnology, which have
been eloquently covered in the original article. The report
notably highlights several expected ethical concerns with
example technologies and how this may shape public perception
in accepting or rejecting these breakthroughs; with gene editing,
how do we consider modifying the physical and cognitive
features of a being that would be unable to consent to it? Access
to organ printing capabilities and body enhancements to prolong
life, eliminate multiple ailments [6] and replacement of
extremities via prosthetics [7] may be subsequently implicated
in healthcare and economic inequalities, depending on the
affordability and ease of access to these innovations by wealthier
communities as opposed to the impoverished with mitigating
socio-economic factors.
Such technologies may be faced with conflicts of interest that
may arise from governmental or private funding, and how
legislatures such as the General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR) may influence data sharing and collection being utilised
in a surgical capacity from country to country [6,8]. Artificial
intelligence continues to be a remarkable advancement in the
medical space but will undoubtedly raise further questions on
who is ultimately responsible for the ownership and/or
oversight of these intellectual properties.
Conclusively, we have discussed challenges implementing
medical technology from a cost-effective, accessibility,
healthcare inequalities, ethical and intellectual property
standpoints respectively in addition to the author's view on
limited scientific evidence for implementation of medical
technologies.
3. What are the different proposed technologies
available to change the current situation?
4. What futuristic technologies are proposed to change
the current situation?
5. How will the future technology benefit an individual/a
household/a society/a school?
6. In what way will this new future technology be
different from the current technology?
7. Why could these future technologies have a negative
impact?
The dark side
Even as AI is being used to help healthcare, it can be perverted to steal patient and
provider identities, divert funds and misuse information by hacking medical computer
systems. This can occur via private systems linked to hospital software, or by
wireless networks at health facilities, or via the Internet of Things (IoT). Thus, the
protection of such systems from AI-driven malware and personalized attacks would
perhaps cost more than can be saved by the application of such systems.
Meticulous planning, effective training, and ongoing monitoring of healthcare and
technical staff as they use data systems, as well as installing data security systems,
are essential to prevent, detect and plug data breaches as soon as possible.
The future of healthcare holds many possibilities, and medical
technology has a large role to play in ensuring that we are able to
tackle all of the biggest health issues we face. Often, we consider
healthcare jobs to be very human labour intensive; for example,
doctors and nurses put in a lot of hours and physical work to look
after patients.
However, it is new healthcare technologies that allow medical
professionals to progress in their field, save more patients and fight
new diseases. In this article, we’ll explore global healthcare in the
current climate and how the industry has changed in the past
decade, before discussing seven promising new healthcare
technologies.
What is healthcare technology?
Before we discuss the current state of the global healthcare
industry and how it’s changed over the past decade, we’ll offer a
definition of healthcare technology. It’s fairly self-explanatory – any
technology that is designed to support healthcare organisations.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) offers a more detailed
definition of health technology, as the “application of organized
knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines,
procedures, and systems developed to solve a health problem and
improve quality of lives”.
What does global healthcare look like in
2021?
The healthcare industry has undoubtedly changed in the past
couple of years since we’ve been fighting a global pandemic.
COVID-19 overwhelmed healthcare systems all over the world, has
killed as many as 3 million people worldwide, and forced many
other dangerous diseases to be placed on the sidelines.
While social distancing and mask-wearing reduced the spread of
infectious diseases like the flu, lockdowns and restrictions also
meant that fewer people were getting diseases diagnosed and
receiving important treatment.
However, one good thing that has come out of the pandemic is that
more of the world now has access to healthcare through things like
digital appointments and online prescriptions.
Thinking about the global healthcare outlook outside of COVID19, Deloitte Insights wrote a report detailing six of the biggest
factors driving change in the healthcare sector.
They suggest that consumers are seeking more on-demand, digital
healthcare services, and healthcare organisations are transitioning
to health IT systems powered by cloud, data and analytics tools.
In addition to this, we’re shifting to view healthcare as something
encompassing our total wellbeing rather than just our physical
health, and we’re seeing more collaboration between different
governments, industries, academia and tech giants than ever
before, in the name of healthcare innovation and progression.
How has the healthcare industry changed in
the last 10 years?
Since we’re thinking about what healthcare could look like in the
future, it’s worth acknowledging the amount of progress that has
been made in the healthcare industry in the past decade. Below we
discuss some of the biggest innovations that have changed
healthcare for the better.
Remote monitoring
Remote monitoring allows patients and their progress to be
monitored at all times without using clunky technology or a doctor
needing to be present. Not only does this mean that doctors and
nurses are able to help many patients at once, but patients are able
to leave the hospital earlier and be monitored safely from afar. This
creates a more comfortable and cheaper experience for everyone
involved.
Electronic medical records
Since the introduction of electronic medical records, it’s been so
much easier for doctors to view and seamlessly share medical
history. This means that records are less likely to be lost and patient
care is improved because the doctor has complete access to the
patient’s health background, prescriptions and previous care.
