Medical device innovations are incredible.
In the 1960s, we were still using the iron lung to ventilate patients in critical condition. Now, we can do the same thing for a lower cost and with much less effort.
Read on for the nine coolest innovative medical device solutions from 2020.
1. Smart Pacemakers
Pacemakers are devices that provide electrical pulses to the heart to assist in their day-to-day functions. Pacemakers can help ease the symptoms of heart diseases and help a weaker heart continue to beat.
Until now, it’s been hard to monitor pacemakers. Only physicians used to have the gear to check the pacemaker’s condition.
New solutions, like this Bluetooth-controlled option, allow for more consistent monitoring. This empowers those in need.
2. Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell and Other Hemoglobin Abnormalities
Hemoglobin abnormalities, or “hemoglobinopathies”, like sickle cell are genetic conditions that affect red blood cells. These conditions can cause extreme risks to health, chronic pain, and more.
More than 330,000 people worldwide suffer from these hemoglobinopathies.
A new gene therapy can potentially reduce the complications of hemoglobinopathies. They train bodies to produce fully functional hemoglobin.
Some of the participants in the study were even able to achieve full independence from the new therapy. Others were not so lucky. This still represents a breakthrough against a condition that, before this, was untreatable.
3. Primary-Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Receives a Novel New Drug
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients experience deterioration and paralysis as their immune system attacks theire nervous system.
As the disease progresses, patients lose the ability to communicate with their nerves.
This novel new drug treats 15% of MS patients who experience a progressive loss of function. This drug is the first treatment that can help ease some of the symptoms that primary-progressive MS patients experience.
4. Peanut Allergy Immunotherapy
Peanut allergies are some of the most well known, deadly allergies that a person can have. These allergies are a stressor for parents and caregivers.
In September, the FDA recommended the first immunotherapy treatments for peanut allergies. The treatment consists of a minuscule amount of peanut protein in a capsule. Patients develop partial immunity as they consume pills. In a double-blind clinical trial, 76% of children developed a partial resistance.
Immunotherapy isn’t a cure, but it does represent a significant improvement in peanut allergy treatment.
Terri F. Brown-Whitehorn, MD, attending physician in the Food Allergy Center stated, “Oral immunotherapy won’t work for everyone, but when it does, it’s amazing.”
CAUTION: this doesn’t mean that you can feed your child peanut butter until they build up resistance. Medical professionals must control the amounts and source material of the protein. Attempting to assume the role of a medical professional will endanger your child. (Do NOT try this at home.)
5. A Pediatric Hepatitis C Treatment for Every Strain
Hepatitis C is unpredictable and deadly. Patients infected with the disease experience liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
There are also six different types of hap C that doctors have to consider.
This year, a new treatment was approved to guard against every strain of Hep C in pediatric patients. This treatment is more than 90 effective, and it gives us hope that more patients than ever before will recover from this deadly disease.
6. A New CPAP for Premature Babies
Premature Babies often lack the muscle mass to function without outside help.
Unfortunately, conventional ventilators that premature babies need cause damage to their lungs.
The new CPAP method of ventilation for newborns is less invasive and less damaging to newborn children. The CPAP delivers oscillating positive airway pressure instead of constant pressure like a more traditional ventilator.
This innovative idea for medical devices also stimulates lung growth.
7. A New Osteoporosis Drug
Romosozumab treats both symptoms of osteoporosis simultaneously. The new drug recently gained FDA approval promotes bone growth and prevents bone loss.
This allows patients to maintain their skeletal integrity with less medication required.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, women who took the drug were 50% to fracture their spine and 38% less likely to fracture their hips.
The trial states a “… 94% power to detect a 30% lower risk of clinical fracture in the romosozumab-to-alendronate group than in the alendronate-to-alendronate group at the time of the primary analysis and 95% power to detect a 50% lower risk of new vertebral fracture over a period of 24 months.”
8. A New Treatment for Postpartum Hemorrhaging
Postpartum hemorrhages are a scary thought. They’re characterized by excessive bleeding after childbirth and can be difficult to stop. One to five percent of women will experience a postpartum hemorrhage following birth.
Until now, medical avenues have consisted of drugs and expanding devices that plug the tear.
The new vacuum induced uterine tamponade for postpartum hemorrhages creates negative pressure around the injury, causing the wound to collapse and clot.
Not only is this innovative medical device low tech, but it’s also less invasive than current treatments. These devices are perfect for third world countries.
9. A Treatment for Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy
This disease triggers a build-up of misfolded transthyretin proteins in the heart’s left ventricle. As the disease progresses, the heart will stiffen and become immovable. Patients will experience heart failure and other complications.
Until now, treatments for this condition haven’t existed.
A new compound binds with the offending proteins and carries them away from the heart. Rendering the proteins inert and far away from an area they damage.
In a clinical trial, patients on the new drug tafamidis had a 30% lower mortality rate and fewer heart-related hospitalizations.
Medical Device Innovations March Onward
Necessity the mother of invention—especially in the medical field where lives are on the line.
If you have questions about the medical device innovations that we’ve spoken about, don’t hesitate to contact us or read more of our articles.