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The medical and healthcare sectors are in the midst
of rapid change, and it can be difficult to see which new technologies
will have a long-lasting impact.Ideally, the future of healthcare will
balance innovative medical technologies with the human touch. Here, I've
outlined the trends most likely to change our lives, now or in the near
future.
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Augmented reality becomes real
Google Glass has already been used to live-stream a surgery, from the
surgeon's perspective. Such augmented reality devices will in the future
be able to display the patient's electronic medical records real-time,
organize live consultations and call the ambulance to the exact GPS
location in emergency situations.
While Google Glass can be controlled through voice and hand gestures,
digital contact lenses will be controlled with brain waves. Patients
could go through an upcoming operation step-by-step via virtual reality
or choose a hospital based on its "virtual experience" package. |
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Artificial intelligence in medical decision-making
The knowledge of even the most acclaimed professors cannot compete with
cognitive computers. The amount of medical information is growing
exponentially, and the use of such solutions in assisting medical
decision-making is inevitable.
IBM's supercomputer "Watson" can process over 200 million pages in one
second and is being used by more and more institutions. |
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Nanorobots in the bloodstream
For years, nanotechnology has presented the possibility of using
nanotech devices in treating diseases. Now, it is time for
nanotechnology to live up to expectations. Nanorobots in the bloodstream
could intervene even before the disease appears. They could keep tissues
safely oxygenated after a heart attack, specifically target cancer
cells, or remove platelets.
Eventually, modules that self-assemble inside the stomach could perform
more sophisticated diagnosis and treatment. |
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The 3D printing revolution comes to medicine
As 3D printing becomes mainstream, it will upend the pharmaceutical
industry and the world of biotechnology -- although regulation will be a
challenge.
3D printing will enable the creation of medical devices in
underdeveloped areas, and customize prostheses and exoskeletons. It will
also enable the production of biomaterials such as kidney or heart
tissues, drugs and eventually living cells.
Printing out organs that can replace a non-functioning organ in its full
physiological capacity will eradicate waiting lists. |
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Free genome sequencing for everyone
As the cost of sequencing the human genome has been declining and the
availability of sequencers has been rising, accessing our own genome
will not only be cheaper than a routine blood test, but will eventually
be free -- although analysis will still be expensive. In the future
personal genomics can be applied to patients, meaning they will get
drugs and dosages customized to their own genomic code.
Eventually it will be possible to detect preventable diseases in fetal
DNA obtained from the mother's bloodstream.
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Real-time diagnostics
The intelligent surgical knife, iKnife, identifies in real-time whether
the tissue is malignant.
This means a biopsy will not have to be sent to the pathology lab. It is
hoped the Tricorder XPrize will lead to the development of a portable,
wireless device that can monitor and diagnose several diseases, as seen
in the TV series Star Trek. The ultimate goal is to give individuals
more choices in their own health.
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The wearable laboratory
An era of wearable medical devices is coming. Scanadu can measure basic
health parameters such as body temperature or blood pressure by putting
it to the forehead. AliveCor measures ECG, Tellspec detects allergens,
chemicals and nutrients in the food, tooth-embedded sensors can
recognize jaw movements and even smoking.
Plenty of laboratory methods and procedures will be available at home
which could also mean the detection of diseases at an early stage,
making intervention more effective. Patients will bring the data to the
doctor on any device they use, creating a new role of digital health
data analyst.
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Call a nurse or a humanoid robot
With the growing number of elderly patients and the global shortage of
caregivers, humanoid robots could be able to provide basic care, for
example serving as companions for sick children or teaching kids with
autism.
A robot nurse assistant will be able to combines robotics and
image-analysis technology to find a good vein on the patient's arm and
draw blood in a safe way. Robots will also be used in remote surgery,
simulation and training.
Operating rooms will have no people inside except the patient, and
surgical instruments will be so precise that instead of manual control,
mechatronic tools will be needed to reach the required accuracy.
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The connected global brain
Medical communication affects patients and medical professionals
worldwide, without exception. Social media, along with connected digital
healthcare devices and services, have the potential to become a huge
"digital brain" making it possible to transmit, share, crowdsource and
store medical pieces of information.
In the near future, whether it is medical information, curated dynamic
resources or medical records, the required information will be available
to everyone.
This will be the most important development in the history of medicine,
and this is why we have to train doctors do be ready for the digital
era. |
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