Electronic records also allow patients themselves to keep track of
their medical data.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine consists of remote clinical services where the
healthcare provider or doctor communicates virtually with the
patient. Examples of this include appointments with a GP over
video call, therapy over the phone, and text messages that reveal
medical test results.
The positive consequences of this are undeniable – access to
healthcare has been improved for those who are in remote areas or
who face difficulties attending physical appointments.

University of BathAn
Introduction to Innovation in Healthcare

University of TwenteeHealth:
Combining Psychology, Technology and Health

St George's, University of LondonThe
Genomics Era: the Future of Genetics in
Medicine
Advantages and disadvantages of medical
technologies
Before we dive into the seven new healthcare technologies of the
future, it’s worth considering the advantages and disadvantages of
medical technology. While the benefits outweigh the costs, there
are still some drawbacks to be aware of.
Advantages of medical technology
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More efficient healthcare systems
More accessible healthcare
Earlier predictions of diseases
Faster surgery and recovery times
Better analysis of healthcare data
Faster development of drugs and vaccines
Increased legibility of medical documents
Disadvantages of medical technology
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Forces reliance on internet connection – it’s harder for rural
healthcare providers to communicate with each other and with
patients
Bigger risk of serious security breaches due to data sharing
Higher chance of miscommunication in virtual appointments
Lack of empathy due to it being more impersonal or relying on
AI
More expensive for healthcare providers and patients
High chance of frustration if technology fails
7 promising new healthcare technologies
There are so many exciting new medical technologies being used in
the healthcare industry, but these are some of the most prominent.
Some of them have been around for a little while now, but they are
becoming more technologically advanced as time goes on.
AI & robots
Artificial intelligence (AI) has so many exciting applications in
healthcare. One of the most important applications is in diagnosis,
as there have been several situations in which AI has been able to
identify diseases like skin cancer and diabetic blindness better than
experts in the field. You can find out more about this in our What
are the Possibilities of AI in Healthcare? open step by Taipei
Medical University.
Other than diagnosis, AI can be used to perform routine tasks,
manage data, design treatments, manage medication, monitor
health and more. AI can even be used on robots, and then these
robots can act as medical assistants, take lab samples, assist in
surgeries, and disinfect hospital rooms.
Clearly, there’s a lot of room for further development in the field of
AI in healthcare, and AI holds plenty of challenges, but we could
see some really life-changing results. To learn more, you could try
our MedTech: AI and Medical Robots course by the University of
Leeds or our AI for Healthcare: Equipping the Workforce for Digital
Transformation course by the University of Manchester and the
NHS.
Nanotechnology for diagnosis
Another innovative technology in the medical field is
nanotechnology for diagnosis. You may not have heard of
nanotechnology before, but it’s concerned with objects that have at
least one dimension under 100 nanometres (nm) in size. One
nanometre is one-billionth of a metre. You can learn more about
nanotechnology in our open step.
So what does this have to do with diagnosis? Essentially,
nanotechnology can be used to recognise unique cells and identify
genetic content that might signify disease. This then allows drugs to
reach specific damaged cells whilst avoiding healthy ones.
Numerous technological breakthroughs that seemed like science fiction a decade ago have
already become mainstream in healthcare. Apart from saving lives and improving the quality of
life, technological advancements have reduced medical costs, made healthcare available in
remote locations, and completely changed processes as they pertain to research, innovation, and
education.
Corporate Giants Lead Innovation
Tech giants such as Amazon, Apple, and Google have ventured into the healthcare sector. The
areas of interest for these companies are new digital technologies for electronic health records
(EHRs) new software technology from websites
like https://www.sterlingcheck.com/industries/healthcare/ , the Rise of EHR, machine learning for
EHR analytics, telemedicine (allowing remote communication between patients and physicians),
and even robotic surgery.
Amazon has also announced a collaboration with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan called
Haven. This independent healthcare company aims to deploy technology to lower medical costs,
simplify medical procedures, and make healthcare more accessible.
Several tech leaders are focusing on healthcare analytics. Patient data are already available from a
number of sources including from diagnostics tests, medical devices, and wearables. Companies
are focusing on overcoming the challenge of bringing all this data into a common format and
integrating it into a single platform, enabling healthcare professionals to better assess patient risk
and personalize treatment. These tech innovators would need to address data privacy issues and
the highly-regulatory nature of the healthcare sector for the rapid and widespread adoption of
such systems.
Revolutionary Technologies
“Health 2.0” is expected to be spearheaded by the relatively new kids on the block: virtual reality
(VR) and artificial intelligence (AI). VR technologies are focusing on counseling, pain
management, telemedicine, surgical training, occupational therapy, and several other
applications. AI is focused on diagnostics, EHR analytics, synthesizing information from a range
of sources (scientific papers, journals, and patient medical records), and remote monitoring of
patients using wearable devices.
1. Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that is set to revolutionize healthcare
entirely. With the ability to mine medical records, AI algorithms can design treatment
plans, develop drugs quicker than any current doctor, and even diagnose cancerous
and noncancerous tissue samples.
