New Advancements in Medical Technology Christopher Wright Road

New Advancements in Medical Technology Christopher Wright

Road Map • • • Introduction Medical Technology as a whole 4 new advancements Conclusion Bibliography

Introduction • Technology has many purposes • None more globally beneficial than medical technology • Advancements are slow • 4 new recent advancements to help improve people’s lives

Nexagon Gel • Developed by a group led by Dr. David Becker – University College London • Works by interrupting cell’s normal healing process by blocking proteins that inhibit healing • Tested on 100 people

Nexagon Gel • The substance itself is a gel similar to Neosporin antibacterial cream • Could treat chronic wounds like ulcers • Currently approved by the FDA to treat serious eye injuries

Ekso Robotic Frame • Robot frame currently in development to help people in wheelchairs – Generally paraplegics • Basically a wearable robot exoskeloton • Takes about 5 minutes to put on • Users can walk around normally

Ekso Robotic Frame • Runs on a battery – Problem: battery life is 3 hours • Good to let patients move around normally for short to medium lengths of time

Ekso Robotic Frame • http: //www. eksobionics. com/ekso#candidates • http: //www. eksobionics. com/#slide 4

Nuro-Controlled Prosthetic Arm • In Development by scientists in Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). • A field test was done on Jan. 24, 2012 • Had decent success

Nuro-Controlled Prosthetic Arm • This devices works almost like a normal arm • Controlled by surface electrodes within the patients nerves and the arm is moved by those signals – Nerves to the spine must still be intact • The actual sensations of touch is lost • Movement is regained

Mechanical Heart • Under Development at the Texas Heart Institute – Research led by Dr. Billy Cohn and Dr. Bud Fraizer • A different approach to the mechanical heart problem • Used turbines to circulate blood

Mechanical Heart • Tested on calves first – There is no pulse and all measures to show the calf was living showed the calf wasn’t, yet is was up and running around • Tested it on a 55 -year old man who was dying of amyloidosis, a disease that produces abnormal proteins

Mechanical Heart • The man was given 6 weeks to live • The heart transplant was a success and the mechanical heart let him lived another month before the disease killed him for other reasons

Mechanical Heart

Conclusion • Medical Progress is advancing thanks to technology • There is still so much more to explore • Some of these advances may be in practice soon

Bibliography • http: //www. npr. org/2011/06/13/137029208/ heart-with-no-beat-offers-hope-of-new-leaseon-life • http: //www. navy. mil/search/display. asp? stor y_id=65123 • http: //www. eksobionics. com/data/downloads /Ekso_Specs. pdf • http: //www. huffingtonpost. com/2010/08/12/ nexagon-new-gel-could-spe_n_679753. html