If a person of 1899 were suddenly transported into our present, in a modern city, they would be left speechless seeing just the screens of the tiny pocket computers that we all carry with us, or those great flying ships that ply the sky. And what would he say seeing the photos of the 'landing' on the Moon, or the images from Mars?
Yet, although advances in information technology have been gigantic, no sector has advanced as far as medical technology. Medical technologies continue to amaze year after year, even if adoption times always seem long for sufferers.
Here are some of the most jaw-dropping medical innovations that will go mainstream over the next couple of years.
Neuromodulation
Sleep apnea affects more than 25 million people worldwide, and millions more suffer from its symptoms. Within a few years, patients experiencing this condition are much more likely to have a cardiac event (heart attack or stroke), as well as have high blood pressure.
Among the next medical technologies will be the neuromodulation to solve the problem forever: an implant that monitors brain waves and stimulates the brain to keep the airways open will lead to a peaceful night's sleep and fewer health risks.
Wireless brain sensors.
Used to detect subtle changes in the brain's electrical patterns, these new sensors they can help diagnose and monitor the progress of diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury and Parkinson's.
Medical deliveries with drones
2016 saw the very first use of a drone to carry medicines (in a remote part of Rwanda). Last year, 2021, saw the record of medical delivery programs and projects with drones (including an important Italian project, to Venice).
This trend will become more and more common and will be a great boon for treating medical conditions in isolated parts of the world, or in extremely fast and life-saving timelines.
Gene therapy for hereditary retinal diseases
FDA approved already in 2018, the treatment called Luxturnian is manufactured by Spark Therapeutics and uses modified viruses to deliver healthy copies of the gene RPE65, which is defective in patients who have problems with the light receptors in the eyes (or lack them). Research such as this opens the door to further studies on gene therapy, even those against cancer. In summary, this technology will save millions of lives.
Artificial pancreas.
Millions of people (and more and more) living with type I diabetes see a light of hope in the form of a new artificial pancreas. It is a device implanted in the body for monitoring blood sugar and administering insulin. Eventually, this implant will also be available to the additional millions of people who have type II (adult-onset) diabetes and similar medical conditions.
Medical therapies with PCSK9 inhibitors
In combination with statins, these drugs they are demonstrating which can drastically reduce the number of bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Their perfection could lead to the salvation of countless human lives.
Monitoring patients' medical conditions with artificial intelligence
Up to 80% of the alarms provided by current patient monitoring equipment are unnecessary – only contributing to chaos in medical facilities and wasting nurses' time. These systems have long been in need of an upgrade, and will receive one in the form of software that can properly triage these alarms.
Machine learning algorithms will enable systems to predict even well in advance when a patient is about to have a problem.
CRISPR / Cas9 clinical studies.
In 2018, a Chinese researcher illegally used the genetic modification tool CRISPR to alter the embryos of two girls, born healthy. Now, finally, researchers in the US have through proper legal channels. In one set of trials, the gene-editing tool was used to alter T-cell lymphocytes to target certain types of cancer, and in another, certain cells were programmed to fight sickle cell anemia and beta-thalassemia. You will see many of these projects in the coming months.
Translation from thought to language.
A large number of patients suffer from whole-body paralysis: they have functioning minds but are unable to speak, just like the late Dr. Stephen Hawking. The famous scientist has lived with ALS for years, communicating via a keyboard speech synthesis system. Today, medical technologies have come a long way, and this year a 62-year-old patient was the author of the world's first tweet written in thought.
Eventually they will be able to think about what you want and make those thoughts become words. Another win for deep learning and AI.
Autonomous robot surgeons.
Il STAR surgical robot it is part of a new generation of medical technologies that use artificial intelligence and machine learning to increase healthcare providers' ability to help more patients more efficiently. Surgeons, however, are not yet in danger of extinction. Human beings will still (for a long time?) have the role of assisting, collaborating and training robots as surgeons' assistants.