Using supercomputers, Atomwise unearths therapies from a database of molecular
structures. The start-up, launched in 2015, created a virtual search for safe, existing
medicines that could be reengineered to treat the Ebola virus. Two drugs were found
which were predicted by the company’s AI technology that may reduce the infectivity
of Ebola.
Google’s DeerMind more recently developed an AI for breast cancer analysis. The
new algorithm exceeded human radiologists’ performance by 11.5% on pre-cleared
sets of data to distinguish breast cancer.
These two companies are only two of the vast number of companies using AI
technology to bring healthcare into the future. From disrupting medical imagine,
designing new drugs to mining medical records, these companies are real-life
examples of what we should expect on the horizon if we open ourselves up to AI in
healthcare.
2. Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is changing the lives of physicians and patients alike. Looking
into the future, you could travel to Spain or home while you are in a hospital bed, or
you may watch operations as if you are holding the scalpel!
The use of VR is used in many situations, from training future surgeons and for
qualified surgeons to practice operations. Those developing these software
programs are companies like Osso VR and ImmersiveTouch, and so far, the results
are promising. A recent study has revealed that VR-trained surgeons had a 230%
increase in their overall performance than traditionally-trained colleagues.
Patients are also benefitting from these advancements in technology, with pain
management shown as one area of improvement. During labour pain, women are
being equipped with VR headsets to allow them to visualize a soothing landscape.
Patients diagnosed with cardiac, neurological, gastrointestinal, and post-surgical
pain have shown a decrease in their pain levels when using VR as a stimuli. A pilot
study from 2019 showed that patients receiving surgery decreased their anxiety and
pain levels and improved in their overall healthcare experience.
3. Augmented Reality
Differing from VR, Augmented Reality (AR) is where users do not lose touch with
reality, and information is put into eyesight as fast as possible. AR is becoming the
driving force in the future of healthcare because of these distinctive features, both on
the receivers’ and the medical providers’ side.
For medical professionals, it could aid medical students to better prepare for real-life
operations, as well as allowing existing surgeons to improve their capabilities.
Students use the Microsoft HoloLens to gain knowledge on anatomy by using
the HoloAnatomy app. Medical students gain access to accurate and detailed,
although digital, representations of human anatomy so they can study without the
need for actual humans.
Magic Leap, another promising company, is also developing something a little
different with their mixed reality headset. Magic Leap has collaborated with XRHealth
to develop the therapeutic platform, SyncThink for brain health, and Brainlab, a
German technology company that will bring its technology to healthcare. No
commercial products have yet been brought to market; however, we are bound to
see these partnerships populating the healthcare market in the future.
4. Healthcare trackers, wearables, and sensors
Closely connected with the future of healthcare and medicine, patients’ and
individuals’ empowerment is taking better care of their health using technologies like
wearables, health trackers, and sensors. These are excellent devices that allow us
to know more about our health and give us more control over our own lives.
With devices like the Fitbit Ionic, which monitors sleep and tracks workouts, the Polar
H10 can finetune a workout routine, and the Muse headband, which assists with
meditation. There are many health trackers and apps on the market today.
Whether you are looking to manage your stress level, weight, or cognitive
capabilities better, maybe you want to feel more energetic and healthy overall, there
is a device for all requirements. These tech-fuelled gems really make patients the
point-of-care. Patients have the ability to track their health at home and share the
results remotely with their doctor. The devices empower the individual to make more
informed decisions and take control of their health.
5. Medical tricorder
Every healthcare professional’s dream is to have only one all-powerful and supreme
device. It should be able to analyse and diagnose every disease.
With the rapid growth in healthcare technologies, we now live in a world where these
kinds of devices exist! One such gadget is the palm-sized Viatom CheckMe Pro,
which can measure heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, ECG, oxygen
saturation, and more. Other companies are also working on developing similar
devices like the MedWand, which comes with a camera for telemedical purposes, as
well as all of the measurement capabilities. Another device is the BioSticker
from BioIntelliSense, it is FDA-cleared, and despite being thin and small, it can
measure many parameters like heart rate, skin temperature, activity levels,
respiratory rate, body position, sleep status, gait, and more.
These products may be a little far from the sci-fi tricorder, but we will advance there
soon enough. Expect to see high-powered microscopes with smartphones that
analyse images and swab samples of skin lesions. It could have sensors that notice
DNA abnormalities or find specific proteins and antibodies. An ultrasonic probe, an
electronic nose, or anything else that could be paired with a smartphone and
enhance its features.
6. Genome sequencing
Costing the US government $2.7 billion, the entire Human Genome Project costs a
crazy amount of money. Particularly when you think that in January 2017, DNA
sequencing company Illumina revealed a new machine that the giant says is
“expected one day” to order an entire genome for cheaper than $100. The CEO
confirmed that the company is still working towards that idea. If this were to happen,
it would mean that cheaper genetic testing would be available, costing between $10$150 only.
A test like this has a lot of potentials. One can learn valuable information about drug
sensitivities, monogenic or multifactorial medical conditions, and even family history.
