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    September 2010
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    • Star Trek Styling With Non-Contact Thermometers

    by Susan July 30, 2010 at 8:03 am

    Often we feel privileged to be working so closely to the cutting edge of medical technology, and daily we are amazed by the progress the world’s best scientists are making.  We are also amazed by the amount of real gadgets we are able to produce that mirror items seen in science fiction, things we never actually believed could be real.  Today we have another such example for you, and it reminded us all of the Star Trek medical bay – the non-contact thermometer has arrived.

    For many years now glass and mercury thermometers have become museum pieces, replaced by digital thermometers that take readings from the ear or forehead.  A step forward in cross infection control they feature single use filters to prevent the spread of illness from one patient to another, however they still need to touch the patient to work.  The new technology is slightly pricey compared to existing technology but we don’t think that will put users off.

    Sanomedics, a Miami based firm, have now unveiled the first hand held non-contact thermometer that needs to be held two inches from the forehead of the patient, or 2 inches behind the ear, and can give an accurate reading in just one second.  The digital display shows the temperature in whichever scale you choose, and the built in voice chips also speaks the reading.

    Coming in both a home version for parents, and a professional version for medical staff we can see that this will be an instant and massive hit.  Perfect for home when you want to closely monitor a sick child but don’t want to risk waking them from much needed healing sleep, and the voice means it can be used without having to put lights on again waking the child.  In hospital in just scores so many brownie points for infection control and ease of use that we are sure all hospitals and surgeries will be queuing to get them.




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    Brain Diseases Told To Keep Pace

    by Susan July 29, 2010 at 9:22 am

    Crippling diseases of the brain, caused by strokes, car accidents, and critical to this study, Parkinson’s devastate families and render patients vegetative or compromised in some way.  The latest research offering a genuine hope focuses on the Parkinson’s patient, and has been dubbed a pacemaker for the brain.

    Still very much in the early stages, the team working at Tel Aviv University have developed a biometric chip that can potentially build on the current deep brain stimulation techniques already used, but prevent the potential over stimulation that can happen at present.  Currently the treatment is given continuously regardless of whether it is needed or not.

    The use of this Rehabilitation Nano Chip (ReNaChip) would mean that electrodes implanted into the scalp can be connected with wires on the outside of head to the chip, which will then only administer the electrical stimulation when needed and take breaks as appropriate.  This means that the patient would not be receiving treatment when sleeping and, in the case of a severe epileptic, only begin treatment as the brain displays warning signs that a seizure is imminent.

    Currently the equipment worn by the patient is externally visible, and the team also hope one day to be able to make the chip so small it can be etched onto the electrode thus doing away with the need for wires and boxes located elsewhere on the patients body.  The new research could certainly revolutionize the prognosis for brain disease patients and bring new hope to them and their families.




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    It’s Virtually An Autopsy

    by Susan July 23, 2010 at 9:16 am

    An autopsy is an essential part of the medical profession, knowing the cause of death is vital for the patient and for medical knowledge as a whole, but clearly the process can cause further distress to an already grieving family.  Researchers based at the University of Leicester in the UK, have been awarded a grant by the National Institute for Health Research to assist in their work as they continue to look for viable options for less invasive versions of an autopsy.

    The work is currently focusing on cardiac cases, and will use CT scan images which at present do not give enough information, and compare with information about the coronary health obtained in a traditional autopsy with the hope of being able to virtually assemble the same information, and therefore rule out the need for that area of autopsy.

    Angiograms and CT scans will be used on cadavers, after which a traditional autopsy will be carried out on the heart.  Scientists need to understand what images appear on these screens that signify conditions such as coronary heart disease which currently we cannot diagnosis with a CT scan.  Clearly this also changes the workload of the medical staff performing autopsies and potentially gives them more time to investigate issues in more detail.

    Clearly this is just the tip of the iceberg and potentially leaves the door open to other less invasive investigative procedures to be able to replace autopsy in other areas of the body, with the long term aim of being able to complete the whole process without the need for a scalpel at all.




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