Top 10 Innovations Of 2013 In The Medical Field

Since the dawn of the 20^th century rapid and remarkable changes have been occurring in the field of science. Few of these simple changes have made deep impression in our lives because of the solutions that these scientific innovations provide for the difficult problems that have not been addressed for a long period of time. It is very much possible that the things which are inevitable to us would be obsolete in the new generations to come. New developments will always be there, we don’t need to wonder and be in awe because the majestic curtains will always be open to unveil innovative ideas which are not current, but would be used for future advantages. Few days ago, the Cleveland Clinic made an announcement about the top 10 medical innovations in 2013. How it would affect and the impact it would leave in some of the unresolved medical human conditions will be found out during the coming months and years.

10. Health Care Programs and Its Incentives:

The Bipartisan Medicare Better Health Rewards Program Act of 2012 will privilege the people to maintain stable health conditions with reduced medical expenditures at the same time. It has been tied up with rewards (such as money) for being watchful about their health by alleviating or avoiding complex illnesses and diseases, which can be potential threat to life. Based on this program, financial incentives have been given to improve health at personal level and  wellness is assessed by six essential parts of human health including body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes indicators, status of vaccination and use of tobacco products. There are progressive measurements, which will allow recipients to keep themselves healthy and be able to receive monetary rewards up to $400 during second and third year of the program.

9. Tomosynthesis Of Breast:

Breast Cancer is one of the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among women. Early detection and treatment can significantly reduce the mortality and morbidity in these patients.  Breast Tomosynthesis is the new technology that will be used in 2013, it is a 3D mammography that will be helpful in early diagnosis and has been approved already by Food and Drug Administration in 2011 in order to have a clearer and refined view of breast. 2D mammography will not become obsolete, it will still be used in combination with this new innovation. Tomosynthesis is also expected to reduce the rate of repetition of mammography due to lack of clarity.

8. Complex Aneurysm Treatment:

This is good news for patients with complex aneurysm, which is the 13^th leading cause of mortality in the United States. This problem can lead to internal bleeding, loss of consciousness, shock and even death. At present this condition is being treated with endografts but the gap of waiting time is to be bridged with a fabric graft, thus making it very painful for the patient in a way that he/she has not only to wait but also has to undergo the procedure twice.  FDA has approved a new treatment known as modular stent device  which will be available in 2013 and will pass through the aneurysm to strengthen the weak walls of the blood vessels. This treatment is expected to save many lives and prevent a lot of disability.

7. Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion:

Lung transplantation is the treatment of choice for nonmalignant end-stage lung disease in case of failure of all other medical and surgical treatment options. However, the demand for donor lungs exceeds the number of available organs by far, resulting in substantial waiting list mortality. The lung is especially susceptible to damage in donors not only due to its direct external contact, but also due to the development of neurogenic edema and proinflammatory changes caused by brain death. As a consequence of that, lungs are currently used from only 15% of all reported donors. One approach to overcome the scarcity of donor organs is the use of marginal donor lungs. However, there is evidence suggesting an increased incidence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD) in recipients of such marginal organs. The most recent approach to expand the available pool of donor lungs is ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP). This procedure is performed by perfusing the donor lung outside the body (ex-vivo organ perfusion) on a closed loop circuit simulating the in-vivo scenario, utilizing a specially developed protective perfusion solution (Steen Solution™). It helps the marginal donor lungs to be ready for transplant and eliminate rejection.

6. Femtosecond Laser Cataract Surgery:

This is the fastest method of cataract surgery and causes less inflammation , which uses laser application rather than relying on traditional surgical blade, which is not accurate enough to give a precise incision in the eye. The Femtosecond Laser separates the tissues by ablation and cleavage. The advantage of this laser is the higher level of accuracy and precision  in giving a smaller incision. This new technology has proven to be very effective and has resulted in clearer visions without undergoing the surgery.

 

 

 

5. Handheld Optical Scan for Melanoma:

More than 76,000 people have been diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer, which is attributed to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Hand-held optical scan is a noninvasive method of diagnosis of melanoma. The US government has allocated $3 billion for the treatment of melanoma. Early and noninvasive diagnosis with this device will not only reduce the costs of treatment but also morbidity and mortality.

4. Novel Medications for Advanced Prostate Cancer:

Prostate cancer is a common type of malignancy among men in their senior years. This cancer has a rapid spread both locally and by metastasis to remote tissues like bones, and other parts of the body. Hence  it is one of the leading causes of death among older men.  Over the past two years various research groups have introduced five new drugs, which have been approved by the DFA, for the treatment of advanced prostate cancers in men. These drugs include abiraterone, cabazitaxel, denosumab,  enzalutamide, and sipuleucel-T, which  increase cancer survival rate among men. Another drug which is not yet included in Novel New medicines for prostate cancer is radium-223 dichloride, which is expected to be approved this year.

3. Mass Spectrometry for Bacterial Identification:

A new technology known as mass spectrometry has been developed for quick identification for recognition of bacteria that infect and cause disease among human beings. Identification of bacteria takes days to be done under presently available technology thus making both doctors and patients to wait until definite results are available for definite treatment to be started. This new technology will revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections.

2. Neuromodulation To Relieve Cluster and Migraine Headaches:

Headache is a very common complaint among people in all parts of the world. Most of the time there is no definite underlying cause. Headache can be divided into tension headache, cluster headache, migrain etc. Most of the people suffering from headache take any pain killer and get through this. A new therapy technique known as Neuromodulation has been developed which relieves headache within 10 minutes in about 70% of patients suffering from headaches.

1. Bariatric Surgery To Control Diabetes:

Bariatric surgery is done to reduce the volume of stomach so that the treated person eats less at a time. The main principle behind dietary management of diabetes is to have 6 small snacks during the day instead of having 3 large meals. Because large meals result in sudden rise and then fall in blood sugar level while small frequent snacks result in relatively steady blood sugar levels. This surgery not only results in weight reduction but also prevents the sudden spikes of blood sugar level that result from single large meals.

Source :
http://researchonmedical.com/2013/02/top-10-innovations-of-2013-in-the-medical-field/2/