Furthermore, many fields are using the advantages of genome sequencing, such as
nutrigenomics, the field that merges dietetics, nutrition, and genomics. Companies
like Habit, a California-based start-up, offer personalized diets using genetic coding.
Atlas Biomed’s genetic test is also insightful. Although it can be hard to understand,
it analyses to give practical, actionable results. It evaluates conditions one may be at
risk to and records vitamin levels and intolerances. The information can be used to
take preventative actions.
7. Revolutionizing drug development
The current process of creating new drugs is costly and time-consuming.
Nevertheless, there are new ways to improve the development of drugs using
methods like AI. These new approaches and technologies are set to shape the
pharmaceutical landscape in the coming years.
Companies such as Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Deep Genomics, and Turbine are
using the strength of AI to create new drug candidates and therapeutic solutions at a
fraction of the normal cost and in record time.
Another up and coming medicine technology is in silico drug trials. These
personalized computer simulations are used in the regulatory evaluation or
development of healthcare products, devices, or interventions. This company is
already breaking down barriers with its organs-on-a-chip development; with current
biological and technology understanding disallowing simulated clinical trials, this
development in silico is already in use. Their technology, HumMod is being used in
many research projects, and virtual models have been developed by the Virtual
Physiological Human (VPH) Institute who is using them to study osteoporosis and
heart disease.
8. Nanotechnology
We could see nanoparticles and nanodevices operating as accurate drug delivery
systems, tiny surgeons, or cancer treatment tools in the near future.
Some researchers from the Max Planck Institute, back in 2014, designed small
scallop-shaped microbots that physically swim through bodily fluids. These smart
pills, such as PillCam are being used for colon exams in a patient-friendly
noninvasive way. MIT researchers in late 2018 developed an electronic pill that is
wirelessly controlled and can relay analysis information or release drugs in reply to
smartphone orders.
Nanotechnology is becoming a bigger player in the market in the form of smart
patches. Grapheal, a France-based company, showcased its smart patch at CES
2020. It allows for continual monitoring of wounds, and its graphene core can even
help with healing the wound faster.
With evolving technology, there will be far more physical examples of
nanotechnology in healthcare. The PillCams of the future may even be able to take
biopsy samples, and remote-controlled capsules could take nano-surgery into the
future.
9. Robotics
Robotics is one of the fastest-growing and most exciting fields of medicine.
Robot developments range from disinfectant robots or exoskeletons right through to
surgical robots and pharmabotics.
Exoskeletons did extraordinary well in the year 2019. The very first exoskeletonaided surgery was performed, and a tetraplegic man became capable of controlling
an exoskeleton using only his brain. There are many applications for these robots,
from lifting elderly patients and aided nursing to assist patients with spinal cord
injury.
Loneliness is also alleviated by using robots as companions; they are also used in
healthcare to help children with chronic illness and treat mental health issues.
Existing examples of robots are the Jibo, Buddy, Paro, and Pepper robots. Some
allow their owners to control them using microphones, cameras, and touch sensors.
10. 3D-printing
Bringing a world of wonders in all aspects of healthcare is 3D-printing. The list is
growing with printing available for blood vessels, artificial limbs, bio tissues, and pills,
and will likely continue to grow.
Researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in
November 2019, created a method of printing living skin along with blood
vessels using 3D-printing. This was a critical development for burn victims and
skin grafts. NGOs like Not Impossible and Refugee Open Ware are helping patients
in need by using 3D-printing to make prosthetics for refugees in war-torn locations.
The pharmaceutical industry is also a benefiter of these changing technologies. 3Dprinted drugs have been FDA-approved and have been in circulation since 2015.
Researchers are now developing 3D-printing “polypills.” These will have layers of
drugs so patients can stick to their therapeutic plan.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is being used in the diagnosis of diseases, as
well as to offer customized solutions. For instance, it is being used to drive systems
that process computed tomography scans by the thousands, in a mass detection
scenario, as in COVID-19. This spares radiographers and physicians to attend to
patients, besides providing supplementary information and thus improving the
accuracy of diagnosis and monitoring.
Machine learning is being exploited in the pharmaceutical industry to identify new
drug candidates without the long and expensive traditional method of sifting through
chemical libraries while also replacing actual experiments with simulations, varying
multiple parameters. The whole process is not only much less expensive but also
much faster.
Robotic systems are being developed using AI and machine learning to replace
humans in the performance of routine unskilled tasks now being done by skilled
healthcare practitioners. This will free them to treat more patients with less time
pressure, promoting a favorable outcome.
The rise of mHealth
To handle these needs, mobile health information and sensing technologies, termed
mHealth, has gained prominence. These tools seem to offer the ability to provide
healthcare at lower costs with improved outcomes. They can allow a limited number
of providers to monitor more people, individually and at the population level.
Applications of mHealth can promote healthy behaviors for primary or secondary
disease prevention, help with the self-management of chronic illnesses, improve
provider training, and cut down on visits to the doctor. At the same time, they can
help personalize interventions to an unprecedented level.
