If it is true that necessity sharpens ingenuity, it explains why this "pandemic" year it is medical innovations that have enjoyed the greatest success.
In this post I present to you some medical innovations that can bring a breath of fresh air to different fields in the future of healthcare.
DAB, adhesive electrocardiogram
Literally the size of a coin, the DAB di Adam Miklos is a discreet cardiac ECG / Holter that rests comfortably on your chest, constantly reading your heartbeat.
Minimalist to the max and absolutely non-invasive, DAB seeks to bridge the gap between medical devices and wearables. Its small but stylish design allows it to fit snugly on the chest via a gel patch, while the electrodes monitor heart activity.
The electrodes of the DAB allow you to use and reuse it. The device only requires periodic recharging, which still happens wirelessly, and maintains a robust log of heart readings. You literally forget you have it: it will be very useful in the prevention and treatment of heart disorders.
PurME, the “infinite” mask
The purME of Ann song it is not a normal N95 mask, but it was designed to be an N95 face mask that you can carry in your pocket, wear for hours, breathe safely and easily reuse for months, if not years.
Its shape and the material of choice are, in fact, directly inspired by the respirators that medical personnel use to administer oxygen to people.
The purME silicone allows the mask to adapt easily to all somatics, as its soft structure adapts well to the curves of the face. PurME creates an airtight seal so comfortable that it can be worn for hours.
SCALED, modular brace inspired by animals
The designer Natalie Kerres she looked to nature for inspiration to find a solution and focused on animals that physically protected from threats of skin, shells or scales.
He wanted to design a product that mimics natural protection and healing while still allowing flexibility - that's how SCALED was born.
The objective of the project is to investigate the potential of a controlled motion limitation structure in the prevention of hyperextension joint injuries. Typically, a cast or rigid brace is used with such injuries, but these limit movement. SCALED leverages generative design that allows the structure to meet the wearer's exact needs and adjust movement limitation with pre-set parameters.
I have talked about it in more detail in this article.
Cast21, adaptable plaster
Chicago startup Cast21 has also designed a sort of case that fits in any hand. The Cast21 “plaster” takes shape around the hand once filled with a patented gel that hardens over time. Doctors select a sleeve size based on whether the patient is a child or an adult.
At that point the sheath is inserted and filled with a proprietary blend of resins which after a while become a malleable gel. The doctor can then adjust the gel to perfectly hug the limb, giving it the support it needs. Patients can even choose between gel colors, opting for combinations and gradients, breaking the stigma that casts need to look horribly clinical. The resins harden through an exothermic reaction, providing soothing warmth to the limb as the cast begins to take shape.
Amplify, a digital eardrum
Amplify was created by Alice Tuner to give the deaf an added value that makes the hearing aid more than a simple medical accessory. Using bone conduction technology, Amplify provides users with high-quality audio for a more comfortable and healthy sound experience.
This technology allows the device to decode sound waves and convert them into vibrations that can be received directly by the cochlea so that the eardrum is never involved. Amplify essentially becomes your eardrum!
ODEK Apollo VBM, revolution in assisted ventilation
The current situation has resulted in a worldwide shortage of medical equipment, especially ventilators. Because? Traditionally they are expensive and slow to produce (at least relative to the speed at which the pandemic is moving). ODEK is a viable alternative, costing less than $ 300 and works with an automated mechanism that compresses common bag valve mask ventilation devices available in hospitals.
These devices are usually called Ambu bags, and ApolloBVM can save the hours that healthcare professionals spend manually pumping bags when ventilators are not available.
An exhausted human cannot pump air for long periods of time with the precision of a machine, so with this device it will be much easier to assist patients who need help breathing.
The device also includes feedback sensors that help fine-tune airflow to the lungs, as well as motors similar to those that power 3D printers for hours on end.
Bean, child-friendly thermometer
Designed to make a clinical procedure less frightening, the Baby Bean Thermometer features a design that makes it much more like a toy.
Designed by Peng Da, the thermometer has an anthropomorphic design, it looks like a creature or an alien of some kind. Its rounded appearance gives it child-friendly appeal and the range of colors it presents itself in is a complete deviation from traditional medical apparatuses which are usually white or light in color.
A screen on the back of the "head" of this bean (the name Bean is not accidental) displays the temperature. The controls on his belly, however, allow you to alternate Bean's functions and even switch between temperature units.
Bend, new generation finger splint
Bend is a finger splint with a revolutionary design. Finger bone fractures can be painful, but it's not just about pain. If not treated well, fingers can lose their functionality. Sometimes forever. Combining a polymer with an intelligent design offers a medical solution that is not only effective, but also non-invasive.
You have to from current medical procedures that require surgery, Bend only needs one long nail. A piece of wire is tied to the nail at one end and the curved splint at the other. The string is then wrapped around the splint, so that the finger is re-shaped, allowing the bones to align properly.
Aalto, do-it-yourself injections for those who can't
Aalto is a self-injection device designed to be used by patients with a chronic disease that affects their dexterity.
The family of products that make up Aalto share the same geometric yet friendly shapes that evoke a sense of trust. More significantly, they remove the stigma of medical devices and create a much more affordable product.
This element of trust has been introduced into every aspect of the product, from packaging to interface. By projecting these attributes onto each element, a much more thoughtful and harmonized experience was achieved.
This design by Cambridge Consultants it's just a beautiful example of user-centered design.
CPR First Aider, robotic heart massage
CPR First Aider by Fang Di, Li Pengcheng e Yu Yuanyi aims to be able to increase the chances of survival. Not only does it help people who are unfamiliar with heart massage, but it also helps people who know it to perform it efficiently.
The First Aider CPR is a complete kit that includes a breathing mask that automatically delivers oxygen while helping the patient to breathe along with a CPR module that has 4 legs and chest straps to ensure stable, sustained and effective pressure to the patient.
An LCD screen above guides the user through the procedure, also displaying statistics of the patient's blood oxygen concentration and electrocardiogram in real time.
Designed to fold into a compact space, the CPR First Aider can be easily stowed wherever a fire extinguisher can be placed. I have talked about it more fully in this article.
