The 10 Greatest Medical Inventions of the Last 50 Years

The 10 GREATEST MEDICAL INVENTIONS of the last 50 years 10 Active Bionic Prosthesis (Wearable Robotic Devices) Prosthetic limbs are no longer non- functioning items. Technology now allows us to replicate the action of a person's tendons and muscles to mimic natural human body motion. Battery-powered motors, microprocessors, and Bluetooth technology allow a person to adjust settings easily with a smart phone to ensure natural and consistent motion. FACT MAYO CLINIC #7 on Mayo Clinic's Top 10 Medical Innovations For 2012 09 Health IT (especially mobile/wireless devices) Physicians no longer have to dig through piles of books and case studies to find the information they need to help a patient. Now they can look up information, access patient records, and view digital medical information in seconds, no matter where they are located. FACT 82% of physicians will use smartphones in 2012 08 Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI) While mammography has been one of leading methods of detection for breast cancer for years, it has not been effective in detecting tumors in dense tissue. Bl is a safe and more powerful scan which serves as an encouraging alternative to mammography. FACT 3x more effective than mammography at finding tumors in dense breast tissue. 07 Modern Telehealth Combining powerful technology between telecommunications and healthcare allows patients and doctors to connect like never before and with no consideration of geographical boundaries. Telehealth supports more efficient diagnosis, treatment, and care management for patients by enabling doctors to share and access diagnostic images, video, and patient data. FACT PA Homecare Association estimated that HOSPITALIZATIONS ER VISITS telemonitoring reduces hospitalizations.. 175% 183% Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) 06 Byusing three medications to create one powerful combination, significant progress has been made in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. HAART has been clearly shown to delay progression to AIDS and prolong the life of infected patients. FACT HAART is projected to increase survival time by between 4 and 12' years. HAART medications went through development stages for two decades before coming to fruition in the 1990's. HAART is not a cure for HIV/AIDS, nor does it prevent the return of the symptoms indefinitely. 05 Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI) This new technique tracks blood flow in the brain to monitor areas of activity and can be used to monitor the growth of brain tumors, determine how well the brain is functioning after a stroke, and help with diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. It can also find out where in the brain seizures are originating. FACT One of the main advantages of fMRI is that it non-invasively records brain signals. ..without risks of radiation inherent in other scanning methods, such as CT or PET scans. 04 Minimally invasive robotic surgeries Instead of incisions that leave extensive scarring. minimally-invasive surgeries leave only a few small marks on the body and allow for greater accuracy during surgery and less post-operation recovery time. FACT Robots were first introduced in 1987 with the first laparoscopic surgery, But one of the most widely known robotic surgery machines, the "da Vinci", was created in 1999 and has treated more than 775,000 patients worldwide. 03 Laser Surgeries Whether used for corrective eye surgeries, cosmetic dermatology, or the removal of pre- cancerous lesions, Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) allows for accurate focus on very small areas of the body. LASER FACT EYE SURGERY MACHINE Lasers were first developed in 1960, but it wasn't until 1987 that laser was used in surgery, first to correct vision. 02 The Artificial Heart Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, leading cardiologists to continually search for ways to improve heart health. Currently, temporary and permanent artificial hearts are being used to help patients stay healthy while awaiting a heart transplant or to nurse their current hearts back to health. FACT Robert Jarvik, MD is widely known as the inventor of the first successful permanent artificial heart, the Jarvik 7, first implanted in 1982. 01 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) By combining a series of images, or "slices", taken from many different angles, doctors can examine detailed parts of the body individually or produce a 3-D image of that area, allowing them to quickly and accurately identify internal trauma or irregularities. FACT CT scans were developed by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield and Dr. Alan Cormack, for which they were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1979. FACT The first whole-body MRI scanner was constructed 1977 by Dr. Damadian, which he dubbed the "Indomitable." Brought to you by: HealthExecNews.com. Sources: http://www.jarvikheart.com/basic.aspřid-69 http://www.clevelandelinic.org/innovations/summit/top-ten-innovations/2012.html http://inventors.about.com/od/lstartinventions/a/laser 2.htm http://www.hivinfosource.org/hivis/hivbasics/treatment/index.html http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2009-mchi/5203.html http://www.cteconline.org/telehealth-facts http://www.medscape.com http://www.cap.org http://www.davincisurgery.com