Today, mHealth can be utilized in the form of mobile devices, wearables, and other
devices that allow people to carry on with their routine activities, while the device
sends invaluable data on a host of parameters back to the server. This data can be
used both in the present and the future to provide information on all kinds of trends
and predictive factors to help research-driven efforts to promote and improve patient
health.
Multiple platforms are now available, backed by top-class information technology (IT)
firms like Apple, to facilitate the development of healthcare apps.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine is an important innovation now practiced in many countries worldwide
due to pandemic restrictions on public travel. With this technology, clinical
practitioners see patients virtually, avoiding personal contact, while still being able to
diagnose and treat patients for a host of illnesses. The saving of time and money has
made this an attractive option for both patient and practitioner, and this trend seems
unlikely to die down soon.
Virtual reality
Augmented and virtual reality is being used in novel ways to distract nervous
patients from surgical procedures or help train medical students outside the hospital
and without the risk of harm to actual patients. A hands-free mode of operation is
also enabled, allowing providers to access patient records or other information
without leaving the patient or stopping the procedure they are engaged in.
The internet of medical things
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) comprises a network of devices and mobile
phone apps that track and prevent serious events in the course of chronic illness,
linking patients and doctors for better monitoring and management of such
conditions. For instance, wearable electrocardiography (ECG) monitors can allow
patients with troublesome changes to be identified early enough to abort heart
attacks.
Other wearables may help monitor fever, blood sugar levels, or pulse. It is estimated
that almost a third of the IoT (Internet of Things) market worldwide will henceforth
come from the IoMT.
Digital twins
The ability to pair objects in a computer-generated virtual world can help to
manipulate both objects at the same time – digital twins. This is important in the
plethora of medical devices being marketed today, which are designed virtually in the
confidence that the real-life object will be exactly like it in every way.
Moreover, models can be created for testing, with the results being quite reliable.
Remote surgery is also based on this technology, saving time and expenses.
Blockchain
The use of blockchain technology is still controversial, but its potential to improve the
secure, convenient, and rapid sharing of healthcare information between authorized
providers and patients is becoming clearer by the day. The design of this tool allows
for large numbers of users without compromising the safety of using a single ledger.
This poses a formidable challenge to the current use of electronic health records,
putting it alongside the IoMT and cloud computing as a worthy colleague.
Cloud computing
With patient data being a dynamic thing, it is essential that healthcare providers have
a safe and smooth method to share and store this data on which their clinical
decisions are based. Cloud computing offers an excellent way out whereby data
collection, storage, and management can be achieved using a single point. The
resulting improvement inpatient care, with the saving of time, is among the benefits
of this approach.
Nanotechnology
The development of nanotechnology has given rise to many innovative systems of
treatment. Xenobots, or self-replicating tiny organic robots, were reported by the end
of 2021. A wide range of applications lies open to nanotechnology in medicine,
including nanobots for the detection of disease by traversing microscopic blood
vessels and nanoparticle drug delivery systems to accurately deliver toxic drugs to
the cells that are their targets avoiding or reducing off-target effects.
3D printing
The ability to build body parts such as artificial veins, implants, bionic prostheses,
customized surgical instruments, and produce pills is just part of the future with 3-D
printing. Many medications are using this technology for faster, cheaper production.
Is this the future of health? | The Economist
Primary prevention of disease
Using all modern medical expertise and equipment, including lifestyle advice, it is
estimated that patient outcomes change by up to 20% only, the rest being the
product of social determinants of health (SDOH). When these are taken into account,
doctors will soon be able to predict the course of the person’s health and prescribe
preventive measures to arrest the deterioration of health in a timely manner, rather
than deferring the recognition of such events to a later stage, when sophisticated
and costly interventions will become necessary.
Neural chips
Companies are vying to bring out microelectrodes that can be implanted safely into
the brain to restore some degree of functionality to people who have lost sight, for
instance, or voluntary muscle activity.
Big data analysis
The storage of data in huge volumes in secure data siloes will help analysts to mine
it for useful information that could help drive new research using AI and machine
learning. Both of these identify and interpret patterns in the data that could be
invisible to humans but could offer a chance to intervene for the patient’s benefit.
Data sharing and interoperability norms will also be enforced to benefit patients.
Conclusion
“For medical technology, standards and regulations are needed to ensure safety,
protect the public, and guarantee that products are fit for purpose. However, in the
context of novel and personal medical technologies, the current approach to
regulation is not only infeasible and difficult to enforce, but also work against health
care innovation.” At the same time, with the realization that human nature remains
the same and that the real aim of technology has always been profitability, it is
obvious that newer health technologies need to be vigilantly monitored via new
regulatory frameworks so that patients continue to be benefited and kept at the
center of healthcare.
“Health 2.0” is expected to be spearheaded by the relatively new kids on the block: virtual reality
(VR) and artificial intelligence (AI). VR technologies are focusing on counseling, pain
management, telemedicine, surgical training, occupational therapy, and several other
applications. AI is focused on diagnostics, EHR analytics, synthesizing information from a range
of sources (scientific papers, journals, and patient medical records), and remote monitoring of
patients using wearable devices.
