Together, technology and healthcare share an interesting past. Technological breakthroughs have almost always resulted in simultaneous breakthroughs in the medical field. A good example is how the advent of information technology revolutionized the way patients’ records were stored and recalled. Some technologies, like social media and health apps, have even brought medicine to the masses.
Furthermore, the integration of technology into healthcare has birthed a variety of brilliant innovations. From adhesive bandages to robotic prosthetic limbs to minimally invasive surgeries: healthcare has technology to thank. Not only have technological innovations improved the quality of medical care, they have also added years to lives.
Let’s check out 5 new and exciting technologies that are transforming the face of the healthcare industry as we know it:
3D Printing
3D printing – the latest technological craze – has taken the manufacturing world by storm. With a 3D printer, it’s possible to produce an object from design in a matter of minutes. Healthcare researchers have adopted this technology to create exact multi-dimensional models of organs, using them to create precise and personalized treatment plans. Scientists are now exploring 3D printing to construct organs for transplant! From growing skin for burn victims to replacing cartilage, bone or kidney, this technology’s venture into healthcare promises an amazing makeover of medicine.
Brain-to-Computer Interface (BCI)
The Brain-to-Computer Interface enables a human-computer connection. The scope of this technology in healthcare is enormous as BCI can simplify complex tasks such as managing pain and controlling robotic limbs. Harvard University researchers have gone another step ahead and achieved mind-control. They have successfully developed a Brain-to-Brain Interface (BBI) that allows the subject to control a rat’s tail: Proving, thus, that science has finally caught up with science-fiction!
Digestible Sensors
Once the bio-monitoring sensor is swallowed like a pill, it wirelessly transmits the body’s internal information to another device. This technology lets healthcare professionals gather remote diagnosis and monitor treatments. Since the sensor can detect diseases early, its use in preventive medicine is also growing. A new revision in this technology has removed the need for a battery with a sensor that uses the body’s energy to stay powered.
Microchip Modeling
This technology has reformed the way clinical trials are done. The microchips are small, just like the name suggests, and resemble live tissue. They provide a replica of the complex structure between organs and capillaries, making them apt subjects for clinical tests. Microchip modeling has gained support from animal rights organizations across the world as the technology makes the exploitation of animals in the product-testing phase redundant.
Wearable health monitors
The wearable technology aims to pass the onus of health from professionals to the patient. With a health-monitoring device that can be worn, a person remains aware of their health status and, therefore, becomes more responsible towards it. Gadgets like Fitbit help in personal wellness and activity tracking by monitoring heart rate and calories burned. More advanced technologies involve diagnostic mobile apps that can analyze health remotely and even detect diseases like Ebola and Cancer. Researchers at Scripps Translational Science Institute, San Diego are developing wearable tech that can read biomarkers and alert the wearer to any alarming levels of stress or anxiety.
With technology on its arm, the future of healthcare looks bright. Most technological marvels aim to simplify medicine and allow the individual to become the custodian of their own health. Much of this technology is expensive and healthcare has become costly as a result. But, when it comes to your health you must take every precaution including protecting yourself against financial risks. Make sure that you can afford all the medical help (and the associated technology) you may need in the future by investing in a health insurance plan, today.
Technology has also made selecting and buying health insurance plans way more convenient and hassle-free. Go online to compare plans and invest wisely with the help of Team Turtlemint. Talk to our Chatbot, call our Health Expert at 1800-266-0101, or visit the Turtlemint website to ask your insurance related queries or to get quotes from different health insurance providers.
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