Ground-breaking new developments in medical technology are continuing to enhance, develop, and even revolutionise the way those in the industry administer care to patients. Unless you’re in the habit of immersing yourself in The BMJ, it can be easy to let the latest advances in medical technology pass you by, especially if you are a busy healthcare worker.
 
To bring you up to speed we have compiled an overview of some of the latest, most ground-breaking technology in medicine today.
 
 
Endoscopic robots
 
Munich-based medical technology manufacturer Medineering has announced that an endoscopic robot developed by them has had its first clinical use. After gaining the CE approval for the endoscope robot in February of this year, different clinical procedures in university hospitals in Germany and northern Italy have reported successes when using this new tech. Historically, whilst performing endoscopic surgery, a surgeon or surgical assistant is required to move and hold the endoscope manually, which can limit performance and the development of surgical techniques.
 
Professor Francesco Doglietto from the Department for Neurosurgery of the University Hospital Brescia, Italy used the Medineering robot during transnasal skull base surgery: “The robotic solution is of great benefit for doing complex surgery in anatomical regions, where a clear and stable image without tremor is needed. With its precise movements, the robot delivers exactly the endoscope image I need to see, and I still have two hands available for instrumentation.”
 
Professor Stefan Mattheis, vice director of the ENT department of the University Hospital Essen used the robot for surgeries which are normally unsuitable for the endoscopic technique due to the current limitations: “The Medineering solution has the potential to expand the applications of existing surgical endoscopic techniques” he said.
 
“We deeply appreciate the passion and enthusiasm of our clinical partners and we are looking forward to pushing surgical robotics forward together,” said Dr Maximilian Krinninger, CTO of Medineering.
 
 
NHS collaborates with UK Space Agency
 
NHS England is working with Innovate UK to invest a £100 million grant to improve connectivity through satellite, with the aim of sharing healthcare information. Apps that utilise satellite technology could also be used to give personalised risk assessments of sun exposure. Apps such as Happy Sun could form part of a patient’s package of care in the coming years.
 
NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Innovation, professor Tony Young said, “In the NHS’s 70th year we are using satellite technology to revolutionise breast cancer screening by beaming scans back to hospitals from mobile screening units next to shopping centres and speeding up diagnoses.”
 
UK Space Agency Head of Applications, Emily Gravestock said, “Technology from space is already improving our daily lives, and health is no exception. The NHS breast screening vans are a great example of how Britain’s world-leading space industry has come up with an innovative solution to support vital public services. As our space sector continues to grow, with support the support of Government’s Industrial Strategy, these opportunities will only increase.”
 
 
Sensor tech helps asthmatics to inhale ‘correctly’
 
First Sensor, the manufacturer of sensor components and systems have been exploring how their technology can be used to accurately gauge pressure via sensors with a wide dynamic range to enable SmartAir’s Airbrio system to teach asthma sufferers to use their inhaler correctly.
 
Essentially, the Airbrio product, compatible with many asthma spacer devices and metered does inhalers (MDIs) lets users receive real-time feedback by way of red/green lights illuminating during use, helping them to improve their inhalation technique, and also informing them when they have emptied the spacer.
 
To complete the management system, users are encouraged to download the supporting app. The Airbrio mobile app allows for the upload and presentation of essential data from Airbrio, along with enabling users to engage with valuable tools that support their asthma management.
 
 
Regenerative nanodevice (Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT))
 
It is claimed the technology – from researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State’s College of Engineering – may be used to repair injured tissue or restore function of aging tissue, including organs, blood vessels, and nerve cells.
 
Known as Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT), this is a science fiction fantasy realised. TNT injects genetic code into skin cells, turning those skin cells into other types of cells that are needed for treating diseased conditions. It uses a small electrical current to transfer DNA into pores in the cellular membrane.
 
“By using our novel nanochip technology, injured or compromised organs can be replaced. We have shown that skin is a fertile land where we can grow the elements of any organ that is declining” said Dr. Chandan Sen, director of Ohio State’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cell Based Therapies, who co-led the study with L. James Lee, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with Ohio State’s College of Engineering in collaboration with Ohio State’s Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centre.
 
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