A laparoscopic system and a bariatric surgery technique are on a new list of seven top clinical innovations expected in the near future, according to a report by MedCity News.
Here are the innovations on the MedCity News list of breakthroughs expected in 2012:
Flexible laparoscopic instrument. This device, from TransEnterix, is inserted through a single incision in the navel and then opens like an umbrella, providing two flexible channels for 360-degree range of motion and two rigid channels for small cameras and other instruments.
Gastric plication surgery. This bariatric procedure involves folding a patient’s stomach in on itself and stitching it up. It can reduce the stomach's volume by as much as 80 percent.
Robotic heart catheter. A robotic catheter system from Hansen Medical allows surgeons to remotely guide a heart catheter from a workstation showing a 3-D view of the operation.
Heat-sensing bandage. These bandages change color in response to changes in temperature linked to inflammation and infection.
Stem cell therapy for heart failure. Stem cell material from BioHeart could improve cardiac function in chronic heart failure patients by growing new muscle in the heart.
Diagnosing cataracts by smartphone. MIT researchers have developed a simple device that clips onto a smartphone and provides a diagnosis of cataracts within a few minutes.
New malaria drugs. Several promising new malaria drugs are under development, including one that could treat the disease with a single oral dose.
Read the MedCity News report on clinical innovations.
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