Archive for July, 2011
Artificial Liver’s New Progress
Have you noticed that there has been a lot of news focused on the development of artificial livers? Although life support devices have been used for years for kidney, heart, and lung transplant patients, liver functions are very difficult to mimic and over 30,000 Americans die each year awaiting a liver transplant. But, several companies have been developing technologies that are in various stages of clinical trials. Read More »
Have you noticed that there has been a lot of news focused on the development of artificial livers? Although life support devices have been used for years for kidney, heart, and lung transplant patients, liver functions are very difficult to mimic and over 30,000 Americans die each year awaiting a liver transplant. But, several companies have been developing technologies that are in various stages of clinical trials. Read More »
Magnetocardiography – ECG from the Heart’s Magnetic Field
But, the most promising application of MCG technology is for a more accurate early diagnosis of adult and fetal arrhythmias. Magnetic field imaging has been available for years to measure brain activity by measuring the body's fluctuating magnetic field. Advancements in extremely sensitive magnetic sensors (SQUIDs) have allowed for the measurement of small magnetic disturbances as a result of a patient's heartbeat. Because of this, MCG technology can produce results more accurate than SPECT, ECG, or ultrasound technology. Read More »
But, the most promising application of MCG technology is for a more accurate early diagnosis of adult and fetal arrhythmias. Magnetic field imaging has been available for years to measure brain activity by measuring the bodys fluctuating magnetic field. Advancements in extremely sensitive magnetic sensors (SQUIDs) have allowed for the measurement of small magnetic disturbances as a result of a patients heartbeat. Because of this, MCG technology can produce results more accurate than SPECT, ECG, or ultrasound technology. Read More »
Making Disposable Scopes Possible
New manufacturing processes have allowed engineers to place up to 30,000 image sensors in a 3-mm camera head at a fraction of the cost of existing cameras, which opens the door to a lot more applications. Not only can flexible scopes be made into single-use devices, the 3-mm cameras can now be mounted on the end of instruments, such as biopsy forceps. Read More »
The Next Generation – Leadless Pacemakers
Implantable cardiac generator technology has moved rapidly over the years, offering patients a wide range of therapies. But, one of the limitations falls within the lead technology. Leadless technology will allow the technology to be smaller and longer lasting while taking away one of the main components associated with the device's failure and complication rate. Read More »
Implantable cardiac generator technology has moved rapidly over the years, offering patients a wide range of therapies. But, one of the limitations falls within the lead technology. Leadless technology will allow the technology to be smaller and longer lasting while taking away one of the main components associated with the devices failure and complication rate. Read More »
Electromagnetic Acoustic Imaging – Next-Generation Ultrasound
Because dissimilar tissues react differently to outside stimuli, each layer will vibrate at its own unique frequency when stimulated. This can be measured and converted into an image by means of ultrasound detectors. Researchers have used light, ultrasound, and RF energy for stimulating, and the results from RF or microwave energy (electromagnetic) have been very exciting. Read More »
Because dissimilar tissues react differently to outside stimuli, each layer will vibrate at its own unique frequency when stimulated. This can be measured and converted into an image by means of ultrasound detectors. Researchers have used light, ultrasound, and RF energy for stimulating, and the results from RF or microwave energy (electromagnetic) have been very exciting. Read More »
A Negotiable $14 Billion Line Item
Hospitals will spend over $14 billion each year to service medical technology and IT. But, unlike labor or utilities, the cost of service is negotiable. Service on medical technology is at least a $1 to $2 million (.5% of the overall budget) line item for a 200-bed hospital. Larger teaching facilities would see this number easily reach $3 to $5 million. So, with hospital margins ranging around 4% to 6% and as many as 25% functioning in the red, a couple million dollars is a big deal. Read More »