New Electronic Implants Give Blind Basic Vision

A German research group has developed electronic retinal implants which allow the blind to see shapes and objects. This is aimed at people who suffer from retinal dystrophy, which causes the degeneration of the retina which ultimately leads to blindness. About 15 million people suffer form this condition worldwide, with new cases every day. Theses implants work by replacing lost light receptors from retinal degeneration.
Three blind people were given these implants to test, and one was able to identify objects, walk around a room independently, and even read a clock face. This is a great step toward treatment for the blind, and hopefully the first step in developing a way to give them full vision.

Source[Science Daily]

Reviewing a Source

[Advances In Medical Technology: What Does The Future Hold?]


This is an article reprinted by the Science Daily which discusses what the future of medical technology holds for us. The article stresses that while many advanced systems are in place today, the field is still constantly advancing. The writer of this article believes that the future holds more personalized treatment, as well as treatments that promote regeneration. He says as the research of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine grow, many new opportunities to treat disease will arise. In fact, their goal is to create biomaterials that would be able to regenerate tissue where needed. However, it's said that much more research needs to go into this, and we probably wont see it for a while. In addition, the article writes of new ways to have medical check ups in the home, rather than going to the hospital. Research is being done now to have a way to check a patients vital signs in a more regular environment, which would be very helpful for the disabled or elderly. Finally, the article speaks of medical robots, which will apparently allow for more precise, safer surgeries.

I found this article to be extremely informative as well as very well organized. It starts off with a nice summary introduction, and separates into different parts, each with its own topic. The article also mentions many organizations, and incorporates quotes of the researchers that work in these organizations. Overall, this article gives you a great idea of whats to come in the field of healthcare, straight from the source of the researchers.

The only problem I have with this article is that it often uses medical jargon that one may not be familiar with, without any real explanation. For example, "...to measure forces on the humeral joint, according to the type of suture used after implanting prostheses. During the rehabilitation process, exercises are undertaken to prevent ankylosis of the bone." This could easily be remedied by a quick search, but i believe it would be helpful to include a brief explanation in the article itself.

Inside 1000c

Some other great blogs to note:
Technation
This is Nathan B's blog, and it's primary focus is technology. In it he describes "life with technology", as well as what the future of technology holds. This is quite relevant to my own blog as i also focus on technology, only in a more specific sense. If you're ever curious about other aspects of technology, this is a great place to go.

Effects of Drugs and Misuses
This is Mohammed's blog which focuses on the misuse and effect of drugs. I feel this is relevant to my blog because it can include prescription/OTC drugs, a part of medical technology, which are widely misused today. Perhaps there will be a new medical technology breakthrough that will allow us to combat the problem of misusing drugs.

 daily twitch
This is Mitch's blog, which discusses "substances which give you a rush of energy", such as energy drinks. I like to relate this to my blog thinking that perhaps there exists a way of easily delivering energy to one's system waiting to be discovered. Also, his blog discusses "study drugs" such as adderall, which makes me think if Medical Technology can create actual "study drugs", without the side effects.

Links

An explanation to the links in my sidebar:

Gizmodo
Gizmodo is pretty much your standard technology blog. It's the first tech blog I've ever followed, which is one of the reasons I've decided to post it here. It focuses mainly on consumer electronics, but once in a while you'll also find a post about new scientific breakthroughs or new medical technology. It definitely contributed to my interest in medical technology as well. I feel what sets Gizmodo apart is that it doesn't always take itself so seriously; you'll often find humorous posts right there in between the regular news stories. They also just don't report the news, the editors usually give their opinion as well. All in all, it's a fantastic blog if you're even slightly interested in technology.
Read more>>

Calculators: the Future of Healthcare?

 Thomas Goetz at The Healthcare Blog has written a post detailing how the next breakthrough in healthcare can be as simple as a calculator. Not a calculator like the physical device, but rather a program that automates algorithms. Called nomograms, they essentially calculate risk. An example given is the Framingham Risk Calculator, which calculates your risk of heart disease. In addition, they can also assess the risk in a surgical procedure, making the decision of whether or not to go through with a surgery much easier. The only problem with these nomograms lie with the fact that they must be made for one disease at a time, and enormous amounts of work and calculations go into each one. In addition, they must be kept up to date to remain accurate.  However, if these nomograms do take off to the point where there is one available for every disesase, they can prove to be invaluable in the healthcare field. By being able to predict ones risk of disease, those who are at high risk can take preventive measures immediately.

Some excellent points are made in the article:

“We need relevance, and the right information at the right time will help us make better choices for prevention, helping us stay healthier longer…”

I completely agree. I believe that the best way to combat disease is through prevention, rather than cures.  Lack of information certainly contributes to poor choices, which may in turn lead to disease.

“They’re brilliant and auspicious because the turn research around so that it faces the patient: An individual can interrogate medical science for how it applies to his specific circumstances, rather than having to navigate through stacks of research papers and findings for some wisp of relevance.”

Another great point. The beauty of nomograms is that they’re easily accessible, and can be applied specifically to you. You don’t need to be a doctor to use one, and they can be found free online.  Just enter some information, and you can see how at risk you are for a particular disease.

“But especially for conditions where we have some agency – where we can take actions today that can enhance our tomorrow – they are a terrific tool.”

Possibly the greatest aspect of these calculators are that they stress prevention- less diease for a better future.

source[The Healthcare Blog]