Gene Technology
Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology that focuses on the
understanding and manipulation of DNA and genomes of living organisms.
Gene editing is a group of technologies that enables genetic engineering in
order to change the DNA and genetic structure of living organisms.
Biotechnology is advancing to the point where it's viable to alter the DNA
encoded within a cell; this will influence the characteristics or traits that its
descendants will have. In plants, this could affect the number of leaves or
their coloring, while in humans, it could affect their height, eye color, or
their likelihood of developing diseases. This opens up a range of
possibilities that are almost unlimited, as it means that any characteristic of
a living organism that is inherited can theoretically be changed.
Much of the work being done with gene editing is in the field of healthcare.
Among the most exciting current projects is the correction of DNA
mutations which can lead to serious illnesses such as cancer or heart
disease. But, perhaps more than with any other technology, there are a
huge number of ethical and legal concerns as well as "what if" questions
when it comes to genetic manipulation and editing. Genome editing in
humans is currently banned in many countries, including much of Europe,
as its long-term results are not understood.
With anything as potentially transformative to society as genomics, it can
be easy to get carried away thinking about possibilities such as wiping out
cancer or even indefinitely prolonging human life. In reality, such huge
advances are likely to be a long way away, if they are ever possible at all.
Focusing on solving smaller problems that will have an immediate realworld impact is likely to be more fruitful in the short term.
Human-Computer Interfaces
Human-computer interfaces create wearable devices and technology that
help to improve the physical and potentially mental performance of
humans and help us lead healthier and better lives. Perhaps the most
prevalent examples of wearables today are fitness tracker bands and
smartwatches: small, easy to wear devices that typically monitor our
activity and provide insights that help us lead healthier, better, more
productive lives.
However, the term wearable doesn't necessarily mean something that you
strap onto your wrist or where elsewhere on your body; it also extends to
smart clothing such as running shoes that can measure your gait and
performance, advances like robotic prosthetics, and robotic wearable
technology used in industrial settings.
As technology gets smaller and smarter, the sheer range of wearables is
going to expand, and new, smaller, smarter products will emerge to
supersede the wearables we're familiar with today. For example, we already
have smart glasses, but these are likely to be replaced by smart contact
lenses. After that, smart contact lenses will likely be replaced by smart eye
implants.
Advances like this lead many to believe that humans and machines will
eventually merge to create truly augmented humans, transhumans, or
humans 2.0, where the human body is souped up like a sports car to
achieve enhanced physical and mental performance. This would transform
the world of medicine and eventually maybe even challenge our
understanding of what it means to be human.
At a societal level, we could be heading toward an even greater divide
between rich and poor, between the Haves and the Have Nots. Technology
is promising to help us live longer and healthier lives, maybe even offering
the chance to live forever, but probably only for those who can afford it.
Imagine a society in which the rich are effectively superhumans that live
forever, and everyone else is normal and disadvantaged... There's also a
wider ethical question about whether we should want to live exceedingly
long lives given the huge strain that would put on our planet.
3D Printing
3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, means creating a 3D
object from a digital file by building it layer by layer. 3D printing may seem
distinctly more low-tech than artificial intelligence or gene editing, but it
has the potential to completely transform manufacturing and other
industries.
Using 3D printing, the factories of the future could quickly print spare parts
for machinery on site. Entire assembly lines could be replaced with 3D
printers. We could print human tissue for transplant, print weapons, even
print food.
3D printing technology brings many opportunities, but it also brings some
downsides, challenges, and obstacles to overcome. While it has the
potential to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing by using
fewer materials overall, we have to consider the environmental impact of
the printers themselves.
3D printing also presents problems for intellectual property owners, since
the technology enables counterfeiters to produce fake license goods cheaply
and easily. There's also the problem that weapons can be easily 3D printed.
One thing I find particularly exciting about 3D printing is the potential it
brings for mass personalization of products. Thanks to 3D printing,
products and Designs can be customized to suit one-off requests in orders,
and this could cover anything from personalized sneakers to food that's
personalized to our individual nutritional needs.
BRONNE
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March 31, 2015
TOP 10: Most Efficient Pieces of Hospital
Technology
Electronic health records, otherwise known as EHRs, have increasingly become
more and more prominent in the healthcare industry during recent years, especially
as the industry places a bigger emphasis on preventative care and population health.
Surgical Equipment, Surgery has allowed for the mass-scale shift to minimally
invasive procedures and the technological “poster-child” of surgery equipment has
been the robotic surgical system, such as the da Vinci Surgical System.
Ultrasound Imaging Devices, Physicians, especially those within the emergency
department, have become more adept at using ultrasound imaging devices over the
past 10 years.
Telehealth Tools, Bi-directional video feed, cameras, TVs and wireless
infrastructure are some of the elements hospitals are adopting to remain competitive
in the telehealth realm. The biggest advantage hospitals will gain from telehealth
technologies are the ability to help patients immediately while trimming down the
costs of an acute-care admission.
