Design Article
Dream devices that would revolutionize healthcare
Brian Buntz
1/27/2012 3:28 PM EST
Recently, MDDI posted an article titled “Experts Pick What's Hot in Medical Device Technology,” which provided a survey of medical technologies under development that could revamp healthcare. The experts surveyed for that feature were members of our very own editorial advisory board, which represents experienced medical technology professionals and consultants to the industry.
This follow-up article takes a look at their view of dream devices that could revolutionize healthcare. Among them are:
- Orthopedic devices with embedded electronics
- Self-monitoring stents
- Alarm technology
- Sterilization breakthroughs
- Rapid microbial identification systems
- Replacement body parts
- A screening device for cancer
- Technologies that treat as they diagnose
- The "tricorder"
- Anti-aging technology
To read in more detail why the experts dream of these devices, and more of what they envision them as in practice, click here.
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Dr DSP
1/27/2012 3:45 PM EST
What- no example design for a tricorder? Maybe we need a design contest or something... Need to update the display to be more like an iPad however.
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Reid Wender
2/1/2012 6:35 AM EST
The $10M X-Prize Tricorder contest can be found here: http://www.qualcommtricorderxprize.org/ - I'm predicting Triad Semiconductors configurable mixed signal arrays will be in the winner's tear down in 2015 (yes, that was a self-serving comment)
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t.alex
1/28/2012 9:51 AM EST
What kinda technology that can anti-age?
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EREBUS
1/28/2012 6:51 PM EST
Sadly I have heard this same tale for over 40 years. I am no longer young enoough to believe that anything will be done before I die.
They should stop trying to build the next miricle device or pill and get people to live a healthy life style. Until we cut the Fat, we are not going to change anything.
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Steven Dean
2/3/2012 10:54 PM EST
Sadly, it's not a 'Dream' device that could revolutionize healthcare. That's a tough pill to swallow coming from and living within a technology company. The cold hard truth is that the significant issues are with the US healthcare and legal systems, not in devices or technologies.
Technologies and device innovation can certainly make a difference - and are. But until we in America become consumers in the choices we make in healthcare, the problem will continue. All the hype about uninsured Americans aside, most are insured. Those insured, including me, simply use the system as it's designed. Well - the system is flawed. Us insured, enjoy the benefit of consuming benefits that are subsidized by our corporations without thought of what we're doing. Go to the doctor, get this, get that, and at an out of pocket of an average of $0.20 on the dollar, it's a good deal. Who cares? Who would? I don't - and it's WRONG.
In this scenario, we're not consumers. We're just blindly abusing (using) the system as it's deisgned. Again - it's FLAWED.
Until we're all forced to become true consumers and behave like it's OUR dollars, nothing will change. Who out there shops for a new PC before they buy? Who out there truly shops for value when they purchase a new car? Everyone. Who out there truly shops for value in healthcare? No one. No one. Unless you're the 10% of the uninsured. If you're in that category, you're rewarded to head to the hospital or ER where you're not denied care. Which in turn, we that are insured cover that in premiums and co-payments to the major insurance companies.
Tell me I'm wrong. Please.
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ChrisChin
5/3/2012 5:06 AM EDT
If only there are engineers who are working on these dream devices purely on the basis for human needs and not commercialized purposes. There are many devices in work now that are being developed because there is a market for them, and so it promises huge rewards. If there is an emergence of one of these dream devices, such as replacement body parts, it will also affect the health insurance industry.
Chris - http://americanvisitorinsurance.com
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