Here are seven medical innovations which are possible in the near future.
Hemopurifier
The Hemopurifier, which will be available within the next two years, is a blood filtering device that can remove all toxins and pathogens before they attack the organs. Designed by Aethlon Medical Biotech Company in California, the technology involves a process much similar to dialysis. Hemopurifier is attached to the artery in the arm using needles, tubing and tape, and the process is complete within few hours.
Bone builder with spider silk
Previous research on spider silk shows that it can be used in products like surgical suture, body armor and even artificial ligaments. Bioengineers of Tufts University now plan to use spider silk, in combination with silica to create a new material that is useful in growing and repairing human bones. This technology may be available within five years.
Bronchial thermoplasty
According to Canadian researcher Gerard Cox, MB, a new 30-minute procedure called bronchial thermoplasty is more helpful for asthma patients. An elastic tube called bronchoscope is guided into the lungs through mouth or nose. The airway is then heated to 150 degrees using radiofrequency energy to reduce the amount of muscle in the air passage without causing long-term damage. This may be available within three to four years.
Electronic skin
To enhance the sensation of touch while performing a surgery, University of Nebraska has developed an electronic skin that activates transducers on the surgeon's gloves when a thin-film sensor touches the tissue. This may also be helpful in improving the persistent surgery by detecting cancerous tissue in the gastro intestinal tract. This is going to available within three to five years.
Nano-coating for killing germs
A thinner-than-microscopic protective layer called nano-coating is developed by the researchers at North Carolina State and Emory University to be applied in the hospitals. It can be applied to almost any surface and kills 99.9% of most microbes through a chemical reaction caused by exposure to visible light. It is going to be available within six months.
Gene manipulation for cancer
Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, chief of surgery at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, took some of a skin cancer victim's own white blood cells and gave them a new gene that improves their ability to spot and kill cancer. He then injected the white cells back into patient's body. The altered cells could fight back melanoma and the patient was soon declared disease free. This experimental gene therapy is going to be developed for all cancers within three to five years.
Easier Heart surgery
A less painful, easy-to-recover heart surgery is being developed for patients who can't handle the stress of open-heart surgery. The process is similar to angioplasty; Doctors enter the body through a groin vessel, thread tools and devices into the heart, and operate while watching live images. It may be available within four to five years.
So now we just need to postpone getting seriosly ill for 5 to 6 years. All kidding aside, wonderful discoveries. Thank you for researching them for us. I particulary liked #5 and #6. Awesome.
