Medical treatments of the future – how will they change in 50 years?
Artificial bones and blood, diagnosis via smartphone or maybe even solutions that stimulate the human brain so that it fights diseases faster – what will medical treatment look like in the future? Have a look at some of the projects that are currently being worked on by Polish scientists which could potentially change the face of modern medicine.
Treat yourself!
What will the doctor–patient relationship look like in the future? How will the examinations a doctor orders change? Thanks to the development of modern information technology the opinion of experts is unanimous: the direction we are heading in is one with virtual doctors and examinations conducted…in your own home!
– Telemedicine has become one of today’s hottest market trends, more and more solutions which allow patients to examine themselves are showing up on the market. In the future, the number of examinations we will be able to conduct in our own home is sure to increase – giving us the additional possibility of sending their results, via the Internet, to any doctor in the world! We can also count on the fact that doctors will be able to diagnose us quicker and more accurately than ever before – this thanks to the automated comparisons and analysis of results conducted by special software – says Aleksandra Mościcka-Studzińska from the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) which provides funding for innovations related to, among others, medicine.
These types of solutions are already being developed by Polish startups. StethoMe is an electronic stethoscope which can signal if there are any indications of a diseases in a patient’s lungs or heart. All you need is a little device which is designed for in-home use and a smartphone. A test designed by Sens-Dx works much the same way. Wondering if you have a cold, the flu or perhaps a bacterial infection that needs to be treated with an antibiotic? Place a swab in your mouth and that in a device that is equipped with special sensors. You’ll know the answer in as little as 3 minutes – it’ll pop up on your smartphone or computer.
Polish scientists have also prepared a special solution for future moms! Now, instead of having to report to the hospital to monitor a pregnancy and get a CTG exam, a woman can perform all of the necessary tests on her own – without ever leaving the house! That’s where Pregnabit – a solution developed by female researchers from Wrocław – comes in! With the use of sensors which are placed on the stomach of a mom-to-be and a mobile app – the condition of the baby can be monitored remotely while giving medical professionals a chance to watch for any troubling signs that may arise.
Technology in the service of the ill
It’s not only a question of prevention – new technologies and inventions can also help make the treatment of diseases more effective.
In Europe, roughly 2.5M people annually experience a stroke. Of those roughly one third suffers from aphasia or so-called slurred speech. As a result, the affected person excludes himself from family, social and professional life. A Polish startup has created a device that enables this speech impediment to be effectively treated, allowing the patient to regain his health faster. The scientists at NeuroDevice developed a solution based on neuromodulation or the stimulation of appropriate areas of the brain with electric impulses – what’s more, thanks to a special device the therapy can be conducted without leaving home.
Few people know that Poland is also among the world leaders in terms of innovative… implants! A family-owned, Polish company from Podlasie, MedGal, is the global leader in producing bone implants and the only company in the world to produce implants with carbon-silicon coating – this patented technology for producing biocompatible silicon containing diamondlike carbon coatings (Si-DLC) makes the implant less resistant to wear and safer to use for the patient.
Another medical issue which, up until now, not been resolved is the shortage of blood of an appropriate type. Polish scientists are working on a solution to this problem. The team at NanoSanguis has developed artificial blood which can be given to practically any patient – it has no defined type and is universal. On top of that, it can be produced in a factory and stored for much longer periods of time than human blood. The widespread use of artificial blood can lead to a real breakthrough in modern medicine.
