Cleveland Clinic Names Top Medical Innovations for 2016
Here are the device-based technologies in order of their anticipated importance.
Water purification system for the developing world
In Dakar, Senegal, health officials are testing a new sewage processor that can convert sewage pools into clean drinking water. An estimated 700 million people worldwide are drinking unsafe water daily, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a problem that contributes to the spread of deadly diseases.
Cleveland Clinic officials said the new sewage processor, which costs about $1.5 million and is able to handle the waste of 100,000 people a day, could make a huge difference in the delivery of clean water in developing countries.
The Janicki Bioenergy Omni Processor (pictured) started as a proof-of-concept project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2013. It was originally designed to take in sewer sludge and primarily output electrical power. During the development, it became clear that making clean drinking water made the processor more economically viable, and a water treatment system was added.
Model S100 can produce up to 10,800 liters of clean drinking water per day, satisfying all U.S. Food and Drug Administration and WHO clean water requirements. Emissions also meet or exceed all applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements.
Cell-free fetal DNA testing
The desire to deliver healthy babies has created a $2 billion pregnancy wellness market, yet parents’ fears about genetic diseases remain poorly addressed. Studies show the cell-free fetal DNA testing more accurately predicts Down's and Edwards's syndromes. The testing will soon be widely available, bringing more certainty to parents worldwide.
Naturally controlled artificial limbs
The science behind artificial limbs has advanced rapidly in recent years, with researchers developing technologies to help amputees regain sensation and control prosthetic limbs naturally with the aide of brain-implanted sensors. In Sweden, scientists have already unveiled the first mind-controlled prosthetic arm connected to a man’s natural bone, nerves and muscles. The device allowed the amputee, a truck driver, to use his prosthesis naturally to manipulate machinery, unpack eggs and carry out other daily tasks.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland also recently implanted an under-the-skin system of wires and electrodes in two amputees to restore their sense of touch. Clinic doctors said these and other advances could dramatically improve the quality of life for millions of amputees worldwide.
This image shows Igor Spetic with a prosthetic hand that can “feel” different textures at the Cleveland VA Hospital in a program in junction with Case Western Reserve University, on Dec. 18, 2013. Spetic lost his hand, at the wrist, in an industrial accident and has been working with CWRU and the VA hospital in improving prosthetics. (Image credit: Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer)
Frictionless remote monitoring
What if your doctor could monitor your health remotely, allowing him or her to detect problems without the need for a formal visit? That day is drawing closer, thanks to the development of wearable biosensors that can monitor glucose levels and other vital statistics. Other remote devices in development include a bandage that reads sweat molecules to diagnose pregnancy, hypertension or hydration. The technology could not only revolutionize the delivery of health care, but dramatically cut costs for patients, insurers and providers. Image courtesy of Preventice Solutions Inc.
Neurovascular stent retrievers
A stroke can kill or permanently debilitate a patient within hours, but for years the only treatment has been a clot-busting drug that wasn't always effective. Now, a tiny, wire-caged device can be threaded through the blood stream to seize and remove the deadly clots. Studies have shown that patients treated with the device, known as a neurovascular stent retriever, had speedier recoveries and improved chances of regaining independence. The device is expected to be widely deployed in hospital systems throughout the next year.
Pictured is the Solitaire stent retriever from Medtronic plc. The device uses a micro-sized catheter to access arteries in the brain affected by stroke through an incision in the leg. Once delivered, the device helps to immediately restore blood flow and remove the blood clots causing the stroke.