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10 Medical Technologies that is set to amaze you in 2017

Many of these breakthroughs we have today weren’t available a few years ago. The more technological our world becomes, the more options we have when it comes to our health. Some of the newest breakthroughs will improve one’s life, and some breakthroughs will save your life. By the end of 2017, the face of medicine will have changed.

1.The Bionic Eye


Macular degeneration, which has no cure, is a very common cause of blindness in adults due to aging. Now there is a device that will allow one to see if you lose your sight to this disease. Known as the Argus II, this device takes video images that are caught on a special pair of glasses, and it converts them into electrical pulses. When the pulses reach the brain, they are registered as shapes, light, and dark.

2.Tricorders

It took almost five years to create the functional tricorders which will be able to diagnose health conditions, take real-time signs like blood pressure, and is portable. Individuals will be able to use it at home conveniently to manage their health without frequently visiting doctors.

3.3D printed pills

This is good news for people who hate to swallow pills. By the end of 2017, a new type of pill that is 3-D printed will be ruling the market. The first drug approved for this method was an epilepsy drug called Spirtiam, and by the end of 2017, hundreds of more drugs are said to be approved.

4. Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented reality (AR) is the virtual reality system where a  computer digitally enhances the sights and sounds of real-life environments. While some AR tools have made into the health care sector, it is believed that this technology will be even more widespread in 2017. From helping patients envision their own condition to teaching doctors and medical students how to perform surgeries this year, AR is set to higher the advancement of medical science.

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5. Bye-bye cholesterol

Now you may worry less about the bad cholesterol or LDL in your body. By 2017, the FDA is expected to approve two drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors, which helps in silencing a cholesterol creating gene called PCSK9. The LDL level of patients involved in this research has dropped significantly by up to 50%.

6. Synthetic Blood

Finally, after creating artificial hearts for prosthetic limbs, the researchers have created synthetic blood. In 2017, England’s National Health Service (NHS) is set to conduct early safety trials, in which about 20 people are given small amounts of synthetic blood made from stem cells. The short-term goal is to create red blood cells to treat specific illnesses, like sickle cell anemia. The long-term goal is to make enough for transfusions for people with rarer blood types.

7. Mobile Stroke Treatment Units

Stroke is one of the major killers in people worldwide. But there is a drug that can save your life called tPA.When a stroke hits, every second count; it’s estimated you lose about two million neurons each minute after the event, and the longer you go untreated, the worse the damage to your brain. That’s why a Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit (MSTU or MSU) could be a lifesaver. It is staffed by a nurse, the paramedics, and a medical imaging specialist, MSTU is essentially an ambulance dedicated to the fast diagnosis and treatment of strokes. When a patient with stroke calls, the MSTU is mobilized to the patient’s home.

8. Ultrasound Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

One of the most encouraging treatments set to begin human trials in 2017: ultrasound therapy on amyloid plaques, which clump around neurons and are believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s. This will be great news for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s.

9.The Mini Pacemaker

Many people with heart problems are fit with a pacemaker. Even though they are important, placing them is a very invasive procedure. The wires that connect the pacemaker to your heart can become infected, causing serious complications. There is a mini pacemaker that is still in the clinical trial process. However, it should be approved by the FDA by early 2017. This pacemaker requires no wires. Therefore, there is no chance of infection.

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10. The Activity Tracker

It is estimated that around this year, there will be 5,000,000 people wearing the activity bracelet. Within the next five years, there will be 13,000,000 people wearing this bracelet. It is an activity bracelet that tracks your activity, sleep habits, and a variety of other health information. One of the reasons that so many people will be wearing this bracelet is that the health care provider will offer discounts on their premiums for the data.

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