Smartphones & Tablets, Over the past several years, the omnipresence of
smartphones, tablets and their applications has been one of the biggest cultural
shifts in the hospital setting, as well as society at large. They provide a wealth of
information for physicians and other clinicians — and all within a fingertip's
reach. While some hospitals may not directly provide smartphones and tablets to
their physicians and clinical staff, hospitals still have to be aware of them.
Infection-Detecting Technologies, For example the procalcitonin, or PCT, test for
a hospital’s sepsis program. The test is a tool that detects sepsis earlier, therefore
avoiding the overutilization of antibiotics. It is cost-effective over the long term
because it will allow hospitals to diagnose and manage infections more successfully
and reduce the hospital’s need to pay for costly antibiotics.
Medical technology encompasses a wide range of medical devices. Practicing clinical
engineers often focus on a few areas of medical device technology, such as defibrillators,
electrosurgical units, and physiological monitors. It encloses an entire spectrum of medical
devices with which the clinical engineers are responsible for creating. The medical devices
that are required for almost all diagnostic and therapeutic medical interventions. These
devices have different lifetimes because they may be disposable, reusable, or implantable.
They are made of a range of materials, such as plastics, ceramics, metals, wood,
and biologic products, and they rely upon all types of physical principles for their functioning
(e.g., electronic, hydraulic, mechanical, chemical, optical, and radiation). People use them to
improve patient health. Medical devices, as distinguished from drugs, achieve their action
without directly entering metabolic pathways.
Costly adoption of technologies in the healthcare, cost is the first and
most important limit in adopting newer technologies in the healthcare
system. This cost is mainly implementation and maintenance costs.
Assisting the patient and side by side keeping costs under control
becomes a difficult path.
Privacy and Security, cybersecurity risk concerns exposing a patient’s
data to a third party. Intentional or accidental exposure might cause
deletion or alteration in data. Hence, any omission or alteration of
data can lead to a wrong diagnosis, treatment plan, or other adverse
effects
System reliability, physicians want constant access to their patient’s
data. They are concerned that patient data may become temporarily
unavailable if computers crash. Or even deleted in case of a virus
attack or the power goes out.
Unskilled Personnel, there is a need for technological pro-people in
healthcare systems to run systems better. It saves their time while
performing everyday tasks. The trained personnel for operating
advanced machines and health systems are in need.
June 23, 2022
Forces reliance on internet connection – it’s harder for rural healthcare providers to
communicate with each other and with patients. Bigger risk of serious security breaches due
to data sharing. Higher chance of miscommunication in virtual appointments. Lack of
empathy due to it being more impersonal or relying on AI. More expensive for healthcare
providers and patients. High chance of frustration if technology fails. Even as AI is being
used to help healthcare, it can be perverted to steal patient and provider identities, divert
funds and misuse information by hacking medical computer systems. This can occur via
private systems linked to hospital software, or by wireless networks at health facilities, or via
the Internet of Things (IoT). Thus, the protection of such systems from AI-driven malware
and personalized attacks would perhaps cost more than can be saved by the application of
such systems.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.amepre.2013.03.017
We’ve come a long way since the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical
Health (HITECH) Act was passed in 2009. The electronic health records (EHR) system
industry was still in its infancy back then, but HITECH laid the framework for the
widespread adoption of EHRs as part of then-president Obama’s American Reinvestment &
Recovery Act (ARRA).
The Meaningful Use program began incentivizing providers for their use of EHRs in 2011,
motivating more and more doctors to switch from paper and more entrepreneurs to start EHR
companies. However, at that point, many vendors were focusing more on creating software
for Meaningful Use than on creating software providers could actually use efficiently.
After switching to an EHR system, many healthcare professionals found that their systems
were slowing them down instead of helping them work faster. Plus, most of the systems at
that point in time were desktop- and server-based, which came with a variety of drawbacks,
including higher hardware costs and limited mobility. As the industry has evolved, more
usable EHRs have appeared on the market thanks to strategies like specialty-first
design, user-centered design methodologies, and having doctors help program EHR
software themselves. There’s still an inevitable focus on government incentive programs, but
the emphasis now is more on saving time and reducing the reporting burden. More physicians
have also been able to adopt cloud and touch-based technologies, and some health
information systems today even offer intelligence amplification to assist physicians in the
exam room.
Easily Accessible Medical Information
It has become increasingly common for people suffering from questionable symptoms to
immediately consult the internet for an answer to their ailments. This is great for easing worries or
providing answers when your medical provider may not be readily available. It can also save you
money by avoiding unnecessary doctor visits.
A Larger Presence on Social Media
Physicians, hospitals, and clinics have made it a standard practice to create an avenue to the
public through social media sites. This not only grants them a larger audience, but allows people
an easy way to reach out for information from them. They can offer advice or information specific
to their practice, educating followers far and wide.
