Every year at the Cleveland Clinic Innovation Summit, experts at Cleveland Clinic take a pulse of the future and reveal the top ten medical technology innovations that will enter the market and change patient care. This year's top ten medical technology innovations are different from previous years. Dr. Mike Roizen, Chief Health Officer of Cleveland Clinic and host of the Innovation Summit, said, "In previous years, there was always a medical device or drug on the top ten list, but this year's many innovations combine expertise from two different fields, and they will have a significant impact next year
A New Approach to Addressing Opioid Abuse: Pharmacogenetic Testing
Pharmacogenetic testing predicts an individual's ability to metabolize drugs by examining their genetic sequence. Dr. Jennifer Hockings from the Genome Medicine Institute at Cleveland Clinic stated that pharmacogenetic testing alone cannot solve the opioid abuse crisis facing the United States, but it can provide a "unique opportunity for patients to choose an effective analgesic drug
The Application of AI in the Medical Field
The applications of AI in the medical field include assisting medical decision-making, image analysis, and patient triage. At present, AI can help medical staff make better decisions at the treatment site, improve the accuracy of reviewing patient scanning images, and reduce the burden on medical staff. For example, machine learning can mark problematic areas in images, quickly detect massive amounts of data, and assist in the screening process. As AI is further integrated into the healthcare process, caring for patients requires smarter work rather than brute force. Dr. Ed Marx, Chief Information Officer of Cleveland Clinic, said that this technology can provide a lot of value, especially in improving patient experience. For example, patients can self diagnose to help determine whether they need to go to the hospital for treatment. It can also reduce treatment time and increase patient participation in treatment. Examples of this include chatbots, which can communicate with patients through voice or text.
Expand the window of treatment for acute stroke
Until recently, treatment for stroke was limited to the 6-hour window after the onset of the stroke. However, the treatment guidelines released in January this year have expanded the window for treating and clearing blood clots. We still remember that the catchphrase for treating stroke is' time is the brain, '"said Dr. Shazam Hussain, director of the Cerebrovascular Center at Cleveland Clinic. It is very important to treat patients as quickly as possible. But what if the patient experiences a stroke while sleeping? Nowadays, advanced CT and MRI imaging technologies can help medical personnel identify patients who can recover brain function 12, 24, or even 36 hours after a stroke occurs.
New progress in cancer immunotherapy
Cancer immunotherapy has been around for some time, but researchers are still constantly exploring innovative targets and treatment methods. Innovations in this field include combining immunotherapy and chemotherapy to form combination therapies, some of which have already been approved by the FDA. CAR-T therapy and TCR therapy developed through genetic engineering of T cells are another new development in cancer immunotherapy. Many of us know that lung cancer is a terrible diagnosis for any patient, and this therapy has not only revolutionized lung cancer and other types of cancer, but they will continue to revolutionize the field of cancer treatment, "said Dr. Hetty Carraway from the Tausig Cancer Institute. This technique has a promising prospect in the treatment of kidney cancer, bladder cancer and liver cancer.
Individualized medical products manufactured using 3D printing technology
Using 3D printing technology, medical devices can be customized according to patient specific parameters. This type of medical device is more in line with an individual's natural body structure, and they are more easily accepted by the body, while improving patient comfort and the functional performance of the device. 3D printing enables healthcare professionals to provide patients with the most advanced care while minimizing the risk of complications. At present, the most significant applications in this field include external prosthetics, head/orthopedic transplants, and personalized airway stents (used to support narrow airways caused by diseases). This technology can also assist in surgical procedures, and currently, it can support many complex cardiac surgical processes. With the increasing application of 3D printing technology in medical care, more attention will be paid to the details of patient care.
Applying virtual and mixed reality for medical education
Virtual (VR) and mixed reality (MR) technologies use computer technology to create a simulated or mixed environment. Its application in games has fascinated audiences, but the use of VR/MR technology goes far beyond gaming. Recently, these systems have received attention from healthcare professionals. Using VR/MR technology to provide simulated training can enhance the effectiveness of traditional medical education. The simulation system will help the medical education system train skilled and confident medical staff.
Imaging glasses for diagnosing hemorrhagic stroke
Although hemorrhagic stroke is not as common as ischemic stroke, it still accounts for nearly 40% of all strokes. Rapid diagnosis is a prerequisite for effective treatment, as uncontrolled bleeding can lead to brain swelling and damage to the brain. In order to speed up diagnosis, medical staff have started using advanced cerebral hemorrhage scanning glasses. This imaging system can detect bleeding in the brain and scan patients before they arrive at the hospital, thereby speeding up diagnosis and saving valuable time for treatment implementation.
Innovation in robotic surgery
Nowadays, most surgeries use the shortest and least invasive surgical methods, which is partly due to the application of robotics technology. Robots in the operating room can guide doctors to perform very precise surgeries. Today's surgical platforms are very advanced and can be used for various surgeries ranging from spine to internal blood vessels. Minimally invasive robotic surgery can bring multiple benefits to patients, including shortened recovery time and reduced pain. The continuous progress in this field has led to more precise and effective surgeries, as well as improved surgical outcomes.
Percutaneous cardiac surgery for repair and replacement of mitral and tricuspid valves
Nowadays, cardiac surgery is less invasive and more effective. Percutaneous cardiac surgery is a cardiac procedure performed through a catheter inserted into the skin, which no longer requires the heart to be incised. Recently, this percutaneous cardiac surgery can be used to repair and replace the mitral and tricuspid valves of the heart. This progress not only significantly improves the outcomes of surgery, but also fills a gap in the field of cardiac surgery. Currently, the technology of percutaneous repair and replacement of mitral and tricuspid valves is being tested in more patient populations, and with the emergence of more positive postoperative outcomes, this innovation may have a significant impact on cardiac healthcare.
RNA therapy
Dr. Olga Stenina Adognravi from the Lerner Institute believes that RNA therapy is an "important" and "remarkable" new technology. At the RNA level, therapies can allow researchers to block patients' genetic diseases before RNA is translated into proteins. The mechanism of RNA therapy includes antisense oligonucleotides and RNA interference. These therapies can be used to treat Huntington's disease, as well as cancer and other neurological disorders.
The images in this article are all from the official website of Cleveland Clinic Innovations
reference material:
[1] Cleveland Clinic Unveils Top 10 Medical Innovations For 2019， Retrieved November 2，2018，from https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/cleveland-clinic-unveils-top-10-medical-innovations-for-2019/
[2] AI, stroke visor make list of Cleveland Clinic's innovations for the upcoming year. Retrieved November 2, 2018, from http://www.medicaldevicedaily.com/servlet/com.accumedia.web.Dispatcher?next=bioWorldHeadlines_article&forceid=99494
[3] Top 10 for 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2018, from https://innovations.clevelandclinic.org/Summit/Top-10-Medical-Innovations/Top-10-for-2018-(1).aspx