At the end of last year, we reviewed some of the greatest medical breakthroughs of 2015. While we’re thrilled about the technological advancements in the health industry, we’re even more excited about what’s in store for the future. Here is the health tech we’re most anticipating in 2016:
TellSpec Food Scanner
Utahans may have heard about this one on the radio recently. This crowd-funded hand-held scanner developed in Toronto, Canada, scans your food using light rays to tell you its composition. This includes allergens, chemicals, nutrients, calories, and ingredients. This spectrometer scanning technology has already been used before. Bulkier machines in laboratories across the nation could accomplish the same result; however, today’s technology has helped make this technology available to everyday consumers.
We foresee the TellSpec scanner being used by dietitians and prescribed to patients to help control diabetes and avoid allergies.
White Blood Cell Nanobots
While nanobots seem something of science fiction, nanorobotics is an emerging field. In fact, universities and research institutes have received over $2 billion in government grants to develop nanodevices for medical use. One of our most anticipated developments is the Microbivore nanobots, which would function similar to white blood cells to help destroy bacteria and eliminate infections faster than today’s antibiotics.
Mind-controlled Prosthetics
Another rapidly developing technology allows amputees to control robotic prosthetics —using only their mind. With increased range-of-motion and stronger balance control one day we might say goodbye to wheel-chair basketball. This technology will not only impact healthcare, but could also push other industries to new frontiers with mind-operated vehicles, appliances, and tools. Some have even gone as far to compare the development to the creation of the internet. Truly groundbreaking.
See the video of the first man to operate prosthetics using his mind.
Robotic Surgery Simulators
Today, most medical students going into surgery gain their experience reading books, shadowing, and then —operating in a live situation. One mistake could be critical. Thankfully, the RoSS (Robotic Surgery Simulator) is changing the way surgeons sharpen their abilities. Just as a flight simulator trains pilots, the RoSS gives aspiring surgeons an environment to experiment and make mistakes without risking lives.
Holograms
2016 will be rich in VR (Virtual Reality) devices. For instance, Microsoft’s Hololens will allow users to see and interact with holographic images in their real-world environment. Holograms appear on your desk or wall and can be twisted or moved with dynamic gestures. Holograms will be a great way for doctors to look at X-rays and scans to locate and diagnose problems for patients. It will be a visual way of understanding symptoms and planning procedures.