Better treatments, equipment, and medicine
Better equipment has allowed doctors to provide more comprehensive care. Better treatments
have increased the quality of life of a number of different people suffering from long-term
illnesses. And better medicine has completely wiped out the fear of some life-threatening illnesses
of the past
Faster Results
It used to take weeks or even a month to get the results of medical testing. With improved
technology, it is now possible to get results as soon as the lab is finished with your sample. Many
hospitals and clinics offer web portals, allowing you to access your results within hours or days.
It Helps to Predict Outbreaks
Since many people search online for answers once they begin to feel under the weather, that data
actually adds up to create a larger picture specific to that query. Yearly flu outbreaks are a great
example of this.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has so many exciting applications in healthcare.. Another innovative
technology in the medical field is nanotechnology for diagnosis. You may not have heard of
nanotechnology before, but it’s concerned with objects that have at least one dimension under 100
nanometres (nm) in size. One nanometre is one-billionth of a metre. Robotics is one of the fastestgrowing and most exciting fields of medicine. Robot developments range from disinfectant robots
or exoskeletons right through to surgical robots and pharmabiotics. The very first exoskeleton-aided
surgery was performed, and a tetraplegic man became capable of controlling an exoskeleton using
only his brain. There are many applications for these robots, from lifting elderly patients and aided
nursing to assist patients with spinal cord injury. Companies are vying to bring out microelectrodes
that can be implanted safely into the brain to restore some degree of functionality to people who
have lost sight, for instance, or voluntary muscle activity. An example of this is Elon Musk’s Neuralink
company which is developing similar brain chips for disabled and mentally challenged individuals to
be able to express themselves like us. There exist more companies, organizations, projects, and
start-ups that are about to offer their neuro-implants for a variety of medical needs, including
restoring certain functional independence in patients with different types of paralysis or blindness.
Healthcare trackers, wearables and sensors, as the future of medicine and
healthcare is closely connected to the empowerment of patients as well as individuals taking care of
their own health through technologies, I cannot leave out health trackers, wearables and sensors
from my selection. They are great devices to get to know more about ourselves and retake control
over our own lives.
3D-printing can bring wonders in all aspects of healthcare. We can now print biotissues, artificial limbs,
pills, blood vessels and the list goes on and will likely keep on doing so.
Robotics, One of the most exciting and fastest growing fields of healthcare is robotics;
developments range from robot companions through surgical robots until pharmabotics,
disinfectant robots or exoskeletons.
Nanotechnology is concerned with objects that have at least one dimension
under 100 nanometres (nm) in size. One nanometre is one-billionth of a metre.
We are living at the dawn of the nanomedicine age. I believe that nanoparticles and nanodevices will soon
operate as precise drug delivery systems, cancer treatment tools or tiny surgeons.
Augmented reality differs from VR in two respects: users do not lose touch with reality and it puts
information into eyesight as fast as possible. These distinctive features enable AR to become a driving
force in the future of medicine; both on the healthcare providers’ and the receivers’ side.
Virtual reality (VR) is changing the lives of patients and physicians alike. In the future, you might watch
operations as if you wielded the scalpel or you could travel to Iceland or home while you are lying on a
hospital bed.
Artificial intelligence has the potential to redesign healthcare completely. One of the most important
applications is in diagnosis, as there have been several situations in which AI has been able to
identify diseases like skin cancer and diabetic blindness better than experts in the field. AI
algorithms are able to mine medical records, design treatment plans or create drugs way faster than any
current actor on the healthcare palette including any medical professional.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3803146/
Genomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology that focuses on the understanding and
manipulation of DNA and genomes of living organisms. Gene editing is a group of
technologies that enables genetic engineering in order to change the DNA and genetic
structure of living organisms. Biotechnology is advancing to the point where it's viable to
alter the DNA encoded within a cell; this will influence the characteristics or traits that its
descendants will have. In plants, this could affect the number of leaves or their colouring,
while in humans, it could affect their height, eye colour, or their likelihood of developing
diseases. This opens up a range of possibilities that are almost unlimited, as it means that any
characteristic of a living organism that is inherited can theoretically be changed. Humancomputer interfaces create wearable devices and technology that help to improve the physical
and potentially mental performance of humans and help us lead healthier and better lives.
Perhaps the most prevalent examples of wearables today are fitness tracker bands and
smartwatches: small, easy to wear devices that typically monitor our activity and provide
insights that help us lead healthier, better, more productive lives. Bringing a world of
wonders in all aspects of healthcare is 3D-printing. The list is growing with printing available
for blood vessels, artificial limbs, bio tissues, and pills, and will likely continue to grow. The
pharmaceutical industry is also a benefiter of these changing technologies. 3D-printed drugs
have been FDA-approved and have been in circulation since 2015. Researchers are now
developing 3D-printing “polypills.” These will have layers of drugs so patients can stick to
their therapeutic plan.
conditions such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease. A user could have the level of
medication in their blood regularly monitored according to a physician’s plan and be
reminded to administer their next dose when its level drops below a certain threshold.